@Danthelandyachtfan79 - I agree. 100%. And awesome name btw. Gen X rules!! 😉 Anyways, looks like we got us a defector in your comment section. Probably drives a Subaru and tells everyone how much better his Japanese car is vs American..... 😑 Lmao!! 😂😂😂
This 4700 lb "ugly" car could push several new cars off the road into ditches, popping air bags everywhere along the way and still look beautiful driving away. Newer don't mean better. This is the last beautiful car made in America, before the mandatory fat lip safety bumpers in '73. You probably think square headlights were a good Idea. I've owned a 71&72 Rivieras and If I get another you better get the hell away from it.
Getting rid of cars is probably one of the biggest mistakes in Auto history. In 20 or 30 years there will be documentaries about how the American car manufacturers screwed up and only made trucks and SUVs.
My dad had the very same pup in '72. No hole in the roof, though. My dad's was fully equipped with the limited slip axle. We, took trips up/down the east coast. The only mods were steel belted radials. What a difference. With all the available adjustable/power equipment, I, was able to drive that behemoth. My dad always had Big BUICKS since the mid '60's, Riviera G.S every 2/3 years from brand new. But, '72, became his favorite. I,can vouch, it was a Fast land yacht. After that, NEVER THE SAME.
What a car. These Buicks rode like a Magic Carpet on the open road. 1972 was the last halfway decent year for a really long time. Not many cars even come close to the ride comfort of these big boat Buicks. Love it!!
I disagree. I love all the cars of yesterday. I'm a little over sixty. My favorite Buick R. Was the 65. 425 with 2 4 barrels carbs. What a sleeper. Talk about the four wheel power glide. Scary cars back then. Tubes in the tires. Nothing for brakes. Armstrong steering. And the open road. Backseat full booze and a sweetie beside me. Life was great. Was.
I had a 1971. My late father had a 1972 in this exact color. Between us we had 1963, 64, 65, 67, 70 and 1996. These boat-tails were the best of the bunch.
I miss these times too but cars have only gotten better since then. My wifes 4-cylinder 2018 Kia Sorrento has more hp and torque than that giant riviera with its 455 4barrel. Plus far better mileage. Technology certainly has come a long way.
@@chimster1234 Crashing your Kia into a tree would improve it's styling. All American cars after 1972 are ugly junk. I could drive this 4700lb Riviera and push your ugly shit Kia into a ditch and watch your air bags pop, then drive away. How safe is that, pussy?
The base 72 / 455 smog equipment restricted Riviera had a net hp of 225/360 TQ.and it went up in engine stage options from there...to 270/390 TQ....in 1972 the Buick 455 was dropped to about 8.5 to 1 compression ...In 1970 the same Buick 455 had a rating of 370 /510 TQ.....and they did offer a dual 4 barrel carburated option on the mid 1960s 425 V8 which upped the torque numbers and put the hp at around 425 horses....these cars would definetly move....and the single 4 barrel carburated Riviera got around 15 miles per gallon on the highway.... Gas was cheap then, and ride and power , and style were of more importance.....
I always liked the Buick Rivieras, although I prefer Pontiac's 69-70 Grand Prix as my personal car. GM styling had it going on in the 50s, 60s and early 70s.
I LOVE Buick. I'm a Roadmaster fan. I want a '57 and WILL buy one in the future. But deep inside I am a massive sucker for Pontiac too. I love the Bonneville, Grand Prix, Le Mans, GTO, Tempest (60's not 80's LoL) and of course, the Firebird T/A 👍
The era of the land yacht. These types of vehicles once dominated the roads of America. Floating, wallowing, nose diving, and power steerable with your pinky.
It always felt spooky going fast in these on roads with corners. You feel so disconnected from the road it's somewhat of a guess which way it's gonna go in a corner.
Love Rivz' Had 2 Bobtailz 71' n 72' after putting new springs ,shocks coilovers , She Handled Beautifully!!! Bambio Cream with Sandlewood interior, Buckets n Console, my "BlondeRiv" I Loved Her!!!
Well I sure didn't drive my '72 like this, but it's nice to see someone else do this to theirs. Just proves it's the last beautiful car. Looking spectacular at every angle, at any speed, parked, or behind the wheel. Best car I've ever saw, drove and purchased. (a '71&'72).
