Buick introduced the Regal as a midsized sedan and coupe as part of the Century line in 1973. It was the era of “personal luxury,” and consumers saw the Regal as upscale. It was introduced with then-fashionable opera windows.
An ad for the 1975 Regal coupe. The pitch was decidedly upscale.
The Regal is about as bedrock a model as Buick ever had, enduring along with the Roadmaster - opens in new window or tab. and Special - opens in new window or tab.. General Motors continuously improved the Regal for nearly 40 years—with a gap between 2004 and 2011. However, in late 2019, it was discontinued - opens in new window or tab.—one of several cars that died as carmakers shift to compact SUVs. In China, where Buicks are hugely popular, the Regal soldiers on.
From Mainstream America to Chinese Luxury
The last American Regal was introduced in 2017, just as China sales were gearing up. By this point, it was a pretty decent sedan, with 250 horsepower from a turbo four and all-wheel-drive variants. There was even a wagon.
The 1977 Buick Regal coupe, complete with opera window.
It may have had garish origins, but the Regal evolved into a credible alternative to the imports. In 1974, Buick sold 57,512 Regal coupes and just 9,333 sedans. Three years later, in 1977, Buick was selling an amazing 174,000 Regal coupes—still with the half vinyl roof - opens in new window or tab. and opera window. This styling craze, dubbed the “Landau,” didn’t last much longer.
The second-generation Regal, introduced in 1978, was downsized in the wake of the Arab Oil Embargo. It featured a frugal 231-cubic-inch V-6 as standard equipment. A turbocharged version was available—quite a novelty at the time. All second-gen Regals were coupes at first. In 1982, a wagon and a four-door sedan were added.
Along Came the Buick Grand National
Buick GNX (Grand National Experimental)
Nobody was thinking of the Regal as a performance car, despite that turbo option. But then came the Grand National - opens in new window or tab. in 1982—by far the most collectible version. Initially, it was just an appearance package. The standard model was a turbocharged V-6, producing just 125 horsepower. Buyers got two-tone paint (grey and black), a T-top roof, a rear spoiler, a console shifter, and special buckets and wheels.
None of that stuff made the car go any faster, but better things were on the horizon. The 1984 to 1987 Grand National, with a concept forged in NASCAR, got a much-loved 3.8-liter turbo V-6 producing 200 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The rear-drive Grand National could do 15.9-second quarter miles. It had almost as much power as the Corvette of the period. Adding an intercooler and more turbo boost yielded an additional 30 horsepower and 30 pound-feet for the 1986 Grand National. Now it could get to 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds, with 13.7-second quarter miles.
Buick advertised the Grand National in 1984 with a commercial featuring the car cruising through a night city, as “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers played. It created demand. But Buick kept buyers hungry by producing only 2,000 Regal Grand Nationals in 1984 and 2,102 in 1985.
GNX interior
The most collectible variant is the GNX - opens in new window or tab., sold in 1987 for $29,900. They got unique production numbers on special plates. The GNX produced 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. A low-mileage example fetched - opens in new window or tab. $165,000 at auction in 2015.
The Buick Regal in Decline
It’s anti-climactic after this. The third-generation Regal appeared in 1988, now front-wheel drive and again as a coupe only. Performance pretensions were absent—the only engine was a 125-horsepower Chevy-based V-6, with 125 horsepower. The four-door was in the lineup from 1990 when the decent 3800 V-6 was made available.
A Regal GS from 1991. The model was then riding high, but SUVs were coming.
The fourth-gen, from 1997, sat on the same platform as the Olds Intrigue, Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Lumina, and Monte Carlo. The coupe was nixed—it was just a four-door sedan. Performance heads got the LSX and GSX, with the top-of-the-line Stage 3 tune getting the buyer to 270 horsepower. Some GSX cars on the market are fakes—it’s easy to clone one.
The Story Continues in China
2019 Buick Regal, the last American version
From here, the Regal’s fortunes mostly shift to China, where General Motors sold it with some differences. For example, a five-speed manual was available. Moreover, Chinese consumers see the Buick Regal as an upscale luxury car.
The fifth-generation Regal went on sale in China in 2009 but didn’t make it to the US until 2011. After that, American buyers could choose the CXL Turbo, with 220 horsepower. The fifth-generation car only spent three years on the American market, but it’s still available in China.
Ventiports date back to late 1940s. The lights flashed on and off as each piston fired. Buick brought back the style in 2014.
GM showed a new GS version of the Regal at the Detroit Auto Show in 2010. It was based on the Opel and Vauxhall Insignia models. The Regal was facelifted for 2014, with the CXL Turbo version up to 258 horsepower. There were all-wheel drive options, and even a six-speed manual for front-drive versions. Also in 2014, Buick revived its venerable “VentiPorts”—a design feature on top of each front quarter-panel that every schoolboy used to differentiate a Roadmaster (four ports) from a Special (three). But the exercise in nostalgia wasn’t enough to save the Regal in America.
The Buick Regal is now a mainstream American used car. There are usually about 50 of them for sale - opens in new window or tab. on eBay. And every mechanical, body, and interior Regal part is available if your car needs work.
The future of the Regal in China seems assured. Buick just updated - opens in new window or tab. the model for 2021, with four versions and two trim levels. Four-cylinder configurations, mated to a nine-speed automatic, increased power up to 233 horsepower. However, we are not likely see the Regal reappearing in America. Its days as a new model in US showrooms might be over, but the Regal’s place in American automotive history is secure.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.