Al's "new" 95 barn-fresh 43k Riviera

.... OK, well "carport" then "field" fresh, but essentially the same. The car quit with 43k miles, ostensibly with a fuel pump problem and then grandpa passed away, and they parked it.

After a week of negotiating, we picked it up this Saturday and hauled it back from the Virginia border.

There was a request for some photos in another post, so here are a few.

It is in very good shape, but after sitting, it needs some TLC. Some critters made a nest in the glove box (don't they always?) and also in the trunk. But they didn't get into the rest of the cabin and I can't find any wiring or anything else substantial chewed on.

All the electrics work, and overall the body is in great shape with just a small warp behind the drivers door and one single door ding on the right rear wheel well trim.

Like most of these, the paint is shot and looks "shattered" under the clearcoat. So far it is holding on, but we'll see. It also has some spots on the hood and front bumper from what appears to be some sort of solvent that splashed on the car. And I'm pretty sure the drivers door has been repainted. But all-in-all, that's not bad for 18 years old.

So we've put in a new battery, cleaned it out, and will be draining the tank and other fluids. Then some testing with the fuel pump and going from there. We've got our fingers crossed that we can get it running next weekend, maybe not road-worthy, but at least running. We'll see what we find.

On the trailer in Greensboro, halfway home:




Cleaning:




Ripped out trunk liner and pads to disinfect from rodent droppings/urine:




Clean engine compartment, both windshield washer and wipers miraculously started working after a good cleaning!




All clean, well "phase 1" of the worst anyway, and buttoned up for the evening:





Cheers,
Al

Wow! Great lookin' Riv Al! Hope it runs well for you.

looks great Al

Congrats !!! Enjoy your project...

Looks pretty nice.

Dude,you're the guy who just got pooped on about the fuel pump question and here you are nurturing a '95 back to health. A '95, something even ROBO CAN RELATE TO! LOL

Looks excellent! For a quality auto at 43k miles investment is well worth your time and effort. Keep us informed.
My '98' is pushing 79 K and when I bring it out off winter storage most likely spend yet another grand on 'stuff' to keep it running factory stock.

Nice find Al

We'll have to get together when I have the "Rivieras at the Park" this year.

Not sure if you are interested but you might consider joining the Riviera Owners Association, great bunch of members, all about the Riviera by Buick!

Thanks for all the compliments. ...and I got it for $1500 to boot! So we are very excited.

So even if we have to spend another $1500 to get it road worthy, it's still a deal in my book


Nice to see you are in NC! I've been to some ROA events in California when I lived out there for 10 years. I was an ROA member for years in the mid to late 90s, always meaning to get another 63 or 64. I had a project 63 for a number of years, but never did get it back on the road as I had to move from Louisiana to California and couldn't drag it halfway across the continent!

So what/where is this "Rivieras in the Park" event?

Al

I have been doing the Regional Coordinator thing for the ROA for several years and put on a get together in Archdale, NC once a year, it has been in September mostly for the last few years. I didn’t update all of the information regularly on this forum but here are a couple of links to past years.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t8701-north-carolina-rivieras-at-the-park-2011
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t6836-north-carolina-rivieras-at-the-park-2010

2011 was the largest so far, had 21 members and 15 Rivs in attendance.

You can see the results from 2012 on the ROA web site here …

http://rivowners.org/news.html

You just have to scroll down to the NC Region.

There was a member from Sanford that came last year, driving a ’64 ... And, I drive through there twice a day on my way to and from work. It is planned for September 14 as of right now, hoping to have that firmed up soon.

The ROA International Meet is in Lexington, KY this year, they are hoping for a huge turn-out with it being the 50th anniversary of the Riv. I am planning on taking two of mine, just have to see what happens.

Let me know if you are interested, I’ll keep you informed.

Looks like fun, may have to try and make it.

You know, there was a 77 or 78 Riviera on Craigslist the other day with what appeared to be 95k miles, and it looked like "new" from the photos. I think it was in Durham for about $2500.

Someone should pick that one up and save it

Here are some photos "as found" in the pasture:












I'll have the new fuel pump by tomorrow afternoon, and have a long weekend off starting Friday. So the plan will be to get it swapped out, oil and coolant changed, and see if I can get it running.

Although the interior is near perfect, a couple of the console pieces such as the ashtray door are "melted" as if someone used some sort of solvent on them. Their surface is now actually sticky to the touch and you can leave fingerprints in that door and the console armrest release button. I've got some salvage pieces on the way to replace them.

The only other interior issue is that the drivers door armrest is separating at its lower seam from the rest of the door panel, and now has a larger gap than normal and slight bulge. I'll see if I can just repair and reinforce that from the rear at a later time.

Not having the single CD player, this one's console has the cassette storage "drawers" that pop out under the console ashtray. Those are pretty funny. I don't think I even have a cassette anywhere anymore to test the player!

So I'll be on the hunt for the single CD player....

Al

That interior is pretty clean and nice looking.

Thanks, it appears to be pretty "unmolested" as far as I can tell.

I think the drivers door panel may have been taken off at some point, along with my suspicion that the drivers door has been painted. But other than that I don't think anything has been disassembled or modified in the interior.

I did just recall that the lower corner of the dashboard on the passenger side is not firmly connected, as if a clip is not grabbing, broken or missing. I haven't looked at how this dash is connected, but if it is like any of my past GM cars and my current 95 Roadmaster, it's probably just a clip that isn't grabbing for some reason.

It's a minor thing though. You don't even notice it unless you grab that bottom corner where it meets the door and try to lift the panel.

