Since 2012, the Discovery Channel Reality TV series Fast N’ Loud has showcased incredible custom automotive work at the Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas Texas, giving new life to rundown classic cars and trucks. And the 1972 Buick Riviera they got their hands on in 2015 is one of the coolest classic car gems the Gas Monkey crew went to work on. Spearheaded by Richard Rawlings, the team worked on the Riviera for five months straight, and the results didn't disappoint.
Updated February 2022: It's been a couple years since Richard Rawlings and Gas Monkey Garage took the 1972 Buick Riviera build to SEMA. What all did the crew have to go through to pull off this incredible build? How does the car hold up today? We've updated this post with the latest info to answer all the questions Gas Monkey fans have surrounding this badass Riviera.
In the 1950s and early ’60s, the name Riviera only referred to a high-level trim package on Buick Sedans. When Buick began designing a new coupe for the personal luxury car segment, they used the prestige from the Riviera name to help market the car. With a winning combination of good looks, a luxurious interior, and a powerful engine, the Buick Riviera lived up to the hype.
When Buick redesigned the car for re-release in 1971, they gave it a vee-butted fastback window similar to the iconic 1963 split-window Corvette. But even if the ’72 Riviera looked like a sports car, it definitely didn’t run like one. With new EPA emission standards to be met, Buick reduced the power of the Riviera’s engine, which ruined its sporty reputation.
A Classic Riviera Build For SEMA
The 1972 Buick Riviera that the Gas Monkey Garage found had two owners, no rust, and only 40,000 miles on it, which made it the perfect base for an all-in rebuild. And with its mix of '70s Buick and '60s Corvette style, it had the potential to become one of the coolest classic muscle car restomods to be featured at SEMA, one of the most important auto shows in the world.
In Richard’s mind, a supercar showcased at SEMA would mean the Garage had a chance to make a name for itself internationally and show the world what they're capable of making. To make sure his team had the time and resources to do the job right, Richard gave the team five months and a budget of $300,000.
One Of Gas Monkey Garage's Most Challenging Builds
Although the Gas Monkey team was skeptical of the car in the beginning, they slowly realized that the car might have some potential after all. With the time and budget they had, there were no limits on what they could do with it. But with their reputations and so much money on the line, the pressure was on to get it right.
For the exterior, their hot rod expert Brian Bass envisioned the car with a chopped top in the front for a more aggressive look, along with a carbon fiber hood, bronze wheels, and split bumpers. Under the hood, they'd install a supercharged Chevy LT4 and a custom chassis that could handle all of that horsepower.
The Riviera's Roadblocks
But for a classic rebuilt like this, the five-month time-frame just didn’t cut it. With so many other small projects, the team didn’t have enough time left to add in all the features they had planned. On top of that, the engine and chassis that they wanted arrived much later than anticipated. Once they faced the fact that they wouldn’t finish the car in time, they decided they would still bring the car to SEMA but submit it unfinished, no windows, no paint, and no interior finishes except the seats and the steering wheel.
While they would miss out on showcasing everything they wanted to, they were still able to show off the craftsmanship that went into rebuilding the body and frame including the chopped top and some impressive rear diffusers to increase grip and decrease drag.
Falling Short Of Gas Monkey's Goals, The Car Is Still Stunning
Obviously, the Gas Monkey Garage fell short of what they had set out to achieve because the car wasn’t complete for the show, but there are two things worth mentioning. First, the bodywork that they did on the car with all the other projects they were juggling the car is worth some recognition. Second, with the custom chassis and 1,000 horsepower engine they have in it, once they get it up and running, it’ll drive like a supercar.