Baby Blue 1972 Riviera GS

I thought about putting this in the “other showroom”, but figured since it IS a Riviera, I would put it here.

I e-mailed the executor of the estate that had this car a few times, and after a “VERY bad” week at work I decided to go take a look at it, usually buying a car makes me feel better, that may not have been my intension, but anyway. After looking at it for a good while, the man’s niece was trying to clean up his estate so she could get back home to CO, we talked about price, I offered her half what they were asking and she accepted my offer.

I had seen it a couple of times and the color never really reached out and grabbed me but when I did some research on it I found it was one of 88 Rivieras ordered with “special order paint” in 1972, that kind of peaked my interest. Even though I now have a “baby blue” muscle car, I won’t change the color since it is probably the only Riv painted this color … ever.













I do have other concerns as it doesn’t have the chrome air cleaner cover I have been told it should, but it does have the “W” in the VIN, means it is a true factory GS, and I did locate the “WA” engine code, means it is a Stage I 455, the highest HP put out that year. It made the 160 mile trip home with no problems, well maybe a few oil leaks, but rode smooth as you please. The car is pretty much a mess so the first thing it needs is a thorough cleaning so I can see what I have and where it stands. I’ll get to that as soon as time permits, but for now it is in the garage where the other newest addition was.

I am definitely out of space now; I am NOT looking at anything else! Well for the time being anyway!

Just thought I would share my latest stupidity!

You are the Riv King! I personally really like that color, and that interior looks flawless! Those spaceship-like shifters are awesome!

ohh yes.i 'd love to hear that engine...

Beautiful Car. Looks like Azure Blue. In 1970, that was a Riviera only color. Not sure if it carried the same name in 1972. i have a friend in my GS club that has a 70 GS 455 that was Special order painted that color.

fukin A bubba~!

so sick..

I am envious ... I've been looking for one myself. GREAT FIND

Randall: Here is a pic of the car I am presently considering out of Glendale, AZ. It's a beautiful rust free AZ car with the 455ci. BUT...it's not a GS. If it was, I would buy it today. I've got an offer in on it. We'll see...

That my friend is one Beautiful Riviera!

Vice Nice Rivi What Was The Ticket $$ On It

BigRAy1125,where the fuk ya been?

robotennis61 wrote:

BigRAy1125,where the fuk ya been?

Yeah... Where ya been dude? I sent you a PM while back but never received a reply. Had me wondering if you were still around. How's your Riv?

Right spot, Randall. The showroom is for Rivieras from any year! Congrats on a beautiful car. The interior is like nothing I've ever seen - I think GM referenced that interior when they designed the new concept in 2008:

AA wrote:

Right spot, Randall. The showroom is for Rivieras from any year! Congrats on a beautiful car. The interior is like nothing I've ever seen - I think GM referenced that interior when they designed the new concept in 2008:

I have to think that concept's interior is based more from the '63-'65 Riv.

beautiful car. Nice buy!

Wow, congrats on the boattail! Color reminds me of my Riv, except I don't think yours is metallic.

RidzRiv wrote:

You are the Riv King! I personally really like that color, and that interior looks flawless! Those spaceship-like shifters are awesome!

flyineagle96 wrote:

stan wrote:

ohh yes.i 'd love to hear that engine...

robotennis61 wrote:

fukin A bubba~!

RhinoFLA wrote:

so sick..

ghpcnm wrote:

I am envious ... I've been looking for one myself. GREAT FIND

gmann3001 wrote:

That my friend is one Beautiful Riviera!

Jason wrote:

beautiful car. Nice buy!

Thanks for the comments/compliments
Obviously I didn’t need another one but the GS, the Stage I 455, AND the bucket seat options were a strong buying point! Even though the color combination doesn’t “grab” me, I’m sure it will grow on me as I get it cleaned up.
I just want to get it running good enough to be able to do this ...

LARRY70GS wrote:

Beautiful Car. Looks like Azure Blue. In 1970, that was a Riviera only color. Not sure if it carried the same name in 1972. i have a friend in my GS club that has a 70 GS 455 that was Special order painted that color.

That looks like a pretty close match!
I am going to look around for the service parts tag when I get home and see if I can find the paint code. It doesn't really matter as I have been reminded "any good paint shop can match it", which I'm sure is true; I would just like to know what it is/was called.

ghpcnm wrote:

Randall: Here is a pic of the car I am presently considering out of Glendale, AZ. It's a beautiful rust free AZ car with the 455ci. BUT...it's not a GS. If it was, I would buy it today. I've got an offer in on it. We'll see...

That blue looks GREAT!
Yes, the GS and Stage I 455 were attractive features on this one.
That's a nice '73, good luck with the purchase
If you do get it there is a Boattail Registry you might want to join, you can get info about it from the ROA web site or let me know and I’ll send it to you.

BigRay1125 wrote:

Vice Nice Rivi What Was The Ticket $$ On It

They were asking $8500, then lowered it to $7000 ...
I gave them half that

Wow. What a score. Tell me, Randall, is a guy who already owns 4 Rivieras any more likely to get a deal like that vs. the rest of us? I mean, the seller had to know the car is going to a good home!

AA wrote:

Right spot, Randall. The showroom is for Rivieras from any year! Congrats on a beautiful car. The interior is like nothing I've ever seen - I think GM referenced that interior when they designed the new concept in 2008:

I don't know, similar but different ... maybe ...

deekster_caddy wrote:

I have to think that concept's interior is based more from the '63-'65 Riv.

I would agree with Derek on this one, but we all know the '63-'65 is where the '95-'99 interior came from, I think so anyway...

IBx1 wrote:

Wow, congrats on the boattail! Color reminds me of my Riv, except I don't think yours is metallic.

Similar, but This '72 is like powder blue, a little bit lighter than yours was, and yes it has no metallic.

99Rivman wrote:

LARRY70GS wrote:

Beautiful Car. Looks like Azure Blue. In 1970, that was a Riviera only color. Not sure if it carried the same name in 1972. i have a friend in my GS club that has a 70 GS 455 that was Special order painted that color.

That looks like a pretty close match!
I am going to look around for the service parts tag when I get home and see if I can find the paint code. It doesn't really matter as I have been reminded "any good paint shop can match it", which I'm sure is true; I would just like to know what it is/was called.

Get me the paint code and I'll tell you what the color was called. The paint code will be on the cowl tag under the hood.

Might be Crystal Blue, code 21. http://www.buicks.net/years/72/72paint.html