The Regal nameplate first appeared on a Buick in 1973. The first iteration of the Regal was actually a trim level for the Century, which GM describes as one of its first “personal luxury” cars. During its first year of production, the Regal coupe sold 91,557 units.
The Century Regal was initially launched with a standard 350 cubic-inch V8, but the oil embargo forced Buick to install a more efficient V6 for 1975.
“The Buick team was on the leading edge and reacted to the need of more fuel-efficient engines,” said General Motors Heritage Center manager Greg Wallace. “Engineers worked around the clock to get the V6 program up and running in a fraction of the time it typically took, while making sure to retain Buick’s reputation for reliability.”
Pushing toward better fuel economy yet again in 1978, Buick introduced turbocharging technology to its Regal line. In the 1980s, Buick’s turbocharged V6 turned the Regal into a performance legend.
Now in its fifth-generation, the Regal still relies on a turbocharged engine for a good blend of performance and economy. Of course buyers can also opt for the Buick eAssist mild hybrid.
It should be noted that the Regal name hans’t been used continuously since 1973. The nameplate took a short break between the 2004 and 2009 model years.
Photos by Drew Johnson.<![CDATA[
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