The Things You Find When You Are Researching The Riviera …

[J3Studio]

… here's today's:

 

https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/supreme-court/1992/1189-0.html

 

Short form—a 1992 lawsuit over the rebuilt remains of a stolen and stripped 1983 Riviera that went all the way to the Nebraska supreme court. Operative quotes:

 

"Shortly after the Warners took possession of the car, several problems developed. The windows did not operate properly, and when they did operate, they caused the interior lights to go on. Also, the transmission did not function properly, and the vehicle leaked when left in the rain. Sometime in late March or early April 1986, the Warners requested that Reagan Buick take the car back, but Reagan refused to do so. The Warners thereafter remained in possession of the vehicle, driving it daily up through the time of trial and, in the process, adding approximately 15,000 miles to the 26,761 miles already on the odometer at the time the Warners purchased the vehicle."

 

"Several automobile appraisers, testifying as experts, stated that the car contained Buick Riviera parts from various model years between 1978 and 1983 and possibly parts from other makes of cars as well. There was also testimony that the paint was thick in spots, indicating that the vehicle had been repainted. All the experts agreed that it would be evident to anyone experienced in the automobile business that the car was a 1983 Buick in name only. Each expert also testified that the value of the car was substantially lessened because of the amalgamation of parts used and the lack of skill evident in the attempted restoration. In this regard, they specifically noted that bundles of wires were not attached to anything and that the 1979 instrument panel installed lacked a turbo indicator, even though the 1983 model contained a turbo engine."