The G-Body Regal is about as well recognized as any classic car out there, and most collectors would likely claim to know its many forms off the top of their heads. But this 1986 Buick Regal shows us there’s likely a few of us who didn’t know about its very existence, as it’s a rare “Presidential Edition” model that is supposedly one of just 500 made. The special features were purely cosmetic in nature, but this is still a very good-looking Regal. The Regal has right around 100,000 miles on the clock and still presents quite well. Find it here on craigslist in Dade County, Florida with no price listed.
The Presential Editions came with a padded roof that also featured a sunroof cut in by none other than ASC and a small opera window. Of course, you also got the special badges denoting it as a Presential Edition, but everything else seemed like standard Regal fare. The wire wheel hubcaps, factory mudflaps, and white-line radial tires were all part of the regular recipe, so depending on whatever the upcharge was for this package, you weren’t getting a whole lot over the standard Regal aside from some additional exclusivity. Still, that was plenty of motivation for numerous buyers of GM products in the 1980s who flocked to gussied-up special edition models like moths to a flame.
There it is: the numbered plaque that tells you just how special your Regal is. I’ve never quite understood the psyche behind this in terms of how slapping such a thing on a clearly mass-produced car makes people feel like they’re sitting on an incredibly rare piece of kit. I did this as a kid with sports cards, where a card manufacturer like Fleer or Skybox might stamp an otherwise useless card with “One of 1,000” or some other mid-range number to make me think I found an incredibly rare edition in my wax paper-wrapped pack. Of course, the card wasn’t limited, but it had the perception of being so – which is all it took for me to want to buy more. The badge tells us that this Regal is number 223 of 500 Presidential Editions models.
This is a disappointing detail, as the photo clearly shows a makeshift hood prop. I will never understand why sellers don’t just fix this component, as the car presents 10 times better with the actual factory hood prop being used – and it’s not a hard part to replace on the fly. The Regal is a looker front, back, and side-to-side, and the seller claims that despite being from “up north,” this Regal doesn’t show any indications of rot or rust from prolonged exposure to road salt. The lack of an asking price is never a good sign, but at the same time, pricing for these Regals is well-established, and if it’s not a GNX or a Grand National, you can usually pick up a nice one for reasonable money. Hopefully, the same set of standards applies here with the seller of this pretty Presidential Edition.
I wonder if the hood prop is a presidential relic from the “speak softly and carry a big stick” days, LOL! (I’ll see myself out!) :-) But seriously, a nice example of this generation; for me, the statement, “make me an offer” is a turn off. State how much you’re asking and whether it’s firm or negotiable is my preference.
GLWTS!! :-)
The ad says $15k at the top, which is probably double what it’s actually worth. Also, judging from the length of the fan shroud, I’m going to guess this has a 3.8 liter V6 instead of the Olds 307 that GM was stuffing in most G-Bodies at that time.
“Presedential” edition… that’s a good one. Dealer is S. Florida were notorious for creating these “Limited” edition vehicles which typically consisted of an aftermarket Landau roof installed by the dealer or a local custom shop, usually accompanied by the obligatory “Gold” badging and logos as well as the cheap plaque on the dash denoting the rare providence. The founder of Southeast Toyota also owned a huge Pontiac dealer in Hollywood FL in the late ’60’s – early ’80s and had his own custom shop cranking out Elegante’ Pontiacs; Grand Ville’s, Safari’s, LeMans, Firebirds, all of them with a half-vinyl top and some extraneous filigree that added no value but amped up the glitz. He made an absolute fortune dolling up GM products then doubled down on Toyota’s and went to the bank. Nothing special about this Regal but an interesting era in automotive merchandising.
The only shocker here is that it’s not white on white.
Reagan was the President when this bad boy rolled off the lot. They should have made it a 3.8 SFI Turbo in keeping with the optimism that prevailed back then.
Well one could then make a comment on how this car is all show and no go.. which is fine as long as it doesn’t have any trickle-down oil leaks!
Wtf is a piece of kit??…you talk stupid….
“British slang for: New technology”
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/submission/7786/Piece+of+kit
No sorry, “kit” just means equipment, something cool and new.
The “Presidential” nameplate was really common on simcon topped Lincoln Town Cars but I suppose the chrome badge was a catalogued item somewhere.
Sunroof? I don’t see a sunroof. Am I missing it?
I don’t remember a “hood prop” on these. It’s the hydraulic hood lift support rods (clearly visible in this photo) that would go bad…very easily replaced just the same.
Jeff…….”as the car presents 10 times better with the actual factory hood prop being used”…..Doesn’t have a factory hood prop. See the struts in the image. Deflated.
The v-6 is easy on gas. No power house. Comfortable to ride in. Get in and out easy.I ,d much rather have this . Then the new ones coming out. With the right tune up–you can get 31 or more to the gallon of gas.. It looks in nice shape. If everything checked out good–even under neith. With around 100,000 miles–I wouldn,t pay more the $2,500. Their gonna be parts to need attention to and replaced.
I’m surprised the seller even showed the hood prop. I’ve seen some very creative photography during my days.
I used to have one of these back in 96. Except mine had a red Brougham interior and was called a ‘Bostonian”
Actually if I were prepping photos for selling this car or any vehicle with this situation I would’ve clipped on a small vise grip at the bottom of the hood shock so maybe it wouldn’t be so noticeable. Or simply do what Jeff suggested which is buy NEW shocks. I found myself having to buy new ones a few times during my old GM days back in the 80’s. And If I can recall, those things weren’t cheap. Oh, and I did have a half of a wood broomstick in my trunk.
I had a new 79 Grand Prix w a 301, 2 tone blue w every option available, someone hit me really hard summer of 80, car was toast, liked the body style, my first new car, I was 18, so I scrambled to find another one, new 1980, so late in the season the 81s were coming out, new body style, but I felt robbed so I bought a gorgeous black LJ black top, saddle double pillow interior loaded spokes, Vogues but with the 231 V/6, what a terrible underpowered motor, pinged, ran rich, smoked, horrible, GM was on the road to letting foreign cars in, and they took my money for a piece of junk
Which of the gutless engine offerings is under the hood?
The demise of GM in my book, was a first hand player in watching, sold my 80 Grand Prix with that miserable 231 V/6 to buy a new 83,Riviera with the Oldsmobile 307 anchor in it, better off dropping it off the side of a building, last GM car I bought new, all junk, hoods paint cracking, terrible cars