I didn't drive my 72 that hard either but I would say "spirited". Didn't need the helmet, but I did wear both the lap and shoulder belts in my Riviera, because when you were buckled in you got a better feel of the road and how the car handled. I actually enjoyed wearing the seat belts- increased safety and an enhanced driving experience, it was a no-brainer. Along with a full tank of gas and a pack of Winston 100's, I was a happy 25 year old.
American cars weren't made to be tight handling cars back then. they were meant to be landyachtz with soft cushy rides especially especially big high-end ones like Buick Cadillac Lincoln et
The only reason gas prices even went up is because car manufacturers started making more economical vehicles. So the gas industry had to continue making money. I still drive a Roadmaster with a 300hp 350 though. I don't care about high gas prices. I Love my Buick.
So, many of you younger people think your foreign cars are better? Really? These had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases. Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car? I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on TH-cam. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise. You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds. So, who benefits? It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months. They save BILLIONS of Dollars from firm suspensions. It's all about money now. Not your comfort. You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
Almost five thousand pounds of gas sucking, coffee cup sloshing, coif spoiling, divan driving, sea sick inducing performance! I sure would love to own one!
It only sucks gas if it's running 😉 Those 3 speed autos mated to hp-spewing big blocks certainly were not made for fuel economy. Although they averaged around 9-10 mpg (not bad for a boat with balls). The Lincoln Mark 5 averaged 8 mpg Lmao!!
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 Back when gas was about 30 cents per gallon. Seems cheap today but even back then, it didn't take long for prices to at least double. That Buick was an expensive car to buy and to run...even in 1972. My father in '72 was making about 10 grand per year (single income household like most back then btw), paying on a 35k mortgage at 6.5% interest, and raising 2 kids. The family car was a 1969 Chevy Kingswood station wagon with a 396 that got about 8 mpg in town and was run only when necessary. Fun times though! BTW, that wagon could sure haul ass when Dad's right foot got itchy. Sure loved the sound of that 4 bbl carb when Dad tromped on it.
My dad had the exact model Riviera GS 455 Stage 1. Limited slip rear,auto level control, OEM mags, & VOGUE tyres. But, he didn't have the hole in the roof nor cruise control, but, he had the speed buzzer. He loved that car. With all the adjustments I learned to drive that behemoth easily. But, I remembered his had 455cid 4bbl, & a Stage 1 sticker . So this must be a regular 455. Big block- Naturally Aspirated. With today's technology i.e. Dodge Viper - don't Need No Stinkin Turbo or Supercharger!!!!
@@INNO222 When I got my 1st new car, I ordered it again, cheaper than cruise control. I got me a 2dr Buick Landau coupe,225. Astroroof, power every thing, chrome Buick rims & the VOGUE tyres. Brushed aluminum molding, etc...for a tick over $9k. Even limited slip,try buying a full equipped car new or used (entry luxury) for that $$$$$. They say it's INFLATION. $$$$ It was a 1976, got it in early December 75. I miss those behemoths, the serene & smooth ride was AWESOME. U could drive for days,& still feel fresh. NOW, U got to pay heavyweight $$$ for that. Just a better handler. When I purchased my new '83 Riviera, it too had it, in place of the much more expensive cruise control. I had many non GM cars after that.
@@INNO222 if I'm not mistaken only BUICKS offered this feature. But, it still was available in my '83 Buick Riviera. It's a great option & inexpensive. No speeding tickets
Had a '71. They all had 455 4 barrels, but mine wasn't a GS. It was a beautiful mauve color (pinkish/brown). Not being a GS, it had a bench seat. In good shape but GM vinyl interior materials started to get weaker by '68. '71 to '74 Rivs were just LeSabers with a different rear body clip. My '65 was another story!!!
455 4 barrel automatic on the floor fully loaded my car is a beast this thing will pass anything on the road except the gas station at air conditioning cruise control positraction rear end she was fast and mean I wish I still had it I bought a brand new
I Love GM. I'm sitting in a full-size boat ('96 Roadmaster with the 300hp LT1 350) as I write this. But the fact the video tried to demonstrate the handling of this behemoth makes me laugh as it aggressively leans. If the door wasn't closed ths driver would've fallen out onto the track. Lmao!! GORGEOUS car. The 455 was incredible. But man have times changed!! A sporty luxury vehicle back then: 0-60 in 8-10 secs. A muscle or full sport car did: 0-60 in 5.5 secs. Now a sporty luxury vehicle does: 0-60 in 5.5 secs. A muscle or full sport car does: 0-60 in 2.8-3.5 secs.
