Buick Riviera
Buick put a green-on-black touch-sensitive screen in a production coupe two decades before smartphones became ordinary.
1986 Buick Riviera T-Type · Accord14 · CC BY-SA 4.0
More than a set of wheels.
The 1986 Riviera began a smaller, front-wheel-drive generation with a transverse V6 and four-speed automatic. Its headline feature was the Graphic Control Center: a monochrome cathode-ray-tube touchscreen that gathered radio, climate, trip and diagnostic functions. This page covers the base U.S. coupe, not the T-Type or later 1989 restyle.
Look a little closer.
The screen included a technician service mode as well as a calendar and maintenance reminders.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A real touchscreen, not a modern tablet
The Graphic Control Center used a monochrome CRT and touch-sensitive overlay. It controlled the radio and climate system and displayed trip information, diagnostics, a tachometer and reminders.
Source: General Motors · 1986 Riviera Retro Rides ↗The interface was bold but difficult
GM’s history notes that small virtual buttons and complexity confused many drivers. The experiment ended after a few years, but it previewed the screen-heavy cabins that arrived much later.
Source: General Motors · 1986 Riviera Retro Rides ↗Where these facts come from
- General Motors · 1986 Riviera Retro Rides
- U.S. Department of Transportation · fundamental car groups
- 1986 Buick Riviera specification record
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.