On paper, the Buick Reatta should have been a runaway hit. A two-seater from Buick? A sports coupe with rear-wheel drive and the latest 1980s technology from Buick? As often happens, the concept in the auto world, or the design world, in general, is to sell the big idea, and then engineers and accountants get involved. This 1990 Buick Reatta Coupe with faux convertible top is posted here on craigslist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they’re asking $3,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
Unfortunately, this car isn’t shown with the top down, arguably the biggest and most important feature of a convertible. Otherwise, why have a soft top flapping in the breeze and letting in all the thumping music sounds from the car next to you and every Harley that roars by? This is a Buick; they’re supposed to be whisper quiet, but when they have a top that goes down, by all means, show it with the top down. (mentally delete this entire paragraph, folks, sorry about that!)
They were made for four years, 1988 through 1991, and the convertible was only available in the 1990 and 1991 model years. The Reatta was conceived as a much sportier rear-drive concept, but as with a developer or architect selling a big project to a group of investors, once the engineers and accountants start really looking at the details, things typically get watered down. This one shifted from rear-wheel drive to front, and a lot of the sporty suspension gave way for more of a cushy Buick ride for the Buick demographic.
This car looks almost perfect, other than a rub or scrape on the right corner of the front bumper and the steering wheel rim. I’m not sure why that wasn’t cleaned when the rest of the interior looks like new, which brings me to the asking price. Hagerty is at $7,600 for a car in #3 good condition. At $3,900, this one appears to be a steal if it checks out underneath. Pennsylvania isn’t exactly the desert southwest.
The engine would fit here where the back seat should be. It’s a Buick 3.8-liter OHV transverse-mounted V6, which had 165 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by the weak point in the drivetrain, a Turbo-Hydramatic 4T60 four-speed automatic, sending power to the front wheels. The seller says it runs well and is sold as is. Any thoughts on this, Reatta? Is it a good deal?
I love Buicks, but never warmed up to this model. But who cares what I think, hopefully it makes the new owner happy. 👍 Convertibles are alot of fun. ⛱️
Not a convert. That’s just a dealer added carriage top.
Ah thanks ACZ good eye. Never saw many Reattas on the roads up here it seems.
My problem with car is it’s approaching ugly status. The weird layout front to back and individual areas that look like they should be somewhere else.
Thumbs down.
The Reatta is classy, if not exactly cool. Assuming it’s road worthy, this would make an excellent excuse to take weekend getaways, attend music festivals, beer gardens and such. All for the price of a used Dodge Dart that’s been beat to crap. (I have a late model Dart myself, but I’ve kept my crap maintained and shiny) ((still worthless)) 🤣 What’s not to like here? As for the steering wheel rim, GM wheels of this era were notoriously fragile and even more so if you suffered from sweaty palms. I suspect that’s what ruined this one.
SB,
My mother has a 1995 Buick Century with that exact same steering wheel. They made thousands of them so finding a replacement may not be too difficult.
JC
That’s not a convertible
Very odd with that top and what appears to be snaps for a convertible cover around the back of the top but you may be right. The shot of the interior of the back makes it look like the top on this might not go down! Anyone? Anyone?
Read the article where it says to disregard the entire part about it being a convertible. Just trying to humor folks.
For the love of… you are 100% right, Bj! My apologies, and wow, it’s literally right in the title! I think the tip was sent in as a “convertible,” and my brain automatically went with that after seeing the exterior photos. Frick, sorry about that, and thanks very much for the correction. Wow, unreal, I must not have had enough coffee that morning, either that or I can blame it on Duluth public schools… Sorry again!
3800 is a great engine. These seem to do better than the twice-the-price Allante’s. And Bj is correct, NOT a conv. (See CL ad inside rear pillars).
The demographic was a divorced or widowed gentleman of a certain age, country club member, gold chain wearing. Another GM bean counter flop.
Thumbs down.
I have to agree with BJ because a clean low mileage example can bring three times the ask here for a true convertible. No mention of mileage. And you’d be privy to an auto club dedicated to this car. If the car is legit even if it a number 3 car it might be a good deal.
These have been on my ‘so many cars so little time’ list. The faux convertible treatment is a head scratcher. Even down to the chrome trim strip along the base of the ‘top’. Makes you wonder what’s underneath. At least it’s a 1990 where by then GM had ditched the CRT screen in the dash.
Correct that this is not a convertible, the Craigslist posting title correctly says coupe. And if the Reattas were actually built with rear wheel drive I believe they would have been a lot more popular.
There were two built with RWD. Or, rather were converted to RWD by Buick Engineering. One had an intercooled GN engine and, if I remember correctly, the other had a Supercharged V6. They were shown on a press preview day. One of them was totaled by a writer who couldn’t handle it. I think that was the one with thew GN powertrain. None of them exist anymore, but they were some great experiments. If the Reatta had continued, the next step would have been the L67 Supercharged engine, but the plug got pulled on the complete car. A real shame.
Also not a rear wheel drive, I had an early 88 that I drove year round in NE Indiana, very good in the snow. It had 92k miles when I got it, and died in Alabama with 268k miles. I also bought a project convertible with a coupe parts car, I’m gonna fixum up some day ;).
Price is kind of high for a custom, you can buy a real convertible for not much more id you search. There are active Reatta groups on AACA and Facebook.
My late neighbor, who was a big Buick fan, besides having a 64′ Wildcat convertible, had 2 of these at the same time at one point. Both hardtops. Always thought they were rather cute, sporty looking cars, though I never had the desire for one myself. I remember him telling me one time at a show, a spectator asking him what it was and he told him it was a Reatta. The guy said, a Miata? My neighbor replied back tersely, a Reatta! LOL.
Not a great fan of these cars but for less than $4000 if it were not so far away I’d buy it.
Today not much can be had for 4k so this could be a steal and they were somewhat fun to drive.
Cousin had one in the day, took her adopted 10 year old son on a all around the country trip, went to about 40 states, dropping in on relatives unannounced to meet the cousins and teach him US history and geography. It was a great car for two people, room behind the seats and in the trunk for luggage, was pretty new, so trip was trouble free. About 10,000 miles in six weeks. Rust finally got it after about 10 years in Chicago.