anyone know for sure if doors are the same for 71, 72, 73 rivieras? just double-checking. boat tail, boat-tail, boattail. anyone besides me ever heard them called diamondbacks? was common years ago in some california crowds.
All 71-73 RIV doors are the same on the outside the 73 door has a diffrent mount for the drivers miror but can be made to work.
So, if the hinges are different on a 73 Riv, that means there isn't a single body panle from that car that can be readily stuck onto a 71 or 72? Why did GM even bother?
The hinges are the same the doors are basicly the same just diffrent mounts for the mirors and body side moldings. They will all bolt up same hinge points I have 71 and 72 replacments on my 73.
Are you sure? The driver's side door on my '73 doesn't match up well with the hood and fender and it's not just that the door is riding a bit low. I always wondered if it wasn't off another MY car.
GM cars from the 60s 70s were not that well made finders and doosr were hand fited for the most part. the clearance of the finder, doors and hood are all related to each other very close. I had to move the whole front clip over to get the correct clearance and aliment of the hood even though the front clip was never moved in the process of replacing the doors. Watch when you open the doors and check the clearence between the hood and doors I would bet that its not even.
Not being an expert I always thought the 73 doors were slightly different. From what I understood the rear fenders were extended to remove the true "Boat-tail" rear end and turn it into more of a fastback. Anyway, I always figured this would affect the sweepspear running down the length of the car, including the door. Just what I've always figured.
I should have been more clear. It's not the gaps that are off (although they are) it's the "S" shape of the hood and fender by the mirror that don't seem right.
As far as I know the contoures are the same for all three years. I know for a fact that I have 71 and 72 doors on my car. The rear quarters were cut square and end caps used to finish off the quarters.for 73. The side spear trim on 72s has pot metal ends at the rear quatrers that end in a point. The 73 side trim ends just befor the end caps and is beveled to finish it off.
Have you ever tried looking at a book called an interchange manual? That would be a good source for accurate info.
i have 2 n.o.s 73 1/4 skins (yes, actual nos 73 riv skins!!!) and used 72 and 73 full 1/4s. the full 1/4 are a little bit dinged up ,but the skins fit near perfect on top of both, the only minor difference is on the potmetal end that r davy is talking about. the contour is the same.
Sounds like it's settled then: doors are the same for 71 -> 73. A bit of good info too as my upper-Midwest car needs about every piece of metal incuding doors. People always admire it but I know what's behind and underneath. Reminds me of a friend who had a Buick Regal he was very fond of. He bought another car (from AZ or somesuch) and transplanted the engine. Said it was still the same car as the engine was the heart.
