1986 Buick Riviera: The Downsized Seventh Generation

The seventh-generation Riviera, built 1986 through 1993, used a transverse 3.8-liter V-6 and front-wheel drive on a new 108-inch wheelbase, this record's own overview states; the turbocharged model and the convertible were both gone, and the T-Type name now meant a handling and trim package rather than a turbo engine. This record's own production section credits the Owners Association's own table with 22,138 Rivieras for 1986, including 2,042 T-Types, a total Wikipedia's own production table agrees with.^1,2

This record's own engines section gives the 3.8-liter SFI V-6 at 140 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque per Wikipedia's own text, its own note adding that the Owners Association instead lists 142 horsepower. This record's own key facts section, drawn from the Evolution article, states that the 140-horsepower V-6 took the new car from zero to 60 miles per hour in a little over 11 seconds by its own unnamed test, and that new options for the year included keyless entry at $185 and a heated driver's mirror at $35.^2,3

This record's own conflicts section carries a price disagreement it resolves with a stated preference: Wikipedia and the Evolution article both give $19,831 for the base car and $21,577 for the T-Type, while the Owners Association's own options-and-prices page instead gives $20,267 and $22,052; this record's own treatment note explains that the options page repeats the identical $20,267 and $22,052 figures for 1986, 1987 and 1988 alike, so the Evolution and Wikipedia figures are treated as leading for 1986 specifically.^2,3,4

This record's own identification section carries the year's 17-character VIN breakdown, sourced to gnttype.org's own VIN table: a USA and GM prefix, a Buick digit, an E-body series letter, a Z for Riviera sales level or Y for T Type, body code 57, an LG3 3.8 SFI V-6 engine digit, a check digit, a G for 1986, a U for the Hamtramck plant, and a serial number from 400001. This record's own options section itemizes 50 entries in total, opening with matching $75 Electric Seatback Recliners for the driver's and passenger's sides under codes A80 and A81.^5,4

This record's own paint table carries 15 colours from the Owners Association's 1986 chart, its own note marking White and Silver among a smaller subset available on the T-Type and describing four designer accent treatments, Dark Blue with Light Blue, Dark Grey with Silver, Dark Brown with Medium Brown, and Black Cherry with Red Firemist. Its interiors section carries 22 trims, opening with a standard cloth bucket seat in Teal, Blue and Gray among its listed colours.⁶

This record's own specifications section carries seven 1986 figures from the Owners Association's weights-and-measures table, reflecting the seventh-generation downsizing: a 3,298-pound curb weight, a 108.0-inch wheelbase, front and rear track of 59.9 and 59.9 inches, a 187.2-inch overall length, a 71.7-inch width, a 53.5-inch height, and a dual P205/70R14 standard and P215/60R15 optional tire size. This record's own unpublished-leads section is empty for the year, and its own performance and transmissions sections carry no entries either, leaving the identification and conflicts sections as this record's own most detailed sources for 1986.⁷