1969 · Buick · United States
1969 Buick Riviera: Another Record Year
Another record at 52,872 Rivieras; 5,272 had the GS handling option.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
The Riviera Owners Association lists another record for 1969, 52,872 Rivieras, this record's own dek and overview state, including 5,272 with the GS handling option, every one carrying the 430 V-8 rated 360 horsepower SAE gross. This record's own key facts section restates the GS figure directly, 5,272 cars, and its own production notes confirm the GS row is a subset of the total.1
This record's own identification section carries the 1969 engine codes: RD for the 430 at 360 horsepower with 10.25:1 compression, used across every Riviera including the GS, and RE for a low-compression 430. GS identification for 1969 carries forward the same slanted red GS emblem used in 1967-68, placed after block-letter RIVIERA script on the fenders, alongside a chromed air-cleaner lid, heavy-duty suspension and the 3.42 Positive Traction axle; the same section notes that from 1969 all Rivieras had variable-ratio steering as standard, so there was no separate GS steering option that year. The body carried number 49487.2,3,1
This record's own conflicts section documents a 1969 base-price disagreement: $4,683 from a factory price sheet this record treats as primary, against $4,701 from three secondary pages that may share one lineage, a figure this record's treatment suggests could be a later list price. The A9 GS option itself is priced at $131.57 in the same factory sheet, bundling a chrome-plated air cleaner, heavy-duty suspension, the performance rear axle with Positive Traction differential, whitewall tires and GS identification. Power disc brakes, code C1 at $52.63, reached 5,918 cars, about 11.2 percent, per the Owners Association's own Evolution article.4,5,6
This record's own options section itemizes 55 entries in total, all priced from a single 1969 factory model-and-option retail price sheet, a fuller and more consistent pricing picture than this record's other sources offer individually. Automatic climate control, code I-5 at $499.94, sits against manual air conditioning's $421.28 under code I-6, which the Evolution article rounds to "$422" and credits with 95 percent installation; Cruise Master, code S6 at $63.15, reached about 19.5 percent, and a custom vinyl top with rear-quarter belt molding at $126.30 was installed on 84.9 percent of 1969 Rivieras, offered in six colours.5
This record's own paint table carries 16 colours from the Owners Association's 1969 chart, cross-checked against TeamBuick's own Fisher paint-code table for every entry but one: Regal Black, marked not available on the standard chart, which the Evolution article says Buick told dealers on October 11, 1968 was available on the Riviera as a special order, a change the colour chart itself was never updated to reflect. Its interiors section carries 15 trims across standard vinyl bench and bucket colours and further optional bench and bucket choices in cloth-and-vinyl or vinyl alone.7,2,5
This record's own specifications section carries seven 1969 figures from the Owners Association's weights-and-measures table: a 4,200-pound curb weight, a 119.0-inch wheelbase, front and rear track of 63.4 and 63.0 inches, a 215.2-inch overall length, a 78.8-inch width, a 53.2-inch height, and an 8.55x15 tire size. This record's own unpublished-leads section is empty for the year, and its own transmissions and performance sections carry no entries either.8
Fact sheet · 1969 · United States
The numbers
1969 Buick Riviera and Riviera GS — Another record at 52,872 Rivieras; 5,272 had the GS handling option.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- GS handling option: 5,272 cars.1
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera, all1,9 Riviera incl. GS · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source ROA and Wikipedia agree. | 52,872 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera GS handling option1 Riviera GS · 2-door hardtop · 430 V-8 · automatic · not stated by source | 5,272 | built, model-year | Reported |
The GS row is a subset of the total.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Riviera sport coupe (9487) | $4,683 | manufacturer's suggested retail delivered price including federal excise tax, excluding state and local taxes, 1969 model year |
