1980 Buick Regal Sport Coupe

a H.D. Version of a fairly quick video of a ground-up restoration of a 1980 Buick Regal. Watch the full-length version: "1980 Buick Regal Restoration". This car was sold.

[@but199018]

I can not believe that's a Macco job. Completely gorgeous!

[@natezemanek]

+but199018 Yeah they are THE BEST !! *This was my 4th car (that I've had done there). "I've never seen "People" take their work so seriously", they ARE that good ! ;- )

[@but199018]

Good to know they are in Michigan. I may have to take a trip to Saginaw.... :)

[@theweedman]

I had a 1985 Regal Limited a couple of months back, it was black with a GN hood, smoked-out lights, really nice... a real attention grabber. I was thinking about buying another Regal, which is what brought me to this video. I had my eye on a 1987 regular coupe, but there is also a really nice 1980 Limited that is pretty cheap. After seeing yours, I think I'll go with the 1980 Limited, it's all original, 100k miles, one owner... you know, all the things we look for when buying an old school.

[@mattyacht]

I love this body style. I’m currently having a 1979 Riviera painted black exterior with same color interior as this Regal.

[@natezemanek]

Oh man the Riv's were BEAUTIFUL !! "I know the platform quite well" !, God bless ALL #50 Olds engines ... "the BEST of the BEST" !.

[@tgm49]

That car is beautiful

[@natezemanek]

"It was a great car" !!

[@pantera580efi]

love the hood. i have a 1986 regal limited, with 90 000 original kilometres. im 16, and its my first car. i love these things :) nice job

[@M21L35]

W O W !!! What an absolutely OUTSTANDING restoration! Exemplary work here, Nate! 1 more exhaust pipe would be my only alteration....& even THAT's a maybe. These were so nice when opted correctly.....& yours is 1 fine example of the marque! WELL DONE !

[@natezemanek]

Thanks ! *Funny you would say that: because LATER I installed dual exhaust. (I sold this car last year).

[@DanielLopez-me9mh]

Beautifully done turbo regal macco did a super job on your paint it looks very stock

[@wyzer4]

More Rare than a Grand National

[@Porschedude8]

SUPERB WORK!! Lovin' that "liquid onyx"!! You ARE the MAN!! Must give props to Maaco!! This Buick looks way better than many of the newer models out here! Thanks again Tommy!!

[@Mr1979monte]

wow that is nice,glad you left it original better that way i think

[@g1boy2]

Starting to love these A bodies again and yours Sir is A cream pie! I had a Pea Green Turbo that was blown so replace it with a 350 and it screamed again but the turbo V6 was impossible to find to put back so left it and after a year sold her. Wished to get that green turbo back in my life but I'll settle for a project of any color.

[@natezemanek]

I "get it" / I see the full "import" of what you say ... and all I'd guess I'd say is to look around / as they are still popping-up from time ta time !. :- )

[@twomontess]

Maco did my paint on my SS. Same a yours, stripped to bare metal. A lot of people knock them but you can't deny the quality. I had custom stripes done over dark cranberry metallic. Absolutely beautiful work

[@xLuiKangx007]

Awesome Car

[@natezemanek]

GOT IT !! The Part No. is: 18-1901 This is a 1' thick spacer that I used on ALL My Regal's. I "cut" them down (appx. 1 inch) So they "lay" in the lower control arm bottom "pocket" PERFECTLY *(with the the spring directly atop of them). When finished the height will increase (from what you "had") appx. 1 too 1.5" "that's it".

[@themwas]

Looks stunning pop, a piece truly worth being proud of. Belongs in a museum.

[@the13joker]

Wow that's a show car. beautiful ride. take it to some auto shows ,so people can learn and apreciate this rare find. take care. Peace.

[@theweedman]

Super-duper clean.

[@soulfultenor]

Lawrence, they are indeed different man, that chassis is the same as cutlass in that that year

[@tgm49]

That is beautiful,i have a 1982 regal wish mine looked half that good.

