1970s Excess: The 1972 Buick Riviera Boattail

Learn more and check out this walkaround of the 1972 Buick Riviera.

[@racekar80]

My father had a 71, all gold, no vinyl roof, white interior. Fantastic vehicle 455 had enormous torque.

[@flyonbyya]

Too bad it ain’t still roaming the streets with that badazzzz Buick 455 !

[@pt008]

71 owner here :) Just had to have one... Lots of attention and visitors at shows. The 73 was definitely less attractive, but I always found it amazing that it was a significant retooling for a low volume car, that only ran one year. Your bean counter predecessors must have found that agonizing!

[@ZGryphon]

I don't know if I would agree that the '73 looks less attractive, but it's certainly less distinctive. At that point it basically just looks like a Monte Carlo with four headlights.

[@saadgt2009]

Beautiful! I always wonder how drivers who 'park by touch' deal with that prow and boat-tail! Kudos to the brave souls who drove them on a daily basis 👏 🖖🙏🇨🇦

[@V8Adam]

I was backing mine into an old Victorian coach house today. I was glad to have somebody guiding me in! 😂

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, Have no fear, there can never be too many REAL Buicks on your channel. 🤩

[@christopherkraft1327]

The 71 Riviera was revolutionary in it's styling & looked like nothing else on the road!!! Now it's a rare treat to see one!!! Thanks again for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍

[@rocpile1141]

I really appreciate the presentations. It is immediately apparent that you have a passion for your work.

[@markdc1145]

I'm really enjoying the commercial B-rolls you've been including lately. They give the car's history extra context and also an insight into the target customers then. 👍

[@Rick1959]

Thank You for this review, and all your reviews! I owned a '72 Riv In 1980. My cousin's friend previously had it and had done some engine mods to it. !970 Stage I heads, new intake, cam and carb, with a little freeing up of the exhaust. It was fast (0-60 in 5 seconds flat) and could get 20+mpg on the highway at 60mph (remember the 55 MPH speed limit?)...Sad to say I sold it. I was dumb and young. It will remain a cherished car from my past....

[@steves9905]

What a great show...instead of endless camaros and mustangs, it looks to be all about 70's full size luxury. Would have enjoyed that. Love or hate the Riv...I personally love it...cannot deny it has style for miles. It's on my bucket list...

[@GTRxMan]

Love the styling of these. Unfortunately, it was probably a little bit too much for the average Buick customer. That wrap-around dash was fantastic. I had a '71 Centurion and absolutely loved the fact that everything was in easy reach and sight. You didn't have to take your eyes off the road to operate any of the controls.

[@timyank8433]

Absolutely love the Riviera, from the first to the last. Can't wait see what you have to share in the future on this gorgeous automobile.

[@Sedan57Chevy]

Love these inside and out.

[@ricksand6477]

Great choice, Adam. These were controversial to say the least. The corporation dictated that the Riviera would only be built on the larger body shared with Eldorado and Toronado for economic scale and the production design fell to Jerry Hirschberg, who had to scale Bill Mitchell's vision up from the "A" body it was originally designed for. When Mitchell saw the first prototypes running around at the proving ground he said, "Too bad. A speedboat became a tugboat." Newly minted Buick General Manager Lee Mays hated the boat tail he inherited for 1971. As viewed today, they are pretty awe-inspiring with a "love it or hate it "design that would never make it through the system now. When you look over the stampings on this car - especially those massive rear quarters - only General Motors would have had the tooling expertise and the budget to pull those off ! Thanks for the memories!

[@rdm925]

Thanks, I loved this Buick when it came out. Also I loved the design of the full size 1971 Buick LeSabre that year. If you can find one,I'd love to see a video on it. Thanks 👍

[@keetonkatt4621]

Hi Adam, I was at that show and was actually sitting at a communal dinner table with the owner of that Riv, which won an award (peer judging) at the show. Another one at the table mentioned seeing you and your wife. I hyped your KZbin channel as there is obviously an overlap in interest of cars from that era. I hope you enjoyed the show and sorry I didn't get to meet you myself.

[@RareClassicCars]

I did enjoy the show. Thx for the publicity! Lots of cool cars.

[@richardmartink679]

Awesome as always. Thanks.

[@richardmartink679]

You going to the dream cruise?

