Nicely maintained two-owner Reatta. Very nice paint and interior, replacement top a few years ago. Everything works, runs and drives well, new tires. Goodwrench crate engine a few years ago, so it’s fresh and ready to enjoy!

Buick was aiming high with the Reatta, creating an exclusive almost hand-built 2-seater using durable, proven parts. Assembled in the GM Craft Centre in Flint, it received its own assembly line and was sold in limited quantities, so it was pretty exclusive when it was new. It was also expensive, competing more with Cadillacs than other Buicks. Ultimately, they became a unique footnote in Buick history and today represent a lot of top-down fun for not a lot of cash. And they’re surprisingly competent, fun, enjoyable cars to boot! A good many of the Reatta convertibles were finished in Arctic White like this one, and it looks right on the low-slung roadster’s bodywork. The folding headlight nose and wrap-around taillight give it a unique look day or night, and on the surface there are no parts shared with other GM vehicles, so you can plan on a lot of interest when you stop for gas. The paint is holding up remarkably well and obviously it has never been used in winter weather, so there’s no sign of rust. Even the plastic bumpers are in excellent condition without any of the usual deterioration that urethane parts suffer from long exposure to UV rays. A set of pinstripes accentuate the car’s curves and give it a bit of an upscale look and for a Buick, there’s almost zero chrome, so it looks sleek. You’ll find there’s a lot to like here.

Reatta convertibles all came with sporty leather bucket seats and the burgundy chairs in this ragtop are in excellent shape. Yes, there are a few signs of use and age, but no splits or tears or significant scuffing, strongly suggesting that this car’s owners have always treated it like something special. Matching burgundy carpets are in excellent shape, and again you can tell that this car hasn’t been left outside as the carpets aren’t faded or washed out from the sun. A woodgrained dash and center console warm things up a bit and the leather-wrapped wheel feels beefy. Instrumentation is digital, which is a cool period touch and this is a later production Reatta so there’s no troublesome CRT for the climate and stereo controls. Other features include power windows, locks, mirrors, and seat, cruise control, and a CD player under the primary AM/FM/cassette radio. There are useful storage cubbies throughout the interior and the trunk is actually big enough for weekend bags and a road trip. The white convertible top seals up well and folds easily under a hard tonneau that gives the Reatta a sleek top-down profile. It’s so much easier to use than the top on, say, a Cadillac Allante.

For power, the Reatta used the bulletproof Buick 3800 V6. It isn’t flashy or complex, but it delivers solid performance, unbeatable reliability, and surprising economy. With a torque curve as flat as Kansas, the 3.8-liter V6 feels energetic in the Reatta and pulls it around with genuine gusto. These engines have proven themselves over the years and with this one being a relatively recent GM Goodwrench crate engine, it should outlast us all. Thanks to fuel injection, it starts easily, idles properly, and gets great fuel economy on the open road. The 4-speed automatic transmission is a great partner as well, serving up quick gearchanges and a tall overdrive for relaxed cruising on the highway. The suspension is similar to the Corvette’s, including a fiberglass transverse leaf spring in back, and with it the Reatta is shockingly competent without the abusive ride quality. There’s also a disc brake with ABS at each corner, an exhaust system with a nice six-cylinder growl, and those attractive aluminum wheels that carry recent 215/65/15 blackwall radials.

Documentation includes the original manuals in the factory binder.

The Reatta remains one of the best-kept secrets in the collector car world. Unique, stylish, comfortable, affordable, and easy to maintain, they are great hobby cars that you can use every day. There’s fantastic club support and the guys who know these cars best are really passionate about them, which should tell you how special they really are. Where else can you get a vintage convertible with such a long list of features for so little cash? Take another look at the Reatta and call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.