| Riviera sport coupe, suggested retail (ROA list and Evolution)4,5,6 | $4,701 | manufacturer's suggested retail price as transcribed by the Riviera Owners Association, 1969 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 430 V-81,9 430 cu in · 4-barrel | 360 hp (SAE gross) | standard (only engine) | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
A9order code |
Riviera GS option (chrome-plated air cleaner, heavy-duty suspension, performance rear axle with Positive Traction differential, whitewall tires, GS identification) | $131.57 | Not yet sourced |
B4order code |
Operating console (bucket seats only) | $61.05 | Not yet sourced |
C1order code |
Power disc brakes | $52.63 | 5,9185 Reported |
D1order code |
Sonomatic radio, manual antenna | $88.41 | Not yet sourced |
D2order code |
Sonomatic radio, electric antenna | $117.88 | Not yet sourced |
D3order code |
Stereo tape player (radio and rear speaker required) | $116.83 | Not yet sourced |
D4order code |
AM-FM stereo radio with front and rear speakers and electric antenna | $268.39 | Not yet sourced |
D5order code |
AM-FM radio with electric antenna | $177.88 | Not yet sourced |
D6order code |
Rear seat speaker (included with D4) | $16.84 | Not yet sourced |
F1order code |
Whitewall tires 8.55 x 15 (standard with A9) | $42.41 | Not yet sourced |
F7order code |
Radial-ply whitewall tires 225R-15, without A9 | $107.36 | Not yet sourced |
F8order code |
Wide Oval red-line tires H70-15 (with A9 only) | $31.58 | Not yet sourced |
F9order code |
Wide Oval whitewall tires H70-15 (with A9 only) | $31.58 | Not yet sourced |
G1order code |
Performance axle with Positive Traction differential (standard with A9) | $47.37 | Not yet sourced |
G4order code |
Positive Traction differential (standard with A9) | $47.37 | Not yet sourced |
H1order code |
Trailer towing option (not with A9, H2 or H3) | $3.79 | Not yet sourced |
H2order code |
Ride and handling option (standard with A9) | $3.79 | Not yet sourced |
H3order code |
Automatic level control (not with H1, H2 or A9) | $78.94 | Not yet sourced |
I-3order code |
Heavy-duty cooling, extra heavy-duty radiator (I-5 or I-6 required) | $21.05 | Not yet sourced |
I-5order code |
Automatic climate control air conditioning | $499.94 | Not yet sourced |
I-6order code |
Air conditioner, manual controls5 | $421.28 | Not yet sourced |
I-7order code |
Heavy-duty cooling (not with I-5 or I-6) | $31.58 | Not yet sourced |
J5order code |
Custom front and rear seat belts with locking front retractors and custom front and rear shoulder belts, standard trim only | $23.62 | Not yet sourced |
J5order code |
Custom rear shoulder belts, custom trims only | $26.32 | Not yet sourced |
K2order code |
Cornering lights | $33.68 | Not yet sourced |
K3order code |
Speed alert | $11.58 | Not yet sourced |
L1order code |
Soft-Ray tinted glass | $47.37 | Not yet sourced |
L2order code |
Soft-Ray tinted windshield only | $29.47 | Not yet sourced |
M7order code |
Rear window defroster | $22.11 | Not yet sourced |
M9order code |
Heated-glass rear window defroster | $47.37 | Not yet sourced |
N2order code |
Four-note horn | $15.79 | Not yet sourced |
N3order code |
Heavy-duty air cleaner | $9.48 | Not yet sourced |
O4order code |
Door guards | $5.27 | Not yet sourced |
O5order code |
Remote-control outside rear-view mirror | $10.53 | Not yet sourced |
P1order code |
Carpet savers and handy mats | $14.53 | Not yet sourced |
P2order code |
Carpet savers | $7.37 | Not yet sourced |
Q4order code |
Power seat, 6-way tilt adjuster (bench seat) | $99.99 | Not yet sourced |
Q5order code |
Power seat, 4-way tilt adjuster | $73.68 | Not yet sourced |
R1order code |
Power windows | $110.52 | Not yet sourced |
S6order code |
Cruise Master5 | $63.15 | Not yet sourced |
T1order code |
Automatic trunk release | $14.74 | Not yet sourced |
T2order code |
Vacuum-operated door locks | $47.37 | Not yet sourced |
U7order code |
Inside rear-view mirror map light | $4.21 | Not yet sourced |
V2order code |
Chrome-plated wheels | $94.73 | Not yet sourced |
V4order code |
Super deluxe wheel covers | $57.89 | Not yet sourced |
W4order code |
