Spotted: a 1992 Buick Regal Limited

The third-generation Buick Regal

A completely new generation of Buick Regal appeared for the 1988 model year. With the previous model, Buick had emphatically sought sportiness, with even a number of models that could rightfully call themselves muscle cars. With the new model, Buick decided to return precisely to the model’s origins: the market of the “personal luxury car.

Initially, then, the car came only as a two-door coupe, and there was no more sporty version. There was also no V8 or even a turbocharged engine in the price list. The engine lineup consisted of only one 2.8-liter V6 from Chevrolet, with a modest output of 92 kW (125 hp). The transmission was a four-speed automatic. The Regal also had front-wheel drive for the first time. As the group’s first car, the Regal was built on the new W platform, which the car would later share with the Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Pontiac Grand Prix.

Buick Regal Custom and Limited

When introduced, the Regal was available as a Custom and a more luxurious Limited, which was supplemented for the 1989 model year by the Gran Sport, a semi-sport trim package. For that same model year, the 2.8-liter V6 was replaced by a 3.1-liter with 103 kW (140 hp), also from Chevrolet.

Regal also as sedan

However, the market for so-called “personal luxury cars” began to slump in the late 1980s. Therefore, in 1990, for the 1991 model year, a sedan version was added to the Regal lineup. This had the same wheelbase, but of course four doors and its own, somewhat more modern-looking front and rear. Also that year, the engine lineup was expanded to include an optional 125 kW (170 hp) 3.8-liter V6. That was a block from Buick itself, which within the W platform was supplied only for the Regal.

Updates

For the 1992 model year, ABS became standard except for the Custom. For the 1993 model year update, the changes were more extensive. That year saw a subtle facelift, with the sedan getting a slightly larger grille and taillights. The Coupe received tighter bumpers, a new, just slightly smaller grille and slightly altered light units. Under the skin, the transmission was now electronically controlled and the entry-level engine gained 15 kW (20 hp). In terms of equipment, ABS was now standard for all versions, along with the introduction of an airbag for the driver. Also standard were power windows. Furthermore, the Limited version disappeared for the Coupe.

Only for model year 1995 did the interior also undergo a facelift, replacing the sleek 1980s dashboard with a round 1990s dashboard with two airbags. Finally, the model year update for 1996 brought another 26 kW (35 hp) more for the 3.8-liter V6. This was the last model year for the car. Sales did continue until 1997, when the car was relieved by a new model generation.

Buick Regal becomes an Opel

That in turn lasted through 2004, after which the Regal line stopped. The type name was picked up again in 2011, and since then the Opel Insignia has been sold in North America and a few other countries as the Buick Regal. In 2020, Buick decided to focus entirely on SUV models in the US, but the Regal (with a local facelift) is still sold in China.

The Buick Regal in the Netherlands

The first three model generations of the Buick Regal were also officially delivered in the Netherlands, including the model spotted. A total of 99 Buick Regals are now still in the Netherlands, 31 of which are of this third generation. In addition to the original Dutch examples, a few have also come here via import. Interestingly, someone also imported a 2016 Buick Regal, even though it is actually just an Opel Insignia.

The spotted specimen

On the outskirts of Houten, we saw this 1992 Buick Regal Limited. For me this is the first time I have come across a Buick Regal of this generation in the Netherlands, apart from my own of course. This Limited has been in the Netherlands since 2017, making it one of the imported ones. By the way, the Regal spotted is from late 1992, so you can already see the first 1993 facelift model here. It has the 3.8-liter V6 under the hood, just like my own Regal.

Thanks in part to its pre-facelift dashboard, the spotted example looks even more American than my own Regal, but to be honest, I do like mine a bit better both in execution and condition. On the spotted example, the top coat of paint on the hood is flaking off and the hood ornament and one of the chrome parts on the fender are missing. Those faded decals and extra badges on the back don’t make it look any better either. On the other hand, I don’t see any rust anywhere on this Regal and I can’t say that about mine. For the sake of completeness: the gray one in the last pictures is my own Buick Regal: a late 1994 Custom (so 1995 model year, with the new dashboard).