Show all the Buicks you want! The first car I drove was a red 2 door 1966 Electra 225! What a ride. Drove it to high school, to Fresno, Bakersfield and all throughout the great Central San Joaquín Valley! Show us all the great 1964-1967 Buick Skylarks. Especially the GS version! Love your channel. On vacation, greetings from the City by the Bay, San Francisco California.

[@edwinmassie]

My sister bought a 73 in 1974 with 16,000 miles, the first owners had traded it for a more fuel efficient car, and my sister paid a fraction of the original price. It was the oil embargo. Her's (later mine) was the same colors as the 73 photo you featured in the video. I know I am in the minority here, but I think the 73 is the best looking of the boattails. I think the rear of the car is cleaner and more refined with the tail lights integrated into the bumper and the centered license plate holder. I also think the car is so massive the the bigger front bumper actually compliments the overall design better than the former delicate looking bumpers. The 73 also no longer offered the horrible full vinyl top, it having been supplanted by the "Sport Roof", which only covered the forward part of the roof and came with wide strips that started on the hood, ran under the window trim and wrapped over the roof (this became available about mid-way through the 72 model year, so you will find some 72s so equipped). I think this treatment is quite handsome. I purchased the car from my sister in 81 with 115,000 miles. It already had rust in the rear quarters, but I loved that car, there was nothing better for a long road trip. I find the boattail Riviera and the bustleback Seville in kind of the same category, examples of when GM let the designers really have their way (mostly at any rate) in a manor you really don't find in a production automobile. Both are unique and stylish and not to be mistaken for anything else!

[@MrMousekillaz]

Had the opportunity to drive the GS version, and it was glorious indeed

[@kroge007]

I loved this year Rivera

[@loveisall5520]

I love it. A neighbor had a '71, beige with a dark brown roof and dark brown interior. The only one in town that I remember. I rode in it a couple of times and it certainly wasn't the experience in the interior that the original '63 was. It was just like any other big Buick.

[@billymcmanus9642]

My cousin had a boat tail and every time I see one it reminds me of him and I forward it to him. It was his favorite car and talks about it to this day lol his was black with gray interior and gray pinstripe. I remember being a little kid and amazed how big the front end of it being & the funny door handles. He always came by and giving me rides in it he knew i was always into cars and loved them. He's my favorite cousin Eddie & still is🙂

[@gregt8638]

It's so cool that you often closeout your great videos with an actual car commercial for the car from the era.

[@chitown1098]

Gorgeous car. Unfortunately the vinyl top hurts the beautiful lines of the car. The pic of the ‘71 and “73 showed how great the car looked without the full vinyl top. Incredible lines.

[@rightlanehog3151]

They always do.

[@onkelmicke9670]

Lots of fine automobiles there. Great looking Mark III right next to the riv.

[@MostlyBuicks]

I had a 1971 as the same color as your inset picture. My dad had a 1972 in the same color as your feature car. I would not change a thing about them EXCEPT to have an overdrive transmission.

[@whammond511]

Amen!!

[@richardmorris7063]

I was 17 in 74, my first car was a 67Mustang.I was trading up for one just like this.I drove it 12 miles,watched the gas gauge go down significantly so went w/ a 71 GrandPrix w/ 400 4 bbl.it wasn't much better, still love the 66-67 Rivi & the boat tails of this gen.

[@JeffKing310]

Thanks for adding the old ads, training videos and the like.

[@StupidFastTruck]

Beautiful car. Little side bar, the guy in the Buick ad's name was Paul Burke. He starred in the 1960s WWII drama called 12 O'Clock High. About the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers.

[@edwardpate6128]

Based on the 1950 film with Gregory Peck.

[@boramsey5757]

I had a 72. Loved that car immensely. It had a 70 455 as the original 455 was gone. Power galore. Drove and handled quite nicely for its size and weight. Little known fact, and my Riv was equipped with it, it was the first production car with traction control. I think for only two years.

