The Buick Reatta Was the Most Advanced Car in the World Completely Forgot About!

[@martindouglass3248]

One of my neighbors down the street has two of them, that are beautifully maintained daily drivers for him and his wife. They take great care of them and both cars genuinely look like new. Still nice looking cars and I didn’t know much about them until this video. Thanks.

[@itwasaladream]

It's kind of crazy how responsive that touch screen is. I used to work for a rental company back in 2013 the new cars back then had some pretty sloppy slow touch screens it just goes to show you how ahead of it's time the Reeata was.

[@danielstefanovic2604]

Theres some cars that still have bad touchscreens in 2023

[@gransport4246]

I toured the factory in 1990 as they were producing the convertible for the first time. Super cool. The touchscreen only lasted 2 model years. The car was Buick’s grand tourer. For the day, it was a decent performer.

[@keithadams6706]

Would be awesome with the supercharged 3.8 litre, or just add it. Those motors will last forever if properly maintained.

[@edwardpate6128]

The Reatta Craft Center in Lansing.

[@bldontmatter5319]

​@@bmerlin376here's the issue. I drove a 1970 f250 with a 460 and it smoked this thing. It did 0-60 in upper 6 seconds with a manual. That's a 50+ year old car. This thing absolutely is slow

[@erinmeggik391]

@@bmerlin376 I'd like to have one. 😆

[@alexcurtis8132]

​@@bmerlin376so damn true....all these kids saying my 09 srt8 Challenger is "slow" cuz it's not a Hellcat and they don't even know what engine is in it🤦‍♂️😂😂

[@cooperhall2793]

I have a white 1990 convertible with 96k miles. It has what is known as the Select 60 package, which means that it is white with a flame red/white interior and 16" wheels later used on the 91s. They only made 60 of these distributed to then top selling Buick dealers for showcase and sale + 5 more for execs. If TFL makes it out to Ohio for any reason in the future, y'all are welcome to check it out and take it for a spin. It's in nice shape and is my 3 season car. Super reliable.

[@eightbll1017]

There is a red one with white convertible top for 4600 on marketplace near me right now.

[@scootermann83]

It was on the E platform, it was more a shortened Riviera, not a plebian skylark. Great tour though!

[@grandtheftautotune7715]

Theses were built during the era of peak GM. Cadillac was building the Allante, Olds was coming out with the Aurora, Chevy already had the Vette, but the ZR-1 was being developed. That touchscreen is actually a CRT screen and worth a ton of money.

[@rtcturnemup7028]

That’s peak gm ? 😂😂😂 stop it

[@ItalianCJM8232]

Peak GM wasting money.

[@shitloveaduck]

You stole my comments! Even my examples (minus the ZR1),,,,,,. Grrrrrr. 😂😂😂 You said it better than I was gonna too,,, sighhhhhh. 😂 The Allante was an interesting car and is still really inexpensive for it’s age and original class. There are some good examples and some high mileage examples that are STILL mint. The car seemed to stand up. I never looked into the service history. I was looking at two low mileage models, one black, one champagne and the prices were higher, but they were original owners that bought them as newly retired people and they are VERY sold now. The one guy has a collection I would be willing to offer slightly over a million dollars for. He said 1.25 and it’s mine. I priced the vehicle out individually and the collection is worth closer to $1.6 million (assuming you get near top dollar for each vehicle). He is the original owner of every car except the 63 Split Window Vette, his dad owned and he inherited! He said at that price he would throw the Allante in for free! Haha. It kinda is no matter, depending on how you look at it. Wifey says OK! I will need a new shop/storage area to be built though.

[@Dankcatvacs]

@@rtcturnemup7028 got a problem with 3.8 buick v6 ? simplicity lasts not gm best decision making but good build quality

[@MercOne]

If you mean peak junk then you're right.

[@Crispychicken4u]

That touch screen is more responsive than most modern cars today. 😮

[@vancity_coaster]

I used to love seeing these cars come thru my shop. There are some really clean examples people took care of.

[@greggc8088]

In 1988 I was a new hire out of tech school tech at a Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC dealer. I wanted to love that car and it actually had better quality than many of the other POS's there at the time. The only real problem was the screen going out or dead to touch, which was expected, and the plastic fenders warping from the heat of the sun and rubbing the doors when opening them. It wasn't slow when compared to other vehicles of the time period and MPG on that 3800 was awesome. That cable shifted TH440 sucked bad and if you didn't back off the throttle a bit when the gear change took place it wasn't long for this world.

