Photo: imrollinnmy64/eBay
Buick introduced the Riviera as a stand-alone model in late 1962, but the name can be traced back to 1949. That's when the company used it for the first time on a two-door pillarless hardtop version of the Roadmaster. It was the first mass-produced vehicle with this body style alongside the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Coupe.
The Riviera's arrival coincided with the introduction of a brand-new look for the full-size Buick. It was the company's first major post-WW2 restyling. It included a larger, chrome-laden grille, a curved windshield, and the iconic "VentiPorts."
The all-new Buick was an instant hit and sales reached more than 300,000 units. The Roadmaster accounted for 86,130 examples but only 4,314 cars were ordered as Riviera hardtops. All told, the 1949 Riviera is a rare classic with very few survivors still running and driving as of 2024. This green over black two-door is one of them.
The car recently emerged in Fountain Valley, California, and claims to be a low-mileage rig. But it's not a fully-fledged survivor. Even though the odometer shows only 26,794 miles (43,120 km), and the seller says it hasn't been driven in decades, this Riviera had a few repaints. Most of the interior is reportedly original, which is a rare feat in a vehicle this old. However, the door panels are missing. Apparently they've been lost by the body shop that handled the last repaint in the 1990s.
The Buick still relies on its original engine. The 320-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) Fireball straight-eight was rebuilt, as was the two-speed automatic gearbox. Initially rated at 150 horsepower and 280 pound-feet (380 Nm) of torque, the mill is described as "100% original mechanically." The seller says it runs very smoothly and quietly.
He also provides a long list of repairs that have been done over the last years, including the replacement of the engine mounts. And this is where things get interesting and rather mysterious because the owner was told that the old mounts were not from a 1949 Buick but from a previous-generation 1948 car.
This bit of info prompted the owner to get in touch with the previous owner's daughter, who claimed that her father purchased the Riviera in February 1949. That's a few good months before the then-new Roadmaster Riviera went on sale in mid-1949. The seller speculates this Riviera may be one of a few pre-production units built but stresses that he hasn't been able to fully verify this information.
Mysterious bits aside, the hardtop seems rust-free and in solid condition. It's a great candidate for restoration, a process that should also include a return to its factory dark blue color. It's one of the prettiest post-WW2 GMs built and a rare rig you won't see on the road anytime. And if the pre-production scenario confirms to be true, it may also be one of the most historically important Rivieras out there.
Meanwhile, this 1949 hardtop is looking for a new owner via an eBay auction set to end on April 2. Bidding is at $12,600, but the reserve is still in place.
The all-new Buick was an instant hit and sales reached more than 300,000 units. The Roadmaster accounted for 86,130 examples but only 4,314 cars were ordered as Riviera hardtops. All told, the 1949 Riviera is a rare classic with very few survivors still running and driving as of 2024. This green over black two-door is one of them.
The car recently emerged in Fountain Valley, California, and claims to be a low-mileage rig. But it's not a fully-fledged survivor. Even though the odometer shows only 26,794 miles (43,120 km), and the seller says it hasn't been driven in decades, this Riviera had a few repaints. Most of the interior is reportedly original, which is a rare feat in a vehicle this old. However, the door panels are missing. Apparently they've been lost by the body shop that handled the last repaint in the 1990s.
The Buick still relies on its original engine. The 320-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) Fireball straight-eight was rebuilt, as was the two-speed automatic gearbox. Initially rated at 150 horsepower and 280 pound-feet (380 Nm) of torque, the mill is described as "100% original mechanically." The seller says it runs very smoothly and quietly.
He also provides a long list of repairs that have been done over the last years, including the replacement of the engine mounts. And this is where things get interesting and rather mysterious because the owner was told that the old mounts were not from a 1949 Buick but from a previous-generation 1948 car.
This bit of info prompted the owner to get in touch with the previous owner's daughter, who claimed that her father purchased the Riviera in February 1949. That's a few good months before the then-new Roadmaster Riviera went on sale in mid-1949. The seller speculates this Riviera may be one of a few pre-production units built but stresses that he hasn't been able to fully verify this information.
Mysterious bits aside, the hardtop seems rust-free and in solid condition. It's a great candidate for restoration, a process that should also include a return to its factory dark blue color. It's one of the prettiest post-WW2 GMs built and a rare rig you won't see on the road anytime. And if the pre-production scenario confirms to be true, it may also be one of the most historically important Rivieras out there.
Meanwhile, this 1949 hardtop is looking for a new owner via an eBay auction set to end on April 2. Bidding is at $12,600, but the reserve is still in place.
Google News