1969 Buick Riviera Lowrider Is A Golden Work Of Art

Over the weekend, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour descended upon the Californian city of El Segundo, an area with a rich and varied car culture. Among the myriad stunning entries, one supremely cool classic impressed judges the most and it’s this 1969 Buick Riviera. The prized possession of Mario and Nora Zamudio, this American legend isn’t your average Buick – a dull Envision it is not.

Already a cool classic, the husband and wife team set about turning their Riviera into the ultimate lowrider. Finished in a unique candy shade called Pagan Gold, the pair have spent every spare moment in the last four years perfecting the Buick. Mario and Nora are both part of the legendary Imperials Car Club, a highly respected community within the lowrider world.

The couple has spent the last four years pouring their heart and soul into the ’69 Riviera and it shows. Rebuilt from scratch, the Buick boasts shaved body moldings, hydraulics, and a custom interior. Inside, it’s a work of art. Swathes of brown and cream leather uplift the original dashboard, itself the recipient of a Pagan Gold finish. A modern audio system replaces the original sound system and, together with the three-spoke steering wheel, are the only non-original fittings.

This 1969 Riviera is all about style; there’s no room for groceries in the massive trunk as the hydraulics system takes up most of the space there. Under the lengthy hood, sits the original Buick 430 engine, a 7.0-liter colossus with 360 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. We’re not too sure whether any performance modifications have been made, but those figures should provide ample motivation.

With just a few more stops to make, the Legends Tour is quickly heading toward the Global Grand Finale, where the winner will be crowned. While the Zamudio’s Riviera is a real head-turner, the gold-painted beauty will face stiff competition from the likes of the 1927 rat rod Wayne Ford School Bus and Kyle Murphy’s impeccably modified Nissan 240SX.

These vehicles (and many more) are competing for the ultimate Hot Wheels honors – the chance to be immortalized in 1:64 toy form. Last year, a gasser-style Volvo P1800 (known as Ain’t no Saint) was made into a toy car that would be sold across the world, a huge privilege for any proud custom car owner. So far, the competition is tight and we don’t envy the judges, as they’ve got a difficult decision to make come November.