1992 Buick Riviera Coupe

1992 Buick Riviera Prestige Package SE

For consignment, a 1992 Buick Riviera Prestige Package SE with a title verified 65,066 actual miles. The window sticker will come with the car showing that the Prestige package included six way power seats, heated outside mirror, twilight sentinel headlamp controls, and more convenience items. According to our consignor, this pampered Riv has always been garaged.

Exterior
Like a bottle of Merlot, this Claret Red paint has aged well and retains much of its factory shine. This seventh generation Riviera has composite headlights for the first time, giving the car a slightly European profile, augmented by the inboard tail lights that wear the attractive R emblem. A color matched rear bumper cover holds the reverse lights and the third brake light is perched on the package tray as it was still a relatively new mandate in '92. Rounded edges define the profile especially evident on the C-pillar, and a bold trim piece rides the waist of the car and completely wraps around the ends for a congruent design element. Wire wheel covers on the 15-inch rims are complemented by the white wall tires. Finally, a hood ornament, rare by today's standards, caps the hood. Other than some dulling on the bumper fillers, we could find no exterior imperfections on this car.

Interior
In the pinnacle of early 90's luxury, simulated burlwood was used to dress up interiors, and we see it here on the door, a nice contrast to the red vinyl inserts and carpeted lower as it surrounds switchgear on both doors. The drivers' side shows some patina with taped repairs and some wear near the door pull. Leather bucket seats are in good standing with some typical compression and wrinkles for the pilot and both front and rear occupants share a center armrest with a wall cloaked in dark red the Europeans would call oxblood. A rather plain steering wheel presents to the driver, one horn cover coming loose, and fronts a burlwood dash face plate that runs the width and frames the fully digital instrument cluster reminiscent of early computers before Apple came along. The center stack favors the driver and holds the climate control panel and familiar Delco radio. Full words instead of letters indicate what gear you're in and they are changed via the stout T-handle shifter in a sea of faux burlwood. Plush red carpet below, a felt like headliner above, which is newer, and a fully finished and clean trunk completes our tour of this survivor's clean interior.

Drivetrain
In a time when full plastic shrouds hadn't yet found engine bays, we see GM's venerable 3.8 liter V6, transverse mounted and clean and putting out 170 horsepower with fuel delivered through injectors. It has TH440-T4 4-speed automatic transmission that keeps power up front with 2.84 gears.

Undercarriage
Plenty of surface rust but none of the damaging stuff and no errant fluid anywhere either. Power disc brakes are supplied to all four wheels and a single exhaust runs through a stock style muffler before exiting through a polished tip splattered with surface rust spots. Independent suspension graces front and rear with Macpherson struts in the front and a transflex leaf spring in back.

Drive-Ability
We step back into '92 luxury and comfort, and the E-body's unibody construction and when we turn the key, it's all we can do to not be fixated by the green screen in front of us! Once revolutionary, now vintage and somehow, still cool! Meanwhile, the car rides nicely, tracking straight and provides good handling and adequate acceleration. Our consignor noted the A/C will need a charge and indeed, the indicator light is on. Beyond that, all functions work as intended on this handsome car. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

There's a warmth and comfort to this era of cars that's hard to replicate with today's slick materials and technology overload. In addition, the 3800 has become somewhat legendary in its quality and cars so equipped from this era are desirable. If you're ready for some Riviera Prestige, get in on this fine car!