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Great topic. My addiction started when I was 12 or 13 years old.
Growing up with my Grand parents I had the distinction of getting
my Hair cut by "Eleanor" my granny's hairdresser for over
35 years. She had beauty parlor built on to the back of her house.
You had to walk down the driveway to get the to the entrance and there
it was a 63 riv in a pinkinsh mist color. I loved looking thru the
window thinking the console and overall interior was way beyond its
time and somewhat space age looking. I told myself "I'm gonna
own one of these cars before I die" I would ask Eleanor if she
give me the car. She laughed. This was in the early eighties. Fast
forward to 1998. I began looking for the car I had seen so many years
ago. I was not sure of the year but I remembered exactly what the
car looked like. I saw the car in a book of American cars and I was
on a quest. I first bought a 67 with disc brakes but it threw a rod.
Not to be thwarted, I searched again and bought a Chevelle which I
restored and took that money and Finally found a 64. I had never even
driven one before I bought it. Just new I had to have the car. I too
have restored the vehicle as a lasting memory to my grandmother may
she RIP. Thanks for letting me ramble. Phil Seitz
The first boattail Riviera I experienced was in Stockholm Sweden,
1987. I was working there for the summer. I was walking (bar walk!)around
in the centre one friday evening with some friends. Then something
happened. There it was. The car was driving very slowly to a intersection.
The first thing I saw was a loooong front that just wouldn´t
stop. The car turned left and I just couldn´t stop looking.
When the side and rear was shown I knew this was something different.
The exhaust note was very low and somehow deep when it idled away.
At first I didn´t regognize the make and modell since I hadn´t
seen one ever before. Had to look it up in some car magazines. After
that the sight haunted me ever since. I started searching for a 71-73
Riv in Finland. It took me several years locating one. I even ordered
a list of Rivs from our local DMV (yes we can do that) and placed
many want to buy adds in car mags. Generally nobody wanted to sell
or the price was sky high. Fast forward... one sunday morning, drinking
coffee, seriuos Riv fever/(desperation?), clancing thru the used car
adds, "For sale Buick Riviera 1972". Just like that. The
car was only 15 min away so I called the number. Woke up the guy by
misstake (7.30 am sunday). Drove over and bought the boattail. The
car was in much better condition than I could´ve imagined. Been
cruising around ever since. The second one could be 71 GS with bucket
seats, centre console.........
Best wishes
Stephan Ostrom
#8399 ROA
72 Riv
I usually go my own way, but in this case dad and granddad had good
luck with Buicks and I liked them myself. I remember in the '66-7
time when going with mom and dad to Swanberg and Schiefe Buick in
Minneapolis. Mom liked the Riv, but dad looked in the trunk and said
no room for all the luggage that summer vacation travel required.
So he ended up ordering a '67 Wildcat gold 2 dr. I always liked that
car with fastback styling, but the '66-7 Riv was also a favorite with
me. A few years go by and I end up with the Wildcat and had my one
and only major engine problem to date-spun #7 rod bearing. Only found
out in recent years about the 430 oiling system shortcomings. Move
ahead many more years and was able to acquire decent examples of both
cars-much enjoyment from these.
Dan Lapham Mpls. Mn.
R.O.A. #6329
Due to economic circumstances, I needed to start working at an early
age. When I was 16, I got a job working graveyard shift at a gas station.
Saw lots of cars and learned about what they could do. I have always
loved upscale muscle cars. My first car was a Chrysler 300, and then
I moved to a Lincoln and then a Mustang (too small for me on that
one).
A couple of years later, I was getting ready to graduate from high
school and having worked my tail off had several college offers. Unfortunately,
my birthday came out 39th in the lottery and my attention turned from
college to survival. I joined the Air Force and bought a 72 Boattail.
I figured if I was going to check out, I would at least leave behind
one hell of a car.
I loved that beast and would give plenty to get it back no matter
what it's present condition is. However, while working on my PhD,
I met my true soulmate, and within 20 days was engaged to her. We
were married 75 days after first meeting her, and life has been getting
better every day since. While finishing up in college, I started my
family and became to soul breadwinner. The Riv had to go, and it still
causes pain to think about losing her.
Fast forward 22 years, and I am preparing to go out on a disability
pension due to severe arthritis. We decided that it was time to complete
our family and we purchased a 72 (GS, I think). That car is my second
favorite car ever, and I do not think it will ever be sold again.
Why a Riv -- how else can I combine my early poverty years, my time
in the Air Force, my early marriage, and the maturity of today. I
do not know of any other time machine that will feel that bill.
Now if I could just crawl around her like her big sister -- oh well,
its still good to have some things we can only dream about.
Lloyd K. Pearson
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