Those cars did have quite a bit of body roll, hence wearing the lap and shoulder belts was critical. Not only did they hold you in place for the obvious safety aspects, but with both belts buckled, you really had an enhanced feeling of how the car drove and handled. Back then I was one of the rare people that buckled up, just as much for the enhanced driving experience as for the safety aspect.
The Last beautiful American car made,IMO. 1973 got big fat lip bumpers on everything. Ugly (square?) head lights in '74...Every American car in 1970 was beautiful. By 1980, all ugly junk. Still are today.
That was the speed warning needle to remind the driver that he is going faster than he wanted to go. It could be set to any speed. When the driver reached that speed, a buzzer reminded him that he exceeded the speed he wanted to go. It was great as a way of not getting a speeding ticket.
A 455 BBL? I guess the title of this means it has a carburetor. It would be strange if it didn’t at the time. The title doesn’t specify which variety, though, which is makes it an odd title when describing the the type of engine.
0:42 - I kind of get the feeling that USA cars are as good as the music of the time. Nowadays we have rap ... and look at the cars. Just add a "c" to the rap and you get ...
If I had one, I'd paint it gunmetal grey, lower and widebody it, put 5 spoke wheels on it, put a camaro v8 in it, remove the front bumper, and put some racing parts in the interior. Oh, and a side exhaust build into the side of the car.
They didn't handle like today's cars for sure. However, back in the day, if you were one of the rare guys like me that wore both the lap and shoulder belts, you were held in place and you had a better feeling of how the car drove and handled especially during spirited driving. Problem was hardly any one wore a seat belt back then.
@@Lucille69caddy Now we are getting assume-ish here. FYI, I have a collection of different brand cars, but if its one thing I know about brand owner's is they assume a lot. Too much.
@@mkaestn How old are you? Well I think since I drove the car, I think I know a lot of about Buicks as my parents had many. Are you a dem-lib? Since you cannot seem to handle an opinion that does not agree with yours?
@@enerrivers4392 I know, I was only kidding because in all these videos they measure the braking distance in a massive 4 wheel lockup skid. it's kinda funny, maybe back then threshold braking wasn't a commonly known technique.
Mine handled great after a rebuilt front end. The 455 is heavy on the front end, as is the car.(4740lbs curb weight) New radial tires are a Huge improvement over 1972 tire tech, as with most classic cars. You could throw the rear side ways with the gas and it would come right back in line. 4 link rear helps with stability. Test driver is just a psycho in this video having fun.
Your BMW is somehow better? Really? These cars had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases. Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car? I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on TH-cam. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise. You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds. So, who benefits? It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months. You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
Buick had a speed reminder needle that the driver could set to remind him that he was going faster than he wanted. On this car, it was set at 85 MPH. It could be set to any speed though.
@@waynejohnson1304 Thanks. I thought it might have been the editing and the car actually was going 85 at that moment. I'm not quite sure I understand the point of that needle though. If you know you don't want to exceed 85 it's right there on the Speedo. That doesn't take a reminder. Four people read and liked your reply to my comment in two hours? *shakes head* Thou dost try too hard. ;)
@@fifteenbyfive Not everyone can constantly monitor the speedometer though. There are times when using the cruise control isn't feasible such as when you are in heavy traffic. At the same time though, you don't want to follow someone on the highway and find you are going 90 mph in a 55 zone either. In this Buick, you could set the maximum speed you wanted to go and when you got to that speed, the buzzer would remind you so, you didn't get a speeding ticket. It was not a popular piece of equipment though. It was annoying to hear the buzzer going off so, it was later deleted.
One day I drove my boss's car, a 1984 Buick Rivera. What a terrible car. It was down sized from the earlier ones. It was slow, mushy suspension and not good lucking at all. Terrible
STILL one of the most beautiful American cars EVER built!!!!!!