[@tysonb.6353]

You have terrible taste in cars. The 1982 Buick Regal looks much better than the 1978-1980 generation Regal.

[@chiefsmakaho9882]

I’m impressed by macco paint job

[@natezemanek]

They did four of my Regal's ... what's amazing is that NOW: "They're GONE and outa Business". *THAT amazed me.

[@socks7545]

Absolutely the most beautiful Regal I have ever seen

[@TommyZTrains]

Thanks !!

[@TommyZTrains]

Yes !! An inch & 1/2 Coil Spring Spacer ... A "bullet" Type, It installs in minutes and is IN ADDITION TOO the new Factory REAR Coils. In time these too "settle" to what I'd call a perfect / Level trim.

[@Spacesprocketz]

Cool regal! I have a 85 Limited with a SB 350.

[@Breakurself91]

Looks amazing man, drive her safely!

[@ERICSTRANSAM355]

That is a beautiful car. I always liked the 1980 Regal. It is a one year only model. I have a 1987 Grand National, but still like the 1980 better

[@88_TROUBLE_88]

You're insane

[@natezemanek]

Thanks Ken, I'm PROUD to have had you do it! :- )

[@mrlemus_j1380]

I truly fell in love with the Regal after this video, she is such a beauty wow! Just Immaculate. Congratulations

[@natezemanek]

Jaime Lemus Thank-you Jamie !, "I really appr. hearing that" ! Please stay well. ; - )

[@mrlemus_j1380]

To you as well :) do you have an email? I would like to stay in contact with you, I'm interested in buying a Regal and would like to know how to keep it in tip top shape like your beauty.

[@TommyZTrains]

Jaime Lemus sent you info a while ago ...

[@natezemanek]

Jaime Lemus Thank-you Jamie !! "I really appr. your having said that" !! ;- )

[@ClassicGBodyGarage]

I am slowly trying over here.

[@stevenbest1133]

I wrecked my Toyota back in 89 and Maaco did a great job.

[@natezemanek]

Great Steve !! .... ("their long-gone here / closed").

[@TommyZTrains]

85 ? *Nice !!

[@djstrick100]

oh those are the cokers. nice. thank you!

[@aocruiser]

Awesome looking car Tommy! You did a great job on it!

[@Thetimetrack25]

Wow. Great looking car this is how it should be done.

[@TommyZTrains]

Thanks so very much for your KIND reply !!

[@keithkrause5054]

TommyZTrains

[@ClassicGBodyGarage]

Another beautiful 80 Regal!

[@the13joker]

There's nothing wrong with that, cause youre not the only car guy doing that. My dad still has his mint condition 78 Coupe De Ville , My buddy just restored his dad's (original owner) 69 Chevelle and im doing the same with my 96 Mitsubishi with only 15k original miles (still has that new car smell) and youre right when their older ....they're fun to drive or just cruise . Peace out

[@ashleyphillips5917]

My first car was a 1980 buick regal, my favorite car still. This is a remarkable car

[@TommyZTrains]

I agree ! ;- )

[@ghosturd77]

Same here. Mine was 1980 too. I would love to find another one

[@betosgarage]

I own & daily drive a 80 regal , I LOVE my car . Project phroRegal. After the 265 died I swapped a 5.3ls and cammed it .

[@natezemanek]

I'm a "Stock-Guy" Beto ... "but: *I BET yours is dam NICE tho !! . : - )

[@TommyZTrains]

I'm NOT a Show guy, *(but admit I should try to get more "into" that setting) ... This cars been in storage sense it was finished and one day "time" will re-awaken it. After finishing my Regal's I put-em away ... I know, "weird" ! That's just how I am. Later (when their older) ... they'll be fun top drive around.

