My office is next door to a transmission shop and on occasion, something interesting shows up over there like this 1992 Buick Riviera did the other day. For the record, I find many things "interesting", that doesn't mean I necessarily like them.
General Motors' "Great Downsizing Epoch" started out well enough with their shrink-rayed full-size cars for 1977; they were far less successful hacking away at their intermediates for 1978. However, there was a ray of hope and promise in 1979 when they introduced their downsized "E-body", Cadillac Eldorado, Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera. Not surprisingly, those cars were designed by Bill Mitchell who retired in 1977, and while he had a strong influence on the downsized 1977 full-size cars, he did not have a hand in the design of the 1978 intermediates. GM downsized the "E's" again for 1986 and botched the reboot so bad it damn near killed a market segment.
Sales imploded. While Buick sold over 65,000 Riviera's in 1985, the last year for the 1979 era design, they sold just over 22,000 of the downsized little stinkers for 1986, a whisper over 15,000 for 1987 and a laughable 8,600 or so for 1988. They redesigned them for 1989 smearing on cake frosting to make the cars look more like Riv's of yore and it worked to some extent as sales bounced back to 1986 levels for 1990 and 1991. Then the sales began circling the drain again for 1992 and 1993.
In fairness, the shrunken "E-bodies" were roomy inside, comfortable, feature laden and rode and handled better than any "E" before them. Several problems, though. GM grossly underestimated how important the axiom of "size matters" was to their core E-body customer; the smaller "E's" weren't much larger than lesser GM makes and models and they cost twice as much. They also had myriad warranty issues and, lastly but not leastly, especially the Riviera, they was ugly. The Eldorado and Toronado didn't win any awards for inspiring design either.
Cadillac and Oldsmobile did a nice enough job upsizing their "E's" as well for 1989, I wouldn't kick an Eldorado Touring Coupe or Toronado Trofeo of that vintage out of my garage. Buick, on the other hand, was far less successful with their rehash of the Riviera, they only made a bad thing worse.
When I saw this car the other day, I first thought it was aging better than I ever thought possible. The closer I got to it I realized I was wrong. I didn't take my own word for it either because sometimes you don't know how something you've known for half your life has aged or weathered over time. I texted a couple of photos to my twenty-six-year-old, semi-car crazy hipster son and asked him for his take on it.
Here's his reaction.
Regardless of whether I like it or not, seeing an oldie at the transmission shop next to my office while a most pleasant way to start the day for me, is most often times not a good thing for the vehicle owner. A quick chat with Peter the shop manager and he told me he can't find the parts he needs to fix its busted THM 440-T4.
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The owner has options, though. He can search for parts himself, sell it "as is" for next to nothing, sell it for parts or drive onto a frozen Lake Eerie in wintertime.
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The 1992 Buick Riviera really carries that grumpy charm — boxy lines, plush seats, and a whole lot of attitude. It is wild how cars from that era still have such presence. If I ever part with mine, I will probably go through Cash For Cars in Brisbane to make the process less of a headache.
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Really enjoyed reading your take on the 1992 Buick Riviera — “old and grumpy” is exactly the kind of personality you don’t often see these days. You’ve captured both its flaws and its charm in a way that makes me respect it even more. Seeing a car like this makes me think about how important it is to preserve rather than discard — there are places like Melbourne Cash 4 Carz that understand the value in bringing these classics back into the light, even when parts like transmissions are failing.
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What a charming and honest look at the 1992 Buick Riviera — your way of embracing its quirks and “grumpy” personality really brings the car to life. It’s in those imperfections that I think true character shows through, and stories like this remind us why classic cars are so beloved. Even in our more transactional realms, Melbourne Cash for Carz finds itself admiring the heart behind cars like this, not just their market value.
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This was a fun and nostalgic ride through the quirks of the 1992 Riviera — love how you don’t shy away from its grumpier traits along with the charm. The balance really brings out the car’s personality. If ever you find yourself dealing with parts or decisions about whether to refurbish or retire, folks at A1 Wreckers might surprise you with what they can salvage to keep the character alive.
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This is such a great read — there’s something soulful about an “old and grumpy” Buick Riviera that newer cars can’t replicate. The character, the quirks, and the stories that come with it really shine through your writing. It also reminds me how valuable every part is — whether to restore or repurpose — and why outfits like Metal Biz Recyclers play a quiet but important role in keeping automotive heritage alive. https://www.metalbiz.com.au/
ReplyDeleteWhat a candid and characterful look at the 1992 Riviera — it really wears its age with personality, quirks and all. Your writing gives it life beyond the dents and failing parts. For someone facing tough repair decisions (or lack of parts), tapping into services like Local Cash for Car can sometimes bring that classic to its next chapter — whether as parts, a project, or someone else’s passion.
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What a gorgeous, bittersweet look at the 1992 Riviera — “old and grumpy” indeed, but still full of character. I appreciate how you don’t shy away from its faults while also honouring its presence and story. If that transmission truly gives out, there’s always hope in dedicated places like North Brisbane Wreckers to keep pieces of history alive rather than letting them vanish.
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