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Buick Riviera 307 cubic inch V8 1985

General description : This 1985 Buick Riviera is easy to describe: it is literally a brand new 1985 Buick Riviera. It shows just 6163 original miles (not a misprint) and with the exception of the fluids, the battery, and the tires, it remains just as it would have been on the showroom floor at your local Buick dealer back when Duran Duran was the hottest band in the world. It also offers a timeless color combination, every single available option, and it has already scored its AACA Senior National First Prize and Buick Club of America National First Prize—not in preservation classes, but in full-out detail-oriented judging against restored cars. I am fairly confident that you will not be able to find a better one anywhere at any price, making this something of a bargain: you can actually own the world’s finest example of something for less than the cost of a used Volkswagen Golf.

The Buick marketing department wasn’t too good at naming their colors in 1985, with this one wearing its factory-applied code 97 Dark Gray Firemist (with “Firemist” being GM’s name for “metallic”). But that dark gray paint looks fantastic and the color will always be in fashion, particularly on a luxury coupe like the Riv. With so few miles it remains almost completely unmarked and shines at least as well as it did when it was new—time hasn’t quite managed to get ahold of this Buick. There’s a great shine with minimal orange peel, although there is some since this is an ‘80s GM car, after all. Panel fit is excellent and even the plastic extensions behind the bumpers are in fantastic shape with no cracking or significant fading. The formal styling has aged rather well and there are many who think this is the last of the great-looking Rivieras and probably the best design since the early ‘70s. The long hood/short deck profile works as well on a luxury car as it does on muscle cars and that vertical rear window adds a formality that’s quite appealing. Details like the chrome and stainless trim, name badges, taillight lenses (with delicate little “R” logos in the back-up lights), and even the padded vinyl roof are in virtually new condition. I managed to find one small nick in the paint on the nose by the grille, but it took quite a bit of searching. Quite honestly, you will not find a better example than this.

The plush gray velour interior is 1980s American luxury at its finest and it, too, is extremely well preserved. The comfortable split bench seat is firm and supportive, which might be a surprise for those of you used to these cars feeling mushy. The carpets are deep enough to lose your shoes in them and the dash pad hasn’t been baked by the sun. Details like the faux wood on the doors, dash, and in particular the steering wheel, the bright chrome shifter, and the pull strap on the door all remain in excellent condition with no damage or fading. This Riviera is loaded with virtually every single option you could get, including automatic climate control (A/C is ice cold), power seats with driver’s memory, power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, rear defroster, tilt steering column, fiber-optic headlight indicators, and a decent-sounding AM/FM/cassette stereo that’s the same Delco unit found in every GM car of the period. All of it works properly, top to bottom. The instrument panel covers only the basics of speed and fuel level, but the markings are bright and crisp and the lens is crystal clear. The only possible demerit inside is that the headliner is showing some delamination, which is apparently inevitable as the foam inside deteriorates simply due to age. It isn’t falling down, but in an otherwise as-new car, it’s notable. The trunk is unmarked and includes an accessory rubber mat and a space-saver spare that has never been used.

There were a variety of engines available in the Riviera, but the one you want today is the reliable, smooth, and torquey 5.0 liter V8. It’s actually a 307 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8, but in the Buick it provides the kind of effortless thrust that you’d expect from a top-of-the-line luxury coupe. Examine the photos closely and you’ll spot nothing that wasn’t there in 1985, from the hose clamps to the decals to the coolant bottles. There are fresh fluids inside the engine and the A/C system has been converted to R134a to make it easy to service in the future, but this engine bay is show-quality all the way. Turn the key and it starts as easily as a modern fuel-injected car (the Riv still used a 4-barrel carb in 1985) and immediately settles into a smooth, almost imperceptible idle. No fussiness, no waiting for the choke, just a luxury car acting the way it should. It pulls with ease on the road and thanks to thick, supple weather seals, you won’t hear it running at speed. It’s easy to forget how American luxury cars felt in the ‘80s and this is a great reminder—you’ll be impressed.

The only transmission available in the front-wheel-drive Riviera was a 4-speed automatic with overdrive, making this a superlative highway cruiser that pulls down decent fuel economy. The all-independent suspension isn’t sporting but it’s competent and swallows bumps large and small without any drama, just a distant “thump-thump” from the tires. Thanks to the low mileage and the absolute lack of squeaks and rattles, the Riv feels robust and sturdy going down the road, adding to your comfort levels. The underside was treated to a light dusting of undercoating when it was new, but has otherwise never seen any inclement weather and even the exhaust system is the one that was installed on the assembly line. Braking is straight and true and we’re 99% certain those are OEM brake pads still doing the job. Factory air shocks for the auto-leveling rear suspension work properly and all the bushings in the suspension remain supple, so the ride is well controlled without being harsh. Steel wheels with wire wheel covers were a very popular option and it sits on brand new 205/75/15 whitewall radials that are only the second set of tires this car has ever worn.

This is as good as these cars get. While there are plenty of cheaper cars out there, I’d recommend that you drive them first before trying this one. This car is so smooth, tight, and silent that going to an inferior car after this will only be an exercise in frustration. Great cars are like that—everything else just doesn’t seem to measure up. What an extraordinary find!

http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicles/inventory_details.php?id=967

1985 Buick Riviera 307 cubic inch V8 is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Macedonia by for $19900.

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