[@markbehr88]

Love these

[@gormanwpjr]

About 8 years ago, I spent hundreds of hours modifying my 1972 Riviera to resemble the Silver Arrow III show car. My car is a very nice original one owner car with original paint, so I did not want to do any cutting on the sheet metal, so all of the modifications are "add-on" and can be removed. Due to that fact, the new panels do not have a perfect fit - but from a few feet away, the impression of the Silver Arrow looks nice. In the front, all of the changes were made so as to reduce the vertical look and increase the horizontal look. Roof reflectors were custom made. Trunk Tri-Shield emblem was custom scratch made (mistake to call it Tri-Star on the video). Very rare NOS Appliance (Roto-Lug) vintage wire wheels, are the same (I think) that are on the Silver Arrow III. Anyway, my Silver Arrow IV has a more sleek look than the factory factory look. Obviously, I did not chop the top, as on the Silver Arrow III due to my car being far too nice for that. Note: Since I took this video, I have dyed the vinyl roof an off white. I think it gives the body a more unified look. I will post a very short video of my car with the white top - after I ran out of gas on the side of the freeway! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6CaiaGIn8llgLM

[@geraldcoe1123]

Thank you, Adam.

[@shawnbauman5463]

Interesting commercial, that actor is Paul Burke if S2 and S3 of 12 O'clock High.

[@Johnnycdrums]

He was good in that great show, as Major (then Col.) Joe Gallagher, I still watch the episodes. Amazingly I haven't seen one episode of "Naked City" yet, which was broadcast for five years.

[@Mark-qw8lc]

@@Johnnycdrums Paul was also in the original 1968 version of "The Thomas Crown Affair" and the 1967 melodrama "Valley of the Dolls". Great actor!

[@fourdoorglory]

Just gorgeous. Make mine a ‘71.

[@hawk00055]

I love Rivieras and look forward to more corporate stories.

[@JackieontheTrunk]

Trying to recall that actor who in many 60s and 70s TV dramas, usually as a lawyer or doctor. Great voice.

[@jimboyd1659]

I hope you did a video of the MKIII next to this Riviera. Keep them coming!

[@joshgreen2164]

Best looking GM car ever!

[@mederic999]

In 1973, the dashboard got aligned with the other full size Buick dashes and the 1974 borrowed the high mounted brake lights below the rear windscreen from the Toronado.

[@mobes329]

My grandfather had a 71 and it was maroon with white interior and had the 455 engine

[@AJ67901]

I had a number of Rivieras from 66 thru 81. I bought a nice '71 in dark blue with no vinyl top in about 1990 and had it repainted and it was a really nice reliable car. I'm told that 1972 was the lowest production run of the boattails and the hardest to find. I bought a '76 Riv new and while it was visually appealing - the quality of the material used in the dash, door panels, and the thin leather in the seats was disappointing. Regarding the '72 I would agree that the huge bumper guards on the front were a detraction, and I was never a fan of the vinyl roof. All that said I still find this 72 to be an attractive old girl that I'd be proud to drive any day. Thanks for the video.

[@jeffrobodine8579]

It looks like you could do a segment on every car at the show you were at Adam.

[@MariMakkonen-d2h]

Such a lovely car!

[@gregharvie3896]

Another excellent video Adam. I can understand as to why it was made to share the standard body plan, if it did not , it would not have been made. Though I do like the look of the 69 & 70 Pontiac Grand Prix something is out of focus with the end product , it has big car styling on an intermediate and the wheels look a little small as they are 14inch . The fact that Mitchell loved the "boattail" got it made , I like the look of the finished completed car way more so than the shrunken undersized proposal . The 1972 model is the pick of the bunch followed by the '73's . The 71's with the potential leaky boot from those pesky louvred vents puts me right off them and/or any big bodied GM car from '71 as they all have this issue. From being in the New South Wales , Australia chapter of the Australian Cadillac La Salle club , I have seen the rusty outcome of this terrible air venting design where there has been rust both in the boot lid itself , and water leaks into the boot carpet , rotting out the boot floor all completely avoidable. I would have always likedto buy a GMH_A RHD car '72 or ' 73 however the kinds of people that bought them over here as first owners seemed to have used, abused and thrashed them, plus done panel damage to them due to their attitude. So I have ended up with 2 x Aussie '70s Fleetwood Broughams , and 2 x Aussie '70's Lincolns instead .

[@neilschipper3741]

Always liked the look of the boat Tales. However when you set the back seat you got a sunburn!

[@haroldb2663]

Did I see a four door Continental Mark go by in the video??

[@richardmccarley281]

A masterpiece!!!!!

[@1972mercurycougar]

The Buckets and console in some of these were neat with floor shift.

[@HelvisCamaro]

Can't wait for the upcoming videos!