Lol
@Danthelandyachtfan79 - I agree. 100%. And awesome name btw. Gen X rules!! 😉
Anyways, looks like we got us a defector in your comment section. Probably drives a Subaru and tells everyone how much better his Japanese car is vs American..... 😑
Lmao!! 😂😂😂
Right up there with the pacer and gremlin. UGLY.
Chris Moyers uses a Braille keyboard to type.
This 4700 lb "ugly" car could push several new cars off the road into ditches, popping air bags everywhere along the way and still look beautiful driving away. Newer don't mean better. This is the last beautiful car made in America, before the mandatory fat lip safety bumpers in '73. You probably think square headlights were a good Idea. I've owned a 71&72 Rivieras and If I get another you better get the hell away from it.
When GM was at their best! Today every car wants to be an ugly crossover.
Getting rid of cars is probably one of the biggest mistakes in Auto history. In 20 or 30 years there will be documentaries about how the American car manufacturers screwed up and only made trucks and SUVs.
When you actually see one in person they look amazing!
When you actually drive one it is awesome.
My dad had the very same pup in '72. No hole in the roof, though. My dad's was fully equipped with the limited slip axle. We, took trips up/down the east coast. The only mods were steel belted radials. What a difference. With all the available adjustable/power equipment, I, was able to drive that behemoth. My dad always had Big BUICKS since the mid '60's, Riviera G.S every 2/3 years from brand new. But, '72, became his favorite. I,can vouch, it was a Fast land yacht. After that, NEVER THE SAME.
What a car. These Buicks rode like a Magic Carpet on the open road. 1972 was the last halfway decent year for a really long time. Not many cars even come close to the ride comfort of these big boat Buicks. Love it!!
Agree drove one from Detroit to Columbus Ga and back.
Disagree. I love y
I disagree. I love all the cars of yesterday. I'm a little over sixty. My favorite Buick R. Was the 65. 425 with 2 4 barrels carbs. What a sleeper. Talk about the four wheel power glide. Scary cars back then. Tubes in the tires. Nothing for brakes. Armstrong steering. And the open road. Backseat full booze and a sweetie beside me. Life was great. Was.
@derrickconnolly9164 I thought passenger car tires were mostly tubeless by the 1950s
Yeah, i owned one of these many years back and it was BIG and GREAT. Sadly i couldnt save all cars i owned over the years but this one i really miss.
*The '72 Boat tail Buick, Riviera, THE most beautiful Buick ever!*
A friend of mine purchased one new back in 1972 and still has it. He loves that car.
I had a 1971. My late father had a 1972 in this exact color. Between us we had 1963, 64, 65, 67, 70 and 1996. These boat-tails were the best of the bunch.
I’ve always thought of it as a giant Corvette Stingray.
Same designer, Bill Mitchell.
Excellent, now I will too.
Nice car. When cars had stile and power. We people who lived these times were very fortunate. We had nice cars back then
I miss these times too but cars have only gotten better since then. My wifes 4-cylinder 2018 Kia Sorrento has more hp and torque than that giant riviera with its 455 4barrel. Plus far better mileage. Technology certainly has come a long way.
@@chimster1234 Crashing your Kia into a tree would improve it's styling. All American cars after 1972 are ugly junk. I could drive this 4700lb Riviera and push your ugly shit Kia into a ditch and watch your air bags pop, then drive away. How safe is that, pussy?
The base 72 / 455 smog equipment restricted Riviera had a net hp of 225/360 TQ.and it went up in engine stage options from there...to 270/390 TQ....in 1972 the Buick 455 was dropped to about 8.5 to 1 compression ...In 1970 the same Buick 455 had a rating of 370 /510 TQ.....and they did offer a dual 4 barrel carburated option on the mid 1960s 425 V8 which upped the torque numbers and put the hp at around 425 horses....these cars would definetly move....and the single 4 barrel carburated Riviera got around 15 miles per gallon on the highway....
Gas was cheap then, and ride and power , and style were of more importance.....
@@gregoryj.m.8985 for sure. Gss wad 30 cents a gallon. In today's money, that's about $2.10. Today, its 2.90 miminim
I drive my 73 rivi daily ! Land yacht speeding at it's finest
"Couldn't raise the window high enough to read the price"Classic Bud!Thanks for putting these up John Doe.Enjoying seeing the way it used to be
E Meyer It was about $6000 and some change. That was expensive in '72!
