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| The seller is asking 5,000 dollars. Located in Bakersfield California. |
A design analysis.
Why would I want to buy a car that I've already owned? Actually the count so far is up to four; two 1966s, a 1967, and finally, a 1971.
The car that I'm thinking about is a '70 model. Interestingly enough, this face lifted model followed the highest selling year and only had a single year run. The '71 was the debut of the boat tail series and it was totally different from any of the proceeding second gen cars.
This design was not that popular new and hasn't been that popular since. Some would describe it as ugly or at least ungainly.
It all depends on your vantage point.
Since I've been mulling over this CL find I decided to do a little research.
I've often thought that this model referenced certain classic Buick styling themes.
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| Perhaps inspired by a baleen whale? |
The uncovered headlamps, paired with the vertical grille bars that extend below the center of the bumper seems to echo the 1950 Buick. Fortunately, in a more delicate manner.
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| A face only an orthodontist could love? |
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| This sweep spear trim was optional. |
The sweep spear side trim reminds me of the 1953 Skylark. This theme became a very strong Buick styling trademark and continued for many years. It has been even used on more current models like the La Crosse.
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| 1953 Skylark sweep spear. |
The roof appears to be the same as the '66-69 models but the rear quarter panel is no longer separated from the plane of the C pillar. A more "fuselage" look is achieved, contrasted against the earlier raised hip styling. The quarter panels also have a heavier appearance along the bottom edges, there's even fender skirts! A choice of two lengths. The rear bumper continues the downward sloping look of the quarter panel. This combines to give a somewhat humped back appearance to the rear deck. Combine that humped look with the smaller bumper mounted tail lamps and it kind of mimics the rear of... the 1953 Buick. I'm surprised that the portholes hadn't been reprised!
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| A very heavy rear aspect. This car features the long skirts. |
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| 1950 "humpy" trunk. |
None of these changes were done by accident. The question remains of why GM went with such a radical face lift of the Riviera's biggest selling version. I could understand if they had just tacked the front end on the existing body. I think that it would have looked pretty good and would have maintained continuity.
Instead we end up with a mish-mosh of historical styling elements.
But wait, it gets worse.
With GM design, the answer is always Bill Mitchell. What Bill wanted, Bill got. He had certainly rolled out the hits before, the Corvette, the original Riviera, Toronado and Eldorado. Really, the entire Cadillac line since the early 1960s. He had a fascination with certain Classic styling elements and tried to incorporate them into current models. Usually, but not always with success.
I think that the 1970 Riviera can be seen as a precursor to the new 1971 Eldorado. That car picked up the simulated quarter panel air scoops of the 1955 Cadillac. The trunk took on a blunted, boat tail look, that stood proud of the extend blade style quarter panels, bumper and tail lamps, The bumper rolled under giving a very vintage look to the rear end. Overall, the car took on a much heavier aspect. Such a divergence from the razor sharp 1967 to 1970 models!
Maybe Bill wanted to gauge public reaction to his neo classical designs. The Lincoln Mark III had debuted a year earlier and though a new model, it carried some strong references to the earlier Mark II series. I don't think that public response could have really made any difference, as the design was already rushing towards production. But perhaps he wanted to "pre-condition" the public for the unveiling of the Eldo. This way the neo classic elements wouldn't be a complete shock.
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| This is one of the more sympathetic portraits of this model Riviera. |
I found an article on the website, "How stuff works," which had been printed in Consumer Guide magazine. According to this article, Mitchell decided to change the focus of the Riviera from "Ferrari/Rolls Royce" to something else. He directed the new chief of Buick styling, Donald D. Laskey to put some "French" into it. Specifically, to put some Delage into it! It was the 1937 Delage D8 120 Aero Sport coupe that had caught Bill's imagination. This accounts for the heavier rear quarter panels and deck.
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| 1937 Delage D8 120 Aero sport coupe. |
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| Hey, this things got a "humpy" trunk too! |
It's pretty difficult to recreate Classical styling with a modern envelope body. You can see some of this French influence in the fender bulges of the 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. It is even clearer in the quarter panel design of the subsequent 1971 Riviera. I guess Bill saved a little for that model!. At least he held back on the skirts!
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| Now those quarter panel haunches make some kind of sense. |
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| This ones got a "humpy" trunk too! |
Ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is the 1970 Riviera beautiful? Is it ugly? Or is it just one influential man's interpretation of a Modern Classic? In my judgement it is just distinctive. They don't make cars like that anymore, and truthfully, they didn't make too many like that then!
Would I buy one? I think so. It is the last of the second gen design. I've had a few, and it remains the same size, and it debuted the potent 455 cid. engine. The third gen Boat tail feels like, and looks like a much bigger car. The difference to me is that the second gens are more like a big muscle car, while the third gen is more like a Coupe de Ville.
If I was to get one I would play up the classic elements by using wire type wheels and wider whitewalls. I'd prefer the deeper fender skirts also. I'd also modify the segmented look of the tail lamp lenses into a single red lens. I think a set of Bellflower pipes that follow the bottom of the quarter panel would be a nice accent. No vinyl top. The paint would be a simple deep dark color.
I think it would look pretty good and be a great highway car.
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| Everyone's got an opinion. |
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