[@tettazwo9865]

How nice also, to see a properly dressed salesman!

[@peterwilliamson8721]

What a cool looking car, smooth quiet and comfortable, lots of power, had to be John Delorean

[@rjbiker66]

The blokes voice in the ad is almost hypnotic

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous fabulous.

[@jsciarri]

I'm probably in the extreme minority here but I always loved the short lived 1977-1978 Riviera generation.

[@douggoding8431]

I mentioned on here once that our elderly neighbor's daughter and husband always drove neat cars. In 1971 they arrived to visit driving a 1971 brown Riviera. They could afford to option cars any way they chose and with this car then went slicktop, blackwalls and standard wheel covers. It was really a striking car. Even my mother, who didn't notice cars, commented on it favorably.

[@smacdiesel]

I like the commercials at the end.

[@jimknight668]

yes the bumper guards were an option on 72

[@carllindstrom8217]

that is one beautiful car, wish it was mine

[@user-vx5gv7ig1c]

Классные машинки. красивый дизайн авто. молодцы

[@CH67guy1]

Oh cool the Riviera has doorhandles like the Toranado.

[@MostlyBuicks]

The bumper guards on the 1972 was optional, but very common.

[@edwardpate6128]

The presenter in that commercial is the actor Paul Burke who was probably best known aqt that time for his role in the 60's TV show 12 O'Clock High.

[@WhittyPics]

I liked the boat tail Riv

[@criticalthinker8374]

I loved the 71-72 Rivieras, back when I was a poor kid in the 70"s. I wanted to buy one when I got rich. Now that I am rich, I could not drive in one of these cracked and dried out interior vinyl barges with the cheap painted on chrome peeling off around the instruments. I drive a 2002 CL 500 and a 2012 ML 63 AMG. Real leather and wood everywhere. I still love to see these Rivieras though, beautiful exteriors.

[@mikelove9832]

Thanks ! Straight Ahead ✌😎

[@Doobie1975]

Did you check out the 4 door Lincoln in the background?

[@wallyfronzaglio372]

I'm sorry I didn't find one of these rivs when they were more attainable I always liked those

[@edwardpate6128]

They are still out there at pretty reasonable prices for nice examples.

[@arevee9429]

A friend of the family had a new boattail which she had repainted so it started out white in the front, faded to pink in the middle, and then back to maroon at the rear. The car is gaudy enough without the custom paint job. With it, it was, putting it kindly, not subtle. As is often the case, the Riviera did not improve from the first generation. As a full-sized car, it no longer looks like a "personal luxury car".

[@alanblanes2876]

Terrific review, Adam. I briefly used a 1973 Riviera as a company vehicle in the 1970s and it had a more substantial feel and look than most other GM products of the era.

[@mzaccagnini7179]

I love that car.I almost bought a 71 but it need to much work.

[@smokmup6098]

I got one of these for free out of the penny saver about 20 years ago and turned it into a pumpkin smash car. Still have the rear window lol

[@gordonborsboom7460]

I wonder if the lower appearing window sill on the doors influenced the 80’s designs of the full size FWD cars?

[@j.sanchez2538]

Thx for sharing 💪

[@hurricane2649]

I have had many of these cars over the years. In my opinion one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen. I was shocked to hear that it was Bill Michell that ordered the "boat-tail" change for 1974. I know every square inch of these cars and even I did not know that. I am very much looking forward to your video with Wayne Kady. I wonder how many other things about this very unique car I was unaware of.

[@markmaiello9180]

That’s actor Paul Burke in the Buick commercial. He replaced Robert Lansing as the lead in 12 O’Clock High, the early 60s TV WWII drama.

[@r.s.7462]

Looking forward to Mr. Kady's development story.

[@bml33]

You have a wealth of knowledge of all these cars...how did you learn so much, did you work in automotive design/engineering? You must own a LOT of cars too, I've seen several of your videos where you say "I own one of these..." You and your guests tell some neat stories too.

[@overshoe6361]

This was the last great GM design.

[@patcurrie9888]

My fave boat tail is the watered down 1973, the Riviera logo on the hood is heart shaped too. Hard to believe there were massive tweaks in a 3 year model run.

[@turdferguson4124]

I would like to see how the trunk opens around that boat-tail window. I bet that’s interesting.

[@kroge007]

Thanks!