Historically, Buicks were more expensive than Cadillac Lincoln and Rolls Royce.
Buicks were ALWAYS awesome cars......
1996 was the death of GM history. Ths full-sized car was finished. Very sad.
I HAD A BUICK LE SABRE 455 1970
IT COULD BROIL OFF THE TIRES AT A STAND STILL. WISH I STILL HAD THAT CAR.
I have a 1969 gs stage 1 4 speed.
Buick built a one of one 1970 Wildcat; 455, etc...with a 3spd on the tree. It's still around today
Loved this show when I was a teen back in the day--- my Aunt loved older Buicks and had a Wildcat with a 401
jim dandy those ol Nailheads ran
@@deborahchesser7375 I thought I was a car guy why were they called nail heads? I had a 68 duece and a quarter with a 430. And was a ragtop.
John Young Small valves, all in a row in the head. Like nails in a board. The engine emphasized torque over high rpm breathing/HP
@@charlesdalton985 thanks I've been waiting for an explanation for the comment. You're never too old to learn something new. Thank you
The old men I knew would have never drove this car like this.
I always liked the Buick Rivieras, although I prefer Pontiac's 69-70 Grand Prix as my personal car. GM styling had it going on in the 50s, 60s and early 70s.
1969 El Dorado convertible wasn't too shabby.
I LOVE Buick. I'm a Roadmaster fan. I want a '57 and WILL buy one in the future. But deep inside I am a massive sucker for Pontiac too. I love the Bonneville, Grand Prix, Le Mans, GTO, Tempest (60's not 80's LoL) and of course, the Firebird T/A 👍
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 Growing up, my friend's father had a 63 Riviera with dual quads and that was one badass car!
This one was my favorite Buick Riviera boattail, my favorite land yacht.
Let's not forget the Buick Silver Arrow III styling exercise. Simply......A Work of Art.
I feel like I’m watching the Rockford Files.
Only thing missing is the Firebird doing a Rockford to get away from the Buick
I telling you. 👍👍
good old boat tail, the '71 was nicer because it had dual grills on top of the trunk lid
The era of the land yacht. These types of vehicles once dominated the roads of America. Floating, wallowing, nose diving, and power steerable with your pinky.
It always felt spooky going fast in these on roads with corners.
You feel so disconnected from the road it's somewhat of a guess which way it's gonna go in a corner.
Love Rivz' Had 2 Bobtailz 71' n 72' after putting new springs ,shocks coilovers , She Handled Beautifully!!! Bambio Cream with Sandlewood interior, Buckets n Console, my "BlondeRiv" I Loved Her!!!
Beautiful unique styling and great performance for its weight (0-60 in 8.5)
Well I sure didn't drive my '72 like this, but it's nice to see someone else do this to theirs. Just proves it's the last beautiful car. Looking spectacular at every angle, at any speed, parked, or behind the wheel. Best car I've ever saw, drove and purchased. (a '71&'72).
I didn't drive my 72 that hard either but I would say "spirited". Didn't need the helmet, but I did wear both the lap and shoulder belts in my Riviera, because when you were buckled in you got a better feel of the road and how the car handled. I actually enjoyed wearing the seat belts- increased safety and an enhanced driving experience, it was a no-brainer. Along with a full tank of gas and a pack of Winston 100's, I was a happy 25 year old.
Flint, Mi still gets bragging rights for such a gorgeous car.
Man I miss the 70s
Lead sled! Beautiful..but really quite a boat.
"Rebound and recovery were good" as he runs into the grass.
But hey, it has a 'hole in the roof'.. LOL
Well he DID keep control of it. That's what he's talking about. A little fishtail on a 19 foot long car is to be expected.
One of the funniest on youtube.
American cars weren't made to be tight handling cars back then. they were meant to be landyachtz with soft cushy rides especially especially big high-end ones like Buick Cadillac Lincoln et
If he runs into the grass the rebound and recovery were even better.
Back in the day, that car was the cats meow.
Still is!
The only reason gas prices even went up is because car manufacturers started making more economical vehicles. So the gas industry had to continue making money.
I still drive a Roadmaster with a 300hp 350 though. I don't care about high gas prices. I Love my Buick.
