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BUICK Super Riviera Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 2
First production year: 1956
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Coupé (two-door)
BUICK Super Riviera Coupe photo gallery

Buick introduced in 1958 for one year only the Super Riviera Coupe, which complemented the Super Riviera Sedan.

By the late '50s standards, the Super Riviera Coupe was one of the most loaded cars on the market. It featured equipment for which a customer should pay big bucks to have them on another car if available. It was a combination of a large Fisher body enhanced with chromed parts and a striking, vibrant look.

At the front, a horizontal chromed slat divided the front fascia, which sported the dual headlamps on its upper side and a grille on the lower side. On the lowest part, a chromed-metallic bumper completed the image of the luxurious coupe. Buick added more chromed trims on the sides, with an arched-down line starting from the headlights and ended on the rear wheels-arches. It was still the era of fin-tails. In the back, a triangular trim surrounded the rear taillights.

The car featured large seats at the front, a divided rear seat bench, and an additional junior seat. At the front, the padded metallic dashboard featured a Motorola "sonomatic" radio and an analog clock on the passenger side. In contrast, in front of the driver, Buick placed all the controls and buttons needed. Even the ventilation dials and buttons were next to the steering wheel.

Under the big hood, the carmaker installed a 6.0-liter Fireball V-8 engine, which provided 300 hp to a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission. To further improve the car's safety, Buick installed cooled aluminum drums in all corners.

full description and technical specifications
BUICK Super Riviera Sedan photo gallery

Buick introduced the Super series in 1940, but it constantly upgraded, added, and modified units during the production time that lasted until 1958, when the slow sales led to an abrupt stop, but not before introducing the 1956 Super Riviera Sedan.

Designed by the brilliant Harley Earl, Buick Series 50, introduced in 1954, was available in four bodyworks: two with four doors and two with two doors. Despite a consistent drop in sales, GM was not ready to pull the plug on the Super Riviera, which was an upscale version of the Series 50. Moreover, it added the four-door sedan version.

The Super Riviera Sedan was built on the same C-Body platform used by General Motors for Cadillac Series 62, Buick Roadmaster, and Oldsmobile 98. It featured a front fascia adorned with a massive chromed bumper and a broad grille that sported the 1956 Buick Super badge in the middle. For that year, Buick added four teardrop-shaped ventiports on the front fenders. From its side, the vertical A-pillars supported a panoramic windshield that was curved on the sides. Its hardtop-style greenhouse without a B-pillar resembled a coupe, and at first sight, it was difficult to notice the rear doors' handles. Behind the C-pillars, the quarter panels ended in a pointing-forward V-shaped rear end that hosted the taillights.

Inside, the vinyl-covered front bench could have easily accommodated three passengers. Yet, Harley Earl focused on the driver and offered them a complete instrument panel with three rectangular gauges underneath the linear speedometer on the dashboard. Moreover, the three-spoke steering wheel could've been easily handled by any driver, thanks to the power-assisted system. In the back, the bench was also large enough for three occupants.

Underneath the hood, GM installed the 5.3-liter Nailhead V8 engine with on-head valves. It was paired with a standard Dynaflow three-speed automatic transmission.

full description and technical specifications
gasoline engines:

BUICK Super Riviera Sedan 2.6