From Russia with love =)

Hey everyone!
I'm Anton and I live in Moscow, Russia. I've been a fan of American cars for some time now and since 2006 I've owned '98 Dodge Durango, '92 Buick Century and '00 Chrysler Concorde. For the last year my drive has been '05 Ford Expedition and just a week ago I bought a nice '97 Riviera as a second car in a family. Its purpose also is to eat less gas in city jams compared to Ford's V8 =))
American cars are pretty rare here in Russia. I'll give you a hint - I guess there are no more than 20-30 Rivieras for a 15-million city of Moscow.
There's a Russian board dedicated to American cars where I've been dwelling for a several years and that's where I found this Riviera. It belonged to a member of this forum, and about 2 years ago it was unlucky enough to take part in a road accident which left a lot to work at... So this guy sold Rivi to another forum member who also is an owner of the auto-repairs where I usually service my cars. The guy spent a year repairing the Riviera, painting it and sewing round with a new leather interior. Then he spent a year driving it and then he decided to sell it and I happened to have some spare moneys ))) So now it's mine and I can't describe all the fun and joy I get driving it! Pics soon!

Hey Anton,

Your English is really good man! Can't wait to see pics! Don't you just love driving a car that only .0002% of the population in your country has? haha

Thanks ZEP!
Yeah, that's so cool to have a head turner! Most of the people just don't even know what car it is! The same was with Century - I guess there're about 5 of them in the whole city )) Besides mine I met it on the streets just once(!) in my whole life... But as I find European and Japanese cars boring, I don't have any other option but to acquire American!

It makes me so happy when i find a non-American who loves American cars!

Sir Psycho Sexy wrote:

It makes me so happy when i find a non-American who loves American cars!

 
There's a common opinion on Russian AA (American Automobiles) forums that Americans themselves in general don't want AA no more. Everyone is after economic, energy-efficient, easy-handling cars. All the guys who visited the US recently say Americans drive Toyotas. Hence contemporary Japanese-like vehicles by GM and Ford. But I prefer cars with soul!

That sounds about right. I dont know the statistics, but id be willing to bet i see more foreign cars on the road than domestic. Zep is right, your English is extremely good! Haha

Thanks again, that's extremely flattering! )))

Here's the first picture. I still have to wash it and make better ones, but I have no patience now!

Welcome!

Thanks, Mr. Moderator!  

Congrats on a great find! The Riviera is rich with soul and thus far timeless in beauty I think. It's kind of annoying how much american cars are more and more like japanese cars now. There's some good in that but what is an american car today? a domestic replication of a japanese car then? And japanese cars are usually some computer's adaptation of a prestigious european design. Maybe I'm getting old but it seems like almost every new car out there is looking and feeling more and more the same. Remember when japanese cars were smaller than american cars? Not anymore. What kills me is how even though AA is doing a pretty good job of getting on top of auto technology and hold up just as well as foreign cars now (very vague and general I know) - basically eliminating the major legitimate need to buy foreign, americans are buying the hell out of toyotas and so fourth still. WHY? I could be off on things but that's just my perception. If ever there comes a time when we simply don't get around in cars as we know them anymore and I have to show somebody that's never seen one what a car is, the riviera is the finest example of what a car is beyond a means to get some place.

Wow what wheels are those?

One of the reasons I decided to go with this Riviera was that Rivieras are truly timeless as you said. Let alone they're not getting cheaper with years to come, only higher in price (here at least), they are the ones of the last of that American breed we remember and love. They don't produce personal luxury cars anymore, and in the era of plastic 2-litre soapboxes (as we call em here  ) these cars show what a real automobile should be. Among Russian AA fans there's this little rivalry between Riviera and Mark VIII, Lincoln supporters say Riviera is not V8 and just 3.8 in engine volume, but damn, it's what it can do with its 3.8 that matters!
When I get into some modern American cars even in some premium Cadillacs like Escalade and SRX, I always get the feeling that all modern cars tend to look the same, it's this unification... I think it's easier to sell cars this way nowdays... The only way out is to preserve what's left! Because they're not getting younger ))) Sometimes I wish I lived in 50-60s when oil was cheap and no one cared about fuel economy )))
And yes - there're things that still surprise me in old American cars regarding technology and comfort although I've seen a lot of modern stuff!
Not sure about the wheels - will have to check it out!  

Giggles wrote:

Among Russian AA fans there's this little rivalry between Riviera and Mark VIII, Lincoln supporters say Riviera is not V8 and just 3.8 in engine volume, but damn, it's what it can do with its 3.8 that matters!

With the supercharger in full boost, it's worth about 5.7L in engine volume >Lincoln lol

AA = American Automobiles!  

Unfortunately mine is not supercharger. Or luckily! A friend of mine was buying his first car a year ago. Influenced by my love to AA, he found himself a Mark VIII. As the first car in his life! He crashed it in a month! LOL

AA wrote:

AA = American Automobiles!  

Do you call 'em this way too?  

Giggles wrote:

Unfortunately mine is not supercharger. Or luckily! A friend of mine was buying his first car a year ago. Influenced by my love to AA, he found himself a Mark VIII. As the first car in his life! He crashed it in a month! LOL

AA wrote:

AA = American Automobiles!  

Do you call 'em this way too?  

Yer gonna give AA a complex,he's gonna start thinkin' he ain't technologically advanced enough  

BTW - the wheels are Grand Cherokee ZJ snowflake rims ))

Aaron, happy you joined this site. You will find a great group of friendly people, all ages, and will find this site a wonderful source of information. I enjoy hearing from car guys from other countries and really nice to see your beautiful Riviera in Russia. Shows that regardless of country we all like driving a beautiful styled auto that is rare and unique. Even here in Ottawa Canada, non car people for some reason think my 1998 is something new and ask who makes it. It has become more rare today in North America to see full size two door autos so I would think your Riviera is very rare and unique in Russia.

As a car guy guess I should feel lucky to have been born in the 1950s and started driving in 1960s, a period in time some consider the golden age of American auto style. I am a USA expat now living in Canada ten years. I grew up with family two door hardtops and convertibles in the US. At least in those decades we had more choices in body styles, color & trim options. My first auto was a 1963 Thunderbird my mother bought new and in 1963 Thunderbirds came in 22 colors. I do not live in the past, my daily auto is a 2011 Camaro that I special ordered in 2010, just wish we had more selections when buying new autos.

In the future post pictures of your Riviera in Moscow. Back in 2000 spent 10 days in St. Petersburg and surrounding area, one of my dream trips. My plan was to also visit Moscow but had to cut my visit in Russia short and go to Amsterdam early.

Keep us informed of your Riviera in Moscow.

Anton, welcome! I love seeing the foreign use of our beloved cars, of all styles! I agree with you completely - American cars have soul! Toyota Camrys have none. A lot of people buying cars in America are just looking for a point a to point b appliance, nothing more. The Camry tends to be the cheapest of those options, so that's what people buy. However, most enthusiasts would not be caught in a Camry, ever! I don't even like being a passenger in them!

Part of why people may like such a bland car like the Camry is because we have such bland roads. The most adventurous people get is a snowstorm or dodging spring potholes. Otherwise our roads are generally in such good conditions that you don't need any feedback or performance from a car. Yes, there are some exceptions, but for the most part people here get bored of driving very easily.