Why a Riviera/ I answered that question in the summer of 1983 when I was carhunting for a new Cadillac, My firm had traditionally leased Sedans de Ville for the partners, but we serendipitously passed a Buick dealership. I saw the most beautiful car I had ever seen, a Riv white convertible with the top down and booted up on the showroom floor. My 9 year old daughter said it looked like a Rolls Royce. I leased it on the spot and bought it for the resid 3 years later. Best thingCarwise) I ever did. Still have it, 85,000 miles, garaged, mint condition, on only the second roof. The greatest Riv of all is mine, the '83 convertible. No matter that it does 0 to 60 by Tuesday, it still is a work of art! Richard Brennan

My grandfather owned a Chrysler dealership in Texas from the late 30s until the late 60s. When he retired and sold it, he arranged with the new owners that, for a commission, he would sell the traded-in upscale GM cars to his large network of friends and business associates. The Mopar trade-ins were resold at the dealership; Ford products were traded for Mopars with Ford and L/M dealers. Ford dealers didn't want Chryslers on their lots any more than Chrysler dealers wanted Fords on theirs, for some reason.

Anyway, Grandad had a constant selection of about 4 cars in his driveway at any given time, driving them around to various country clubs and restaurants to show them off and try to sell them. As I recall, there was almost always a Cadillac (loved the Fleetwoods with the foot rests) and usually a Toronado, Electra, 98 or Riviera. My first exposure to a Riviera was a '68, I think, when he brought it to my parents house in Dallas in 1971. It was parked on the street out front on a slight grade. I hopped in the passenger seat at the curb and must have jostled the floor shift. It slipped into neutral and coasted down the hill with the passenger door open. It happened so fast that I just froze, while my mother was running down the sidewalk in high heels trying to grab me, the door, the car, anything. The car finally stopped about 100 feet down the hill as it rubbed the curb. Boy, did I get scolded!

Seven years later I was 16 and getting my first car. My parents were still in their Chrysler fan days, so I ended up with a '71 New Yorker that I really didn't want since it was a boring 4-door, not the sporty car that a high schooler wants to be seen in. Eight months later, shortly after I turned 17 in 1979, I found a boattail '72 Riv in Santa Barbara near where we lived then. I had to have this Vintage Red "fastback" coupe with bucket seats and console. $1,300 later, I had my "sporty" car, and the New Yorker was history.

I had that first Riv for about 2-1/2 years until an engine fire forced me to sell her. After two intervening Cordobas (one of which, "Christine", I still have after almost 17 years), I bought another '72 Riv GS in 1993. That dog lasted 1-1/2 years before I gave up on it. Then I got an aqua '59 Imperial in spring 1999 (which still needs some cosmetic work), and followed up with a mint original Arctic White/blue cloth seats/blue vinyl sport roof '72 Riv this past July. All three cars ('83 Cordoba; Imperial; Riviera) are fun to drive and show off here in DC, but the Riv is by far the show car. All the options, including the factory sunroof, work. She gets 17mpg on the highway. She and I were written up in a column in the Washington Times in September. I guess third time's a charm, as the cliche goes.

Neal Herman
1972 Buick Riviera "Bianca d'Azure" (means white & blue in French)
1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton "Aquitania" (aqua ocean liner)
1983 Chrysler Cordoba "Christine" (old reliable that seems to fix herself, like the Stephen King novel's namesake car)

All I can say is WOW!! This is really what it is all about, loving the cars and how they affect our lives.

I am new to this message board and have had mixed feelings about the tone of some of the discussions. However, to put it in perspective, our love and enjoyment of these cars brings out the passion and that is a good and healthy thing.

I really enjoyed the story about your car, your grandfather and it's impact on your life. I have history with a '63 Riviera that entered my life when I was 5 years old. I remember seeing that sculptured shiny blue machine pull into my grandmother's driveway. It was love at first sight. The car belonged to my grandmother's sister, Hazel Lucky.

Hazel was a tall beautiful woman with an amazing smile and a great sense of style. The car fit her. I thought she was the coolest.

The car was actually purchased by her only son for himself. He drove the car for the first few years until he got married. His new bride had a 1965 Buick Wildcat and both being young college professors realized they did not need two cars. Since the Wildcat was larger and newer, the Riviera went to his mother. I guess it was a way to still "keep" the car.

Years later, he bought his mother a new car and took the '63 Riviera back. He is now 66 years old and still has the car and two other Rivieras. The car had been garaged until the last couple of years and has now unfortunately developed some rust. It only has 70K miles and is complete.

He has offered the car to me and I really want it badly. I have been debating if I should take on the restoration of the car. I wish it did not have the rust. I realize I will probably end-up spending more than the car may be worth. I have considered just buying a nice clean car that does not need restoration, however it would not be the same.

Finding a transporter was on my list of things to do today even before reading your story. Your great story has confirmed my decision to restore this car. The great childhood memories and family history give the car value to me that cannot be measured in money.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Ed Murchison