The 1973 Debut – Personal Luxury Focus
The Buick Regal debuted in 1973 (shown above) as a premium coupe based on the A-body platform shared with the Chevrolet Chevelle, Pontiac LeMans, and Oldsmobile Cutlass. Buick designed the Regal to offer "personal luxury," a popular segment at the time. It featured a plush interior, opera windows, and a formal roofline.
Above: 1973 Buick Regal interior
Even the more powerful options were hamstrung by early emissions controls and low compression ratios. For example, in 1973, the 350 V8 produced only around 150–175 horsepower, depending on the carburetor setup—far from the fire-breathers of just a few years earlier.
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Above: 1977 Buick Regal Landau coupe
By the mid-1970s, increasing emissions regulations, corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, and a series of fuel crises forced automakers to rethink their priorities. Buick was no exception. The Regal continued to be marketed as a near-luxury car, now moving to the downsized G-body platform in 1978.
Buick attempted to maintain a sense of prestige, but by now, the Regal was more about padded landau tops and fake wire wheels than spirited driving.
Above: 1978 Buick Regal 3.8-liter V6 turbocharged
Weight Range: ~3,300-3,500 pounds
Above: No. 98 of 150 Pace Car Editions built by Buick for 1981 - 1981 Buick Regal Indy 500 Pace Car - 231-cubic inch V6 with a three-speed automatic transmission and no turbocharger
In the early ‘80s, Buick flirted with the idea of performance through turbocharging. The 3.8L V6 received a turbo in some trims (Regal Sport Coupe, later T-Type), and this planted the seed for future legends like the Grand National. But in this era, these turbo cars were rare.
Above: 1983 Buick Regal wagon with a 455-cubic inch big block V8 and a three-speed automatic
Despite the turbo, sluggish 0–60 times (often in the 9-11 second range) and uninspired handling meant the average Regal remained a low-performance cruiser. The focus remained on cushy rides, vinyl roofs, digital clocks, and climate control, not performance.
By the mid-1980s, Buick was finally waking up to the performance scene again. The turbocharged Regals (specifically the T-Type and Grand National) were steadily improving. But the majority of Regals sold were still underpowered base models.
These engines were burdened by:
Above and below: 1986 Buick Regal T-Type with 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine
Even with better body control and slightly updated interiors, a base Regal of this era was all show and no go—appearing sporty while delivering lackluster performance.
Above and below: The ultimate outlier, in terms of the Buick Regal, is the 1987 Buick Regal GNX. The '87 GNX is a one-of-547 produced tarmac terrorizer that has a 3.8L V6 that is equipped with an intercooled and a larger turbocharger. The black beauty can sprint from rest to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and roar through a 1/4-mile drag strip in the magical 13-seconds ETA range.
It’s worth mentioning that during this era, there were glimmers of hope from the perspective of better performance and handling. The turbocharged models—especially the 1984–1987 Grand National and the legendary 1987 GNX—brought actual performance to the table. But these were the exceptions, not the rule.
The average Regal you’d find in a suburban driveway was still:
| Coupe | Sedan | Wagon | Yearly Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 236,652 | - | - | 236,652 |
| 1979 | 273,365 | - | - | 273,365 |
| 1980 | 214,735 | - | - | 214,735 |
| 1981 | 123,848 | - | - | 123,848 |
| 1982 | 136,259 | 74,428 | 14,732 | 225,419 |
| 1983 | 151,667 | 61,285 | 15,287 | 228,239 |
| 1984 | 166,039 | 58,715 | - | 224,754 |
| 1985 | 124,546 | - | - | 124,546 |
| 1986 | 91,229 | - | - | 91,229 |
| 1987 | 65,285 | - | - | 65,285 |
| Total | 1,583,625 | 194,428 | 30,019 | 1,808,072 |
Above and two below: Here's an example of a 1987 Buick Regal that's built to taste. The owner installed a 350-cubic inch LT1 V8 engine and a Tremec T5 five-speed manual transmission (all photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions).
The 1973–1987 Buick Regal exemplifies the American auto industry's shift during the malaise era—from raw horsepower to plush comfort and EPA compliance. While later years hinted at performance potential, especially with the turbocharged variants, most Regals during this era were firmly pitching their tents in the comfort and style camp rather than speed and handling.
If you were looking for a muscle machine, the standard Regal was not your car. But if you wanted to float down the boulevard with opera lights glowing and a smooth V6 humming under the hood, the Regal had your name written all over it.
Whether you desire to have a luxury Regal cruising along the boulevards in style or you are itching to build a high-performance Regal that has more horsepower, torque, and handling than when it first rolled off the assembly line, Classic Industries has you covered. You can have a customer care person mail you a Buick Regal Parts and Accessories Catalog for free. You can also search for Buick Regal and the various sub models online: Grand National, Limited, T-Type, Turbo T, Sport, and GNX.
But wait, there's more - there's a growing library about the Buick Regal and the various sub models: Grand National, Limited, T-Type, Turbo T, Sport, and GNX - for your entertainment, education, inspiration, and information. Have fun in the CI library!