Oh look, a familiar car’s profile sighted in episode 2 of Stranger Things - a 1972 Buick Rivie

Oh look, a familiar car’s profile sighted in episode 2 of Stranger Things - a 1972 Buick Riviera!

Ray Vecchio’s Riv was a ‘72 model, despite his claims of it being a 1971 - the side trim was more distinctive, for one, and the grille was an ‘egg crate’ design rather than the horizontal one. The tail lights remained the same size for 1972, but the chrome trim was changed from horizontal strips to a double ring around the entire lens. All in all the changes between those two years were rather subtle.

1971 Riviera:

1972 Riviera:

The ‘72 model also had the distinctive louvres on the rear deck lid removed.

The ‘73 model’s distinctive fastback boat tail was shortened significantly from the prior two years; it was something of an unpopular and controversial design from the start (I’m given to understand that GM’s styling chief Bill Mitchell and Lee Mays, Buick’s GM, almost came to blows over the whole design mess), and it was dropped for a totally different look in 1974.

It was a real treat to see this car pop up here considering that it’s not really a very common vehicle to see on the street given its low sales at the time.

#IAmATotalNerdAboutThisCarOkay