[@TommyZTrains]

So NICE of you to say ! "I bet you would". If You & I were Neighbors I bet We'd start a business!! (Thanks again) . :- )

[@natezemanek]

Their a "Factory Spring", but with an added rubber "stool" (a 1" spacer) at the Spring's BASE to give the car appx. 1" of added LIFT. In this Clip, the front end looks "high" (and it was) BUT, It "sank" (back down considerably) after awhile. (What I wanted ) The results about an addl. inch. of height in the front. :- )

[@Pharozen1906]

Also, I may need the part number for that rubber spacer you used because every where I look, I can only find the rear ones.....nothing for the front.

[@mrwalle4u]

I Love It Bro!

[@natezemanek]

Agree 100% !

[@natezemanek]

So kind of you to say ! "Thank-you". ;- )

[@Pharozen1906]

That's a good advice and I've heard the same thing about certain businesses swapping out original OEM bumpers for "other" ones. But I'll be sure to ark mine as well...

[@jamesfair6709]

I had a 1978 Regal 3.8 non turbo. Slow as molasses in the winter, until I put a Buick 350 bored out to 400 cubes. 475 horses at the rear wheels. 2.73 rear gear, top speed 170 mph.

[@masterblaster735]

true classic

[@xLuiKangx007]

Best Car Ever

[@natezemanek]

Ryan Howell Thanks !!! ;- )

[@Pharozen1906]

I was referencing a conversation between Natezemanek and I about the bumpers. He stated that "re-chroming" is outdated and it wasn't used for this bumper. II asked him if it wasn't re-chromed, what process did they use....he said he didn't know.

[@natezemanek]

@dave87gn Thanks very much ! :-)

[@danielhiginio6394]

Around 2001 or 2002 I bought my first car when I was 23 or 24 years old. It was a Regal Coupe 1980 blue metallic, Best car ever !! Never needed a tow truck...

[@natezemanek]

+Daniel Higinio Hi Dan, *was it a regular 3.8 ? (or a Turbo 3.8) ... OR: a V-8 option ?

[@danielhiginio6394]

It was a regular 3.8 Lt. I'm from Peru and over there you cannot find american cars easily. Only Chevy made in Brasil.. no Buick, no Caddy, no GMC, if you want some of those you must import the car yourself.

[@TheSoloist87]

Hey man, where is the oxygen sensor located on these things? I have the 3.8L V6, no turbo, factory manifolds, and factory single pipe exhaust. My project is coming along slowly, but surely. I never get tired of looking at this car, such an inspirational masterpiece.

[@soulfultenor]

I have a G Body, Limited 86, I fitted it with a 350 Buick Original (H) code 4 BBL out of a 77 Century.

[@DanielLopez-me9mh]

I agree with you sir the A bodies lasted til 1980 in 1981 that when GM introduced the newer G bodies til 1988 many confuse the A and G body because they both share the same chassis

[@natezemanek]

🤩

[@rollsroyce1110]

Beautiful car.

[@natezemanek]

+Ze Bitterdose "Thanks so much" !! :- )

[@thelegendkillergus7451]

N8 Nate how much I'll buy it

[@natezemanek]

DO YOU Have serious interest ?

[@thelegendkillergus7451]

yeah I'm interested

[@natezemanek]

Thankyou Gus, "but it's been Sold".

[@ruwithlee1970]

I had a 78 regal I was told there a A/G body hybrid chassis a think? Not sure! The rear frame is a bit different than on the 1983-1987 like on my old 84 cutlass!

[@grandam]

You are right. I have 3 1978 Regals and they are A/G bodies. Meaning they were the beginning of the G Body era.

[@MrFuchew]

its the most beautiful thing ive ever seen

[@RECOGNIZEONE]

No problem. I dig the black paint and the shine to it as well. It's something about those '80 Regal's man -- I don't know, maybe I'm a different breed.

[@jxhern22]

Can you elaborate on what exactly needs to be done to front bumper fillers or do they sell them now? Thanks

[@natezemanek]

They were NOT available until I sent 'them' a set that were "lazer traced", while even those aren't 100 % "exact", they are close enough where one can use them, (where NONE were avail. before). That said: I have some spare sets if u have any interest. Best

[@Pharozen1906]

2 more questions: I found coil spacers that can be used in the rear, but where did you go o find spacers for the front?? Where did you go to get your bumpers re-chromed?