Would LOVVVVVEEEER to come across one of these beauts
So, many of you younger people think your foreign cars are better? Really? These had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases.
Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car?
I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on TH-cam. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise.
You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds.
So, who benefits?
It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months.
They save BILLIONS of Dollars from firm suspensions. It's all about money now. Not your comfort.
You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
@Techrecycle4u No one cared about the price of gasoline then. It was only .59 cents/gallon.
@Techrecycle4u
Only commies cared about that.
Thanks for the upload.,
Beautiful....Back in 1988 I had a White 1985 Buick Riviera S-Type that I absolutely loved.
Ahh... the sad version of its former glory.
Of course I'm sure the sticker price on that boat would look like a steal compared to a used Honda Accord
Almost five thousand pounds of gas sucking, coffee cup sloshing, coif spoiling, divan driving, sea sick inducing performance! I sure would love to own one!
It only sucks gas if it's running 😉
Those 3 speed autos mated to hp-spewing big blocks certainly were not made for fuel economy. Although they averaged around 9-10 mpg (not bad for a boat with balls). The Lincoln Mark 5 averaged 8 mpg Lmao!!
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 My grandparents had a 1972 Eldorado. 8-10 mpg
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 Back when gas was about 30 cents per gallon. Seems cheap today but even back then, it didn't take long for prices to at least double. That Buick was an expensive car to buy and to run...even in 1972. My father in '72 was making about 10 grand per year (single income household like most back then btw), paying on a 35k mortgage at 6.5% interest, and raising 2 kids. The family car was a 1969 Chevy Kingswood station wagon with a 396 that got about 8 mpg in town and was run only when necessary. Fun times though! BTW, that wagon could sure haul ass when Dad's right foot got itchy. Sure loved the sound of that 4 bbl carb when Dad tromped on it.
Always loved those boat tails..
Does anyone know what track it is that they are using in this video? Is this Grattan in Michigan?
My dad had the exact model Riviera GS 455 Stage 1. Limited slip rear,auto level control, OEM mags, & VOGUE tyres. But, he didn't have the hole in the roof nor cruise control, but, he had the speed buzzer. He loved that car. With all the adjustments I learned to drive that behemoth easily. But, I remembered his had 455cid 4bbl, & a Stage 1 sticker . So this must be a regular 455. Big block- Naturally Aspirated. With today's technology i.e. Dodge Viper - don't Need No Stinkin Turbo or Supercharger!!!!
What's a speed buzzer?
@86HMann Do you know what year they stopped installing them on cars and was it on certain makes only? Thanks for you response!
@@INNO222 When I got my 1st new car, I ordered it again, cheaper than cruise control. I got me a 2dr Buick Landau coupe,225. Astroroof, power every thing, chrome Buick rims & the VOGUE tyres. Brushed aluminum molding, etc...for a tick over $9k. Even limited slip,try buying a full equipped car new or used (entry luxury) for that $$$$$. They say it's INFLATION. $$$$
It was a 1976, got it in early December 75. I miss those behemoths, the serene & smooth ride was AWESOME. U could drive for days,& still feel fresh. NOW, U got to pay heavyweight $$$ for that. Just a better handler. When I purchased my new '83 Riviera, it too had it, in place of the much more expensive cruise control. I had many non GM cars after that.
@@INNO222 if I'm not mistaken only BUICKS offered this feature. But, it still was available in my '83 Buick Riviera. It's a great option & inexpensive. No speeding tickets
@@enerrivers4392 Thank you!!!
My father had a 455 Buick Wildcat, that engine was a torque monster.
THAT'S A LOT OF IRON!!
SWEET!!
I owned one of these in 1986 i loved it.
I had one and I want another one !
Sweeet. I'd love to have this car now.
You still can find one in good shape today👍
Anyone know the name of the song in the background?
Had a '71. They all had 455 4 barrels, but mine wasn't a GS. It was a beautiful mauve color (pinkish/brown). Not being a GS, it had a bench seat. In good shape but GM vinyl interior materials started to get weaker by '68. '71 to '74 Rivs were just LeSabers with a different rear body clip. My '65 was another story!!!
8 track behind the radio dial! Major tech feet at the time! Good times still!
