Most people view touchscreen technology as a recent invention. The Buick Riviera featured one in 1986.
Today, every new car has an infotainment touchscreen. Drivers don’t have to be that old to remember the days when they relied on analog controls. That’s why it catches so many people off guard to discover that the Buick Riviera had a touchscreen back in 1986.
A Luxury Feature in an Upscale Vehicle
There’s a reason GM chose the Riviera to introduce touchscreens to the automotive world. The Buick Riviera was GM’s first personal luxury car when it was introduced in the 1960s and continued to break ground with subsequent generations.
The two-door coupe was outfitted with a relatively fuel-efficient V6 engine and automatic transmission. In addition to the GCC, its innovative features included Dynaride air compression, which maintained a level height by pressuring its rear Chapman struts for a more comfortable ride.
Given that the seventh-generation Riviera was also the first to feature FWD, it’s a mistake to think of the touchscreen system as GM’s only innovation in this unique vehicle. In fact, it was a luxury coupe with a lot to offer.
Introducing the Graphic Control Center
Buick called its proto-infotainment system the Graphic Control Center (GCC), and it wasn’t just there to look cool and be novel. The nine-inch touchscreen display housed 91 different functions, from changing radio stations to controlling the cabin’s temperature.
The GCC wasn’t precisely a modern touchscreen. Developed by Delco Electronics specifically for use in the Riviera, it was embedded with invisible Mylar switches. The switches performed different functions depending on which page the user was on.
Though it functioned in a more primitive way, the GCC handled many of the same tasks as today’s infotainment systems. Drivers could balance their stereo systems, utilize one-touch windshield defrost, and view temperatures inside and outside the car via the Climate Control system.
The GCC also managed essential tasks like vehicle diagnostics and maintaining occupant safety. It even had graphics that displayed mind-the-road reminders to drivers and let them know if the doors weren’t closed.
What Happened to the GCC and the Buick Riviera?
The 1986 Riviera with its GCC was a hit with auto enthusiasts, but the technology was before its time. Consumers didn’t like the touchscreen, which was admittedly slow to start and more difficult to use than modern infotainment systems, preferring regular analog controls.
While the Buick Riviera’s GCC only survived a few years, the vehicle didn’t leave production for good until 1999. Classic car enthusiasts won’t find this model year at used car dealers. While the 1986 Riviera was unpopular in its day, it is a find in the 21st century.
The good news for tech-focused drivers is that touchscreens are nothing to get excited about in today’s world. Finding a quality used coupe with much more impressive technology is much easier now. It just won’t have the kind of retro appeal as the Buick Riviera.
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