The Pick of the Day is a 1972 Buick Riviera listed for sale by an Alabama dealership on ClassicCars.com.
The third-generation Buick Riviera made a convert out of me. It was about 20 years ago when I was a student at the University of Texas at Austin. I was car-crazy just as a I am now, but my horizons were much narrower. I was mainly drawn to new European and exotic cars, although I did enjoy cruising around with my best friend Jacob in his Honda S2000. Although 1950s and 1960s domestics were a part of my childhood, I had yet to develop a greater appreciation for American cars of yesteryear.
That changed one afternoon as I was walking around the UT campus. One of my fellow students came roaring down the street in something I had never seen before. It was a massive, heavy-looking car coated in candy-like burnt orange paint. I knew it was from a different decade, but the money that was clearly put into its restoration and customization meant its finish and massive aftermarket wheels were brand-new. Its visual presence was matched by the vocal power of its dual exhaust outlets, which blasted out a sound that was undoubtedly enhanced by aftermarket hardware. I was entranced.
As the Riviera drove past me, I turned my head to follow it foot by foot. My final (long) look at that land yacht was the most stunning. The Riviera’s boattail was both confusing and exhilarating at the same time. There was a boldness, an indulgence, and even a touch of indecency to that tapered rear end. Since then, that version of the Riviera has always been on my short list of desirable Buicks. I never looked at old American cars the same way again.
The ’72 Riviera shown here is impressive in its own ways. It doesn’t have a loud paint job or giant wheels, but it doesn’t need them. It’s perfect as it is. No word on the official name of the paint color, which is listed as just “Brown.” If it is indeed a factory color, judging by Buick’s exterior color chart for this model year, it could be Burnished Bronze. No matter what it is, it looks great on this car. So does all the trim, which appears to be shiny and straight.
Inside, the seats are covered in what seems to be Sandalwood vinyl. That gentle color coordinates well with the brown carpeting and woodgrain accents surrounding it; the dash trim with an engine-turned finish adds a bright metallic touch and highlights the low figure on the odometer, which is currently 8,452 miles. Amenities include a tilt steering column, air conditioning, and a more modern radio.
Under the V-shaped hood is an enormous 455ci V8 from a tugboat, which came from the factory with 8.5:1 compression and a four-barrel carburetor. Power reaches the rear whitewalls through a column-shifted automatic transmission.
If this is your first time seeing a Riviera, it doesn’t have to be your last. After you reach out to the selling dealer to find out the price, you can buy this one and get an eyeful of its big and bold styling whenever you want.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