455 4 barrel automatic on the floor fully loaded my car is a beast this thing will pass anything on the road except the gas station at air conditioning cruise control positraction rear end she was fast and mean I wish I still had it I bought a brand new
Its styling: you either loved it or loathed it. No in-between.
Yes l had a buick boattail, great car
I'd think even blind people would like it.
I like it. Especially since the trunk lid looks like a cowl induction hood!!🙆
I had one mind was fully loaded 455.
Independent suspension upfront....i hope so...when was the last straight axle....1940s?
Beautiful car!
Awesome car, had to laugh the driver wearing helmut
120" wheelbase.. Todays Suburban is 130"!! Damn I miss these boats.
122"
And it's a 2 door
@@waynepugh4981 I knew a Wayne Pugh who worked in Newark. Is that you?
I Love GM. I'm sitting in a full-size boat ('96 Roadmaster with the 300hp LT1 350) as I write this. But the fact the video tried to demonstrate the handling of this behemoth makes me laugh as it aggressively leans. If the door wasn't closed ths driver would've fallen out onto the track. Lmao!!
GORGEOUS car. The 455 was incredible. But man have times changed!! A sporty luxury vehicle back then:
0-60 in 8-10 secs.
A muscle or full sport car did:
0-60 in 5.5 secs.
Now a sporty luxury vehicle does:
0-60 in 5.5 secs.
A muscle or full sport car does:
0-60 in 2.8-3.5 secs.
Those cars did have quite a bit of body roll, hence wearing the lap and shoulder belts was critical. Not only did they hold you in place for the obvious safety aspects, but with both belts buckled, you really had an enhanced feeling of how the car drove and handled. Back then I was one of the rare people that buckled up, just as much for the enhanced driving experience as for the safety aspect.
Sorry, Bob there are not torsion bars in the car. Coil springs all around.
does anyone know which site this is ? where is this track today ?
The Last beautiful American car made,IMO. 1973 got big fat lip bumpers on everything. Ugly (square?) head lights in '74...Every American car in 1970 was beautiful. By 1980, all ugly junk. Still are today.
Having to pick something you don't want sucks. But you learn to coincide with the decision. LoL!!
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 yeah... Kind of like the Plandemic... But we shouldn't get TOO complacent.
1:44 even when sitting still, the Buick is always doing 85mph!
That was the speed warning needle to remind the driver that he is going faster than he wanted to go. It could be set to any speed. When the driver reached that speed, a buzzer reminded him that he exceeded the speed he wanted to go. It was great as a way of not getting a speeding ticket.
Nice paint..
Reminded me of Elvis' black Stutz for a moment.
That's some scary braking!
Nice!
A 455 BBL? I guess the title of this means it has a carburetor. It would be strange if it didn’t at the time. The title doesn’t specify which variety, though, which is makes it an odd title when describing the the type of engine.
Rochester Quadrajet.
Just a shame what they did to bigblocks in the 70s with the pollution control garbage chokin the life out of those motors!
200 feet....from 70 mph...ohhh my.
If you're lucky enough to find one for sale. Have plenty of 💸 ! Because they Ain't cheep !!! Still one of my dream cars !!!
My Riviera had a 455 cubic inch engine, I believe it was 7.9 liters,
7.5 liters (455)
7.5 liters. The 500 was 8.2 liters. The 440 was 7.2 liters. The 350 was 5.7 liters. The 400 was 6.5 liters. The 425 was 6.9 liters.
Pure Americana.
This ones even got a hole in the roof.
and the 73 was heavier and the 74, even heavier
and ugly too.
wonder if 30 years from now we'd buy our current 'supercars' for 10k and drive them only on the weeekends
I wouldn't want to drive one from 30 years Ago. Too new for me.
Whats with the helmet?
For safety, in case of an accident
Sun roof was nice
with 'torsion bars' he probably means sway bars.
MrZdvy Chrysler Corp. used torsion bars on their cars.
They had both
I guess you could refer to it as a torsion bar.
The last death throws of GM style
Where’s part two ?
0:42 - I kind of get the feeling that USA cars are as good as the music of the time.
Nowadays we have rap ... and look at the cars. Just add a "c" to the rap and you get ...
Hole in the roof?! 😳
It's definitely baby boomer slang 😁😁 I always wondered why my dad said that when he was talking about my sunroof in my cars lol.
