The Buick Reatta

A Quiet Divergence from the Monotony of the Ordinary

Ah yes, the Buick Reatta, that idiosyncratic attempt at an American legend. It exemplifies a fleeting moment when the General Motors bureaucracy allowed a fragment of whimsy to slip through the cracks. Low in volume and high in aspiration, this two-seater coupe (1988–1991) and convertible (1990–1991) bore the hallmarks of ambition constrained not only by budget, but also by an inherent misunderstanding of what makes a car great.

At its heart lay the venerable Buick 3800 V6 engine, a transverse arrangement that channeled its modest 165–170 horsepower to the front wheels—a configuration that said pragmatism more than passion. Nevertheless, with its fully independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes (with ABS), the Reatta offered a driving experience that was as competent as it was uninspired, achieving its electronically limited 125 mph with a businesslike demeanor.

A Halo Car Built by Hand, Sort Of

Manufactured in what Buick grandly termed the "Reatta Craft Center" in Lansing, Michigan, the car's assembly process eschewed the traditional conveyor belt in favor of robotic choreography. Teams of artisans—though the term stretches credulity—labored over...

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