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Like the fading final note of a symphony, the 1999 Buick Riviera would be the end of a memorable performance. First introduced in 1963, the Riviera was Buick's entry into the personal luxury car market with a car that was the most European offering from one of the most American brands. Through its eight generations and 36 years of production it morphed many times but in the end it came back to its roots.
Times had changed and the Riviera changed with it. Gone was the big V8, replaced with a modern electronically controlled turbocharged V6. In the final year, 1999, the car only came with the L67, 3.8 liter, series II supercharged V6. The often bloated and ponderous proportions of the car over the years were pared down to a slender aerodynamic form that didn’t look designed as much as poured onto the chassis. It was the nearest thing to a European sports coupe coming from America.
The last generation of the Riviera only came equipped one way, all or nothing. Equipment included traction control, power everything including electronically controlled heated and folding mirrors, and leather upholstery. To demonstrate the confidence Buick had in this car it was sold with a 5 year or 100,000 mile guarantee.
The SUV was invented in the 1990s, by the end of the decade it was already proving overwhelmingly popular with buyers. Two-door cars of any type were falling out of favor quickly and nothing the manufacturers could do would stop that. In Buick's 95th year in business, the final Riviera rolled off the assembly line. It truly was a sad note at the end of a lovely symphony. -
Company
General Motors
Make
Buick
Model
Riviera Silver Arrow
Body Style
Coupe, 2-dr., 4 -pass.
Body Manufacture
Fisher Body
Model year
1999
Wheelbase
113.8 inches
Length
207.2 inches
Engine
V6, Supercharged, 231 cid / 3.8 L
Horsepower
240 hp @ 5200 rpm
Transmission
4-speed automatic
Original Base Price
$33,820
Brand Production
216,652
This Car Production
200 -
Before the Riviera bowed to the public in 1963, Bill Mitchell, vice-president of design for GM and Ned Nickles, long time Buick designer, created the Riviera Silver Arrow as a concept car to hint at the new product to come. Looking a lot like the production car but with features that would never work on a street car, the concept was painted in a liquidy silver with matching silver leather interior. It was stunning!
This first Silver Arrow would be modified after the production car came out so that Mitchell could drive the car everyday. This would become Silver Arrow II. Buick would revive the name and the concept when it introduced the “boat tail” Riviera in 1971. This concept car, again painted silver with silver interior, was dubbed Silver Arrow III.
It seems only fitting that the final Riviera should carry the name of the first concept car. A limited edition of 200 cars painted silver with silver interiors and special Silver Arrow badging. These would be the final 200 Rivieras ever produced.
The NB Center collection is proud to have the final car. Buick started numbering these cars at “0” so our car with #199 is the last Riviera ever produced. A commemorative tag affixed to the dashboard also affirms this car as the only example sold in Italy.