Travis Crawford Buick ordered this 1991 Reatta for use as a showroom display through 2022. As such, it has only rolled 2,647 miles. Production numbers vary among sources, but 1991 was the final year for the Reatta, and most sources agree that just 1,214 coupes were built. This one, finished in Maui Blue Metallic with a dark blue leather interior, presents in exquisite condition, the level of detail and order looking fabulously new. The front-wheel drive, two-seater coupe is powered by the 3.8L V-6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission and was a wonderfully well-equipped halo car featuring power steering, power 4-wheel disc ABS brakes, a 4-wheel independent suspension, 16-inch aluminum wheels and Goodyear tires, power locks, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, AM/FM/Cass/CD stereo system with graphic equalizer and much more. Fitted with the optional sunroof, this car is complete with the original window sticker, owner’s folio with owner’s manual, flashlight and “Craftsman’s Log” with the signatures of the supervisors for the car’s assembly, original owner’s tape and three sets of keys. Introduced in the 1988 model year, the Buick Reatta eerily took the baton of a sporty two-seat coupe from the Pontiac Fiero, which ceased production the same year. A halo car for Buick, its main competitors were arguably the Cadillac Allante and Chrysler TC by Maserati, although Buick marketing would add the Mercedes-Benz SL and Nissan 300ZX to the list. GM and Buick put a lot of effort behind the production of the Reatta, establishing the Reatta Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan, where teams of specially trained workers would assemble the car in independent stations rather than on an assembly line. Interestingly, the paint was applied under contract by PPG Industries to ensure the highest-quality finish available. Later cars, like this one, benefit from a more traditional dashboard and component controls with a digital instrument layout, while earlier cars had a unique computerized display for an all-in-one system controlling the air conditioning and stereo. For 1990, Buick worked with ASC to produce a convertible, and while Reattas were praised by the media for their solid feel, the price alienated many. While considerably less than the Cadillac, pricing for the coupe hovered near the $30,000 mark with the convertible edging in on the high end of the $30,000 range.