I'm not a boomer but call it a hole in the roof dagnabbit
If I had one, I'd paint it gunmetal grey, lower and widebody it, put 5 spoke wheels on it, put a camaro v8 in it, remove the front bumper, and put some racing parts in the interior. Oh, and a side exhaust build into the side of the car.
@The94GTC nah. They'd paint it white or purple, shag carpet interior, gold trim, and put some white walls with daytons or vouges on it.
@The94GTC didn't know pimps were into roll cages and racing seats and harnesses.
Just hilarious what they thought was good handling back then
They didn't handle like today's cars for sure. However, back in the day, if you were one of the rare guys like me that wore both the lap and shoulder belts, you were held in place and you had a better feeling of how the car drove and handled especially during spirited driving. Problem was hardly any one wore a seat belt back then.
my dad had one. not much room in the back seat. i liked his fairlane 500 better.
Only 260 hp. Such a shame.
Man they sugarcoat that review. Anybody got a Time Machine? LOL
LAND YACHT!
No cheaps today? Try 2024!
5 seconds to 50 but 8.8 seconds to 60?
For a 270 hp 4500 pound car with a 3 spd auto and polyglas tires on it, 0-60 in 8.4 is reasonable. I'd also guess its rear axle is what? 3.08?
Inconsistency is key
That is great, I never laughed so much. My parents had one just like it, what junk, GM never has stopped deceiving the public.
brian b lol. I never laughed so hard again at your senseless comment! Hahaha!
brian b He’s a Fixed Or Repaired Daily/ Found On the Road Dead fanatic. Forgive him for he knows not what he says😆
Yeah, i agree. Actually owned one and it was just GREAT. 😊👍
@@Lucille69caddy Now we are getting assume-ish here. FYI, I have a collection of different brand cars, but if its one thing I know about brand owner's is they assume a lot. Too much.
@@mkaestn How old are you? Well I think since I drove the car, I think I know a lot of about Buicks as my parents had many. Are you a dem-lib? Since you cannot seem to handle an opinion that does not agree with yours?
If you get tired pull over
Threshold braking?, never heard of it.
@@enerrivers4392 I know, I was only kidding because in all these videos they measure the braking distance in a massive 4 wheel lockup skid. it's kinda funny, maybe back then threshold braking wasn't a commonly known technique.
Gangster.
When they showed the interior I swear I could smell stale cigarette butts.
You did, Winston 100s.
Who the fuck was Bud Lindemann?
Beautifull car, handling forget it.
Mine handled great after a rebuilt front end. The 455 is heavy on the front end, as is the car.(4740lbs curb weight) New radial tires are a Huge improvement over 1972 tire tech, as with most classic cars. You could throw the rear side ways with the gas and it would come right back in line. 4 link rear helps with stability. Test driver is just a psycho in this video having fun.
3:47 ya just slide off into the field lol
but ya don't feel a thing doin it
Your BMW is somehow better? Really? These cars had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases.
Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car?
I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on TH-cam. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise.
You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds.
So, who benefits?
It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months.
You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
Big boat
1:44 It looks like it's going 85mph standing still!
Buick had a speed reminder needle that the driver could set to remind him that he was going faster than he wanted. On this car, it was set at 85 MPH. It could be set to any speed though.
@@waynejohnson1304 Thanks. I thought it might have been the editing and the car actually was going 85 at that moment. I'm not quite sure I understand the point of that needle though. If you know you don't want to exceed 85 it's right there on the Speedo. That doesn't take a reminder. Four people read and liked your reply to my comment in two hours? *shakes head* Thou dost try too hard. ;)
@@fifteenbyfive Not everyone can constantly monitor the speedometer though. There are times when using the cruise control isn't feasible such as when you are in heavy traffic. At the same time though, you don't want to follow someone on the highway and find you are going 90 mph in a 55 zone either. In this Buick, you could set the maximum speed you wanted to go and when you got to that speed, the buzzer would remind you so, you didn't get a speeding ticket. It was not a popular piece of equipment though. It was annoying to hear the buzzer going off so, it was later deleted.
One day I drove my boss's car, a 1984 Buick Rivera. What a terrible car. It was down sized from the earlier ones. It was slow, mushy suspension and not good lucking at all. Terrible
MAGA