Al

Well, I've put 1100 miles on the car since I got it back on the road in early April after replacing the fuel pump and A/C compressor clutch. Knock on wood, but so far so good.

I've still got to replace the multi-function (turn signal, wiper, cruise, hazard) stalk switch as I still don't have high beams or the ability to turn my wipers off (I pull the fuse now ) and am looking for some minor interior bits, and I have the loose steering column, but I'll get to all of that in time. Still lots of little things like vacuum lines, etc to check and replace too.

I'm getting about 23MPG now, not bad, not great... will see how that works out over time.

But so far the car runs great, and I am really surprised how torquey and fast the car is. It isn't as smooth or quiet, or frankly comfortable, as the Roadmaster... but they are different cars of course and both have their qualities.

The Riviera certainly is a looker, I'll give it that

I was pumping gas this morning, and was walking around the car taking in the lines. It really is a nicely designed car. I didn't go into this purchase looking for a Riviera. I was looking for a low mileage inexpensive 3800 engine'd car, and ran across this 95. I remembered when the 95 Riviera came out and my impression of the styling was mixed. Now that I've had the car for about a month, it has really grown on me, and seeing it in person that first day really surprised me how much I liked the car.

So, so far this first month has been great. Hopefully it will keep getting even better.

I'm even warming to the "monochrome" interiors, where before I was really thinking about adding wood, painting trim, etc It feels right now.

Al

Heck of a find. Best of luck moving forward.

Looking good!
Darn, you put 1100 miles on the car since you got it back on the road in early April!
You are enjoying your Riv. more than I am enjoying my Riv. Some past years I only drove mine 500 miles. Pulled my Riviera out of storage late April. This summer intend to drive mine at least 1,500 miles before it goes back in winter storage next Nov.

My 1998, now at 67,560 miles.

Yeah, I drive 120 miles minimum round-trip to work daily. So I pile on the miles pretty quickly.

That's what I had the RM for as well. Bought it with 50k-ish miles on it just a few years back, and now have over 170k.

Al

Both the Riv and Roadmaster are exceptional cars. And it seems to me you bought them both to be cars. Actual cars doin what they were made to do and enjoying them in the process. I applaud you for that ....I'm just glad I'm not the only one who will pile on 15k plus miles on my car every year

Al......thought you might like to know that you can get a Delco Am/FM CD radio to fit your 95 Riv. It's a plug & play unit that fits in where your current radio is, the only thing you give up is the cassette feature ( most don't work anyways ). Go to ...M&R Electronics websight, they might have one. Also you can scrounge the j yards, these radios came in a number of high end Buicks, if you find one you can send it to M&R for repairs. You also might ask them if they can install an IPhone jack. If they can't try Precision Radio in San Antonio, Tx. Phone # 210-979-0905. Another option is to try E-Bay. By the way, these radios look very similar to the radio you now have. Go to the Reatta forum websight & you can find more info. just type in " Bushwacker" in the search spot.
Bushwacker is a member of the Reatta forum who is quit knowledgeable about Reatta's

Ron Williams

Reattaron wrote:

Al......thought you might like to know that you can get a Delco Am/FM CD radio to fit your 95 Riv. It's a plug & play unit that fits in where your current radio is, the only thing you give up is the cassette feature ( most don't work anyways ). Go to ...M&R Electronics websight, they might have one. Also you can scrounge the j yards, these radios came in a number of high end Buicks, if you find one you can send it to M&R for repairs. You also might ask them if they can install an IPhone jack. If they can't try Precision Radio in San Antonio, Tx. Phone # 210-979-0905. Another option is to try E-Bay. By the way, these radios look very similar to the radio you now have. Go to the Reatta forum websight & you can find more info. just type in " Bushwacker" in the search spot.
Bushwacker is a member of the Reatta forum who is quit knowledgeable about Reatta's

Ron Williams

Thanks Ron, those are great resources. Thanks for the info!

I've actually already pulled seven, yes seven, AM/FM/cass, AM/FM/CD and one single CD from various Park Avenues, LeSabres and one Riviera in the last few weeks from several yards that are a similar model to the two model numbers that the 95 Riviera used. Although many look to be the same radio, unfortunately only two part#s were unique to the 95 Riviera head units believe it or not. Many will power on and play, but the steering wheel controls are not compatible.

Here's some more info I gleaned as I've been searching for these radios:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9962-best-option-to-add-cd-to-95-riviera-and-keep-things-stock



But I've got a guy I've been chatting with on eBay that has excellent feedback that started out refurbishing these radios for Buick GN/GNXs and we are doing a trade for the old radios to get a rebuilt AM/FM/CD, with updated post 1995 CD mechanism (he says are more reliable), and an iPod jack built into the front. He also includes a warrantee on the work.

For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-RADIO-CD-PLAYER-IPOD-MP3-84-87-BUICK-GRAND-NATIONAL-GNX-HURST-OLDS-442-DELCO/190834345863

It's been a real pleasure dealing with him.

His prices seem in line with some of what M&R has listed.

Thanks again for the tips!

Al

What a clean looking Rivi Al, I've had my Buick for 10 years and just recently strated modding it. I replaced my fuel pump in the rivi and it was easy thanks to the access panel.

Thats a super fresh Riv. Clean headlights! haha

Thanks, have put about 3k miles on it now. Still running strong. Really a pleasure to drive, and perhaps no surprise to the folks here, but surprisingly "fast" especially off the line.

I love my Roadmaster (one of the best cars I have ever had), but I get a lot more fun out of driving the Riviera.