So, it’s time for a little “before and after” analysis, this time comparing the 1988 Buick Regal to its ’87 predecessor. The ’87, as most know, was the platform for the spectacular blacked-out Grand National, a car that was an oasis of performance in an otherwise desert of exciting motoring time. Oh what a year means as in ’88, there was no more Grand National, no more rear-wheel drive, and basically, a return to the desert. Today’s subject is a black ’88 Regal coupe and it is in excellent shape – if pretty far removed from its Regal predecessor. Mitchell G. found this subject car; it’s a resident of Macomb, Michigan, and it’s available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,200.
First off there is some confusion with the listing description for this 35-year-old Buick. The seller refers to it as a Gran Sport but I can’t find such a model offered that year. According to Buick’s ’88 marketing material, the Regal came in two flavors, a Regal Custom and a Regal Limited. There was a “Sport” package available and that may be what the seller is referencing. So this car’s black, with a great, deep finish, and two doors so I suppose it’s the evolution of what the Regal became as the times, and government regulations, continued to evolve. The seller tells us that this Regal has always been garaged, and it looks it; hopefully, it hasn’t been driven in Michigan winters. Of note are the door openers – they’re located in the window frame as opposed to the traditional location in the upper portion of the door skin near the trailing door edge.
Unlike its predecessor, this Regal’s architecture eschewed a body-on-frame design and rear-wheel drive for a uni-body arrangement with a transverse-mounted engine connected to a front-wheel-drive transaxle. In this case, power is provided by, what started out as a Chevrolet 2.8 liter V6, good for a measly 125 net HP, while spinning a 4T60, four-speed automatic transaxle. There’s no mention of how this Regal runs and drives, or an included image of the engine, but 88K miles is not an excessive amount of mileage for this powertrain.
A highlight of this Buick is its interior. It’s incredibly clean and has bucket seats front and back. And clean it is. It’s a typical GM ’80s velour fabric, but it shows no sign of entry/exit “brush burn” or typical usage wear. The entire environment really looks like new, the dash, carpet/mats, door panels – all of it. Of note are the seatbelt assemblies, they are attached to the doors and not the joint mounting points of the B-pillar and floor.
OK, the visuals between this car and its predecessor are significant. It seems that everything eventually changes, though maybe not always for the better. Then again, Buick sold 130K Regal two-door coupes in ’88 almost twice the number moved in ’87 so clearly many thought it was a change for the better. How about you, what’s your preference, the older rear-wheel drive version, or this newer front-wheel driver?
These were nice looking cars at the time and still look good today, same for the 88 Cutlass. When comparing the interiors the 88 Regal looks more comfortable and far more modern than the Grand National, I’d say that’s the only matchup it’s going to win.
I remember the MT article when they tested this, new Pontiac GP, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass – don’t think the Lumina was yet introduced. One of the quotes printed from the article in a caption was ‘It is written somewhere within GM that th Buick will have the most conservative styling”.
I always liked these – not loved, but liked. The quality was improved each year, and they did everything to a ‘satisfactory’ level. The later models had the 3800 and optional 16″ wheels available. The GP and Cutlass, especially later on with those ‘micro’ sealed beam headlights, always seemed to outsell these. And their Head Up Displays were a wow factor.
I think I’ve seen this in a Grand Sport. The 2 words were in red letters at the front of the doors.
This car has the Grand National steering wheel too.
I saw one of these once in the Limited version; deep red with red leather. Almost bought it. Had the 3800 in it.
This car has that other V6. Meh.
Gran Sport wasn’t offered in ’88, but came back in ’89.
Actually if you enlarge the picture of the hood it says it has a 3.8l turbo.
My mistake, I may have looked at the wrong picture.
But for those stupid, door-mounted seatbelts and weak engines, these were dynamically decent vehicles. Quality control was always suspect. The interior updates in 1994 were quite stylish and much higher quality.
I had a couple of these with 2.8 not as fun to drive as ones with 3800
By the time these arrived GM really seemed to have a handle on the fwd platform. Great cars desperately in search of an engine. The only thing that was really kookie was the radio head.
That and the coupes appearing almost two full years before the 4-doors at a time when demand for big 2-doors was starting to fall away. The era of Personal Luxury was ending.
There’s no real comparison. They’re very different cars. For what 9 out of 10 Regal buyers used them for, the ’88 was probably an improvement.
Contrary to what one might think today, Grand Nationals and GNXs only accounted for a small percentage of Regal production. In 1986, they built 91,229 Regals. Of these, 5,512 were GNs, 1,921 were T-Types, and 463 were WH1s (basically a designer T-Type). The other 91% had standard 231s or 307s and were driven by grampa and grandma or the local Mary Kay saleswoman.
I remember when these came out, I was working at a Buick dealer in fixed operations we all knew that this was the beginning of the end for GM. First it was the full sized (Electra/LeSabre), then the Riv. Although sales may have been up on these from the G bodies last few years, they still never caught up to the success GM had and by the mid 90’s all Buick dealers could barely survive without adding GMC.
Not a bad looking car. A buddy gave me an Olds Omega FWD with 2.8l v6 needing head gaskets. I’ve seen a later year GS model so they do exist, just rare. I can vouch for the 3.8 MFI being a much better engine. I’ve seen a few of these with 300-400k original miles.
Well that’s funny because I was thinking about that yesterday I did have a 86 Buick regal but my next car was a Buick Electra 3.8 front wheel drive and I’ve never went back to rear wheel drive I love the powertrain of front wheel drive and that’s funny cuz I was thinking about it yesterday I now drive a Buick enclave with 250,000 miles and a Buick regal tour x and I can’t get out of front wheel drive never went back
So Front wheel drive was a big boom in the 80’s. Especially in the northern states that got snow or bad weather. There was more control with FWD and not as much need for studded snow tires or tire chains.
My mom came from the era of rear wheel drive and when these front wheel drive cars came out. Many flocked to them because they handled better and was better in snow.
My mom had Firebird, a couple Lemans with the last one being a 78 before giving to my sister for graduation in 86. She replaced it front wheel drive and only wanted front wheel drive after that.
Once again it was the enthusiasts and racers that lost out with the gnx going away.
I agree wholeheartedly, especially with an iron V-6 over the front wheels. My ’90s C and H body GMs have always been excellent in the snow. Out perform many AWD “cute utes” that tend to do 180s when all 4 tires under their aluminum 4 cylinders and light bodies lose traction.
Problem is.. with front wheel drive.. you lose traction and you lose steering. My 69 Mach 1 was better in snow and ice that my 80 Golf. I placed 100 lbs of welding rod in the trunk and sometimes had to steer with the rear tires.
I think people bought more of these because they were a brand new design in ’88 & could show off to their neighbors & world that they had & could afford a brand new car. The basic ’87 regal(forget the Grand National) design actually dates back to 1978!
That would also explain why so many more boxy & IMO ugly ’79 mustangs were sold than ’78s, even tho they were a lot less stylish than the Mustang II, losing frameless door glass, nice curves & the racing mirrors & the much nicer interior that the II had.
Today, “styling” is meaningless – you can’t tell how old most vehicles are, much less who makes them. Look how old even the Challenger body is! Your neighbors today couldn’t care less or be impressed with what you are driving especially if it’s a 4 door, since so many vehicles all look alike with SO few color choices – most seem to be from a black, white & grey twilight zone world!