FUN AND FESTIVE
Family’s 1973 Buick Riviera Gran Sport has become a special occasion ride,
Domenic Colangelo: Wheels Reader Occupation: 45-year East York custom upholstery business owner The Car: 1973 Buick Riviera Gran Sport
Tony Colangelo is telling this Eye Candy story on behalf of his father, who has been an inspiration for his proud sons, Lou, Tony and Robert.
My father has always been a fan of cars, particularly Buicks.
His 1973 two-door Buick Riviera is our entire family’s automotive pride and joy. I still remember the day he bought it at City Buick in North York, a popular place for him to take me and my brothers to have a sneak peek at the new cars on the lot.
Although the Riviera was a daily driver for many years, these days it’s more of a fun and festive vehicle driven for special occasions, such as participating in the East York Canada Day Parade, for display at the Markham car show, and on Sunday and holiday cruises.
It’s always a special event when our dad and mother, Lina, come to visit family, as they both take great pride and pleasure in the company of their cherished grandchildren, Domenic, Anthony, Laura, Andrew, Michael and Sarah, on a clear summer day, or any day for that matter.
This generation Riviera is a real eye-catcher, with its unique “boat-tail” styling and smooth sculpted design.
When he pulls into our driveways, my brothers and I still get a thrill and enjoy hearing the sound of that 265 hp 455 cubic- inch engine.
It came very well equipped with many modern conveniences, horsepower air conditioning, power steering, power windows, power seats and cruise control. All these options still work fine to this day. These cars were engineered to last, as the engine has never been re- built and can still smoke the tires!
Our father’s passion for cars, as well as his work ethic and family values, has inspired all three of his sons to build our careers in engineering fields, and that has even been incorporated in our family business named Skylark. So on a clear day in the summer, keep an eye out for Domenic and his ’73 Riviera cruising the streets of Markham. Show us your Candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us high-res, horizontal pictures (at least 1 MB) of you (and your family) with your beauty, and tell us your story in 300 to 600 words, giving us all the details of how you found your car and why you love it so much. We like photos — the more the better — of the interior, trim, engine, wheels, and emblems. Email wheels@thestar.ca and type “Eye Candy” in the subject line. Google “Toronto Star Eye Candy” to see classic cars featured in the past.