Originally intended to serve as the halo car for the Tri-Shield brand, the Buick Reatta two-seater boasted several state-of-the-art pieces of technology for the time. Now, a 1990 Buick Reatta Convertible in pristine condition has been listed for sale.
Posted for sale in Pennsylvania, this Reatta is certainly in great shape and almost looks as though it just rolled off the assembly line. A clean Carfax report shows several service records, 19 detailed reports, and no reported accidents or damage. Notably, this unit features just under 13,000 miles on the digital odometer, while the dealership is asking $20,000.
Starting with the exterior, we find a striking red paint job that is contrasted with black mirror caps, while chrome trimming is found throughout. Interestingly, the Reatta is the only Buick model to boast one-piece pop-up headlights, as the Riviera and Skylark only ever featured fixed headlamps with moveable covers.
Moving to the interior, the cabin features red twin bucket seats, red carpeting, power windows, and air conditioning. By far the most distinct aspect of this 1990 Reatta’s interior is the unique gauge cluster, which appears almost out of place in comparison to the rest of the vehicle.
It’s worth noting that early Reatta units also featured a touchscreen computer “infotainment” system.
In regard to the powertrain department, output is delivered by a naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 gasoline engine that develops 165 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. These ponies are directed to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.
Other performance goodies include a fully independent suspension setup and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.
Aside from a blemish here or there, this 1990 Buick Reatta is appears to be in fantastic shape, however, the $20,000 asking price could get one into a vehicle more than 20 years younger. With that in mind, would you throw down twenty Gs for an old Buick? Vote in the poll below and be sure to express your thoughts in the comments section.
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Comments
Those were nice “Dealer’s Wife’s” cars when new…
Would need to see the underside. PA winters are not nice to cars. My 2015 GM vehicle has already had both lower rear control arms replaced because they rusted out and were crumbling to pieces. This is despite regular undercarriage washes during every winter season.
A GM E Platform model. (Basically the Cadillac Allante) Hagerty values these @ $15 to $16K in #2 condition….. only thing really going for it is the low mileage ….
The mid to late 60s Rivieras had moveable headlights.
Yep, the researchers dropped the ball on that one.
Nice car but the optimal year is 1991. There were only about 225 Converts sold to the public. The 91 Reattas had the tuned port 3800 engine and the 4T60E transaxle. The driveability and shifting were worlds better. I have a 91. The only thing better would have been the addition of the L67 Supercharged 3800 engine. It was all set for 92 production. The prints were made for all the pieces needed and part numbers were issued. Before it could be completed, the plug was pulled on the whole car. What a shame.
All Reatta are rare considering the only made 21,751 in 4 model years. There were only 2 options on the convertible and this car does not have the 16 way seat option… the other a single disc CD is not visible in the photos, so we don’t know it it is there.
This car is unusually because of the color combination. Red (burgundy) interior was not a recommended interior color with the bright red exterior, however there were 18 built in 1990 in that combination. For comparison 643 red convertibles had tan interior. Hard to say what Reatta prices will do in the future but the Reatta has the potential to become very collectable.
Low production numbers, high sticker price, lots of options standard and it is an air conditioned old car your wife will ride in.
If I had the resources on-hand, like money and real-estate, I would say that $20 g’s is a good price for this car. (Incidentally, thank you to the author for using the correct letter in the abbreviation!) There are pros and cons for the asking price; the author is correct in stating that price can call up something newer. It’s appropriate for this car as a collector’s item. The Reatta’s problem was that it had a confused identity, similar to Ford’s Edsel experiment, though not as costly. Was it a slalom-searing missile like the ‘Vette? Not with a V-6 and FWD with its corresponding understeer issues. Was it a simple fun machine like the Miata? Not with power-everything (except the top) and a mid-$30g MSRP when new. A luxury tourer, then, like the contemporary Cadillac Allanté or Benz SL, or the Lincoln Mark VII LSC? Close, but even faithful Flint fanatics would concede that Buick’s tri-shield does not carry the same prestige as the wreath-and-crest, let alone the 3- or 4-pointed stars. It certainly wasn’t “your father’s” Buick…but it wasn’t your mother’s, either, nor really a car for many sons and daughters.
History has demonstrated that cars with confused identities don’t last long, and that was the case with the Reatta. A pity, because it was one of the finest-looking small cars ever made. I personally have a soft spot for them.
You can’t give them away in Florida.
My green ‘91 Reatta is a load of awesome classic Buicky sport/lux fun to drive! But find a good one (and have a trusted mechanic). Just throwing this in…. Anyone agree the Cascada was a worthy successor?
After test driving a new Cascada I was really disappointed/scared. Put top down, drive down a little rough road and watch the window frame twist back and forth. Hang in and hope for the best. Junk.
I have to wonder how much experience you have had with convertibles. Some amount of “cowl shake” is there in all converts. The reason is that there is no solid roof on the vehicle. ANY vehicle without a roof will have a nominal amount.
We ended up buying an Audi A5 convertible.
NO shake at all.
B.S.
My C5 corvette convertible doesn’t have any cowl shake. When GM cam up with the hydroformed rails, they really improved the dynamics….. I had a 90 Reatta…. loved the car. I wish I could order a new one.