Buick Riviera (7th generation)

1986–1993Chassis code E-body

Cluster: Vacuum fluorescent (VFD): cars with this instrument cluster
Centre display: Touchscreen

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5 generations · 1971–1993

2 facts · 7 sources

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Buick Riviera lineage2 of 5 photographed

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Buick Riviera (6th generation)
1979–1985 No photos yet

Photo credits (2)

Buick Riviera (1971)Cockpit · “1972 Buick Riviera GS dashboard” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Zytonits · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Flickr
Buick Riviera (5th generation)Cockpit · “1978 Buick Riviera LXXV special edition interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons

Summary

The 1986 Riviera put its radio, climate controls, trip computer and diagnostics on a green-on-black CRT touchscreen, the Graphic Control Center.

Specifications

Years: 1986–19931980s: cars launched in the 1980s
Chassis code: E-body
Instrument cluster: Vacuum fluorescent (VFD): cars with this instrument cluster
Centre display: Touchscreen
Infotainment: Graphic Control Center (GCC)1986–1989
Conventional radio and climate controls1990–1993
Input: Touchscreen, Physical buttons
Climate: Mixed physical and screen
Predecessor: Buick Riviera (6th generation), 1979–1985
Era: Digital dashboards1976–1995
Display recreation: Blue-green VFD sweep

Cockpit

Instrument cluster

All-digital readouts with no needles. On 1986–1989 cars, extra gauges such as a tachometer and battery and coolant readouts were shown on the Graphic Control Center screen instead.

Centre display

Graphic Control Center (GCC)

Developed by Delco Electronics and AC Spark Plug, with software by Delco Systems Operations. Touch keys around the screen's edge chose climate, radio, gauge, trip-monitor and diagnostic modes; on-screen buttons and sliders handled each mode, and a summary page combined basic radio and climate controls. A calendar and maintenance reminders were also built in.

Controls

On 1986–1989 cars the climate and audio were set on the touchscreen; from the 1990 model year conventional push buttons replaced it.

Facts

Before launch, Buick and Delco Electronics trialled the system in about 100 pre-production 1984–85 Rivieras.[4][5]
The displays woke when the driver touched the door handle, and every press was confirmed by a beep; a 1986 review warned that the system could distract drivers.[3]

Sources

[1]Wikipedia. Buick Riviera (opens in a new tab). en.wikipedia.org
[2]GM News. Retro Rides: The 1986 Buick Riviera (With A Cool Touch Screen) (opens in a new tab). news.gm.com
[3]The Christian Science Monitor. Buick goes for performance. T-Type cars geared to attract a younger buyer (opens in a new tab). csmonitor.com
[4]Eighties Cars. 1986 Buick Riviera coupe (opens in a new tab). eightiescars.com
[5]Jalopnik. A Touchscreen Dash In The '80s? Buick Did It First (opens in a new tab). jalopnik.com
[6]Autocade. Buick Riviera (1989–93) (opens in a new tab). autocade.net
[7]autoevolution. Vietnam Vet Trades in His 1992 Buick Riviera, Mechanic Says It Has the Best Engine Ever Made (opens in a new tab). autoevolution.com

Record

Record: buick/riviera/7th-gen
Status: In progress: what the record statuses mean
Not yet recorded: Head-up display
Open questions: 5Answer one

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Buick Riviera generations

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