parts wanted for 1974 Buick Riviera GS Stage 1

I am looking for drivers and passenger side airbags. This was the first year that Buick put airbags in the Electra's and Rivieras. I am also looking for the tester that is needed to test the airbag operation. It comes with 9 pigtail wire connections that are used to block wire harnesses. I am also looking for all 11 ABS plastic body fillers and all the bumper rub strips front and rear and bumper guard rubbers too. If anyone can help me please answer me back or call me at 973-927-7414 and speak to me or leave a message.

Thank you,

John A Wettengel

I received my steering wheel analyzer and airbag analyzer yesterday. Very interesting testers. It will be interesting when I have the car up and ready to check the airbag operation.

 

There is a company that makes a lot of the ABS fillers. They may make these for your car.

http://www.replica-plastics.com/

 

John,

Board member "75Riv" (Rob) came across an eBay auction for one of those testers, and he was thinking about bidding on it.
There's a big chance that he saved the listing, so you can contact the seller.

I will send Rob an e-mail, he will chime in here to tell you more about it :TU:

 

My next trip to Pa. I can help you with the air bags. I know where a '74 Riviera is with that set up.

 

Thank you so much. This is very good news. I will wait for your reply.

Thanks,

John

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Thanks junkman I will wait to hear from you.

Thanks,

John

 

Even searched an old HDD, but wasn't able to locate more than the following photos and an old eBay mail ; this set was offered for a Buy It Now price of US$ 75.00, but shipping to Europe would have cost a fortune (even back in March 2006), so I decided not to BIN for just a 'nice-to-have' item (regret it now):

 

That would have been something good to grab. I just went on e-bay and there are 4 for sale ranging from $25.00 to $300.00 dollars so I have to make sure they have all the connectors needed to diagnose the airbags. Thanks for the info.

John

 

The '74 Riviera is at a yard called Criswell's near Little Britain,Pa. on SR 272. It's straight behind the office back in the woods.

 

Thanks for the information. I will check that out tomorrow.

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I checked with them they only do fiberglass. I want the ABS plastic. Last year in Hemmings Motor News I ran across a guy in Mineapolis that could make them. He told me he would need the car there to measure it and it would run about $1300.00 to make them. I have all the back issues so hopefully I can find him again.

 

hey John,
what part of the country you live in?
what color interior does the riv have?

 

Yes all the factory ABS fillers cracked and disintergrated. We put some of the fberglass repros on a 78 Electra. One painted you could not tell the difference. I would spend my funds in other areas of the car.

 

Hi Junkman - That salvage yard you speak of has no listing with 411 or the address. I got a phone number but it is to someone elses business. His last name happen's to be Criswell also but he told me that he gets calls for this guy but he is not they guy I want. Next time you go to PA. would it be out of your way to stop there and get his phone number and actual address as I want to come out and get these airbags if he is willing to sell them. I will wait for your reply. This guy that I spoke of said he never heard of route 272. Maybe he is blowing smoke I don't know.

Thanks,

John

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I live in N.J. and the interior is leather seating surfaces with vinyl surrounds. Only 491 cars came out with this option and it cost $586.00 so that explains the low amount. The interior color is buckskin as best as I can tell.

John

---------- Post added at 04:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

I made a mistake. Only 481 cars came out with the leather not 491.

John

 

i would say riv owners got screwed on the price since it was only $255 on the electra and they are the same system except for the wirng harness(length).

 

I don't understand, but the actual name is "Stuart Criswell and Sons" . The yard used to be called "Prangs" . They are west of Nottingham just off of Rt. 272. I have their number 717-529-2612. I deal with them all the time. They are actually on the corner of Roberts Rd and King Pen Rd. but it is right next to PA. Rt. 272 You can get there from I-95 Maryland exit 100. The same exit for Cecil Drag way and North East, Md. Go north across the Pa. line . That is Rt. 272. A mile from the state line is a 4 way stop . 272 goes left into Nottingham past the Herrs potato chip factory across US Rt. 1 by the Wawa . Little Britain and the yard is a few miles past that. There is a bunch of snow there right now.At the office is the start of the main pathway to the back. Just stay on it into the woods and the Riviera is on the right hand side of the path.

 

here is what i have ... dont really know a "todays" value.
i sold a blue full set up before Al Gore invented the internet for a grand to a guy in AZ.
i do know that trim piece around the radio is tricky to find. good construction skills can make the dash recieve the radio and lighter in their perspective places but that trim piece needs to be there to make it all look correct.

 

I think I may have found them. I went on the internet and there they were. I should have done that first. I spoke to one of the guys there and he is going to check their stock of Riviera's and get back to me. I will keep your directions for when I go out there to get them.

Thanks again.

 

That's good. The Riviera is there ,they hardly ever crush anything. Especially the cars that are in the woods. I saw the Rivi in November when I was there last.

 

I always have to laugh when people start giving me details like that, just give me the actual address and my TomTom will do the rest :TU:
When the start with stuff like that, I stop them and say:
"Hang on, I want to record this on my smart-phone. Can you start all over, 3 seconds from now?"

That will always confuse them, because they think it's "scary" to speak when you know that it's recorded.
So after some silence I ask them to just give me the address.... p p p p p

Anyway, here's the address:

13 Roberts Road
Nottingham, PA 19362

Flickr photos of the scrap yard :Comp:

 

I have read where your precious TomTom will put you in a field or over a cliff where there should be a road. You can easily see the yard as you approach it from SR 272 When you first see it, you can tell that it is a junkyard. The directions I gave are fairly easy to follow but thanks for being so condescending about it.

 

What can I say. That is what the man from Riviera Owners Association told me. I can imagine what the leather will cost me in the future.

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I called them on Saturday and they said they would check on Monday. I called again on Monday and he took my name and number and will find out if the car is still there. I do appreciate all your efforts in locating this car. I hope it pays off and I hope the airbags are still good. We will see. I'll let you know how I make out.