What can you tell me about this Buick?

1972 Riviera. It's for sale locally, (West Oz), apparently beyond restorable. Looks alright in the photos, though...

Seems to be RHD, too. $2500. How much would a 'driver' be worth Stateside?

Rust, Luke old son, Rust, how would you pay to get body panels for a $2500 car shipped into Oz.

If it came from the Northern states, it wont have floors, trunk, frame, etc, etc, look at it well.

Otherwise, these are just starting to become collectable here. I hesitate to value it but $2500 for a solid one is very cheap.

Hint, rear wheel arch looks like it is bogged over rust, roof showing rust streaks

all i know about those is that i want one.. if it's got a 455, it will have a ton of torque and cruise down the road like a Buick should..

i don't know how Aussie money compares to US money, but $2500 seems like a good deal in US dollars..

aussiesmg wrote: Rust, Luke old son, Rust, how would you pay to get body panels for a $2500 car shipped into Oz. If it came from the Northern states, it wont have floors, trunk, frame, etc, etc, look at it well. Otherwise, these are just starting to become collectable here. I hesitate to value it but $2500 for a solid one is very cheap. Hint, rear wheel arch looks like it is bogged over rust, roof showing rust streaks

You're right, of course. Without even looking at it, if the guy says it's beyond restorable, chances are it's beyond restorable .

Still, fun to think about what could be.

I do say that with many years of desire to own one, so it hurts to be so negative.

Boat tail Riv...

Mmmm...

The Chicago PD character had one on Due South

Are repro body parts even made for those? Neat cars, and definitely an under-rated future collectible, but I'm sure a restoration would mean sourcing NOS/used parts from the States... and they aren't exactly common here either. Although oddly enough, a gas station near me had 2 or 3 of them in their lot for awhile until the shop changed hands.

That said, anything is restoreable... just depends on the depth of your wallet and/or talent at fabricating sheet metal. I can't imagine many RHD models were exported.

Love the boat tails! There was one in my neighborhood pretty eaten up by rust. Everyone I have looked at has some rust, so it seems to be common.

Ian F wrote: Are repro body parts even made for those? Neat cars, and definitely an under-rated future collectible, but I'm sure a restoration would mean sourcing NOS/used parts from the States... and they aren't exactly common here either.

That's the problem... there aren't really anything made for these because people restore ponycars and midsizes, but fullsize cars were always treated as engine swap and demo-derby fodder.

You can build a new '65 Mustang from restoration parts, you probably can't even find trim for a boattail Riv.

Anything is restorable with a welder and enough time and patience.

93EXCivic wrote: Anything is restorable with a welder and enough time and patience.

spoken like a true GRMer!

OH! ohohoh...Tube framed retro NASCAR style street rod.

Sit back and soak it in.

Rear spoiler would be a bit tough on a boattail, though.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Rear spoiler would be a bit tough on a boattail, though.

That's easy: Spoiler on each side of the rear deck, styled to match the boat tail.

Otherwise... those cars are huge tanks, and best used for what they were meant for: comfortable cruising.

Well, it looks like it rained and the windows are down, so...

Streetwiseguy wrote: OH! ohohoh...Tube framed retro NASCAR style street rod. Sit back and soak it in. Rear spoiler would be a bit tough on a boattail, though.

Now thats the true GRMer

I've always been one of those rare individuals that liked the boat tailed Riverias. A fellow Brit club member that recently passed away had one.

Go take a look, it never hurts to look right?

Luke wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: Rust, Luke old son, Rust, how would you pay to get body panels for a $2500 car shipped into Oz. If it came from the Northern states, it wont have floors, trunk, frame, etc, etc, look at it well. Otherwise, these are just starting to become collectable here. I hesitate to value it but $2500 for a solid one is very cheap. Hint, rear wheel arch looks like it is bogged over rust, roof showing rust streaks

You're right, of course. Without even looking at it, if the guy says it's beyond restorable, chances are it's beyond restorable . Still, fun to think about what could be.

Rust is subjective. Some people see surface rust and think a vehicle is a total loss, while others see a completely rotted frame and think nothing of it. The best thing to do is go look at the car for yourself and determine how bad the rust looks to you.

That being said 2500 for a 455 boattail riv could be a great deal or a terrible mistake depending on condition. I'm with you though "Looks good in pics", but that has really burned me before lol.

JoeyM wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Anything is restorable with a welder and enough time and patience.

spoken like a true GRMer!

Whenever I say something is too far gone I pause....then just head over to thesamba, see what the Split VW bus guys just drug out from the bottom of a lake to start restoring, then I shut my mouth. It's amazing the stuff those guys bring back from the dead.

In reply to Cotton:

Agreed. I get the feeling that what may be considered "rusty beyond repair" in Australia would be considered "damn near rust-free" here in the Northeast Rustbelt.

I will tell you this: In the past two years, I have seen approximately one of those in the US.

Had one back in the day. Wonderful road car. A beast from 40 out. Don't remember how it handled, but had big sway bars. Over 500 ft lbs torque. It did like gas stations a lot though. Saw one a few years ago in all shiny black, good wheels, lowered, looked really good.

Woody wrote: I will tell you this: In the past two years, I have seen approximately one of those in the US.

There are quite a few on Hemmings right now. Most asking prices are in the mid-teens.

914Driver wrote:

mmmmmmmm NOW THATS a RIV!!!

1965... arguably the most sought after model.....