First of all sorry if I missed the answer - I really did search this forum but did not find a dedicated buyers guide... sorry if I am posting this in the wrong section, I really did my best to find the appropriate place for this question. This Saturday I will visit my first Buick Riviera, it is my first attempt to buy one. Yes, I have experience with old cars and US V8 cars but not with cars that did not move for approximately 1 year. The car mentioned is this one http://voorraad.autodatawheelerdelta.nl/buick/riviera/boattail-1971/occ374575-4daf7 and as far as I know it was kept inside but did not move many months. So what should I watch when checking and driving this car? Is there a dedicated buyer's guide I missed?
Greetings - looks like a very nice original car at a premium price I would not worry if the car has sat for a year. Was it started at all during that time ? If so, no real worries at all. If not, before starting I'd check the coolant level, Brake Fluid level, oil level and if it is clean i'd pull the coil wire, not touch the gas pedal and crank it for a good 15-20 seconds to build up some oil pressure. Then reattach the coil wire pump the gas pedal 4-5 times and fire it up. Once running, put it in neutral (have someone apply the brakes or chock the wheels ..) and let it run a good 30 seconds or so and check the Transmission fluid level. That should be all that is needed before a test ride - the brakes may stick a bit and have surface rust on surfaces so drag the brake pedal a bit while applying enough power to move forward 30-50 yards .. from a slow roll shift into neutral and let it roll - if a brake is hanging up you should feel it dragging the car down. If you do purchase it - I would suggest a full fluids change before driving it any .. Oil, Antifreeze/water, Trans fluid and brake fluid. It is a very beautiful car, but as I said, at a premium price. As such, I would expect everything to be perfect or I would start deducting $$ for every item not 100% ... and NEVER pay asking price. That is just a starting point for negotiations :beers2:
For every thing you ever want to know about boattails goto the Boattail Registry http://www.boattail-riviera-by-buick.com/ included in the libraries is <center></center> Boattail Riviera Option-Production Numbers - Prices - Availability-Colors <center></center> Documentation Decoding and Veh Matching Guide <center></center> Boattail Option Lists - Windows Stickers+ Buick Order forms/prices <center></center> 1971 Buick Dealership Color & Trim Binder - Plus Options Lists & Pics GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Buick Dealership Binder - Exterior Color & Top Selector Insert - plus Riv Pictures GM Corp <center></center> 1971 GM Basic Specifications - MSRPs - Options/Prices - Booklet GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Buick Salesmens Feature Guide - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Buick Facts Pocket Binder - Salesmen's Guide - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Buick Pocket Price Directory - 24 November, 1970 - - - - - - - - - - - - - an insert to the 1971 Buick Facts Pocket Binder - Salesmen's Guide - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 GM Stockholders - GM Full Line Brochure - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Full Line Buick Brochure - zoom set for browsing pictures - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Full Line Buick Brochure Higher-res zoom set for reading text small pictures - GM Corp <center></center> 1971 Buick Dealer Pricing Guide (invoice MSRP etc) - GM Corp - sent in by Bob Bonto
You may want to get the VIN and check for its history http://boattail-riviera-by-buick.com/historicalsales/index.php?qoption=vinsearch&doSearch=Sort%2FSearch&q=38456 i
Many many thanks - those materials from http://www.boattail-riviera-by-buick.com/ did already keep me awake many nights since starting to look for a Riviera And as the car has this price attached since a year and no sale they either stick to the price 100% (then I am out) or nobody did ask for the car and they are flexible (then I am in danger of buying it)
Yesterday I did visit the 71 Riviera. The owner = vendor considers his cars more as furniture and not as trading items, so he has no worries having a car standing there for a year or two so he is not really flexible pricewise. The Riv started without any problems with the first 5sec try. The whole car is not "polished" at all, has no rust at the spots I examined. It got completely new brakes main and at wheels in the US in 2011 when the car had 37k mls so just 1k miles since 2011. The driver seat is original and no damages but is uswd as you would expect for 38k miles. Door inside is plastic and visibly used, e.g. from usage of non electric windows. Car das no AC so outer air vents are fake. I was not able to drive the car as there were many other cars parked between the Riv and the exit and I had not oo much time to justify this. With the iPhone I took some pics I try to upload them now.
Quite a high price for such a very low optioned (very rare!) Riviera . No pwr windows/no AC/no CC/cheap standard interior/no cornering lights/no chrome plated wheels/