[@jjackson4829]

Interestingly, that CRT touch screen display was actually introduced back in 1984. Buick had it as an option for the 1985 Riviera. Motorweek has an episode from November 1984 in which they demonstrated it being used in an '85 Riviera.

[@Droopy578]

Another gem from that era that looks gorgeous is the Oldsmobile Trofeo

[@deejayimm]

I worked as summer help in a scrap yard back in 2002, and I got the chance to play around in one of these that had been wrecked. Very cool car for the time.

[@MichaelKelly-eg6jo]

It wasn't based on the Skylark but the Riviera. It was reported that they started with the Riv, then took a foot or two chuck out of it, removing the backseat area.

[@luisochoa731]

It was the most amazing platform, the Toyota MR2, Lotus "Elise" and an Opel were built on the same platform.

[@markhavelka4924]

Riviera makes more sense. That interior looks a lot like the ‘88 Olds Toronado that my mom had back in the day. And I believe the Riviera and Toronado were the same platform.

[@jarrodwidiger5472]

​@@markhavelka4924 the toronado/troffeo could be optioned with the same touch screen early on too.

[@frankkerze9608]

AGREED the Reatta was built on the shortend Riviera E-Body chassis.

[@cygarza]

My godfather was a Buick dealer back then. I was 13-14 when he had a demo in his garage. I was mind blown seeing the all digital gauge cluster.

[@lifeisgood12341]

I remember seeing one of these on a used lot, it was thoroughly impressed. I loved the room in the back area. Also blown away by the hand built nature.

[@LukeEdward]

I would have appreciated knowing what the auction sale price was.

[@TFLcar]

$2000

[@cashflow7786]

AllMan😢

[@Mike-rk8px]

In 1989 my father went to buy a new Corvette, and the Chevrolet dealer in our area shared a showroom with Pontiac and Buick. We immediately saw a beautiful silver Reatta in the showroom and sat in it. It was very comfortable, and it was mind blowing that Buick made something like this. My father asked if there was an option for a manual transmission, they said no, and that was all he needed to hear. He bought a Corvette, which sadly turned out to be a major lemon.

[@Spocklee]

Mine was manual and an 88 so i don't get why he said that.

[@murfyslaw8889]

I owned two of these. I love the Reatta. It was truly under rated.

[@alark79]

My uncle had one when he passed away in 2020. He liked everything except he said it didn't shift soon enough. He wished they'd made it with a manual. He was a hyper mile driver! Cool car, great to see one again!

[@charlesboetel1324]

My parents had one, POS build quality. When I married in 1990 my new Father in law was a GM desert proving grounds driver doing Buick reliability. The Buick 3.8, the transaxle, and brakes were all great at that time. The rest of the cars, not so much.

[@chrisapril76]

I really enjoy these quick hitting 10-15 min videos from the auction (or anywhere). I just like that it's different vehicles than you see over and over on youtube. Track cars and supercars are cool, but i'll never own one. These are things I could actually consider one day

[@michaelbrown5980]

That's a great find! Cool video. That would be really neat to see fully restored. That computer is just so cool!

[@NightRunner_K5]

So happy y'all did a video on this car! I absolutely love these.

[@christopherkraft1327]

In 1990 I was shopping for a new car & I was really impressed with the Reatta so I went to my local Buick dealer & saw a gorgeous one. When I get up to it & saw the window sticker read $34,000 I thought that was too much for a two seater!!! I ended up buying a Lincoln Mark Vll & drove it for 18 years & almost 300,000 miles!!! 👍👍🙂

[@sharksport01]

More expensive than a '90 Corvette?

[@jamesalvarado8681]

Wow Flashback! I test drove one of those off the the showroom floor in 89’! I wanted it really bad…but price and practicality didn’t work. Being in sales I needed something to entertain clients and we also had two small kids (backseat needed). Long story short I ended up buying an 89’ Dynasty. Lol! 😢

[@thumpersquid]

I can see your mullet growing as you drive.

[@parkcircle29405]

such a good looking car

[@johnburgess7669]

The area behind touch screen was for cooling the CRT ,

[@EdwardBarth-j4t]

I just picked up my second 1990 Reatta....I really believe, this is one of the most underrated 2 seater sports cars. The seats are ridiculously comfortable and the freeway drives are amazing!

[@romper4444]

I always wanted ona these when I was in high school! And the olds trofeo too! You HAVE to feature one of them too!

[@amarsta]

I had an olds trofeo in high school 😀👍

[@3800TType]

Anyone that likes these should buy one. Most are under 8k with under 100k miles on a hand-built modern American classic with a reliable drivetrain (go easy on the ol trans) Most of these were well kept in garages and drove on Sundays. Good time to buy one, I can't believe how cheap some are going for right now...if you're scared of the CRT buy a 90-91 it's a nicer interior anyway and easier to get parts and trim pieces for.

