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More from ~CRWPitman

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:iconmuscle-car-mania: #Muscle-Car-Mania
Suckin Gas & Haulin Ass! :iconmuscle3d: #muscle3D
 :iconbuickclub: #Buickclub
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www.thecarwallpapers.com

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March 8, 2005
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Comments: 175
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Views: 78,841 (9 today)
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:iconcrwpitman:
Adobe Illustrator CS
I was looking through the Barrett Jackson auction site, and found this beauty. I instantly loved the image but thought it wouldn't make a good painting, so I made a vector drawing of it. This is the wallpaper version. Thanks everyone for the Daily Deviation!

The Buick Riviera had a tremendous impact on the American automotive scene. The Riviera represented one of the most sucessful American attempts at capturing European styling and performance in a large automobile. Positioned at the top of Buick's coupe line up, the Riviera always represented cutting edge styling and performance and deserves a place in American automotive history.

Initially introduced in 1963 with Ferrari-esque styling, it was a huge success. Horsepower would increase in the following years along with it's size, but it's looks had begun to fade by the end of the 60's as it evolved into a more pedestrian looking coupe.

Things changed in 1971 (although some would argue not for the better) when the third generation of Riviera's debuted. The 1971 Riviera featured one of the greatest styling excercises in automotive history. Dubbed "the boat-tail," the look was supposed to draw upon stylish cars of the 1930s, but putting the design on a 218 inch length, 122 inch wheelbase, 4,247 lb car resulted in a look that buyers either loved or hated. Sales dropped to 33,810, though this might have also been caused by a downgrade in the engine department. General Motors had decreed that all its engines had to run on unleaded gasoline to meet stricter emission standards and thus the 455 engine was detuned, down to 315 bhp. The 455 engine in GS models were rated at 330 bhp and included the usual performance equipment to go along with that power. Performance did suffer, with the top speed falling to 120 mph.

Sadly the unique styling didn't last long. In 1973 - likely due to complaints from some who thought the design to outlandish - the Riviera was redesigned with a more convential rear end, but still kept the boat-tail look. 1974 brought another redesign completely eliminating the boattail, and weight was increasing while engine output decreased. 1975 was the last year for third generation of Rivieras.
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Daily Deviation

Given 2005-11-08
Time to PIMP YOUR DESKTOP! Riviera Vector Wallpaper by *CRWPitman is just the coolest automotive vector illustration I've seen. Attention to detail and design really helps lift this image. ( Featured by $zilla774 )
love 4 4 joy 5 5 wow 0 0 mad 0 0 sad 0 0 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:icontheradiationrabbit:
~TheRadiationRabbit Feb 10, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
So gorgeous.. The people down the road from me own two of these! I want them so badly!
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:iconrythmn-and-a-beat:
~Rythmn-And-A-Beat Nov 26, 2012
Beautiful Car!
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:iconmlmustang:
*mlmustang Oct 25, 2012
Get job and nice description as well!
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:icon63impala:
~63impala Jul 8, 2012
great job riviera's have such great lines. cool picture
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:iconpixelcombiner:
Mood: Love ~pixelcombiner Mar 5, 2012  Professional Filmographer
Wow man you done a good job
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:icontr1n1ty73:
Mood: Joy ~TR1N1TY73 Jun 18, 2011
This is Amazing!
Thanks for making this available to us common folks.
I myself own a 73 Riv and would love to hang your work in my garage above my Riviera (with your permission of course).

v/r
Alex
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:icondtrent:
~DTrent May 29, 2011
Great work! Someone else put this up & I commented there before clicking your link to find this! Too bad they don't delete theirs!
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:iconriviera72:
Mood: Joy ~Riviera72 Nov 21, 2010
I downloaded this 72 buick boatail as my wallpaper. the first car I ever bougnt was a 72 boatail ! thanxs for reminding of my youth.
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:iconmr010101:
Mood: Love ~Mr010101 Sep 26, 2010
EXcellent drawing of one of the most beautifully styled cars ever...
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:iconandrzej0andrewj:
Mood: Love ~andrzej0andrewj Sep 14, 2010
Really awesome - it's one of the best graphics i've ever seen :)
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