Over the last few years, we have seen an increased appreciation for the R129-chassis Mercedes-Benz convertible. The 500SL, 600SL, and other models in the lineup have always been attainable, but now clean, well-maintained examples are moving higher price-wise when it comes time to sell. This was the car that the Reatta was supposedly built to compete against, but these days, you can find a decent driver-quality version of Buick’s hand-built luxury coupe (or convertible) for short money; this one here on eBay is going for $5,800 or best offer.
The Reatta was a halo car of sorts for Buick, much like the Allante was for Cadillac and the Chrysler TC by Maserati for Mopar. It’s interesting that so many brands were fixated on producing a car that could go toe-to-toe with the incumbents in overseas luxury brands, yet all seemed to fail rather dramatically. The other unifying quality between these three models was the price tag: when introduced, the suggested MSRP seemed to scare buyers away, a tell-tale sign that what was being offered wasn’t sufficient to deter well-heeled buyers from proceeding with their purchase of a Mercedes-Benz convertible (and with optional hardtop.)
But Buick did try to set themselves apart with the Reatta, and in addition to the gorgeous styling, it was also big on technology. The touchscreen “Graphic Control Center” system was indeed a standout in its category, and Mercedes didn’t have anything like it. The unit in this Reatta appears to be fully functioning, with a crystal-clear readout. Despite their whiz-bang gadget appeal, many of these systems proved wonky and premature failures led to the tech being shelved in future models.
Under the hood was a proven powerplant, and one that delivered good power in a reliable package. The trouble is, I wonder if it was too reliable – in other words, was the powertrain not exotic enough for someone who thought they were buying their weekends-only grand tourer? Knowing the engine in the striking coupe/convertible was also found in nearly every GM workhorse across the lineup had to be a tad off-putting. With 165 horsepower and a 4-speed automatic, it was a competent combo – but far from exclusive. Regardless, you can’t go wrong with a Reatta as an affordable cruiser for cars and coffee meets this summer.
The reason the Reatta, the Allante and the TC failed is pretty simple. You can put a candle in a cow pie but that doesn’t make it a birthday cake. During the time when these cars were all offered, GM and Chrysler weren’t exactly known for high quality. People were buying Toyotas and Hondas because they knew they were built better. So why would you plop down big bucks for a vehicle of questionable quality AND zero status? Even if the Mercedes turns out to be a lemon, it’s a lemon with some prestige. People aren’t dumb. That’s why they never fell for the comparison of the Ford Granada to a Mercedes!
A car like this after 30+ years has a lot more appeal. $5800 for one seems reasonable. But they still don’t have the appeal of a 1988 Mercedes.
This looks like a really nice example of Buick’s 2-seater. And that was the problem. There was only a limited market for 2-seaters and still is. In a crowded field with a limited demand, these just didn’t sell. And this particular model has the full digital setup that is almost impossible to get replacement parts for. Otherwise, these cars ran and drove very well.