BUICK TO END PRODUCTION OF RIVIERA:   200 SPECIAL 'SILVER ARROWS' TO BUILD

FLINT, Mich. - More than 35 years ago, the first Buick Riviera arriced in the market place.  It was quickly labeled a "modern classic."  Not to be outdone, the most recent generation of Riviera has often been described as the most dramatic design of the decade.

In between, the name has encompassed a notable collection of interesting automobiles - the "boat - tails" of the early 1970's, Gran Sports from '65 to '75, the wildly popular 1979-85 models including a Motor Trend " Car of the Year," the 3,000 convertibles built from 1982 to '85.... in all, a million Rivieras over throee and a half decades.

Today's spectacular aerodynamic design - introduced for the 1995 model year - led to recognition of Riviera as "most collectible car of the future" by the National Automobile History Collection of the Detroit Public Library.

Well, the future is now.  It's time to start collecting.

Buick has announced production of Riviera will end Nov. 25 (1998) at the General Motors Orion (Mich.) Assembly Plant, several months into the 1999 model year - held out the potential of bringing the name back someday.

To Make the final production especially collectible, 200 of the '99 Riviera's will have a distinctive silver exterior, a paint color not available on any other '99 Riviera, and will be badges as the Riviera "Silver Arrow" - a name recalling a 1963 Riviera concept car.

Besides the Sterling Silver metallic paint on the '99 Silver Arrow, there are plans for exterior logos, replacing the name Riviera just behind the doors on both sides.  The logos consist of the Silver Arrow name in capital letters underlined by and arrow in design taken from the '63 concept car.  There will also be a plaque on the instrument panel with the Silver Arrow logo and the series number (for example, 7/200) and headrests embroidered with the Silver Arrow logo.

The regular-edition 1999 models are offered in one other new color, Dark Bronzemist Metallic.  Otherwise, the '99's are largely carryover in design and features.   All Rivieras continue to be offered with the 240- horsepower supercharged 38000 Series II v-6 engine connected to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission.

HERITAGE

Although the first true Riviera was produced for 1963, Buick had been using the name as early as 1949 to delineate its Roadmaster Riviera "hard-top convertibles," a popular style that eliminated the center side pillar.  In the 1950's, the Riviera name described Special Century, Super and Limited hard-top convertibles.  The first true Riviera, the '63 model, was a hit.  Sales the first model year totaled 37,179. by 1969, annual sales close to 50,000.

Car and Driver magazine said the '63 Riviera "stands alone among American cars in providing a combination of luxury, performance and general roadworthiness that approaches Bentley Continental standards at less than half the price."  For 1965, a Riviera Gran Sport with 360-hp V-8 had claimed zero-to-60 mph clocking of seven seconds and was named "performance car of the year" by Cars Magazine.  One new Riviera feature that year was disappearing headlamps.  In '66, Riviera received a new grille, longer hood, more sloping windshield, modified fastback roof and an industry innovation no window vents.