1949 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe front quarter 1949 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe front quarter
One of the first hardtop convertibles, the '49 Roadmaster Riviera with Dynaflow transmission and "sweepspear" and "port holes" is a classic, for sure.
This photo (and the car it show) holds a special place in my heart, even though I have never seen it in the flesh - the picture which I have had for years hangs in my bedroom! Copyright 1978, Portal Publications Ltd, Corte Madera, Ca.

 


1963 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe front quarter 1963 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe front quarter
One of nearly everybody's all time favourites, the 1963 Riviera was the car that "put the class into the personal luxury class", previously the Ford Thunderbird had had the class sewn up but though only 40,000 first year Rivs were built everyone is a guaranteed classic (unlike the Thunderbird).
This was the first use of unframed side glass for hardtop models, the glass was secured by tension against rubbers mounted to the body proper.
This photo was taken by me in San Francisco USA in 1981 but I saw a few of the '63-5 generation in Australia since including a white one in Melbourne.

 


1964 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe rear quarter 1964 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe rear quarter
First time I have seen a '63 thru '65 series Riviera in Adelaide! For this shot (taken from my car) I chased this car for a couple of kms. Pulling up level the passenger confirmed it as a '64 model for me - I noted it had a chainmail steering wheel (RHD, too) and was slightly lowered I think.

 


1972 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe profile 1972 Buick Riviera 2 door coupe profile
Another of my personal all time favourites, the boattail Riviera was too controversial and too far out to reach a wide enough audience to guarantee longevity (built only for the 1971 thru 1973 model years). Its successor went to a supposedly more acceptable notchback design (and with fixed rear quarter windows!); also a nice car back lacking in the individuality of the marque since 1963.

 



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