What a Funny Morning

"Matt Nichelson" (whoismatt)
04/21/2016 at 09:55 • Filed to: None

Driving through town this morning I saw not 1, but 2 Buick Reattas parked at an apartment complex. What’s more is that there are at least 5 of these in my town and 2 of those are the ultra rare convertible. For reference, they produced less than 22,000 Reatttas total from 1988-1991. Only 2,437 were drop tops.. How did we end up with 5 in south Mississippi of all places?

Another fun fact: The Cadillac Allante, for which the Reatta shares its’ platform, was produced for 7 years and ended up with a few hundred less produced.

Then as I am almost home I come across a GMC Envoy XUV. Remember those? It was the funny looking suv where the back end could become a truck bed. It makes me think about what an Avalanche would be if it was made as an suv for some reason.

Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what other vehicle had this same design.

DISCUSSION (31)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 09:59

Well, I think there are several, but the one that comes to mind is the Studebaker Wagonaire.

How many Reattas were red? That’s the color of the one in this town, and of most I’ve seen.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:04

I really want a Reatta and a Subaru SVX

Matt Nichelson > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/21/2016 at 10:06

That was quick!It is definitely the most popular.

Red was the most common, but I am unsure of the exacts on how many were produced.

CalzoneGolem > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:08

My SIL has a XUV. One day she locked her child in it while he was sleeping and I was able to figure out how to break into it without damaging it or her child.

Matt Nichelson > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 10:09

Now that would be a quirky garage. I imagine that could get quite expensive.

Matt Nichelson > CalzoneGolem
04/21/2016 at 10:10

Yay for saving the day! Did it involve going through the top?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:11

There’s an SVX on my local CL.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:14

In response to your question in the post - “How did we end up with 5 in south Mississippi of all places?” - the answer may be as simple as “a local Buick dealer liked them, ordered them in quantity, and moved them successfully”. A gamble that paid off, from his perspective. I’d bet a lot of other unusual cars have surprise pockets of concentration for similar reasons.

Invinciblejets > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:16

We must be in the same town.

I swear I see a few different ones all the time.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 10:18

Don’t forget to include an early 90's Mercury Capri, it’ll fit in PERFECTLY with that goofy group

Matt Nichelson > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/21/2016 at 10:19

I don’t think any of these are original to the area, but what you say makes sense though.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:23

I saw a hardtop Allante the other day. Looks like a DeLorean had sex with a Reatta. The proportions are there but it’s still just kinda ugly.

There’s a mint condition Reatta convertible in my town with fewer than 45k on the clock, the original owners still have it and they’re total Riviera freaks with shirts and all sorts of stuff.

My friend has a Reatta coupe that’s... in a tad worse condition. I drove it around a bit since the mechanicals are fine and dear lord those cars drive like a hot mess.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 10:27

You should look up the guy who owns the Previa “Tofu Drift Van [Hoonivan].” He owns both of those cars, recently having acquired the Reatta. He plans to put Volk CE28Ns on it. Posted a photoshop of it, and it looks awesome. haha

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/21/2016 at 10:30

It’s hideous. I love it.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
04/21/2016 at 10:30

I know he has a Reatta. I’m excited.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 10:36

Doesn’t it look like it so desperately like it wanted to be rear engined?

Like they designed it that way and wimped out

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/21/2016 at 10:37

It’s like they wanted it to be a Fiero or MR2, but......

Sn210 > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:49

I saw an Envoy xut the other day! Almost took a pic to post but the guy was walking back to his car

Matt Nichelson > Invinciblejets
04/21/2016 at 10:49

Well as far as I know I am the only Mississippi oppo. I haven’t seen any others on here at least. Would be cool if I ever did.

Matt Nichelson > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/21/2016 at 10:53

They aren’t the prettiest for sure. The Reatta always looked better to me.

I knew a guy here that was kinda like that. I first met him around 6 years ago. I think he was a bit surprised that a 20-something knew what kind of car it was.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 10:54

but...they didn’t have the balls to commit to making a rear-engined Mercury.

Yeah I said it.

Matt Nichelson > Sn210
04/21/2016 at 10:54

Yeah I was driving so wasn’t able to get any pics. If I see those two Reattas again I may stop and take one. One is red but the other is silver, which was a pretty rare color.

CalzoneGolem > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 10:57

Nah, the rear windows in the rear doors pop right out there’s like only a rubber gasket holding them in. Please don’t use this knowledge for evil.

Invinciblejets > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 11:06

Yeah I’m in sc.

I do see them all the time have a picture of a white one somewhere unbelievably clean.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/21/2016 at 11:11

I’d say that most companies don’t.

yitznewton > CalzoneGolem
04/21/2016 at 11:27

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 12:01

True, I just normally don’t speak that way about my beloved Mercury brand.

shop-teacher > Matt Nichelson
04/21/2016 at 12:13

I saw an XUV the other day with my wife in the car. She was flabbergasted that anybody would make, and then somebody would buy, a vehicle so ugly.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/21/2016 at 13:33

As much as you like Mercury, and I like Mercury, but no amount of nice talking will probably bring them back

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/21/2016 at 13:41

No they won’t back unfortunately.

And I actually worked on the project where they phased out. I basically built the international “goodbye” websites.

Much sad

90reatta > Matt Nichelson
08/08/2016 at 22:45

Hey Mississippi ! Im in Louisiana and have a 90 reatta , hit me back if you want to talk about the reatta, kdouget500@gmail , later