27th Mar 2008, 17:19

I have a 1989 Riviera with an interesting history; paperwork that came with the car showed it never went through a Buick dealership. After it was manufactured, it was driven 71 miles on a GM test track in Michigan. It was shipped to the Electro-Motive plant, a division of GM outside of Chicago, where it went into a GM executive program for 6 months. It was then sold to an employee (my brother) through a GM employee purchase program. Always garaged, he kept the car in perfect running order from 1989 to 2002 when he reluctantly sold it to me when he retired. He knew I had always admired the car.

The paint is the original White Diamond Mist that still glows like an angel in the summer sun. With burgundy leather and suede interior, the car has a rich classy look. The engine, trans, and touch screen, as most everything else, is still original and in proper working order. Occasionally the car attracts attention when least expected and the touch screen is a great conversation piece. This Riviera has every option available at the time, including a moon roof and automatic trunk closer. It also has the touring suspension which, although a bit stiff, makes the car handle like a slot car. What fun!

I took my '67 Mustang convertable to a cruise night contest and my wife drove the Riv and parked behind it. A judge said I should register the Riv for the show. I did. It won.

A 19 year old car used almost every day, with 173,000 miles on it, probably isn't worth a lot... but I feel this one may soon become a classic.

27th Jan 2009, 17:11

I have 2 1989 Rivs; one white, one black, but can't get the touch screen to work, they don't light up, but they do function. Any ideas on how I can fix them?

6th Apr 2009, 14:43

Send the CRT to Eddie on E bay. If it can be fixed he will fix it for 150 bucks. He is a good man.

24th Apr 2011, 17:59

I have a 1989 Riviera, & the speedometer & gas gauge went out. Any ideas?

Also, I have a diamond white one that got rear ended on the highway at a high rate of speed. That car was solid.. Need parts, anyone??

21st Apr 2012, 09:27

Regarding the 1989 Riviera touch screen. I am considering buying a 1989 Riv from the original owners. It does indeed have the touch screen, just like the 89 Reatta I owned. Thanks.

7th Feb 2013, 22:01

Please Note: I have a 1989 Buick Riviera and have maintained this for many years. Your "comment" that the car being discussed "must" have been before 1989... absolutely false and incorrect... mine is in my garage!

Howard from York, PA 2/7/2013

7th Feb 2013, 22:09

I also have a 1989 Riviera. My touch-screen comes on "only" in the summer when it's very hot outside. After researching the "cause" and tearing it apart several times (no shorts)... I am absolutely convinced... they used a technique that was "new" at the time called "cold soldering" for circuit boards.

Some forums have indicated the owners got TV repair shops to "re-solder" the soldering contacts with very good & reliable results. Some happened to save & have this work done very cheaply as well.

This is my next activity/action to keep my Riv "running forever". Good Luck.

Howard in PA

7th Feb 2013, 22:13

I am located in York, PA where are you & the Riviera located?

If relatively close - you can email: callhow@hotmail.com

Thanks - Howard

31st Oct 2013, 20:37

I have a 1989 Buick Rivera, and I'm fixing it up for an antique. I feel like it will become a collectors car, but it's so hard to find parts out of the dealership, since they told me only 21,000 were made. Now I am looking for the trim clips to put my trim back on. Any ideas where I could find them, or how old does the car have to be before they start reproducing parts, and what company do I have to go through to finish fixing it up?

No, I don't want to sell it, I want to keep it. I already take it to car shows, but can someone tell me where I can find parts, and will it be a collectors car?

1st Nov 2013, 11:22

Engine and driveline type parts should be no problem at all, but yeah I guess trim pieces, interior bits, and maybe the parts of the instrument panel and things like that could be very difficult.

2nd Nov 2013, 15:01

A lot of interior parts from the Reatta will work also. Even though it's a two seater, the dash, console, front seats and trim are all the same.

27th Apr 2014, 11:12

Correction, the touch screen is on the 89 Riviera.

13th Jun 2015, 23:56

How can I find the person who restores 89 Riv CRT? Please email me MalibuCompany@gmail.com

Thank you.

1st Jul 2015, 23:18

I have a 1989 Riv & had the CRT resoldered. It worked perfectly, but when the mechanic worked on the A/C, the CRT went out. You can't work on anything without the CRT.

11th May 2016, 15:11

To the guy or gal looking for clips for the exterior trim, go to an auto body repair shop; a lot of GM cars used the same clips, that's where I found them when I replaced all the chrome side trim on my 89 Riviera.

11th May 2016, 15:20

1989 Riviera, does anyone know the workings of the RKE remote door lock system. Seems like the transmitter is working but the receiver isn't. Does anyone offer a check and repair service for the module?