1983 Buick Riviera

[Crystallou]

I am trying to find a price point on my 1983 Buick Riviera.  I’m hoping that someone who knows anything about these cars can help me out because the Internet is ALL over the place.  I don’t know where to start.

[joe_padavano]

Asking prices are worthless. The only meaningful data is actual selling prices where cash changes hands. I use ebay completed auctions for that info, but you have to be careful. The only 1983 Riv that has "sold" in the past month on ebay went for just under $11K, but apparently it didn't actually sell because the same car shows up again for sale. That one was a convertible. Sounds like the $11K-$15K starting bids aren't generating any interest, so one would assume the market is lower than that.

[TAKerry]

Hagerty says in good condition around 10k. Also notes that the value is on the rise. I found one online that looks comparable to yours with an asking of 10k but it presents a bit nicer. Clean yours up a bit, clean the tires etc. Asking price and 'getting' price are 2 different things. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by TAKerry (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

I know of one 1984 Riviera in excellent condition,

with 58,000 miles, that sold for $8000 two years ago.

An auction site had told the owner that he could get

$12,000.  His car was in far northern Michigan, well off

the beaten path, so that may have dampened the price a bit.

 

How many miles are on your Riviera?  I see some tan cloth

on the interior rear pillar that didn't come from the factory.

Are your soft bumper fillers now brittle and cracked--that

happens to all such GM cars--or have they been properly

replaced?  Your pictures don't show the front bumper fillers.

 

We need more information.

[John_S_in_Penna]

16 minutes ago, joe_padavano said:

Asking prices are worthless. 

Well said.  These days, asking prices can be double

a car's true value--especially from dealers, who are

in business to mark things up for a profit.  But those

sometimes-absurd prices aren't actual SELLING prices.

 

Ebay is a good source to see actual selling prices.

[joe_padavano]

31 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

Hagerty says in good condition around 10k.

But based on what? The problem with all of these old car price guides is that unless you're talking about a Corvette, Camaro, or Mustang, there aren't enough sold to develop a statistically meaningful database. Add to this the fact that most of these price guides only track sales at high-end auctions, which are NOT the real world. It isn't possible to track private sales, which are almost certainly significantly lower prices.

[60FlatTop]

Calculate your value by taking your original purchase price and deducting $1,000 for the enjoyment you got from each year of ownership. Repairs and maintenance don't count. It just made your experience better.

[MotiveLensPhoto]

37 minutes ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

 His car was in far northern Michigan, well off

the beaten path, so that may have dampened the price a bit.

 

Absolutely. Add on potential travel to view it, cost to ship it home, etc. and the ACTUAL cost of that car can be 5 - 25% higher than the sticker price. While that shouldn't be factored into the sale price it certainly enters into the buyer's mind when they're shopping for what is an "unnecessary" purchase.

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Golden73 (see edit history)

[dalef62]

What do you think it is worth, you have to have an idea?  What would you be happy with as a selling price?  If you give us and idea of where you are price-wise we might be able to steer you in the right direction.

And condition and mileage play a huge part in pricing a vehicle as well as location.

Good luck  

[TAKerry]

2 hours ago, joe_padavano said:

But based on what? The problem with all of these old car price guides is that unless you're talking about a Corvette, Camaro, or Mustang, there aren't enough sold to develop a statistically meaningful database. Add to this the fact that most of these price guides only track sales at high-end auctions, which are NOT the real world. It isn't possible to track private sales, which are almost certainly significantly lower prices.

I use Hagerty as a go to. They are usually pretty close to asking prices. After looking at Hagerty which said 10k for fair condition, which this car looks to be, I went to Hemmings to see what they had to offer. There was one car same as this one for sale for 10k. Another which looked to be a premium edition with leather and 20k miles for 20k something. A convertible in nice condition for around 15k. So I would say the Hagerty wasnt too far off. Just from what I looked at in the last few minutes I would say if this was my car for sale I would be happy with anything 8k or above.

[joe_padavano]

47 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

I use Hagerty as a go to. They are usually pretty close to asking prices. After looking at Hagerty which said 10k for fair condition, which this car looks to be, I went to Hemmings to see what they had to offer. There was one car same as this one for sale for 10k. Another which looked to be a premium edition with leather and 20k miles for 20k something. A convertible in nice condition for around 15k. So I would say the Hagerty wasnt too far off. Just from what I looked at in the last few minutes I would say if this was my car for sale I would be happy with anything 8k or above.

 

I agree that $8K would probably be about right. The $10K asking price might be a starting point, so long as a seller understands that this is just the starting point for negotiations and not the "value". Unless there is data from actual sales where cash that title change hands, asking prices are not a measure of value. The number of ads I've seen where the seller points out "these are going for over $XXX on ebay" is staggering, as if that meant anything.

[TAKerry]

Agree completely, I often wonder how many times ask for and sell for are the same!

[Lowvalker]

Bought 2 Buicks last year, one of them an 85 Riviera. The nicest condition car I've ever owned and thought the $6900 dollars I paid for it was an absolute steal. I would say for me it was worth about $10k. If I were you I would aim for that and wouldn't go lower than €8.5k

 

The problem is that every time I (and probably others too) see a 6th generation Riviera for sale for over $10k I think they are crazy, except for the really low mileage cars... But when they ask less than $10k I start to think, what's wrong with it? Isn't that stupid? 

 

Also, there just seem to be too many really nice 6th Gen Rivieras 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Lowvalker (see edit history)

[NC1968Riviera]

10 minutes ago, Lowvalker said:

€8.5k = $9172.86 🙂

 

[Lowvalker]

Sharp! 🤭 I meant $8.5 😬

[EmTee]

Where is the car located?

[Jolly_John]

Factory side pinstripe from front to back is either missing or somehow "diminished". Could this mean the car was either repainted or got a fresh spraying of clearcoat? Reason to question how good the paint will be, if you were standing right there, rather than viewing photos.  Blackwalls also seem strange to me on a RIVIERA (low budget owner?). Photos seem strangely selective and cropped. No front or rear end views, which would reveal bumper insert problems (as mentioned by another poster), possible grille damage or right rear bumper corrosion damage from exhaust. Happy to show a photo of the back seat, but why nothing showing the driver's seat? And, as already been noted, why not include the mileage. Isn't that nearly "standard" when seeking information, or when selling a car?

 

Personally, I wouldn't be quick to throw out a $9,000 to $10,000 value for a car like this. Not referring to this particular car because I haven't seen it firsthand, but, for me, it's hard to get excited about a used-up, well-worn, fairly common model luxury car. Too easy to keep looking and yes, spend a little more money, to find a reasonably low-mileage gem. Pay more up front, but typically pay less over time.

 

Not trying to start anything unpleasant, gang, just adding my thoughts based on having owned a fair number of RIVIERA's and TORONADO's of this same vintage. John  

Edited January 20, 2023 by Jolly_John (see edit history)

[EmTee]

11 hours ago, Jolly_John said:

Blackwalls also seem strange to me on a RIVIERA (low budget owner?).

I was thinking that blackwalls on that car would look good with the right wheels...