DIALED-IN '69 RIV, RECENT RESTO, 430 V8, AUTO, PWR STEERING/BRAKE, A/C, GR8 DOCS

While corporate cousins Toronado and Eldorado went front-wheel-drive in the late '60s, the Buick Riviera kept sending power to the back (likely because the 430 cubic inch V8 is a torque monster). However, that doesn't mean this 1969 Buick Riviera isn't just as stylish, luxurious, and appealing as the others. In fact, you may just find that the Riviera is the best-driving of them all.

Wearing a timeless combination of white paint and a black vinyl top, this big Buick looks both sporty and luxurious, which was the whole point of the Riviera. It's immense, don't be fooled, but the proportions hide it extremely well and you can see both a nod to the past and hints of the future in its dramatic sheetmetal. The two-stage urethane paint is extremely nice, better than most cars in this price bracket, and it seems that this was never a rusty car because all the sheetmetal lines up just right (and there are no replacement panels for these cars). For a Buick, there's remarkably little trim, mostly just the massive front and rear bumpers, and you'll particularly like the smooth front end, which hides the headlights above the grille openings where they can drop down when they're needed. Be prepared to draw a crowd with that little trick. The black vinyl top is in excellent shape as well, with none of the usual signs of trouble underneath, no popped seams, and a clean installation that looks sleek.

The black interior is largely original save for the carpets, and it's in wonderful shape for being nearly 50 years old. A split bench seat offers a sporty look and feel while retaining room for up to six in this full-sized coupe and the back seat is as big as any full-sized car of the day. The upholstery has held up quite well and even the door panels show bright wood veneers and arm rests that haven't been crushed by decades of elbows resting on them. The instrument panel offers a bunch of rectangular boxes for the various dials, switches, and knobs, and there's a trio of auxiliary dials under the dash. The options list includes automatic climate control, power windows, and an AM/FM stereo radio with rear speaker, which was pretty loaded by 1969 standards. There's a modern center console with dual cup holders and the trunk is positively massive, with a custom bulkhead cover.

The massive 430 cubic inch V8 delivers the kind of power to make this giant coupe feel downright fast. With a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, its specifications read like those of a muscle car, but it's luxury car smooth so it feels effortless in everything it does. It wears correct Dante Red paint on the block, a reproduction decal on the air cleaner assembly, and even a Delco battery topper. It starts easily and runs quite well, with a muted hum being the only sensation that tells you it's running. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission is a big upgrade over the old Dynaflow and doesn't seem to notice all the torque running through it. The massive rear end housing has highway gears inside as well as a panhard rod to keep the axle centered under the car. And speaking of under the car, it's incredibly clean with no signs of trouble in the past. Aluminum brake drums are familiar to Buick fans and handsome Buick road wheels carry 225/75/15 whitewall radials.

Heavily documented with a window sticker, receipts, manuals, and restoration photos, this is a Riviera you can buy with confidence. There just can't be many that are nicer than this. Call today!