Rare Car Archive

Makes › Buick United States › GS and GSX › Riviera GS 'boattail' (1972) · Rare specification · 1972 Rare

Buick
Riviera GS 'boattail' (1972)

GS package on the 1972 boattail Riviera

Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · BUICK RIVIERA GS 'BOATTAIL' (1972) 1972
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
2,171BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
2,171 Built
Years
1972
Engine
7,460 cc / 7.5 LFactory: 455 cu in · converted
Power
198 kW / 269 PSFactory: 265 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Jerry Hirshberg (under Bill Mitchell)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 1971-73 third-generation Riviera is known for its "boat-tail" rear styling. The GS (Gran Sport) option added a performance and handling package to this large personal-luxury coupe.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityRare 2,171 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package production1972 Rivieras with GS 2,1711 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Buick restyled the Riviera for 1971 with a fastback boat-tail body, penned by Jerry Hirshberg under Bill Mitchell, on a 122-inch wheelbase. The engine was the 455 cu in V8, detuned for emissions to 255 hp, with the Gran Sport rated slightly higher at 265 hp.

The design was GM's E-body big-car platform, related to the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado. The boat-tail body lasted through 1973.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Riviera GS 'boattail' (1972).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutNot yet verified
Displacement 7,460 cc / 7.5 LFactory: 455 cu in · converted2 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 198 kW / 269 PSFactory: 265 hp · converted2 Independently researched1971 figures; standard 455 rated 255 hp.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,100 mmFactory: 122 in · converted2 Independently researched
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The boat-tail Riviera is identified by its tapered fastback rear. In the 1971-73 cars the GS was a ride and handling package including a rear stabiliser bar and radial tyres; the sources describe GS cars by that equipment and by GS emblems rather than by a unique body.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Buick Riviera Level B conceptcarz.com
    • powered by a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine
    • The Gran Sport had a slightly higher rating, at 265
    • wheelbase was extended to 122 inches
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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