Custom lower side moldings (lower body side and lower front fender) | $42.10 | Not yet sourced |
1Aorder code |
Reclining passenger seat with head restraints for driver and passenger, bench seats | $31.58 | Not yet sourced |
1Border code |
Reclining passenger seat, bucket seats | $31.58 | Not yet sourced |
27order code |
Head restraints, front, driver and passenger | $17.90 | Not yet sourced |
F7order code |
Radial-ply whitewall tires 225R-15, with A9 | $64.94 | Not yet sourced |
J3order code |
Custom front and rear seat belts with locking front retractors and custom front shoulder belts, standard trim only | $0 | Not yet sourced |
|
Custom Trim Nos. 691, 692, 694, 698: Strato-bucket seats, vinyl | $168.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Custom Trim Nos. 674, 678, 680, 685, 686, 687, 688: Strato-bench seat | $168.40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Custom vinyl top with rear quarter belt molding5 | $126.30 | Not yet sourced |
|
Special order paint (other than standard colour, single car order) | $84.20 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
C |
Polar White7,2 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Crystal Blue7,2 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Twilight Blue7,2 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Azure Blue (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
G |
Trumpet Gold7,2 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Lime Green7,2 | Not yet sourced |
J |
Embassy Gold (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Deep Gray Mist (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
M |
Verde Green7,2 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Burgundy Mist7,2 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Silver Mist7,2 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Olive Beige (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Sunset Silver (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
W |
Copper Mist (Riviera exclusive)7,2 | Not yet sourced |
Z |
Antique Gold7,2 | Not yet sourced |
A |
Regal Black (special order only)5 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
666 |
Vinyl bench (standard): Parchment7 | Not yet sourced |
669 |
Vinyl bench (standard): Black7 | Not yet sourced |
664 |
Vinyl buckets (standard): Parchment7 | Not yet sourced |
668 |
Vinyl buckets (standard): Black7 | Not yet sourced |
692 |
Vinyl buckets (optional): Gold7 | Not yet sourced |
694 |
Vinyl buckets (optional): Parchment7 | Not yet sourced |
698 |
Vinyl buckets (optional): Black7 | Not yet sourced |
674 |
Cloth and vinyl notchback bench (optional): Parchment7 | Not yet sourced |
678 |
Cloth and vinyl notchback bench (optional): Black7 | Not yet sourced |
680 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Green7 | Not yet sourced |
685 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Pearl White7 | Not yet sourced |
686 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Buckskin7 | Not yet sourced |
687 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Burgundy7 | Not yet sourced |
688 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Black7 | Not yet sourced |
691 |
Vinyl bench (optional): Blue7 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Curb weight8 | 4,200 lb | Riviera |
| Wheelbase8 | 119 in | Riviera |
| Track, front / rear8 | 63.4 / 63.0 in | Riviera |
| Overall length8 | 215.2 in | Riviera |
| Width8 | 78.8 in | Riviera |
| Height8 | 53.2 in | Riviera |
| Tire size (standard, option)8 | 8.55x15 | Riviera |
Identification
- Body number
- 49487 per ROA table.1
- Engine codes (Electra 225, Riviera)
- RD: 430, 360 hp, 10.25:1, 4-barrel (used in all Rivieras including GS); RE: 430 low compression.2,4,3
- GS identification
- Same slanted red GS emblem as 1967-68 after block-letter RIVIERA on the fenders; chromed air-cleaner lid; heavy-duty suspension; 3.42 Positive Traction axle. From 1969 all Rivieras had variable-ratio steering, so there was no separate GS steering option.3
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1969 Buick VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1969
- AMC AMX The two-seat AMX's biggest year: 8,293 cars by the enthusiast production table, with a mid-year run of Big Bad colors and 52 Hurst-built Super Stock AMXs for NHRA drag racing.
