Gord Ross has been the proud owner of a 1971 Buick Riviera, an iconic car that set the trend in style during the early 1970s.
Most of the ‘71 Riviera’s cool factor was due to its unusual fastback roof design that gave the car its “Boattail” nickname in the car hobby because of its resemblance to a classic 1930s wooden speedboat stern.
Jim Sutherland
Gord told MyStarCollectorCar he has owned his 1971 Riv for over 25 years and just gave it a new paint job this past winter. He made a few changes over that time frame, including a big boost in horsepower via a transplanted big block that now boasts 462 cubic inches of bored-out brute force.
The big engine is connected to a built 3-speed Turbo 400 automatic transmission with a shift kit to move all the muscular big block’s extra ponies as quickly as possible to the rear tires.
Gord chose to keep a carburetor system on his ‘71 Riv and installed a big Quadra-jet 4-barrel, along with an electronic ignition, on his transplanted engine. The car also hits beast mode because it has headers, along with an aluminum intake manifold and cylinder heads. The net result is very snappy performance whenever the go-fast spirit moves Gord.
For the record, Gord kept the car’s original powertrain, and now it enjoys a life of retirement in storage while its replacement engine and transmission hit the street and melt rear tires.
However, Gord stuck to originality as much as possible in most other aspects of his 1971 Riviera. The list includes a functional 8-track sound system that was an option for the car 55 years ago.
Other factory creature comforts include working tilt/power steering, power windows, power brakes, along with an original cruise control system that requires repairs, according to Gord.
The ‘71 Riv Boattail has undergone an interior refurbishment, a process that preserved as much of the original material as possible because of Gord’s plan to stick to his goal to keep things original when it was an achievable goal.
The car’s new paint was even matched as closely as possible to the factory paint scheme because Gord wanted to recreate the color on the car from the day it left the dealership.
The aftermarket turbine wheels of Gord’s Riviera were not a factory item, but Gord told MyStarCollectorCar he used them because the stylish wheels were available at speed shops in 1975 and ‘76 and fit into his period-correct game plan. Good call on Gord’s part because they look retro cool on his ‘71 Riv Boattail.
The net result is a car that turned a lot of heads in 1971 and turns even more heads in 2026 because of its unique style. Gord’s choice to upgrade his Riviera’s performance ensures people will have a golden opportunity to check out the car’s famous rear Boattail rear deck for a few seconds before he blows by them on the highway in his fast and furious 1971 Buick Riviera.
Gord’s Boattail was already a trailblazer in style and now it’s a trailblazer in performance.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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