Buick Riviera Parts
David Dunbar Buick, a Detroit plumbing executive and inventor who began building
and selling gasoline engines late in the 19th century and his engineer Walter
L. Marr, produced the first experimental Buick automobile between the year 1899
and 1900. Also in that year, Buick formed
 the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Co. in the Boydell Building, which still proudly
stands at Beaubien and Lafayette. However his first corporation was Buick Motor
Co., a Detroit firm he incorporated on May 19, 1903.
In 1908, shortly after its opening, Buick became number 1 producer of automobiles,
surpassing the combined production of Ford and Cadillac. Having this momentum,
Buick continuously make records by selling thousands of units over the next few
years, especially after the war when Dynaflow, the first torque converter automatic
transmission was introduced on the 1948 Roadmaster, a high-compression V-8 was
introduced in 1953.
Continuing the success of Buick, the company entered several models that made
marks in their own period. One of them is the Buick Riviera in 1963 (first seen
in 1949 not as a model but as an optional body style). Its entry in the muscle
car era, though it is not a muscle car per se, had its tremendous impact in on
the American automotive scene. Its style was that of a European with a cutting
edge performance with that of a large automobile.
The first Riviera was known as model 4747 which was only offered in sport coupe
body style. Its powerful 401 cid V8 with 325bhp standard engine and an optional
425 cid V8 with 340bhp can be acquired by adding $50. The 40,000 rear contours
angled to razor edged and frameless door windowed Riviera gave Detroit the brand
new wave of vehicle styling. And with the combined luxury features at that time,
the Riviera became the flagship of the Buick line.
The Riviera manufacturing continued the following year. Every year, changes have
been made, trims have been added, and engines became more powerful. But because
of fuel shortage, the Riviera together with other muscle cars have dropped it
sales in the 70s for people began to search smaller and less fuel-consuming vehicles.
The last powerful Riviera with 455 engine was continued up to 1978, but with continuous
downsizing, Buick redefined their line up and the Riviera dropped its power to
205 hp.
In 1994, the Riviera was retired from the Buick production line. But when it
returned in 1995 with a brand new style, regain power and notable luxury, its
sales finally recovered. The Buick Riviera continues to impress drivers as well
as experts up to today. |
