1966 Buick Riviera Coupe review from North America
"Pure Classic Americana!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The 412 cubic inch motor had awesome power, but was worn out by time I bought the car. The mileage was only 45000 when it got it.
General comments?
On the plus side, this big Buick had a pretty good transmission and road handling characteristics. The body was heavy and it sat on a real chassis (frame). No cheap unibody stuff. The 4-speaker AM/FM stereo radio was one of the first true multiplexed models put into a car. The chrome was classy and blended into the body lines well. In 1966, this was a hotrod for upscale, middle-aged folks -- with room for the kids. 0-90 mph in the blink on an eye. Sadly, like most V8 engines of its time, the 412 could not take much more than 50000 miles of city driving before showing its age. It only cost about $700 then for a pro engine rebuild, but that was a lot of money then. $700 could buy you another big, used, American land yacht.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1966 |
| First year of ownership | 1974 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1975 |
| Engine and transmission | 412 cu in OHV Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 46000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 54000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 23rd October, 2002 |