Riviera
The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car produced by Buick from 1963 to 1999, with the exception of the 1994 model year. Upon its debut, it was praised for its innovative design and performance. Over the decades, the Riviera evolved, offering distinct variants and technical features that marked its history.
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Variants by year
Make: Buick · Model: Riviera
15 / 15 versions shown
1994
1985
1981
1978
1977
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1968
1966
1965
1963
Buick Riviera photos
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car produced by Buick from 1963 to 1999, with the exception of the 1994 model year. Upon its debut, it was praised for its innovative design and performance. Over the decades, the Riviera evolved, offering distinct variants and technical features that marked its history. This page brings together the versions referenced by ScanRacer, including years, variants, rarities, and available detailed pages, linking the model overview to version-by-year pages.
History
The Buick Riviera was introduced in 1963 as a personal luxury coupe, marking Buick's entry into the luxury car market. Its distinctive design was praised by automotive journalists upon its debut. Over the years, the Riviera underwent several generations, each bringing evolutions in design, performance, and technology. In 1971, Buick introduced the 'Boattail' Riviera, characterized by a boat-tail rear end, a bold design that marked its era. In 1979, the Riviera adopted front-wheel drive, reflecting a general trend in the American automotive industry. Production of the Riviera continued until 1999, with a total of 1,127,261 units produced across its various generations. (en.wikipedia.org)
Generations
The Buick Riviera spanned six distinct generations between 1963 and 1999. The first generation (1963-1965) was praised for its innovative design and performance. The second generation (1966-1970) introduced enhancements in comfort and technology. The third generation (1971-1973) is famous for the 'Boattail' model, characterized by a boat-tail rear end. The fourth generation (1974-1976) retained the previous platform while making aesthetic modifications. The fifth generation (1977-1978) saw a reduction in size, with a smaller platform. The sixth generation (1979-1985) marked the shift to front-wheel drive, reflecting a general trend in the American automotive industry. (en.wikipedia.org)
Key differences
The main differences between the Buick Riviera generations include significant evolutions in design, performance, and technology. For example, the third generation (1971-1973) is famous for the 'Boattail' model, characterized by a boat-tail rear end. The fifth generation (1977-1978) saw a reduction in size, with a smaller platform. The sixth generation (1979-1985) marked the shift to front-wheel drive, reflecting a general trend in the American automotive industry. (en.wikipedia.org)
Photo recognition
To identify a Buick Riviera, look for the following distinctive features: - **Rear design**: The third generation (1971-1973) is famous for the 'Boattail' model, characterized by a boat-tail rear end. - **Platform and dimensions**: The fifth generation (1977-1978) saw a reduction in size, with a smaller platform. - **Transmission layout**: The sixth generation (1979-1985) marked the shift to front-wheel drive, reflecting a general trend in the American automotive industry. These elements can help distinguish the different generations of the Buick Riviera. (en.wikipedia.org)
Important versions
Notable versions of the Buick Riviera include: - **'Boattail' model (1971-1973)**: Characterized by a boat-tail rear end, this model is emblematic of its era. - **75th Anniversary model (1978)**: Special edition commemorating Buick's 75th anniversary, produced in 2,889 units. These versions stand out for their unique features and their place in Riviera history. (en.wikipedia.org)
References
- Buick Riviera Boattail 1971 1972 1973Buick Riviera Boattail
- Buick Riviera - All Models by Year (1963-1993)Autoevolution
- https://www.carsart.net/en/cars/buick/riviera/carsart.net
- https://muscle-car.fandom.com/wiki/Buick_Rivieramuscle-car.fandom.com
- https://classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Buick_Rivieraclassiccars.fandom.com
- https://retrocars.fandom.com/wiki/Buick_Rivieraretrocars.fandom.com
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Buick Riviera produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 1963 - 1994.
- How many Buick Riviera examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 1 published scan from 1 member, with the latest photo added in September 2026.
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