The all-new Buick Riviera front wheel drive was the Motor Trend car of the year for 1979. It featured all-new styling, body and drive train; and moved closer to the original razor-sharp form of the original 1963 design. 1980 continued the proud tradition.
The 1980 had detail improvements that made the model more sleek. It was refined with match-mounted tires and
wheels, retuned shock absorbers and suspension, and new body mounts for a firmer ride. New side mirrors, which
were integrated into the pillar, were standard. The Riviera S-Type came with standard halogen headlights. The 1980
came with the very reliable 5.7-liter (350 cid) V-8 engine, which gave great performance and a solid 18-19 mpg on the
road.
The Riviera S-Type came with the 3.8liter (231 cid) carbureted turbocharged V-6. The trim on the S-Type was blacked out, as well as the new integrated mirrors, to give a more sporty look. Along with that the grille was complemented by a new flat Black, which made the character of the S-Type different from the standard Riviera. Inside the dash, the S-Type was trimmed with Black dash front and stiffer, more contoured seats. The head rests were integrated into the seats, making the car more sporty and comfortable. |
Optional Turbocharged 3.8L V-6 on S-Type |
New integrated mirrors add to the sleek appearance |
The factory designation numbers were:
1980 Riviera Z-57
1980 Riviera S-Type Y-57
Overall, the 1980 Riviera continued the new tradition of the 1979, and made some improvements on a car that has become a proud continuance of the original concept. |
Ed.: Production numbers remained strong, at 48,621 for the model year. Though air conditioning was
standard, as on the previous model year automatic air conditioning was now available as a $95 option. Also
new was halogen headlamps, standard on the S-Type and optional on
the coupe. Cruise was optional on either model, with 94.2% receiving that convenience. Vinyl roofs were
installed on 64.2% of the 1980 models, with sunroofs on 16.7%. Prices increased with the popularity, with the
base coupe coming in at $11,492, and the S- Type a bargain at $11,823.
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