New owner, 1996 Riviera in Washington state

Hi all, I'm grateful that I was referred to this site within a few days of purchasing my '96 Riviera.

First, a bit of background. I'm a lifelong Buick enthusiast, and have been a member of the Buick Club of America since I was 22 -- way back in 1975.

I own an original 1959 Buick Electra "flat top" that I remember as a child from my hometown. I also own a 1971 Buick Centurion Formal Coupe that my parents purchased new.

My first 3800-powered Buick was an '89 LeSabre Limited Coupe that my parents passed along to me in 1998. We still have the car, which has now traveled more than 240,00 reliable miles.

Four years ago, we found a 1990 LeSabre Limited Coupe with 44,000 miles. This fine car became my daily driver, and I've now passed 113,000 miles on this one.

During the summer, we picked up a 2005 LeSabre sedan for my wife. The car is a 28,000-mile beauty, and we love it.

Last Friday, a Buick buddy forwarded a craigslist entry to my home, showing a 1996 Riviera for sale only about a mile away from my home. I persuaded my wife to go look at it, and we were so impressed with the car's condition and quality that we bought it on the spot!

The Riviera is already serving as my daily driver, and I expect to be together for the long-haul. This car is flat-out beautiful, and I love it.

A few details:

51,000 miles, Light Jadestone Metallic with the Jadestone leather & vinyl bucket seats and console. Normally aspirated 3800 Series II.

I'll shoot photos this weekend, and plan to share them here.

Welcome!

I think I saw that CL ad


I have the same color combination.

Al

Al, great! I see that your car was a low mileage example as well! If you have posted any photos of your car on the site, please direct me to them. Sounds like our cars might be near twins.

welcome Brian

Yep, pulled mine out of a farmer's "back 40" about 7 months ago with 43k miles. I've got 55k on it now, driving it about 115 miles round trip to work every day


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9968-hello-just-picked-up-a-95-sc-with-43k-miles-great-resource-here


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9975-al-s-new-95-barn-fresh-43k-riviera

So you got that one!! Beautiful car! Were you at the bca meet in your hometown a couple months back by chance?

Hi Brian, welcome.  You know me from the JSS site.  Here's my 1998 Riviera:

Welcome! I have a '73 LeSabre that my grandparents bought new, as well as many many other Buicks over the years. My mother had an '86 Century convertible with the first Series I 3800, just about the time I was getting my driver's license. Plus several regals and Park Aves over the years, and an '86 Riv we resurrected from the dead. (needed a new motor when we bought it)

My very modified '98 Riv is still in the family with my brother.

llamalor2112 wrote:

So you got that one!! Beautiful car! Were you at the bca meet in your hometown a couple months back by chance?

Evan, I see you're in Granite Falls. Prior to moving to Puyallup in 2005, we lived for several years on 5-acres just off Highway 92 near the Lochsloy soccer fields.

Yes, I've been attending the All Buick Open in Puyallup for many years, and had my '71 Centurion there this year.

Is the Buick National Meet in Portland on your calendar for next year? I'll be there with the '59 Electra, but was also thinking it would be fun to have the '96 Riviera in the show as well.

abaucom wrote:

Hi Brian, welcome.  You know me from the JSS site.  Here's my 1998 Riviera:

Yes, abaucom, I do recognize your user name from the JSS site. Small world, and great to know that you're a Riviera owner! Your car looks great -- and I believe that Doug Ford also owns a Riviera of this generation.

al_roethlisberger wrote:

Yep, pulled mine out of a farmer's "back 40" about 7 months ago with 43k miles.  I've got 55k on it now, driving it about 115 miles round trip to work every day


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9968-hello-just-picked-up-a-95-sc-with-43k-miles-great-resource-here


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9975-al-s-new-95-barn-fresh-43k-riviera

Al, thanks for those links! Great job with your Riviera; I enjoyed reading about it. I hope the long-term reliability can equal that of your Roadmaster.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Welcome! I have a '73 LeSabre that my grandparents bought new, as well as many many other Buicks over the years. My mother had an '86 Century convertible with the first Series I 3800, just about the time I was getting my driver's license. Plus several regals and Park Aves over the years, and an '86 Riv we resurrected from the dead. (needed a new motor when we bought it)

My very modified '98 Riv is still in the family with my brother.

deekster_caddy, cool that you have that long-time family-owned '73 LeSabre! Thanks for the welcome.