[@whatsoutthere6822]

I had 2 Rivieras (85 86) that had the touchscreen. They were in 3 parts and made 2 different types (Bose and GM). In 86 they added the oil pressure. Lots of fiber optics in the lighting.

[@luisochoa731]

I still dread selling mine, an incredible cruiser (for the era)

[@1966human]

Actually a good amount of working room around that engine, timing belt even water pump should be kind of simple to replace

[@7MPhonemicEnglish]

I was working at a ski resort in Vermont back then and they had a couple of these parked out front of the main admin building for sale during the winter ski season.

[@b.strong9347]

The 3800 was one of the best engines, period. They had much more power and guts than the numbers would suggest… and we’re incredibly reliable.

[@spyplane3979]

THAT CAR LOOKS LIKE DELOREAN LOOK TO IT and all those 80's retro feel .

[@sdjrinc.6921]

One of the coolest cars I ever owned was a white rusting 87 buick LeSabre T-type

[@mattg8369]

Always loved the Reatta. I'd love to have one now.

[@RodVonLongrod]

Interior design has thankfully come a long way since then.

[@AcuraLvR82]

There was a lady who gave my grandmother and I rides to church and back in the early 90s. She had a Buick that had the exact same touch screen system but in a different model. I was amazed at its extensive features and great radio sound. Back then we were concerned about it being prone to the Y2k bug but it seems like it wasnt an issue with these. The one youre driving I wouldnt be surprised if it was owned by an old man now deceased who had it as his very last car. That seemed to be the prime demographic of people who bought them.

[@Slowgroovin]

Local guy I know had two of those, couldn't get rid of them. People didn't understand what a unique car they were. The 3.8 supercharged would've been great in them.

[@grandtheftautotune7715]

They were built at the Reatta Craft Center in Lansing Michigan, home of Oldsmobile..

[@admiralinworlder]

The Reatta from inception was ALWAYS a limited production car. It was NEVER intended to be a huge seller. It was a statement car meant to inspire design concepts for other future GM vehicles.

[@richki.24]

I'm glad you previewed this Buick ... I might look into getting one ..

[@beerpad]

I have a 1990. It lost the cool touch screen that year, but got a fantastic green light up calculator cluster (shared with the Riveria). Drove it down the coast from Washington to California. No one knows what it is, but I’ve had a couple na Miata’s wink headlights at me.

[@thomasburton4460]

Just discovered this channel. After just a few videos, it's one of my favorites.

[@billchildress9756]

I've worked on a few of them years ago. Now! If you want something REAL fun to do try making up and replacing all the Brake Lines on one of these Jewels. Where I come from Brake line rot was a very BIG Problem! Fuel lines too in some cases!

[@southhillfarm2795]

This was one of the coolest cars GM created. I don’t know why it didn’t sell except for the price. They were not cheap. Don’t know where the $25000 came from but I’m sure it sold for more at the dealer.

[@MatrixDiscovery]

Just imagine the cost of developing that touchscreen back in the 80s.

[@yyperi]

It's beautiful inside and out, I can only imagine the feeling of sitting in one in the 80s. Must have been incredible to see a glimpse of the future. Touchscreens didn't make a major comeback until 2010 or so.

[@2006gtobob]

When this car came out, one girls parents bought her this brand new while I was in high school. She was an upperclassmen, and I was a car dork, so all I did was look it over thoroughly, amazed by the interior. I was disappointed by its status as a fwd car. That's where GM screwed up with this and the Allante.

[@brandonmcclain6476]

Built at the Reatta Assembly Plant (at the time) in Lansing, MI. The 1988 Buick Riviera and the Oldsmobile Toronado/Trofeo had similar CRTs at the time.

[@Wargasm54]

Imagine if the gave it the Grand National power plant! It was of the same era. It would’ve been highly collectible and sought after.

[@Grey_Beard72]

That 3.8 engine is in the top five best engines ever built. You can also easily supercharge it.

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

yeah its also an extreme low production model around 22,000 in 4 model years in the year the Reatta debuted 1988 The Skylark/Somerset sold 55,000 units its lowest sales for 5th gen. mind you Skylark is sentimental to me because my late maternal grandmother drove one when I was a toddler hers was from the prior generation though

[@chrismba777]

I've got a white '89, and the touch screen still works flawlessly - and so do the pop up headlights!

