AS THE NEWLY HIRED NEW CAR SALES MANAGER FOR MCGONIGAL BUICK CADILLAC IN KOKOMO INDIANA, FENTON GANGERICK OWNER AND GENERAL MANAGER SAID, ALEX IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO SELLING CADILLACS THERE IS NO ONE BETTER THAN YOU. WE DON’T WANT OUR BUICK OWNERS TO THINK THAT OUR OWN EMPHASIS HAS SHIFTED TO CADILLAC. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD BUY A NEW BUICK SO THE LOCAL FOLKS COULD SEE YOU.
I SOLD MY NEW 1971 COUPE DEVILLE THAT I PURCHASED FROM TUTWEILER. I PURCHASED A GORGEOUS NEW 1971 RIVERA. IT WAS A GREAT EXCLUSIVE BUICK WITH KIND OF A BOAT TAIL AUBURN SPEEDSTER LOOK. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE STYLING OF ALL THREE PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS WAS ONE GOOD LOOKING CAR AND VERY DARING FOR BUICK DESIGNERS.
NOTICE THE REAR GLASS OR BACK LIGHT REMINISCENT OF THE 1963 SPLIT WINDOW CORVETTE. THERE WAS NOT A CORNY DESIGN LINE ANYWHERE IN THIS CAR AND WITH A 455 CONSOLE MOUNTED TURBO HYDROMATIC AND BUCKETS, IT WAS PRETTY COOL. PLEASE NOTE THE EXCLUSIVE BUICK FACTORY CHROME WHEELS. THEY MAKE THE CAR.
IN FACT WHEN MICKEY AND LUCY FROM ROSSFORD OHIO PURCHASED A NEW BUICK CENTURY COUPE, I ENCOURAGED MICKEY TO SPEND AN EXTRA $54 WHEN ORDERING THE CAR TO HAVE THE CHROME RIVIERA WHEELS AS THEY WERE CALLED. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED AS IT MAKES THE WHOLE CAR. THE WHEELS FIRST APPEARED IN THE EARLY SIXTIES AND NATIONALLY ADVERTISED BY BUICK ON THE RED 1964 WILDCAT.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE MOLASSES, NOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE SULPHUR. SOME LAME STYLING ENGINEERS AT GENEROUS MOTORS DECIDED TO PUT LOUVERS IN THE DECK LID OF EVERY 1971 GM CAR AND THAT INCLUDED CADILLAC. A GREAT IDEA FOR ASTRO VENTILATION WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 1968 TO EXHAUST INTERIOR AIR TO MAKE OCCUPANTS MORE COMFORTABLE ESPECIALLY HEAVY SMOKERS. IT’S ANOTHER REASON WHY IN 1968 YOU DON’T SEE ANY VENT WINDOWS. THE AIR EXHAUSTED THROUGH LITTLE BLACK GRILLS IN THE DOOR JAMS. THE LOUVERS IN THE DECK LID WORKED PERFECTLY. THEY ARE COOL LOOKING AND IDENTICAL TO THE 50’S CUSTOM CARS THAT HAD LOUVERS ON THE HOOD. PROBLEM: ALMOST ALL DECK LIDS RUSTED BADLY. THEY IMMEDIATELY BECAME CLOGGED WITH LEAVES, TREE SAP, BIRD DODOO AND ROAD FILM THAT RENDERED THEM USELESS FOR THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AND WHEN NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY, THE CORROSION ACCELERATED. IF YOU DOUBT MY COMMENTS, YOU WON’T FIND THEM ON ANY GM CAR AFTER 1971.
THAT ASIDE, THIS WAS ONE GREAT LOOKING DRIVING SEXY CAR. I HAD NO TROUBLE SELLING IT AND I BOUGHT A NEW 1972 BUICK ELECTRA LIMITED WITH EVERY CONCEIVABLE FEATURE.