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The Buick Reatta a design flop? That's what a University of Michigan professor told The Wall Street Journal recently. Really? The Reatta is the one car that he could find to pick on as an automotive design flop? Sure, the high-tech coupe was overweight and underpowered, overpriced and under-appreciated. But a design flop? I think most of us would agree there are uglier, slower, more poorly-made cars in the history of automobiles. Our Dan Roth even called it a Future Classic not too long ago.

The story is part of a larger collection of design studies that looks at everything from blue jeans to concrete saws. One other automotive element of the series is a gushing story and video about Buick's Invicta concept car. If the piece is to be believed, the LaCrosse that may be based on the Invicta, will surely never make it onto a list of design flops.

So by that logic, fake, plastic portholes insure design success, but sexy, restrained style doesn't.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Buick Reatta a design flop? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive designAutomotiveDesignbuickbuick invictabuick reattaBuickInvictaBuickReattacar designCarDesigndesignSat, 28 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Future Classics: 1988-91 Buick Reatta]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/27/future-classic-1988-91-buick-reatta/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/27/future-classic-1988-91-buick-reatta/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/27/future-classic-1988-91-buick-reatta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



I remember the one time I rode in a Buick Reatta. It was bright red and had a beige leather interior. Its notchy silhouette flashed up to the curb on alloy rims. There were three of us, and only two places. Being the smallest, I was nominated to slide around the parcel shelf behind the seats. The car was definitely flashy, but more like "real estate agent" flashy than "kick your ass" flashy. The GNX was covering the whoopin's for Buick at the time. The digital dash was a thing to behold for a techy-geek in the late '80s. The floorshift dropped into "D" and the 3800's balance-shaft muted growl provided a soundtrack for the firm shove we all felt. And... that was about it. The 4-speed transaxle couldn't handle too much grunt, so the 3800's torquey stepoff was about all the excitement the Reatta would muster. The cars were quite fully-optioned, as well, adding to a 3,500-pound curb weight. 0-60 times were almost 10 seconds. That's a long time to listen to the 3800.

More after the jump

Ed. note - we're thinking of making Future Classics a regular, weekly feature. What are some cars you'd like to see here that are generally underappreciated gems from the past? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Continue reading Future Classics: 1988-91 Buick Reatta

Future Classics: 1988-91 Buick Reatta originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3800BuickBuick ReattaBuickReattaCoupeGMReattatwo doortwo door BuickTwoDoorTwoDoorBuickWed, 27 Dec 2006 18:03:00 EST