Buick Riviera (1st gen)
1963–1965
Lowest price
US$9,500
Since 2020
Median price
US$77,000
Since 2020 · n=19
Highest price
US$275,000
Since 2020
Sold cars
19
All time
Sell-through
100%
Of 19 lots

Based on 19 verified auction results
US$21,750
Market value · recent verified sales
-25.0%
12-month change
Wait or Sell
Prices declining. Sellers should consider acting; buyers should wait.
Median sold price down 25.0% over the last 12 months. Loss is likely to continue, especially for this segment.
MSRP
—
Collectibility
6/10
Collectible
3-Year Forecast
US$23,823
+10%
5-Year Forecast
US$24,531
+13%
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Market scores
44
Desirability
Thin
30
Liquidity
Poor
10
Resale Outlook
Option premiums
What every option is worth.
Hardtop included
+US$55,689+72%3 with · 16 without · low confidence
Built ≤ 1965
−US$54,656-71%8 with · 8 without · high confidence
Premiums compare the median price of sales with each option against comparable sales without it, mined from verified auction listings. Options interact in ways a one-at-a-time split can’t capture — treat each premium as directional rather than gospel.
Marque analyst note
The first-generation Buick Riviera market has contracted sharply over the past year, with the median price falling to US$21,750, down 25 percent from twelve months prior. This represents a clear bearish reversal for a nameplate historically positioned as an appreciating classic.
Liquidity remains thin, with only three sales recorded in the most recent twelve-month period against a total tracked sample of nineteen transactions, signaling minimal trading activity and wide bid-ask spreads for buyers and sellers seeking efficient execution. The absence of active listings at present underscores the sporadic nature of availability.
The first-generation Riviera holds a collectibility score of 6 out of 10 with moderate desirability, a positioning that reflects its solid design heritage and cultural significance but does not yet command the premium attached to higher-tier American classics. Production volume data was unavailable for this analysis, though the nameplate's broad manufacturing history suggests supply is not a scarcity driver.
Despite the recent downturn, base projections suggest a modest recovery over the three-to-five-year horizon, with median prices expected to reach approximately US$23,823 by year three (up 9.5 percent) and US$24,531 by year five (up 12.8 percent). This trajectory implies the current weakness may represent a cyclical trough rather than structural decline in the segment.
The high-confidence sell signal reflects near-term pressure that outweighs longer-term appreciation potential, advising current holders to consider exit strategies or patient owners to defer entry until the cycle bottoms more decisively.
Depreciation Benchmark
- Current avg valueUS$21,750
- Annual appr. rate-25.0%/yr
- Segment average+3.0 to +9.5%/yr
Vehicle History Signals
- Auction lots tracked21
- Damage or salvage declared0 (0.0%)
- No damage declared21 (100.0%)
Est. Annual Ownership Costs
- Insurance (agreed value)US$600
- MaintenanceUS$1,210
- StorageUS$3,220
- Depreciation— (appreciating)
- Total annual costUS$5,030
Market Liquidity
- Active Listings0
- Sales Last 12 Months11
- Sell-Through58%
Market Snapshot
- Active Listings0
- Avg Sale PriceUS$76,965
- Avg Mileage at Sale—
- Recent Price RangeUS$9,500 – US$275,000
- Total Sales Tracked19
Recent sales
Showing latest 19US$63,250
mecum · 26 Sept 2026
Bentley Charcoal Gray · Automatic
US$192,500
mecum · 26 Sept 2026
Flame Red · Automatic
US$32,500
Bring a Trailer · 23 Sept 2026
Black · Turbine Drive automatic
US$275,000
mecum · 15 Aug 2026
Black · Automatic
US$23,750
Bring a Trailer · 6 Aug 2026
Light blue · 3-speed automatic
US$28,678
Bring a Trailer · 5 Aug 2026
Bronze Mist · automatic
US$27,500
mecum · 25 Jul 2026
Arctic White · Automatic
US$15,950
mecum · 25 Jul 2026
Blue · Automatic
US$21,750
Bring a Trailer · 27 May 2026
Surf Green · automatic
US$9,500
Bring a Trailer · 26 May 2026
Olive Green · automatic
Common questions
What is a Buick Riviera (1st gen) worth in 2026?
The current United States market median is US$21,750, based on 3 verified auction sales. Recent sales ranged from US$9,500 to US$275,000.
Is the Buick Riviera (1st gen) going up in value?
Over the last 12 months its United States median moved -25.0%. Past movement is not a guarantee of future value.
How many Buick Riviera (1st gen)s are for sale right now?
No live auction listings tracked right now — new lots are swept in several times a day, and you can follow the model to be notified.
Indicative only — not investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future value.