Page 20 - ROA Online Riview Library

BY MARK LAMMLEIN
Wouldn’t you rather have a ... ?

come from dry Colorado. The car was painted Burnt Coral with a
“Adventure is a car called Riviera.” white vinyl top and a saddle brown interior. It had the GS handling op-
tion, originally listed at $140, which included steel-belted radial tires,
“The closer you get to a Riviera, heavy duty springs and shock absorbers, rear stabilizer bar, heavy-duty
wheels and trim plaques. With this purchase, my wife, Winnie, and I
the further it is from everything officially became a two-Riviera family.
else on the road.” “1972 Riviera. Although the car appeared to be in good condition, we knew a restora-
tion was needed. The day after we brought the car home it was off to
Something to believe in.” “Solid the shop and the endless search for parts began. After five long years,
the frame-off restoration was completed in June 2018, including a
feeling for ’73.” “A classic in rebuilt engine and transmission. We are very pleased with the work
performed by Ohio shops: Barberton Auto Craft in Barberton and
its own time.” Tom Schoonover in Canton.
’73
Those are just a few of the slogans Buick Motor Divi-
sion used in their advertising to describe the Riviera.
Years earlier, the popular slogan was “Wouldn’t you
really rather have a Buick?” which the ROA changed
in 2003 for Buick’s Centennial to “Wouldn’t you rather
have a … Riviera?”
In May 1974, I purchased a ’73 Riviera from my broth-
er-in-law. Unfortunately, the Ohio climate took its toll
and by the time I decided to keep the car it was beyond
restoration. In 2008, we found a Bamboo Cream ’73
with a deluxe 60/40 interior in a tan cloth and vinyl. Af-
ter the restoration, we drove the car to the 2013 ROA
International Meet in Lexington. Months later, the car
was featured in the Jan./Feb. 2014 issue of the Riview.
That September, after attending the ROA meet, we
found a good, solid ’73 GS in New York state that had
20 July/August 2019 The Riview