[@quartap4]

clean

[@Pharozen1906]

Just read the brief dialogue between Natezemanek and I about 3 weeks ago and you'll see what I'm talking about. Don't get me wrong, I love the car....I was just trying to clarify who re chromed the bumper since he said it WASN'T rechrmed.

[@1FastKarNascar]

I love this year Regal ... 1980 and 1974 were the best years for the regal IMO

[@rudyrosales6364]

EL Beezy wow your way off best years are definitely 82, extremely successful that year when the introduce the g body and everybody else had to copy the body style. Also 87 I mean all I have to say is GNX ! You are so wrong buddy. I know it's an opinion but come on really?.....really? Lol

[@rudyrosales6364]

82 *successful in NASCAR & SALES.

[@mrwalle4u]

My Goodness !

[@natezemanek]

Thank-you !!

[@69reconmarine]

Nice ride !! I have a 1980 regal as well,but I am having trouble finding parts...I would to know where you picked up up your cowl hood and your fr and rear bumper fillers.....help !

[@renzeewhite5132]

i like this car the 80s had okay cars

[@ESport211]

Renzee White OK!? They had the best cars in the Eighties!

[@dariusbrigham8753]

sick!

[@natezemanek]

You betcha ! "THEY ARE Awesome" !!!

[@TommyZTrains]

P-275 R-14's "THEIR EXPENSIVE" !!

[@natezemanek]

"Thanks" .... It's unique & that's for sure.

[@ClassicGBodyGarage]

Well if you lived close you could have my 260 since I am scrapping it. Thanks for the comments!

[@Ky1eB]

Yea that's nice I have an 80 but it only has the 3.8 non turbo..for now but it's clean all original..but did u have to strip the car yourself and did they redip the chrome? How much did they charge u?

[@Pharozen1906]

So was there any stool placed under the rear springs as well? And how much will these 1inch stools alter the factory ride??

[@starsonata321]

This is my dream car

[@JoseGuzman-ok4fy]

My dream car

[@simplytuned1623]

that is so beautiful 💙 I love Regals. I want to restore a car. I have a 2001 mustang that I detailed looks really nice

[@TommyZTrains]

"Lot's of FUN = a NICE restoration ! :- )

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

How on earth were you able to find those spacers for your 1980 Regal? Those things disintegrated in a million pieces over the years and became next to impossible to find. I've seen quite a few late '70s and early '80s cars with nothing between the body and the bumpers! Whatever you did, it turned out pretty good!

[@natezemanek]

Those are VERY VERY Common / and easy ta find ... "Kirban" sell the "exact" OEM one's, and "Energy 4141's" are the after market pieces (that I myself used). : - )

[@Pharozen1906]

Wow, I didn't know that "re-chroming" was considered outdated. Howcome? And process does Micro-Platers use?

[@jordanwiley4582]

That thing sits up really high.

[@natezemanek]

It "settled-down" after a bit (with new coil springs).

[@TommyZTrains]

Ah ... "where were you when I needed ya" ??

[@1984buickboy]

love the car very nice paint for macco. what was the gonzo web address?

[@natezemanek]

@djnonsense1 I RAISED the bar, (that is to say I started at appx. 2500.00). As I added (stripping the car for example) too that ... I also added: the fillers, (cutting them), the striping, along with other "incidentals," THEN things went up. I paid 3800.00 in the end. *EXTREMELY FAIR (My Opinion). Thanks.

