1973 Buick Riviera

The third-generation Buick Riviera, which ran from 1971 to 1973, is best known for its 'Boat Tail' rear styling. The two-door sporty persona was backed by equally impressive performance, with the Stage 1 package receiving a 455 cubic-inch Buick V8 engine and a limited-slip rear end. Just 3,933 performance-oriented 1973 Riviera GS Stage 1 models were built, featuring oversize valves, a hotter camshaft, a specially-calibrated transmission, and a Posi-Traction rear end. Although they were not as beefy as the pre-emissions-era 1971 models, they could still race from zero-to-sixty mph in around 10 seconds, an impressive performance for a vehicle weighing more than two tons.

For 1973, Buick produced 34,080 examples of the 2-door hardtop Sport Coupe Riviera. Power was from an overhead valve V8 engine with a displacement size of 455 CID and an available 250 SAE net horsepower. The Riviera's received new front and rear treatment with a new hood, fenders, grille, lights, and new notch style front cornering lamps. In the back, the boattail body had thicker rocker panel trim covers. The Riviera script could be seen on the lower front fenders. Riviera emblems were placed on the roof pillar.

Standard equipment on the 1973 Buick Riviera included a new Accu Drive, variable-ratio power steering, and power brakes with discs in the front. There were new durable stamped steel rocker arms, a new windshield washer, radiator overflow coolant reservoirs, solenoid activated throttle stop and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) emissions control system, and an integral voltage regulator.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017