Hi Buick Fans! I have been dragging my feet to start my post on here. I have a lot of Riviera pictures on my Cardomain page if any one want to look there. I am 33 years old and my name is Grant and I live in Lima Ohio. I have had my Riv since January 2010. I found it on craigslist it was the 3rd 68/69 I looked at and I had to have it. I went 3 hours away to Cleveland to look at this Gold 69. This guys daughter put the posting up and he told me that no one has actually come to see the car but he had alot of calls. His name was Dave and he told me on the phone that he metioned to his wife that the first person to show up to see his car is going to buy it. He was right and that was me. I am the fourth owner of this beauty. The 1st was from Roanoke Va, this guy kept this Riv for 30+ Yrs and then a dealer in Mentor Oh, for two yrs and Dave had it for 8 and now me forever! Ha! (Maybe) Well what can I say no Rot anywhere. When I got it, it had 67,000 miles super nice inside and 1 repaint around (Y2K) 2000 Just a really nice old car with lots of documentation original bill of sale and protecto plate. Well I am going to go really mild on customizing, nothing that can't be put back to stock. Check out my pictures. Dave lived on A dead end street in a not to great part of Cleveland this car was a diamond in the Ruff. He had a neighborhood bar about 4 houses down on the end of his street called Frenchies Escape thats how I named my car. The Riv made its Escape to my house. These 3 Pics are when I first saw the Riv at Daves house. This is Dave driving Frenchie the last time onto the trailer I will put up some more pictures really soon. To be continued.....
Nice car Geeman. Sounds like you got a very well cared for Riv. Those are great driving machines and ones in that condition are getting harder to find. If you haven't already, check out http://www.rivowners.org/
Ok Now to more pictures! Yes I am a ROA member! When I first got it home I had to let it set for a few months It was January 2 yrs ago and I was not going to put in on the road in Ohio in the winter. Then since dave only put 4,000 miles on the car in 8 yrs the water pump went south I guess from age and non use? So I got to fix someone elses headache busted bolts in the timing cover. I am not going into that right now. But I did need a new timing cover. Ok lets just say someone thought a easy fix is to just drill new hole and tap tem beside the busted bolts and then drill new mounting holes on a new water pump!!! Yeah.......Right!!!!! Before and after.... My buddies 69 olds My brothers 69 Cad I added mirrors off a vega
Looking mighty fine, Gman. I love my Riv as well. Check out Yardley's pages about his 69 Riv as well. www.1badriv.com
Just two more for today. and my X-mas present sitting on my garage floor Jamco drop kit 3 in drop front and back going on soon today it is like 68 degrees in Ohio so as soon as I can get more garage time I am doing the suspension so check it out soon. Thanks for looking and coments welcome enjoy! Grant(Geeman) My first gen radio holder
Grant: Don't forget to put your name in your signature, we are all here on a friendly first name base :TU: Here's the link :Comp:
Hey Bad Boatail. Thank you for posting that link to my cardomain page! You can see that I had some Honda's before but got tired of spending money on those and not getting any back in return. So now I know Classic is the only way to roll. My dad Got me started into old cars. Oldsmobile's have always been in the family and my brother has a blue 68 Delta 88 he has had for 20 yrs and a 69 Cadillac. My dad has a 33 Plymouth coupe and a 48 Pontiac Convertable both steetrods. I like Cadillacs and Buicks. I used to have a 1985 Fleetwood Brougham. Yep I think Rivieras are great but I am starting to like Gran Sports more in more so who knows someday.... Well I do want to own a Lincoln Mark v someday too. Thanks again.
Like I typed above: :beer Buy a Riviera Gran Sport, life is too short to drive one of those little A-body Buicks !!! :Smarty:
Collin--- Yep Lima! Thanks for the welcome! I live right near I-75 (Bath Area). Maybe I'll run into you at a show. I try to go to Findlay to the Owens College show in June each year. Back in 1999 and 2000 I worked in Findlay at a place on North Main St. called Northview Rapid Print. Drove back and fourth to Findlay every work day.
..Last years show was very nice. Had a portable chassis dyno and all kinds of goodies. You should also consider coming up in August for the BalloonFest...they have quite a car show then also.
That is a very nice car!!!! BUTT... I hate everything you are doing to it, why does a classic have to be treated like a Honda and modded? Leave the poor car alone, they are called classics for a reason.o No:
Boy I BET you didn't walk away from that deal. Sometimes colors make the car and certain colors just fit. That has to be one of the best color combo's on a 69 that I can remember seeing. Very very clean nice looking car. Love it. I hear the comments on the customization but that is why we all own what we own. Because we like them they way we like them. Those wires look right at home if you ask me. Seriously that color combo has me!! :gp:
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I think the color has grown on me. It is a bit darker and deeper than the factory gold on this car. When I got it the paint was nice but not never buffed and looked not so great but in nice shape. I have spent many hour and sanding and buffing to make it shine. So far I have used 4 or 5 small bottles of the 3M rubbing compound and the end result is well WOW! I think sometimes people just say things just to get people going.....Like... I hate everything you are doing to it, Leave the poor car alone, they are called classics for a reason. Whats up with that!!!! When this rjs above buys this car from me he can put it back to stock! Does he keep his house the exact way the is was built and leave the decor just how it was when new????? Thank you again I was starting to think my car car had stock to be on this forum. LOL!
Well, I like the wire wheels, and while I may not drop my Riviera as far as you plan, (I dropped mine just over an inch.) I don't fault you for doing what you want to make the car the way you want it. All seem to be mild modifications. I don't see any butchering. Everything can easily be reversed should an owner down the road wish to change it back to stock. But for now it is your car to do with as you please. :beer Now, if you were to go with 30" Donk style wheels, and a Lime green and Fuschia paint and interior color scheme..........:blast: :laugh:
Well here are the pictures with the Jamco 3in drop setup for those interested. When I was done it ended up being almost exactly 3 inches on all four corners. I took before and after measurements. Thank for looking. Grant