- AMC Javelin Production fell to 40,675, but the 1969 Javelin added the Big Bad colors, with 2,282 cars painted blue, green or orange, plus the Mod package.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine A base and SST Rebel with no convertible. The Big Bad colors were test-marketed through the New York–New Jersey 'Raider' hardtop. This is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX GS production fell to 12,465, and the GS 400's Stage 1 package became a factory option while Stage 2 stayed a dealer item.
- Buick Wildcat 67,453 Wildcats; the last year of the 430.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS Super Sport became RPO Z25 option equipment, available for 1969 only on the 300 Deluxe coupes as well as Malibu sport coupe, convertible and El Camino.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova SS is RPO Z26 per the source, with L48, L34 and L78 engines. Enthusiast-compiled production: 251,849 cars; Super Sport 17,564.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS SS 396 became RPO Z25 option equipment, orderable on the V8 Malibu El Camino (13680); the El Camino share of the 86,307 Z25s is not separately published.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Only the SS427 (RPO Z24) remains; the reported count ranges from 2,425 to about 2,455.
- Dodge Charger The second-generation Charger's peak-sales year added the SE package and the aero-bodied Charger 500 and Charger Daytona homologation cars, whose production totals are still disputed.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The Super Bee added a hardtop body and the 440 Six Pack, while the 440-powered Coronet R/T continued as the upscale hardtop and convertible.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The low-priced Swinger 340 arrived and outsold the GTS by more than two to one (16,637 against about 6,700), while a 375 hp 440 joined the GTS options.
- Ford Fairlane The Fairlane hardtop was the intermediate line's volume leader, while the Fairlane 500 SportsRoof shared its body with the Torino GT, Cobra and Talladega.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT carried Torino GT trim; 1,658 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Fifth-generation Thunderbird; only the whole-line production total was found.
- Ford Torino The Torino GT carried most of the line's volume, the 428 Cobra Jet was in its first full year, and the Talladega aero fastback was built in a short run at Atlanta to homologate a NASCAR nose.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone fastback came as Cyclone and Cyclone CJ, mid-year Spoilers carried Dan Gurney and Cale Yarborough graphics, and the extended-nose Cyclone Spoiler II was built at Lorain for NASCAR homologation.
- Mercury Cougar A longer, restyled Cougar added a convertible, the Boss 302 arrived in April, and the Eliminator replaced the GT as the performance Cougar.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The Marauder name returned on a full-size hardtop, and the X-100 carried the 360 hp 429 four-barrel as its only engine.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 kept its 400 while the second Hurst/Olds, in white and gold with a 380 hp 455, went into production at about 900 cars.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The last A-body Barracuda introduced the 'Cuda name as a stripped performance package with a standard 340, alongside Formula S and a midyear 440.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The GTX shared the Road Runner's new Air Grabber scoop and Super Track Pack but sold 15,602 cars, fewer than a fifth of the cheaper Road Runner.
- Plymouth Road Runner A convertible joined the coupe and hardtop, the 440 Six Barrel arrived at mid-year, and the Road Runner reached its production peak of 84,420.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The last first-generation Firebird, and the mid-year debut of the Trans Am package: 697 cars by the commonly published count, eight of them convertibles.
- Pontiac GTO Three four-barrel 400s under one nameplate, and the first year of the Judge package built around Ram Air power.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A new 118-inch Grand Prix with the SJ and a 390 hp 428 HO: production more than tripled to 112,486.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The last year of the OHC Sprint six and the 350 HO.
- Rambler American and SC/Rambler AMC and Hurst put the 315-hp 390 V8 and a close-ratio four-speed into the compact Rambler hardtop for NHRA F/Stock. 1,512 were built, and the split between the two paint schemes is disputed.