Manufacturer Buick (General Motors) Designer Dave McIntosh (1983) | Production 1988–1991 | |
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Assembly Lansing Craft Centre, Lansing Michigan Class Grand tourer/Sports car Body style 1988–91: 2-door coupe
1990–91: 2-door convertible | ||
The Buick Reatta is a low-volume transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door, two-seater grand tourer/sports car manufactured and marketed by Buick as a coupe (1988–1991) and convertible (1990-1991) — both featuring a 3.8 liter V6 engine and shortened version of the GM E platform, the same one that underpinned the Buick Riviera.
Contents
As Buick's first two-seater and its first convertible since the 1985 Riviera, the Reatta was manufactured in a highly specialized assembly program at the Reatta Craft Centre (later known as the Lansing Craft Centre) in Lansing, Michigan—achieving production of over 21,000 units in four years.
The presence of the Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Fiero and Cadillac Allante at the time of the Reatta's introduction meant that with the exception of Oldsmobile, all of GM's passenger-car divisions offered two-seaters during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Overview
Assembly at the Reatta Craft Centre was performed at a series of stations each with a specialized team of workers, rather than on a conventional assembly line. After a team had completed their portion of the assembly, the car would be moved by robots to the next station. Paintwork was performed on site under subcontract to PPG Industries.
The Reatta used GM's transverse "Buick 3800" V6 with 165–170 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 a fully independent suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, and front wheel drive. Top speed was electronically limited to 125 mph (201 km/h). The Reatta was rated at 18 mpg (13.1 L/100 km) in the city and 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km) on the highway.
The Reatta was intended as a halo car for Buick with projected production of 20,000 units a year. GM announced the end of production in early 1991.
Features
The Reatta featured twin bucket seats with a storage area behind the seats featuring two lockable bins and a lockable access hatch to the rear trunk. At introduction, options included 16-way power seats in lieu of 6-way power seats, side moldings in either black or body color and pinstripe delete. A sunroof became optional in late 1988, and in 1989 keyless entry was added as a standard feature.
Initially (1988-89), the Reatta featured a touchscreen computer interface, marketed as the Electronic Control Center (ECC), that included radio and climate control functions, date reminder, trip computer, user-configurable overspeed alarm as well as diagnostic access to the vehicle's electronic systems and sensors. Later models were equipped with conventional push button stereo and climate controls. The new system eliminated trip computer functionality and the climate control buttons could access diagnostic information, replacing diagnostic scanner capability formerly provided by the touchscreen.
In 1990, the interior was redesigned, adding a driver's airbag and an optional CD player. In 1991, the "L27" 3800 engine and 4T60-E transmission replaced the "LN3" and hydraulic 4T60 units and the Reatta received a new ABS system, new 16" wheels, automatic headlamps and a cup holder built into the armrest.
Each Reatta included a leather book containing the owner's manual and pen. In 1990 and 1991, a zippered owners folio was included holding the owners manual, pen, flashlight, tire gauge as well as a "Craftsman's Log" with the signatures of the supervisors for the car's assembly.
In 1988, approximately fifty five examples were designated "Select Sixties" and allocated to Buick's top sixty. The models, internally designated model X22, featured a black exterior, tan interior and unique special Select Sixty hood emblem.
In 1990, the Select Sixty program was repeated, as sixty five white convertibles including special emblems, and a flame red interior with white bucket seats, white 16 inch wheels, and cup holder.
Convertible
After a delayed introduction due to design difficulties, Buick introduced the convertible Reatta in 1990 with a manually-operated top designed by ASC, available in vinyl or cloth with a glass rear window and electric defroster. When retracted, the top was protected by a rigid tonneau cover. The 1991 models featured power pull-down motors to assist in tightening the rear bow of the top to the tonneau cover.
A convertible would not be offered again until the four-seat Buick Cascada debuted in 2016.
Production
Production is said to have begun in January 1988 and ended on May 10, 1991. However, various accounts of much earlier and later cars exist, and the handbuilt nature of the car and long development cycle makes accurately dating production difficult.