The 1965 Buick Riviera, still a sought-after model in the classic car marketplace today, was offered in a Gran Sport trim that came with a dual exhaust, a performance suspension, and headlights hidden behind “clamshell” doors on opposite ends of the fender.Īutomotive journalists praised the Riviera for its smooth-riding road manners and intuitive dash. Known for its “knife-edge” design, the first-generation Riviera (1963-1965), named for the Italian coastline, a geographic area known for its beauty and the affluence of its residents, featured flared fenders and a big-block V8. The Riviera, different in most ways from the competition, oozed classiness with a hint of personality borrowed from Europe’s grand touring cars. Unique for its innovative design, luxury features, and impressive performance, the Riviera’s svelte lines were a breath of fresh air at a time when American luxury cars were typified by their bloated, clunky size and ostentatious fit and finish. Making a grand entrance on its own in 1963, the Buick Riviera was launched to steal market share from the wildly popular Ford Thunderbird. It wasn’t until 1963 that Buick made the Riviera a standalone model. The Riviera began its reign as a trim of the popular Roadmaster. Buick Riviera: Luxury and History Collide Here’s a nostalgia-tinted look in the rear-view mirror at three Buick classics––the Riviera, the Roadmaster, and the performance-oriented Grand National. Regardless, the list of iconic vehicles is incredibly short, and three of them bear the Buick nameplate. Perhaps scarcity breeds longing, or maybe, in Buick’s case, it has to do with pride in American manufacturing. Some iconic vehicles, like the Buick Grand National, have brief production runs of only a few years, while others, the Buick Riviera, enjoy decades of robust sales before being retired.īecause these cars are so different, it’s hard to pinpoint the common denominator that sets them up for timelessness. These vehicles influence modern designs sometimes for decades after they’ve exited the production line.

Which features earn a car icon status? It’s the usual––performance and style––but beyond the obvious reasons lies the true magic. As one of the oldest automotive brands on the planet, Buick has a long history of building cars with enduring legacies. Skim a used Buick dealer’s inventory, and you might find such a vehicle if you’re lucky. Iconic vehicles are not only timeless but sought after years beyond their expiration dates.

Every now and then, an automaker hits the sweet spot, producing a vehicle that’s more than just a vehicle: it’s a symbol of an era.

Holden timeless beauty