[@barrydraper]

These were very cool, back in the day. Not exactly a sports demon. The only real problem was the PRICE. $$$$$

[@ebbamb]

Nice video guys. You've got me wanting one of these now.

[@hunterleach5710]

This is no doubt one of the most technologically-advanced cars from the 20th century and earlier as a whole. If someone were to see this car and to not know what it was and what the model is , they would have thought it was a modern ordinary car until they would look further and realized the cassette players gave it away and they found out it was a CRT screen with touch functionality than they would most likely flip out in some cases.

[@amarsta]

I brought one home this summer with 20K miles on it and my neighbor asked if they were still making it. He thought I bought it new 😂

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

I think the 1969 Buick Riviera had headlights that rotated down in front of the fixed grill. Not pop up but sort of pop down.

[@JS.436]

Actually, 1966 to 1969 had the “flop down” headlamps.

[@chmeeeschannel8355]

@@JS.436 yep. We had a 67 with the headlights that rotated down. I liked them.

[@6ec6YRFPTcC]

The screen was the same used in ATM machines back then

[@christianglaude6659]

I remember that Oldsmobile also did a high end luxury car The Toronado It be nice to check out this car.

[@scottmonroe4914]

I have a 89 in black, and a 90 convertible. The convertible has less than 25K original miles................amazing cars.

[@eddstarr2185]

The problem with the Buick Reatta was the Buick Riviera. Go back to 1988, park a Reatta next to a Riviera, look at the sticker prices then tell me which would you buy. By 1988 the Buick Riviera, especially the T-Type, was a very compelling automobile, with 2+2 seating. Late 80's GM management was going through, "Two-Seater Senility", ignoring almost all the lessons learned from decades of 2 vs.4-doors & 2 vs. 4-seats. Customers get the final say on a new car model and Buick dealers were happy to score another Riviera sale.

[@frankkerze9608]

I had a 1986 Buick Riviera T-Type White Exterior with Red interior with Recaro seats, excellent adjustments and comfortable for long trips. The CRT behind the Touch Screen Panel was way Ahead of the Times in the mid to late 1980's. The car ran great for my daughter going to High School in 1998 - 2000, until the 3.8 liter thru a connecting rod thru the engine block at 171k miles, was sad to see it go!!!

[@rile_up]

I want one so damn bad. 80s Buick was so awesome.

[@texan176]

I saw one of these in 1988 new on the Buick dealer showroom floor when my dad had taken his car in for service. These were crazy expensive considering the 1987 Grand National was $18K and the 1987 GNX was $30K for one of the fastest cars in the world at the time. As a kid I thought it was okay but I was more fascinated by the new 1987 FWD Regal design that looked very futuristic at the time. The Regal was of course total garbage.

[@Spocklee]

I used to have one of these and i miss it so bad! By far the coolest funest car i ever owned.

[@erinfreize]

The back no longer reads, Buick but UK maybe if the C was still attached, it would accurately describe its condition. I love these cars, tho

[@edwardpate6128]

Rivieras from 1965 until 1969 had hidden headlights.

[@robertmiller1442]

Right, I had the 1965

[@Dr.Meola1980]

You guys forgot to mention there's a 1 of 1 made 1990 Buick reatta supercharged V6 GSX.

[@brandonstewart7145]

That is a neat car for sure, that touch screen is awesome!!!

[@johna.4334]

"3.8L engine..." Correction " That's a 3800 and NOT a 3.8L. Big difference.

[@amarsta]

I've owned both and they seem similar to me except for the balance shaft. Is that what you're referring to, or is it something else?

[@americanrambler4972]

These are nice cars, and the are something special. My issue with the car was their proportions were a bit off. They had way two much front overhang in front of the wheels and the rear body piller touched down in the wrong spot. Instead of an elegant sporty Buick look, it looked like a stubby chop shop special. Time has been good to the styling. A nicer looking wheel would help the looks and lines of this car immensely. Would I buy one of these? Definitely yes. (By the way, the Buick sumerset Regal 2 door had the same awkward rear styling proportions as well. It was a common styling profile at the time for these body shell platforms.

[@cashflow7786]

I believe that when they tried to justify the price by comparing them with the Mercedes-Benz. They lost a lot of people who couldn't make that stretch. It was a good Buick and could hold its own as such.🎉 IMHO❤

[@donschiffer7400]

I had the Riviera (1989) and it was a pretty good car. Looked even better than the Reatta.

[@dommm111]

Stop it! I don't have room for more old cars!!!

[@bradpittiful7288]

i worked with a woman who had one in the later 90s...what caught my eye was the WJ in the background when you were doing the walk around

[@ElijahRoks]

This has always been one of those cars that I would own for the sake of owning them.

