Экспериментальный концепт Buick Riviera с крыльями-гармошкой и зеленым освещением

A bright green Buick Riviera made famous by the former Top Gear presenter during his Grand Tour days was recently showcased at St Michael's Hospice, courtesy of Richard Hammond. Here's everything you need to know about this iconic car. Grand Tour appearance According to Grand Tour Nation, the former Top Gear presenter revealed in 2022 that he had purchased the car following its appearance in a Scottish roadtrip episode of the Grand Tour. The episode, which aired in 2021, saw these presenters celebrate American cars whilst touring Scotland, "creating chaos on the streets of Edinburgh and building a homemade floating bridge across the Hebridean sea", according to IMDB. Buick Riviera overview The Buick Riviera, produced by General Motors' Buick division, was a personal luxury car spanning seven generations from 1963 to 1999. It was Buick's flagship coupe, competing with the Ford Thunderbird and Cadillac Eldorado. The Riviera was celebrated for its distinctive styling, upscale interior, and powerful engines. Green paint options Throughout its production years, the Riviera was available in various green or green-adjacent factory paint colours. The 1967 model, for instance, could be ordered in a light green body with a contrasting dark roof. The 1968 Riviera GS was available in a deep green metallic finish, paired with a black vinyl roof and whitewall tyres. In the late 1990s, the 1998 Riviera introduced a special "Slate Green Pearl" paint, a colour-shifting metallic that changed appearance under different lighting conditions. 1960s green Rivieras The first-generation Riviera (1963–1965) set the template with its clean, European-influenced lines, hidden headlights, and crisp body sculpting. By 1966–1970, the second generation adopted a more muscular stance, with the 1967 and 1968 models notably offered in green hues. These cars typically carried large V8 engines, automatic transmissions, and luxury appointments such as power steering, power brakes, and plush vinyl or cloth interiors. 1990s supercharged green Riviera The seventh and final generation (1995–1999) shifted to a front-wheel-drive layout based on the Oldsmobile Aurora platform, with a more modern, rounded design. For 1998, all Rivieras came standard with a supercharged 3.8-litre V6 producing 240 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The "Slate Green Pearl" paint was a new-for-1998 option. Concept and modern interpretations Buick revisited the Riviera name in the 2000s with concept cars that played up futuristic design and technology. The 2007 Riviera concept, for instance, featured gull-wing doors, 2+2 seating, 21-inch forged wheels, and "icy green" ambient lighting, though it never reached production. Read more Set of traffic restrictions planned on Herefordshire road Staggering cost of reopening 'danger for life' River Wye bridge Council still needs to buy land for Hereford bypass route Collectibility and notable examples Classic green Rivieras from the 1960s–70s, especially well-preserved GS models, are sought after by collectors for their combination of luxury, performance, and striking styling. Late-1990s supercharged examples in rare colours like Slate Green Pearl are also gaining attention as affordable, comfortable grand tourers with unusual paint and strong straight-line performance. The 1998 Riviera was praised as a distinctive, well-equipped luxury coupe that offered exceptional value compared to import rivals. The Buick Riviera remains a celebrated icon of American luxury coupes.