Buick Reatta

September 25th, 2014 | Comments Closed | Buick

The Buick Reatta is a sports coupe designed by GM, which was powered by a 3.8 liter V6. It was the first car advertised as a two-seater since the 1940 Buick model 46 was a luxury sports coupe produced handmade in the Lansing Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan and sold by the Buick division of American General Motors cars from early 1988 to 1991 as the Cadillac Allante, is based on a reduced version of the GM platform and used by the Cadillac Eldorado, the Oldsmobile Toronado and particularly the Buick Riviera, with which it shares many mechanical components, advanced electronics and interior furnishings. While a compact sports car, only offered with an automatic transmission. Sports car was also only when Buick.

Buick Reatta History

The Buick Reatta sported its own unique body style and is crafted with an attention to topcoat rare that a car manufactured in series. The assembly was held in a small number of craft stations – each with a specialized workers, rather than a conventional assembly line equipment. After a team had completed its part of the whole, the car moves by robots to the next season of the series. All paint was subcontracted personnel PPG Industries – who performed the work on the site.

Initially offered for 1988 as a hardtop coupe was added a convertible version for 1990 The Buick Reatta uses cross throughout GM “Buick 3800″ V6 with 165 to 170 hp (123-127 kW) and 210 220 lb · ft (285-298 N · m) of torque with the highest output in the last year of production. The car sported the fully independent suspension, disc brakes on all 4 wheels, ABS and front wheel drive. Top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph (201 km / h). The Buick Reatta was rated at 18 mpg (13.1 L / 100 km) city and 27 miles per gallon (8.7 L / 100 km) on the highway.

The Buick Reatta was conceived during a period in the early to mid-1980, when Buick was marketing editions of most of their vehicles (like the turbo Buick GNX). However, halfway through the development of the Buick Reatta, GM decided to refocus the brand in a more traditional and mature image that is thought to be more in line with its core older buyer demographics. The resulting vehicle had a form that takes styling cues from performance car, but always little in the way of real high performance. The lack of turbocharging Buick often blamed on the fact that GM, at the time, did not have a proper transaxle Hydra-Matic that could withstand the extra power. The Buick Reatta was intended as a halo car for Buick, but sales, originally planned to be about 20,000 units a year, were extremely disappointing and GM announced the end of production in early 1991 Buick Reatta.

Buick Reatta Dashboard

During the first two years of production, Buick Reatta, like its Riviera stablemate, featured as standard interface touchscreen computer called the “Electronic Control Center” or ECC. The touch screen controls the radio functions and climate control systems and provides access to various diagnostic systems and electronic vehicle sensors, especially eliminating the need for a diagnostic scanner. It also offered a reminder date, a trip computer, alarm and excess speed configurable by the user. This elaborate electronic equipment level was distasteful to the more traditional “mature” buyers Buick division was courting.

The Buick Reatta 1990 and 1991 were equipped with a button more conventional music electronic push, optional CD player and climate control. The climate control buttons and screen perform a dual function to replace the diagnostic capacity of the scanner previously provided by the touch screen, but the trip computer capacity was lost.

Buick Reatta Standard Features and Options

When the Buick Reatta, which was conceived as a luxury car was introduced well equipped. The only option was for 16-way power seats – replacing power seats standard 6-way. A sunroof option was added in the late 1988 model year in 1989, was added keyless entry as a standard feature. In 1990, the air bag driver side panel appeared with more conventional instruments. An optional CD player was offered. In 1991, engine and transmission were reworked with the “L27″ 3800 and 4T60-E replacing the “LN3″ and hydraulic 4T60, along with the 16 “wheels, headlamp control Twilight Sentinel, and a cup holder integrated into the armrest.

Each Buick Reatta includes leather agenda containing the owner’s manual and pen. In 1990 and 1991, zipper folio owners included. In addition to the owner’s manual, which also contained a “Log Artisan” with the signatures of supervisors for car mount in different craft stations, a pen, flashlight and pressure gauge, among other items. These slightly unusual items were an attempt to sell mass-produced car as one built with individual care.

Buick Reatta Convertible

The convertible by ASC was designed and put into production for 1990 and 1991 The hood was available in vinyl or fabric, and featured a glass rear window with electric defogger. When it contracts, the top was protected by a covering of stiff canvas. The 1991 models were upgraded with engines deployable power to assist in pulling the bow back to the top of the canvas cover.

Buick Reatta Select Sixty

In 1988, approximately fifty-five Buick Reatta were designated “Select Sixties”, and were specially assigned sixty leading distributors of Buick. These cars were painted black, and had a tan interior. The only difference between these and regular Buick Reatta is an emblem of the Select Sixty hood and special marketing code X22. As special emblems were usually sent to separate the car dealer, some Select Sixty cars were sold before receiving their emblems. In 1990, the Buick Reatta Select Sixty program was run again, with sixty-five cars are built. These were white convertible 1991 to preview several features, including a fire red interior (instead of garnet red), white bucket seats, black 16-inch wheels, and cup holder. Again, special hood emblems provided.

Buick Reatta Discontinue

It is said that production has started in January 1988 and ended on May 10, 1991 However, there are several accounts of earlier and later cars, and the handmade nature of the Buick Reatta and the long development cycle outputs production difficult accurately.