[@mikekempin7917]

Cool cars for the time. Along with the Cadillac Allante and Olds Toronado.

[@ryan_782]

They may have had touchscreens in 88, but no spell check. “Gages” instead of “gauges” 6:57

[@raymondsvensson4667]

That engine was also in the Australian Holden Commodore.

[@BRBNWolf]

Would buy this car just to have the seats in my current car 🥹 look so comfy!

[@philllsxga.7737]

I have been trying to tell people about Buicks for 20 years! They were WAY ahead of their time! The touch screen, the 3800 etc. That does not apply to the modern so called Buicks, they are China JUNK!!! Buick ended with the end of the 3800. The best v 6 ever made!! And when you touch the outer door handle the IP illuminates

[@nonelost1]

Beautiful car. And I like them wall-to-wall taillights. But three letters of Buick are missing on the back. And no damage to account for it. Perhaps somebody stole those letters. Either that, or somebody from the UK imported it. But you guys don’t sound like you’re from the UK. Day-um, I did not know the car was running until you opened up the hood. It must have good soundproofing. And you’re right about the power steering noise and suspension clunks. BTW, I don’t believe you ever did say how many miles that specimen had. Either way, don’t knock it too much as I did not see any body damage or rust to speak of on it, and the maroon paint was still nice on it. It just needs to be buffed out to get the oxidation off (especially if it is THEE original paint.

[@kurtzxcvb3481]

The used CRT touch screens from ATMs so they're very robust

[@my1vice]

I had a Reatta back in the day..... It's a goid car for what it is.

[@darrendaine4914]

Actually less convertibles than that and they made a high power engine option that came in white with red interior only

[@brunoqirim2065]

The design and innovation of this car is so good that I actually thought it was a vintage Porsche for a few seconds!

[@LanceCowan-l3l]

This is basically a Corvette!

[@Jasona1976]

I own one and love it!

[@sharksport01]

Me too! Drives like a Cadillac.

[@ScrotieJohnson]

Think that touch screen came out in 86, after buick moved away from it, the 1990 Oldsmobiles toronado got an updated color version the included hard buttons for most controls, plus they built 50 prototypes in partnership with avis and aaa, with built in navigation in 1992. All those late 80s e bodies(and their derivatives) were quite advanced

[@DeanoKelley]

The Reatta was based on the Riviera, not he Skylark. Loved my 1989. Only real issue was that touch screen. The backlight would go out intermittently. The screen would still work (it recognized you were touching it) you just had to guess what you were touching to turn the volume down, turn off the air etc... Quite the pain. Back in the 90s, you could send the screen off and for around $300-$500, a company would refurbish it for you and mail it back. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have looked harder for a 1990-1991, which had no touch screen.

[@jllen729]

It was not a skylark platform, it was on the Riviera platform.

[@MercOne]

Is there any real difference? FWD based JUNK from GM of the 80's. There isn't enough distinction from one platform to another to matter.

[@Sulfuron41]

I gotta say, being a 1989 Oldsmobile Toronado owner myself, these cars are near impossible to maintain. Even more simple things like struts or brake components are completely unavailable because not even aftermarket parts are being made. Engine mounts? Nope. Fuel sending unit? Nope. Trim pieces and rubber like door seals? No way. It's sad, really. So many were junked because people just didn't understand how to work on them. A sensor would go out, and they'd get crushed instead of fixed. I really love these cars, and they are actually quite reliable when taken care of. Sad really

[@justinthorsson]

sound like they had the same engine as what we had in our Holden Commodores here in Oz ,this car was way ahead of its time especially the touch screen . Sort of looks a little like a old Mazda 929 at the front !

[@paulfarber701]

The reatta was built on the riviera platform not skylark. It shared drivetrain, dash, and technology with riviera.

[@Dankcatvacs]

alongside the sister cadillac allante oldsmobile toronado and buick riviera 2:24 buick skyhawk had hideaway 4:46 sounds like she needs a new alternator or tensioner /idler pully to me. too bad they didnt make a shootin brake hatch id like that. more room for vacuuums rough shape? you guy are nuts!

[@richfarfugnuven6308]

Should have put the turbo version of this engine from the Grand National GNX in this, with rear wheel drive. Would have sold like hotcakes...

[@jefferysmith3930]

I actually saw one of the at a Hwy rest stop in NC last week while we were moving out daughter to Chapel Hill for her first job. I couldn’t believe it. Haven’t seen one on the road for years. I don’t know why I didn’t snap some pictures of it