Centurion wrote:

llamalor2112 wrote:

So you got that one!! Beautiful car! Were you at the bca meet in your hometown a couple months back by chance?

Evan, I see you're in Granite Falls. Prior to moving to Puyallup in 2005, we lived for several years on 5-acres just off Highway 92 near the Lochsloy soccer fields.

Yes, I've been attending the All Buick Open in Puyallup for many years, and had my '71 Centurion there this year.

Is the Buick National Meet in Portland on your calendar for next year? I'll be there with the '59 Electra, but was also thinking it would be fun to have the '96 Riviera in the show as well.

Small world! Did you know the older gentleman doing the sign-in sheets at the puyallup event this year was Mr Engebretsen of Engebretsen Road? Haha bizarre... I must've admired your car a dozen times at thqt show. Mine was the 95 Riv next to Rod Gemper's beautiful black 70 Riv on the back end (in the shade I might add! ) my dad was there too with the red 88 Reatta.

We definitely plan on heading to the big Portland event as I keep hearing how impressively massive it is! Definitely look forward to seeing you and all the other pnw Buick nuts out there!

Evan, fantastic! I remember your Riviera, and now I'll really be tuned in to these cars. I probably helped you back into your parking space at the show. My Centurion was parked right by the Reattas.

Let's keep in contact, and, if you'll have your Riviera at next year's Puyallup show and the Portland National, I'd love to have mine there as well.

I recommend making your hotel reservations ASAP for Portland. Let me know if you need the information.

Brian...yes Doug Ford also has a Riviera. Wonder if he knows about this site? As you have already found out this site is both friendly and very helpful.

WELCOME & CONGRATULATIONS  

Welcome Brian,

Seems you have known acquaintances already on board.
Walla Walla is a ways from Puyallup, but the Portland show might be great meet and greet location.

I'll be looking for showroom pictures.

Centurion wrote:

Evan, fantastic! I remember your Riviera, and now I'll really be tuned in to these cars. I probably helped you back into your parking space at the show. My Centurion was parked right by the Reattas.

Let's keep in contact, and, if you'll have your Riviera at next year's Puyallup show and the Portland National, I'd love to have mine there as well.

I recommend making your hotel reservations ASAP for Portland. Let me know if you need the information.

You very well may have helped back me in! It seemed quite a bit of confusion as to where a riv so young should be parked haha

Your centurion is in quite a few of my pictures from that show. Gorgeous car

I do indeed plan to be at those events. And as per the Portland venture I'm lucky enough to have family down in the area to hold me up but yes, we'll keep in touch! Welcome aboard by the way! Haha

Rivit wrote:

Welcome Brian,

Seems you have known acquaintances already on board.
Walla Walla is a ways from Puyallup, but the Portland show might be great meet and greet location.

I'll be looking for showroom pictures.

Jim, Walla Walla may be a long ways from Puyallup, but I'm often down that way to visit family in my hometown -- Baker City, Oregon.  Earlier this year, I led a tour that went fairly close to you, celebrating 100 years of the Buick dealership in Baker City.  We drove up from Pendleton to the Athena / Weston area, then over Tollgate, past Spout Springs, and in to Elgin and Joseph.  This fine '99  Silver Arrow joined us on the tour, from the Seattle area:

FINE !!!  

Looks great. Appears that your paint is "good". Mine has the "steel wool" effect and some other blemishes.

Al

Hey ,what number is that SA?

stan wrote:

Hey ,what number is that SA?

Stan, not sure of the number of Bob and Doreen Donald's Silver Arrow, but I'll drop them an e-mail to find out.

I'll invite them to join here, of course!

al_roethlisberger wrote:

Looks great.  Appears that your paint is "good". Mine has the "steel wool" effect and some other blemishes.

Al

Al, that '99 Silver Arrow is not mine.

Here's mine, with more photos soon to appear in the showroom section:

oohh man dat sweet!!