Photos from the Cohort by Roshake.
It’s always a bit risky to make sweeping statements when it comes to cars. Declarations such as “best of…”, “first of…”, and so on have a way to backfire not long after uttered. However, when it comes to Buick’s downsized ’86-’89 Rivieras, I feel pretty safe saying that it’s the most derided of all the generations that wore that illustrious nameplate. A feeling that I’m sure applies to all the ’86-’88 GM E-bodies.
But the good thing about a whole wide world stuffed with tons of people is that if one travels long enough, you’re bound to find some love somewhere. And this ’87 Riviera has certainly found a good deal of it, in Budapest of all places. Just look at its immaculate condition, there’s no disdain here. Try finding one like this in its native land.
That’s right, the good thing about traveling and moving around is the chance to leave all preconceptions about you behind. No one in your hometown appreciates your talents and looks? You failed to live up to the good name of your forefathers? And in the case of the ’86 Riviera, you came out as an oddly conceived high-tech import fighter only to alienate previous buyers and find few new ones?
Go on, take to the road (or board a cross-Atlantic carrier), and find your attributes seen in a new light. Far away. Visit the Old Continent, where someone is bound to find you “exotic” and “different”.
Much has been said about this generation of Rivieras (links below), mostly for all the wrong reasons. It’s, notoriously, one of the first models to appear as a GM Deadly Sin here at CC. And while I would like to bring a different take on that view, I just can’t; the sales drop in this generation of E-bodies was just as deadly as it could be for GM’s fortunes.
Not that I believe this was the worst car ever, far from it. I actually spent quite a few days riding on a similar vintage Eldorado, and as a passenger, I found these E-bodies far more pleasant than most other GM products of the time.
Those memories aside, these were certainly confusing products and it was hard to tell to whom they were tailored for. Something the sales numbers showed soon enough. And unlike other duds whose fortunes eventually turned around –such as the Aztek or Edsel– as far as I understand these E-bodies have yet to find much love.
But doesn’t that make any survivor all the more remarkable? Specially when so well-kept?
And this is no 1950s-1970s American iron, stuff that we CC readers know has a following around the world. Instead, it’s pure malaise 1980s GM. Whoever kept this, certainly dances to a synth-based (the ’80s, remember?) different drum.
Now, I don’t know at what point this Riviera entered Hungary. As far as I can make out from information online, the license plate is that nation’s issue for classic vehicles. But that info is not enough to tell if the car is a recent arrival or not.
That said, this Riviera’s original owner undoubtedly cared for it preciously. Something that seems to be no longer the case; the fuzzy dice and other items suggest the current driver is slightly less of a preservationist. Maybe even hinting at some humor?
Still, for the Riviera’s good sake, whatever chuckles are intended, they are discreet enough.
Elsewhere, up close there are other signs of the passage of time. Fixed up in perhaps not the most high-quality form.
Now, this Haynes repair manual must come in handy in Hungary. After all, how many car shops specializing in 1980s Americana can there be in Budapest?
That manual is the surest sign that whoever owns this Riviera is planning to keep it over the long haul. So, whatever your feelings about these may be, there’s a lesson here.
Do you find your attributes little appreciated and misunderstood? Go on, take to the road to unexpected and new horizons. See the world. You’ll see that someplace, somewhere, those attributes –however dubious– will find some love.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1986 Buick Riviera – GM’s Deadly Sin #1
Vintage Car And Driver Review: 1986 Buick Riviera T-Type – What Is This Car Supposed To Be?
Blu-Tak holding the bonnet badge in place. Love it! Adore it simply for the fact it’s a two door coupe. Hard finding anything with this number of doors in today’s marketplace.
I am a devoted Buick fan, and even though most people hate this gen. of Rivieras, l like these. l do think the 89-93 models with the longer rear end was a significant improvement, but l would gladly drive one like this one, especially if it was an 88 or later with the superb 3800 engine (my 99 Lesabre has this engine, and l love that car!). It really makes me happy when l see one like this that is still in excellent condition and being driven frequently. Thanks for sharing this!
The CC Effect: I spent quite a bit of time with the text of my GM DS on this car yesterday afternoon. More on why sometime later…
Color me impressed. It’s in such pristine condition. And presumably the very high-tech cathode ray tube touch screen still works? Will a modern touch screen still work after almost 40 years?
Yes, it was finding one of these on the street that inspired the whole GM DS series. But as I always say, it’s not the car itself that is necessarily deadly, it’s the choices GM made. This is a fine survivor.