Hi, and thanks for visiting the new and improved website for all things that pertain to the Riviera Convertible! There have been other websites similar to this one that have unfortunately come and gone but I have taken it over and plan to keep it up for all to enjoy.

I have always been interested in cars, ever since I was 10. Our family had Corvettes, Thunderbirds, and of course Rivieras around that time and I fell in love with all these makes/model cars. My Mom was really into cars and especially loved Corvettes…. So much in fact that she owned 7 of them that spanned the years of 1959 to 1988. She did all of her own detailing work and taught me how to cosmetically keep cars looking pristine.

As I got older, I was always looking for ways to make money and I started my own auto detailing business and ran it during my high school and college years. One of my customers had two Rivieras: his wife’s 1982 two-tone beige/burgundy combo and his 1984 black with burgundy interior. With the time I spent cleaning and detailing them, I developed a real appreciation for this car. I loved the lines, the design and those very comfortable seats to sit in. As a result of this interest, I started to notice them more and more on the road. So many different colors and styles to choose from and then I saw a convertible. I had no idea that they made one but I quickly tried to find out more about them. There was a 1983 white convertible in my neighborhood and I realized after seeing it, how much I wanted to get one. I cruised through the classified ads in the newspaper (the best way to find a car in those times) and found a 1985 white convertible for sale out in Southampton, NY. I made a deal and in September 1990, became the proud owner of this car. Like most convertibles, It was well optioned, and came equipped with the 5.0 Liter V8, digital dash and auto climate control. I bought it with 25k miles on the odometer and I drove the wheels off that car for the better part of the 90’s using it everyday for commuting to work and taking trips. What a great car that turned out to be an extremely reliable daily driver. Regular maintenance was the key to keeping it on the road but eventually it started to need more involved project work. I did all the repair work which not only saved me a lot of money, but it also gave me a very unique knowledge of these cars. Family life became more important with babies running around the house and there wasn’t much time to devote to fixing my car. I decided to sell it and off it went with 196k on it.

A few years went by and I got the itch to buy another one. Call it dissatisfaction with the design and comfort of new vehicles, I started to wax poetic about that car and I started looking again. I managed to buy another Riviera Convertible in 2012, a red 85 off the internet. It was bought new at Tony Coury Buick in Mesa, AZ and spent most of its life going back and forth from Mesa to San Diego. The mileage was high at 153k but still a very solid car in great condition. It did not have any rust other than minor surface rust on the frame. The paint was still good and the repair list consisted of a few mechanical and cosmetic repairs and updates. After getting it road worthy again, I drove it to the Riviera Owners Association meet in Lexington, KY in 2013 from NY. Today it is still going strong with 175k on the odometer.

Speaking of the ROA, I have belonged to the club since 1987. It is the best organization out there that is dedicated to the preservation of the Riviera. I learned so much about this and every other generation Riviera through the club.. I give back to the club today as a technical advisor to this generation. I encourage you to go to www. Rivowners.org and join. A great group of people and the best resource for keeping your Riviera motoring down the road!