Why are 78s Regals so rare now??

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MrSony

Geezer
Nov 15, 2014
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Des Moines, Iowa
Maybe they just realized how ugly they were and junked em. And to be fair, the 81-87 Regals had 4 more years of production. As others have said, really the only reason to own one is if you fancy the sub 200hp hot air carb'd turd-bo V6.
I would like to have one, in black (like this one
) if only to say that I have one.
 

87National

G-Body Guru
Apr 15, 2009
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679
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eastern SD
$7,500 is actually about right for a 25K mile car with those options.

The Buicks were pretty much the ugliest of all of the '78-79 A-bodies, but if somebody likes them, that is the one to have. $7500 is a ploy for a $6500 cash offer, and if it was a MC or GP with those miles/options it would probably sell @ $7,500. Jeff Dunham would buy that one at that price if he knew about it.

The Grand Prix and Regal were both ugly in 78-80. 81-87 was an aesthetic improvement for both cars. Around here .....value of the 2 door 78-80 cars are (in increasing order):
4. GP/Regal
3. Cutlass
2. Monte Carlo
1. Malibu
 

TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
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Socialist NY
1 Wasn't as popular as the others
2 Overseas exporting of steel in the 90's was ridiculous
The junkyards around here wouldn't hold on to any old "heavy" steel car.
3 Our last President with Cash For Clunkers.
Took a lot of good cars off the road for good.
 
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street sweeper

Greasemonkey
Jun 12, 2017
204
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63
Central Indiana
Picked up a 79 sport coupe in may this year. Actually sold the turbo'd 3.8 out of this afternoon... Have a gen 4 5.3 I picked up last month that I'm preparing to swap in. I'm sure it will bother buick purists, but I see it as another regal saved vs it rotting away in a field. I had no intention of bothering with an engine like that for such minimal returns when I can stab a more modern LS into it for less than repairing a 3.8 that needed love and get 2 to 3 times the power and probably better mileage. If I need a part I can go to just about any part store or junk yard to get it.
 
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UNGN

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 6, 2016
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Southlake, TX
The Grand Prix and Regal were both ugly in 78-80. 81-87 was an aesthetic improvement for both cars. Around here .....value of the 2 door 78-80 cars are (in increasing order):
4. GP/Regal
3. Cutlass
2. Monte Carlo
1. Malibu

A non padded roof SJ GP with snowflakes is actually much more attractive than the later GP"s with the protruding grille and too square roof line.

The GP'S dash (What you have to look at everyday) is the best of the A bodies... not goofy silver on silver sqare boxes like the regal.
 

87National

G-Body Guru
Apr 15, 2009
660
679
93
eastern SD
A non padded roof SJ GP with snowflakes is actually much more attractive than the later GP"s with the protruding grille and too square roof line.

The GP'S dash (What you have to look at everyday) is the best of the A bodies... not goofy silver on silver sqare boxes like the regal.
I guess beauty is in the eye of beholder. I've seen a handful of clean 81-87 GPs with no vinyl top and minimal chrome .......look spot on. I will agree that the GP dash is hands-down better than any other gbody dash.
 
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MrSony

Geezer
Nov 15, 2014
6,773
6,637
113
Des Moines, Iowa
A non padded roof SJ GP with snowflakes is actually much more attractive than the later GP"s with the protruding grille and too square roof line.

The GP'S dash (What you have to look at everyday) is the best of the A bodies... not goofy silver on silver sqare boxes like the regal.
That's the thing I've always loved about the Pontiacs. As much as I love my Regal, I think the 81-87 GPs are the sharpest looking of the G bodies. Looks so... fancy. I guess. 1980s luxury at it's finest.
 

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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
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*CENSORED*
Well, in the mid '80s my dad bought the drivetrain out of a turbo coupe to put in a '30s hot rod. So i guess at least one is accounted for.
 
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