Ferris

Okay, that really helps with the decision making. We will see if the heat gun thing tells us something first. You are a wealth of knowledge sir.

Dont be stompin on my dreams! No I agree, I am leaning towards 119k. Now my theory is that it was outside for a while. The vinyl top was very weathered and shredding. I got most of it off as you can see. The vinyl upholstery is extremely brittle for what its worth. I see your point on that radiator. Still overheating by the way. Took the thermostat out and ran it and it got way hot. Going to do the thermometer gun thing you mentioned here in a couple of days and see what that tells us about the radiator. Water is circulating at the top. Ive heard to boil the radiator etc could cost $300 assuming it is the radiator. Then I see aluminum ones for almost half that price. If its the radiator, what is the downside to buying one other than it is no longer original? Also, the Rivs that Robere is referring to are actually 71 models. The first one was bought in 94 because my wife saw one and totally loved it. I though it looked like as some have described it, "a flying cockroach". Anyway, a one owner came up for sale for $1300 and I bought it for her. She actually would drive 50 miles per day to college. She loved that it would pass other cars. I grew to love it. She's a keeper for lovin a boat tail Riv. Not many women do. Anyway, a tree branch fell on it during an ice storm. Bought another 71 out of state of CT. Started doing a restore, but abandoned it cause of the frame issues. Thats when we had the top cut on the second riv and put on the crushed first riv. Below is a pic of the crushed riv (silver then) and then the black one from CT after it became a convertible (ha), and then the silver one restored to black. Then there is another 71 Riv which is another story for another time with a horrible ending.

Wow that's some really great information on tires. That would be helpful if I could find what was originally on there but it's not looking good. I am more than happy with this car regardless of miles. Its super straight and your right there will not be as a great cost in a restore. I am not convinced its 19k original miles either so I dont want anyone thinking I am so naive. However, I put some stock in oral history and the story seemed interesting at the time. Also to be clear, the tires on the car now were put on it as temporary tires from the guy I bought it from. There is a full tire spare in the trunk that is definitely original but the trunk lock is out and I cannot open it easy but I will again time permitting. So, I finally called the guy today to refresh my memory. I had my story mixed up a bit. I thought the original owner bought the car and parked it because of a bad engine. Apparently not the case according to my seller. Unless he's mixed up. He tells me the people he bought it from lived out in the country in mid-arkansas. Had a farm. The guy bought a 68 and loved it and then bought a 69 to invest in so he would have two. Yes, I agree, makes no sense since that is a lot of money and there is nary a difference between the two. He ended driving the 68 a ton and ignored the 69. That was the story the widows nephew told my seller. Yeah again, makes little sense. The garage it was in was falling apart and water was getting in from the roof. I asked what happened to the original tires. He said they were flat and dry rotted when he purchased it. He put some used tires he had from another car on them when he purchased it and tossed the old tires. I asked for a pic of it with the old tires and he said he would look. The only thing he remembers about the tires was that they were white walls. I will also see if the one in the trunk was a whitewall. He's going to see if he still has their number. He bought it in 2021 I think. One last thing. If that story were actually true (and it's hard to believe that's actually the story. I think something got mixed up but there's got to be some basis in truth to it) then that means the engine didn't blow. The story was that he just never really used it and it sat too long because he drove the other one. Then how likely is it that the motor would have seized just from sitting there. I know it could happen but I didn't know it would happen after 50 years. Tried numerous things by numerous people and eventually had to do a rebuild because it could not get unstuck. Had he saved the tires, then we would likely know the answer. Oh well. I am happy either way with it. I will keep looking into it until I can't look into it anymore.

I do have the original spare in the trunk. If the guy who I bought it from still has the tires he took off of it that would as you say tell a lot.

Don't tell me a pig couldn't have put 19k on a car! In the ozarks it can happen.

Well that should add 2 more dollars of value to the car😆

I took a picture of the odometer and I dug in between the bench of the front seat and these are the items I found. Nothing to me post dates 1975 at least at first glance. There was nothing in between the backseat bench.

Well I like the topic so please continue. The story behind the car again was this guy who likes to buy older gm cars bought it and realized that he was gonna have to put more money in it then he could afford. He knew the motor was seized so he was hoping he get it home and get undone. Well he couldnt. He told me the story of the people he got it from a few months prior, one owner, sitting in a garage, engine went bad after several years so the guy immediately bought another one, guy died, wife's nephew told her she should get rid of the car as the garage roof was beginning to fall in. The guy I got it from picked it up and sold it to me for I think $2300. He never once mentioned low miles. He like me may have assumed it was 119k. The problem with the tire idea (and its a good one) is that the guy I bought from put some tires on it which I think when I checked a month ago were about 6 years old. So by the time I got it, he had already replaced tires. I can ask if he still has them, but I doubt he does. I am convinced that the car was parked in 74 or 75 and not driven again. My guess is that it had an oiling issue. I believe the story since no one tried to puff up this vehicle as low mileage. Thus there is no reason to disbelieve it. Now, no one said it had 19k original miles either. Around these parts, especially in the 70s people did not commute all over the place is my thinking unless they were a salesman or something. Plus there is the issue of the old pepsi can and the 75 tags. Then again, an engine blowing at 19k is not likely but not impossible. So we either have to believe this guy put 20k per year on the car or 3k per year is what I am saying. That carpet issue could be from some water damage. The dash is absolutely immaculate. The body is almost immaculate. There is some sag on the driver door which would cut against a 19k theory. Who knows. I first believed it was 119k until I saw the tags and then that aligned with the history. I have heard that looking at the odometer and seeing if the numbers line up even is indicative of original miles. If not, it cuts against original miles. I guess its all academic anyways. I am not ever going to sell it as some low mileage vehicle but its fun to try to figure it out. I will post a pic of the odometer this evening. One last thing, the guy I bought from said these people's last name was Presley. They claimed relations to Elvis. It is possible. Now I need to find out if the King bought it for them! I am not content with just a 19k ride. He did buy Pricilla a 63 Riv after all.

Well how do we know a pig didn't actually drive it. 😆

Hey thanks for all the good advice there. I will post with what happens.

And not since turin has a shroud been so controversial.

So the fan hit my shroud gouging it somewhat. So my next technical question is how good are you guys with black sharpies so I can return this damn thing!

Well I appreciate all the recommendations on the overheating issues. Will definitely look into it. So I look at google images and almost every 69 Riv has a different plate over the radiator than the plate I have. Mine has the GM sticker on it which is odd. Well I found a few cars that have my identical radiator plate and some of them have aftermarket air. Well, and maybe this doesn't sound right but not one of them from what I can tell has a shroud. I am wondering if the car has AC then it had a shroud and if did not have AC then it did not have a shroud. Hence the two different type of plate one top of the radiator. And if it has aftermarket air would a shroud be recommended. I think I blew money on a stupid shroud. https://www.mecum.com/lots/172291/1969-buick-riviera/ https://www.nsclassics.com/used-vehicle-1969-buick-riviera-30k-original-mile-car-mostly-original-paint-see-video-c-5295/ https://www.orlandoclassiccars.net/vehicles/641/1969-buick-riviera

Hey thanks for all that great advice. I do agree the shroud is not the underlying problem. I was hoping a thermostat might be the problem, but you are right, there is much to diagnose. A 185 thermostat is a quick and cheap diagnostic check I would think. I have a mechanic working on most of this and so this is not my area of expertise.

My reading on Mark IVs is they used a York if I recall right. I agree regarding the shroud not solving the overheating problem. It was a side issue that is now annoying.