The Boat-Tail Buick Riviera's Powerful Engine

The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car that was marketed by Buick from 1963 to 1999. The car's design was based on the GM E platform and was initially a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive model before switching to front-wheel drive in 1979. The engine options for the Buick Riviera varied over the years, with the 1971-1973 models, also known as the Boat-Tail Riviera, featuring a 455 cubic inch (7.5L) V8 engine.

The Buick Riviera was a personal luxury car marketed from 1963 to 1999

The Riviera was General Motors' first entry into the personal luxury car market segment, and it was highly praised by automotive journalists upon its high-profile debut. The first generation (1963-1965) featured a distinctive bodyshell, front engine/rear-wheel drive, and a choice of two Buick V8 engines with a displacement of either 401 cu in (6.6 L) or 425 cu in (7.0 L).

The second generation (1966-1970) retained the same powertrain but was longer, wider, and heavier. The third generation Riviera, introduced in the fall of 1970 as a 1971 model, represented a radical redesign with a swept-forward nose, a classic boat-tail rear end, and a large rear window. This generation came standard with Buick's largest engine at the time, the 455 cu in (7.2L) V8, producing 315 hp (235 kW) or 330 hp (246 kW) with the Gran Sport package.

Despite the attention-grabbing boat-tail styling, sales of the third-generation Riviera were disappointing, with buyers perhaps finding the design too radical. Subsequent generations toned down the styling, with the fourth generation (1974-1976) adopting a more conventional look in line with other Buick models. The fifth generation (1977-1978) saw a downsized Riviera, now riding on a shorter wheelbase and powered by smaller V8 engines.

The sixth generation (1979-1985) marked the debut of the first front-wheel-drive Riviera, which was also the first front-wheel-drive production model in Buick history. The seventh generation (1986-1993) featured further downsizing and the adoption of a V6 engine as the only powerplant. The eighth and final generation (1995-1999) offered a naturally aspirated or supercharged 3800 V6 engine, with the supercharged version producing 225 hp (168 kW) and 275 lb-ft (373 Nm) of torque.

Throughout its production run, the Buick Riviera left a lasting impression with its bold styling, powerful engines, and luxurious appointments. It remains an iconic nameplate in the history of American personal luxury cars.

The 1971-1973 Buick Riviera was nicknamed the 'boattail' because of its distinctive rear end

The boat-tail styling of the 1971 Buick Riviera was part of an ambitious redesign by Bill Mitchell, which was tempered slightly by the realities of production. The car featured a pointed leading edge and a low beltline that swept down to meet prominent haunches. The boat-tail rear end and large rear window took the automotive world by surprise, with the new design bearing little resemblance to the previous model. The Riviera's distinctive styling was a risky move that did not pay off in terms of sales, as its more conservative rival, the Ford Thunderbird, outsold it.

Despite the lack of commercial success, the 1971-1973 Buick Riviera Boattail is now considered a classic, with values at an all-time high. The car has a strong following among younger collectors, with buyer interest surging in recent years. The boat-tail Riviera is known for its dramatic styling, with its large rear window and curved glass, and it has been described as one of the most beautiful American cars ever built.

The 1971 Buick Riviera was the first model to feature Buick's largest engine, the 455 cu in (7.2L) V8

The 1971 Buick Riviera was the first model to feature Buick's largest engine, the 455 cubic inch (7.2-litre) V8. This was a significant development, as it was the first time that Buick's biggest engine was included in the Riviera model.

The 1971 Riviera was part of the third generation of the car, which was radically redesigned, with dramatic "boat-tail" styling. The design was penned by Jerry Hirshberg, future head of design for Nissan, under the direction of Bill Mitchell. The boat-tail rear was inspired by the 1930s Boat-Tail Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs, with a curved glass feature reminiscent of the Mid-Year Corvette. The boat-tail Riviera's design was a risky move, and it didn't pay off in terms of sales, with its conservative rival, the Ford Thunderbird, outpacing it.

The inclusion of Buick's largest engine in the 1971 Riviera was also impacted by new emission standards, which resulted in a drop in horsepower and torque levels across American engines. Despite this, the 1971 Riviera still offered a powerful driving experience with its 455 Buick big-block engine.

The 1971 Buick Riviera, with its combination of bold styling and powerful engine, remains a memorable and iconic model in the history of Buick and American car design.

The 1971-1973 Buick Riviera was designed by Bill Mitchell, who wanted to use the design on the smaller Monte Carlo-Regal platform

The design of the Riviera was inspired by Mitchell's favourite car, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, as well as classic boat-tail speedsters of the 1930s, such as the 1936 Amilcar Type G36. Mitchell, who was GM's VP of Design from 1959-1977, wanted to inject some drama into automobile design, which he felt was becoming ordinary and bland. The resulting Riviera, with its flowing and dramatic "boat-tail" styling, certainly achieved that.

The design process began with a 3/8 scale model created by Don DaHarsh in the secret back-room Studio X, which Mitchell took a shine to. The next step was for the Buick Advanced Studio, led by Jerry Hirshberg, to transform this into a more workable design. The final production car was a radical fashion statement, with a giant two-door coupe body that was highly controversial, even within GM's styling studios.

Despite the flamboyant styling, the new Riviera was less than a sensation in the showrooms. Sales slipped to around 33,000 units in 1971, the worst year for Riviera to date, and remained at this level in 1972. For 1973, the final year of the production cycle, the boattail styling was squared up and smoothed down a bit, in part to meet tougher federal impact standards. However, sales remained stagnant in the 33,000 range.

The 1971-1973 Buick Riviera was longer, with a pointed leading edge, a low beltline, prominent haunches, and curved glass at the rear

The 1971-1973 Buick Riviera was a radical redesign of the model, with a distinctive and dramatic look. It was longer than previous models, with a pointed leading edge, a low beltline, prominent haunches, and curved glass at the rear, reminiscent of the Mid-Year Corvette. This boat-tail design was a bold departure from the Thunderbird, its main rival, and other models in the Buick range.

The 1971 Riviera was the first of the third generation of Buick's personal luxury car, which was marketed from 1963 to 1999. The third-generation Riviera was designed under the direction of Bill Mitchell, with Jerry Hirshberg as the lead designer. The boat-tail styling was originally intended for a smaller platform but was adapted for the full-sized GM B platform, resulting in a heavier car.

The 1971 Riviera's signature boat-tail rear featured curved glass, earning it the nickname "boat-tail." This distinctive styling was a risky move that didn't pay off in sales, as the more conservative Ford Thunderbird outsold it. Despite this, the 1971-1973 Riviera remains a memorable and iconic design, with a loyal following among collectors.

The 1971-1973 Buick Riviera's low beltline swept down to meet prominent haunches, giving it a unique profile. The boat-tail rear, with its curved glass, was the most striking feature, but the overall effect was of a long, sleek car with a pointed leading edge. This generation of the Riviera introduced a more visual representation of the "sweepspear", with a design that harked back to the 1950s Buicks. The large, round wheel openings added to the sporty air of the car.

While the boat-tail design was toned down slightly in 1972 and 1973, it still retained the essential elements that made the 1971 model so distinctive. The 1973 model had a slightly shorter and blunter rear end, and the taillights were moved down into the bumper.

Frequently asked questions