1967 Buick Riviera Gran Sport
This was the second Buick Riviera Gran Sport Richard owned. His high school was across the street from Poole Buick and he ofen eyed the cars on the lot. His first brand new car had been a 1966 Corvette Roadster (involves another web page and another story - Read here).
After that tragedy he purchased a 1966 Buick Riviera Gran Sport. Equipped like this one it was a beautiful maroon color. But having developed what he called his "car disease" he didn't keep the 66 GS very long. He took it to Poole Buick and traded even for a 1967 442, 2-door post, Saffron with a black vinyl top, 3-speed manual transmission, power steering and power brakes but no air conditioning. Needless to say after the 66 GS it didn't take him long to become bored with it and the lack of options. He tried to trade back even with Poole for his 66 GS which was still on their used car lot but they said no. Needless to say it was not long after he wasn't able to trade it for something else that he blew the engine up. After the 442 was repaired by Garner Motors he traded it in. (Read more about the 1967 442 - his first 442.)
This 1967 Buick Riviera GS was the first car he ever special ordered. It had bucket seats, center console, black standard interior, tilt wheel, air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power brakes, cornering lights, AM-FM and he had a telephone installed in it. Luxury over bare muscle car was much more appreciated.
Richard had joined the Marine Corps and during the summer of 1969 he was deployed to 29 Palms in California for training. By that time Poole Buick had sold their dealership in Amarillo and it became Russell Buick. Poole Buick set up a new dealership in Costa Mesa, California. Richard drove the car to California for training and when he got there he sold the car to Poole Buick. The keychain pictured below is the only piece he kept.