[@maddmystic101]

IM WORKING ON A 1980 REGAL JUST GOT BUMPER FILLERS DUMPED LOTES IN THE ENGINE, TY FOR IDEAS

[@maddmystic101]

i finally got into paint and autobody school, so, in july, we will start working, on my car, its gonna be exciting, and awesome, we are gonna do all the body work, and hook up the paint etc.. cant waite

[@natezemanek]

kenneth do it yourself crawford Get a Video and keep us in the loop !! ; - )

[@quartap4]

what all did you have to do to make the 79 bumper fillers fit the 80

[@natezemanek]

+quartap4 I cut them in 3 different places to meet up with the needed "geometry" required ... The Nation's LARGEST FILLER Maker now has these molded (cast) from this very car. IOW you can now buy a set where you couldn't before. While NO Filler is perfect: (the fit) ... those (that I preface here) fit quite well. Remember 80's are all by themselves (the 80 year only), and AT THE TIME they weren't. *It was a MAJOR road-block ta overcome, but they did it. I have the FRONT (and rear fillers) to purchase, should you be interested. *Looking to TRY and convert a 78-79 set ? *Get ready for a horrific battle ! My advice, ... *just buy what's NOW available. Best

[@onc421]

+N8 Nate Who makes them now? I picked up a set of the fiberglass repo's and they don't fit real well.

[@natezemanek]

"Auto Body Filler's" (in Florida).

[@natezemanek]

Pick about any yard here and their VERY abundant. A Yard here has a couple 80 Somersets and an entire "g" body section ! ... (El Camino's and all). "just call local yards I guess is the quickest answer", ... Flint MI. has aisle upon aisle of about anything you'd need ! *Cutlass's ,Monte's, Regal's and all. Craigslist has them too... 80's are everywhere ! Best

[@TommyZTrains]

Look on Craigslist ! *Theirs one one their now with 22,000 ORIG. MILES ! Look, and you'll find a dandy. Love the "old school" ! *Hey ! "Keep me posted OK" ?? Best.

[@natezemanek]

Sure appr it .... "thanks".

[@TommyZTrains]

NO "Not at all" ... "Nate" is my Son ! :- ) I really don't know what too say about the chrome ... The Bumper was "dull", I sent it out, and it was re-chromed ... "or so I thought". Perhaps theirs another process I'm not aware of ?. All I was saying is most cars / trucks of about the last 20 years all use a "bra" of fascia for a bumper(s). I hope you can have resolve. All my best, Tom / "Nate".

[@natezemanek]

Why Thank-You Sir !! I really appr. it !! :-)

[@dave87gn]

damn, that's sweet!

[@Fritz1945]

Beautiful car. I would buy it in a heart beat if I had the money

[@natezemanek]

Thanks so much !! ;- )

[@markj2838]

What did you end up getting for this? Beautiful regal....

[@natezemanek]

End run: "I made out OK". I don't wanna divulge that info. / as the new owner may not like it".

[@markj2838]

@@natezemanek i understand. Don't see many of those here in Ontario at all. Too much damn salt.

[@natezemanek]

I know what you mean by "package" ... But I really didn't follow that. I raised the bar high because I gutted the car ... This provided incentive too go "the extra mile" and made things MUCH More appealing upon doing the car. So if it was the "p[package": I'd have to answer "the best / highest".

[@Pharozen1906]

Howcome re chroming is considered outdated? And what type of process do Micro Platers use since they don't rechrome?

[@TommyZTrains]

Thanks !! :-)

[@m0ntaque_]

How is the no rear defrost in the winter?im checkin out a regal for sale that doesnt have the option either

[@natezemanek]

Congo MontaQue How ? "simple": I was never ordered as an option. *I think IF you ordered A/C, you "may" also automatically gotten a rear defog ? ... Agree it's rare Congo.

[@m0ntaque_]

Oh okay i see.I was wondering how such a beatiful car doesnt have the option of rear defog.Yes very rare indeed.That regal is stunning.The paint job is immaculate

[@natezemanek]

Congo MontaQue So nice of you too say ! "I dearly thank ya Congo". :- )

[@HardRockRecords]

How much did maccoo charge for the paint job?

[@greasebellygarage]

Wow what an awesome car, your video is similar to mine. Great minds think alike I guess!

[@TommyZTrains]

Much appr. that (I humbly agree) !!