General Chat
Q:
Sorry about the delay in answer - a real bad night literally chasing down crazy patients and couldn't get back to you. I felt compeled the next morning when I got home to start my vacation right and get rid of my old stock of bourbon.
"Rita" is a classic "retro" car that I got out of Wisconsin from an as in the Buick collectors club. Think of the Riviera and the Big Bird Thunderbirds as sports cars for the Grand parents. They were called "Personal Cars".
These were desinged with nostalgia in mind - style que's from the '40's and '50's. It was a joke at GM that the Buick division President wanted the longest hood in the industry - designers extended the nose one foot on the hood and the Pres. thought it was cool so it went into production. (so the story goes)
A lot are still in good shape because they were bought and driven by old folks who wanted that sporty look but took care of the cars. The '71 to '73 Rivieras are really classic but aquired taste cars. You really like them or not.
With a big block 455 GM engine they will go fast as you want but their not dragsters in this era. The previous 430 enigine I had in the '68 Electra was a full power powerhouse - GM was tuning down the 455's starting in '71 and got progressively worse.
Expect 9 to 12 mph - but if you can get a bank loan for the tank fillup on the weekend drive - heck it's just like puting your favorite couch and the livingroom in a drag race.
They're smooth fast straight line cars - not road rally. But Rita has shortened tail pipes dumping before the rear wheels and Flowmaster 50's.
Not the loudest set up and I needed money for Z car repairs - get back on the exhaust later. But she scares the BS so to speak out of the youngster ricers -
when the engine noise is rumbling louder than their boom boxes and shaking the ground they kinda shy away from stupid races.
Driving a land shark on cruise nights is fun - but she wants to pull in to every gas station she see's and thinks tankertrucks are momma.
Ed and Jeanne's
ZXelda 1981 280 ZXT: ZXena 1990 300 ZX
1941 Buick Special Sedanette (Betty)
1956 Dodge Royal (Dorothy)
1971 Buick Riviera (Rita)
1975 Ford F-150 Stepside (Fiona)
1992 Firebird (Frieda)
A:
That sounds appealing, I may have to start really keeping my eye out in the auto traders and on craigslist now...
I really like the impalas and older buicks, they're the only car I've seen that gets the same reaction as my 240z did.
Everyone always seems to have a story that they remembered about either some impala, or their dad's buick they were trucked around in as a kid.
Thanks for the info!
Oh, and how is the aftermarket for parts?
youth is wasted on the young
A:
AKA as the Boat-Tale...
77 280Z with SBC, 700R4, Vette C4 IRS W/11.5 rear disk, Centerlines 16x9.5 W/BF G 245x45ZR Comp T/A Rear and 15x7 Ft W/BF Goodrich Euro 225x15 on ft. Soon to have Coleman 12.2x1.25, x-drilled, zinc plated, Rotors W/Billet Outlaw 4000. Z U V8ter
A:
they have cool speedometers too...lol
1976 280z 2+2 - Risen from the dead - garaged since 1988. Pallnet Fuel Rail and guage - ES rack and front bushings - 260Z 4Speed - Arizona Z Car Clutch - H4 Lights - Lots more to come...
A:
Ah, the boat-tail Riv. Such a classic! Always liked their design. My former neighbor had one and other than the fact that he and his wife both smoked liked chimneys (and the Riv stunk!) it was a great looking example of Detroit iron.
Also, erzelda, my lady friend is a Rita (too old for a gf here!).
Jim
JR in Tulsa (4EVER Z)
73 240Z - L28, Triple Miks, 5 speed, 3.9.
83 stock 280ZX
Chaos, panic, and disorder---my work here is done!
Post Edited (Sep 3, 10:42am)
A:
Being GM the mechanicals aren't a problem - Steel Rubber products should have anything in moulding and other rubber fittings
Body parts like the trunk and nose might be harder to find but there are junkers out there.
I bought one just for parts and could only slvage the trunk lid and all the glass - getting an intacked split rear window was worth the $150 I paid for the car.
Google around for parts - there's a specific Riviera collectors club - and keep looking, these cars can be found working and in usable shape for $3,000 range.
Ed and Jeanne's
ZXelda 1981 280 ZXT: ZXena 1990 300 ZX
1941 Buick Special Sedanette (Betty)
1956 Dodge Royal (Dorothy)
1971 Buick Riviera (Rita)
1975 Ford F-150 Stepside (Fiona)
1992 Firebird (Frieda)
Post Edited (Sep 6, 9:19pm)