[@gordtulk]

One of the weirdest trunklid shapes ever.

[@unclerob3797]

Although not a truck lid on the Corvette, the C2 Corvette was an inspiration for the design.

[@dave1956]

The 1972 was the best looking of the three years that the boat tail was built. I owned a 1971 as my budget dictated.

[@nycstarport8542]

IMO: '71, with the vents on the trunk, was the Best Design.

[@DisabilityExams]

Not many '70s cars still look good today, but I think the boattailed Rivera still does.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Not liking 70s cars puts you in the minority on this channel 😉

[@eddstarr2185]

Buick's "Accu-Drive" must have been similar to Oldsmobile's "G-Ride" - minimizing body motions during acceleration/braking/cornering, especially at higher speeds. The Boattail Riviera from 1971 - 1973 really handled with greater stability when compared to the other Buick full-sized cars. The available Gran Sport (GS) package further enhanced the Riviera's handling qualities, resulting in a Big Buick that was responsive to drive.

[@tyler2610]

In the commercial at the end it appears that car has an all white interior including the dash which is quite rare as that light of a color would create a lot of reflections on the windshield. It is attractive though although I’m sure being all white it wouldn’t stay that way long!

[@billyjoejimbob56]

Adam: I know it was your intent to focus on the boat tail Riviera here. But at 1:27 in the video a blue FOUR DOOR Continental Mark III cruises past in the background. I have seen this car at Eyes on Design in past years and recall that it was a concept build that combined the '69 Mark III coupe with door and center pillar hardware from the production 4-door Thunderbird built on the same platform. Always thought that 4-door had great proportions but never got the nod for production development. Would make an interesting video if you could track down the owner and do a feature video and interview.

[@wilsixone]

I see on the drawing of the Seville the rear of the '74 Riv.

[@jas4925]

I can't wait to hear the story on the 77-78 Riveras. Growing up my grandma and grandpa had them. Grandma's was a 77 with the 403 Olds in red grandpas was a silver 78 with the Buick 350.Grandma's 1977 Rivera was put in in storage the the late 90s she finally sold it in the early 2000s. It still exists check out on 55 Lincolns page look for his video of a 1977 Rivera that was Grandma's Riviera. Her neighbor AL Allgood a mechanic at Friendly Chevrolet in Springfield IL he painted it for her a couple shades of darker red than it was from the factory in the mid 1980s. When it came out of storage they resanded it and were able to keep it as AL used many Coates of clear coat. Has had s new vinyl top and the interior has been re done now. The 403 was short lived it was had to find parts for it so they put a small block in it. While it was in good shape grandma put it away the olds 403 was needing head gaskets common on them. Needless to say it was cool to see it at a car show a couple of years ago in fantastic condition.

[@chuckymurlo5654]

My son is also a classic car enthusiast at a mere 33yrs old and the ol'man is 67. It's fun to compare likes and dislikes between us to maybe find some common ground on any particular car. I always loved the '71 and '72 Riviera and maybe throw in a GS to top it off! I texted him a photo and a simple 😝😝 was his impression. Not this time I guess

[@TrainTalks67]

Best car video on KZbin, too bad it was a 72 instead of a 71.

[@alexandrec9372]

Sempre achei a traseira desse carro parecida com a do Corvette Stingray de1963 a 1968.

[@Primus54]

Yup… same designer influence… Bill Mitchell.

[@stvitalkid7981]

The actor appearing in the commercial is familiar. Does anyone recognize him? I was 10 years old when this '72 Riv came out. Liked it then and love it now.

[@Paul1958R]

Paul Burke kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3vNdq2AaaZsmKM

[@V8Adam]

Fantastic to see this and for covering the ‘72 Riv! I have a tour of mine on my channel if you wanted to check it out.

[@sigmamale7241]

I love that proposal model...Too bad it didn't make it into production :(

[@MrYAMAHA32177]

Beautiful cars. When the Cuban's were invading south Florida everyone loved those long doors as they were a great place to mount shotguns.

[@charles1964]

Off topic but after the '79 gas crisis you could pick up cars like this for a song. If you drove around my neighborhood in the early 80's you would think we were all High Rollers because us kids were driving Caddy's Newport's Lincoln's and Park Avenues

[@ralphl7643]

I seem to remember the Electra and/or Riviera offered real leather in '71 or '72 but not '73.