WHAT IS IT?
The Reatta was a nearly all hand-made halo car from GM. They were assembled at the Reatta Craft Center and each car came with a “Craftsman’s Log” with the signatures of the supervisors for the car’s assembly. Only 21,751 were made over a 3 year production run.
It seems difficult to imagine in 2025 when luxury cars are seemingly all large SUVs, but two-door cars were the symbol of luxury in the 1970s into the 1980’s. We suppose it was the luxury of NOT having to load up with big box store merchandise or have to play chauffeur to your child’s 4 best friends that made the luxury sport coupe such a sign of wealth and success. Having only two seats in a two-door coupe would seem even more extravagant given that reasoning.
The 1988 and 1989 Reatta featured the company’s famously reliable 3800 pushrod V6 engine and front wheel drive architecture. Much of the innovation was left to the interior with period digital instruments and a touch screen CRT that controlled many of the car’s functions. This system was first introduced in the 1986 Riviera however it was discontinued due to the high cost and it not really adding any functionality that regular buttons provided. However, it’s safe to say that this innovation foretold the modern digital dashboards we all love to hate today.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
With only 44k miles on the odometer it looks like this car was never driven. The paint and body look to be showroom new, as does the interior. There are no creases in the leather, the carpets are pristine, there is no fading or wear on the plastic trim and even the finicky touch screen CRT is operational. Even better, the reasonable $7,500 asking price gives the prospective owner the potential of years of trouble-free motoring and access to some fun events featuring cars of the 80’s.
However, it’s safe to say that this innovation foretold the modern digital dashboards we all love to hate today.
I do love seeing BOOTP contenders with some miles on them. The 44,000 miles this one shows were exceedingly careful ones indeed. While there may be others here who know more about these, I struggle to find anything to fault here other than the seller’s conspicuous lack of photography skills.
Generally, I’m not a Fanboy of the Reatta. This is a nice example of peak 1980’s GM. But, my love run deep for this one. Someone else should step up and convince me that I’m wrong here…
Is the Reatta GM’s Avanti of the late 1980s?
Nope, that one’s not fair.
I look at the Reatta as a stretch for excellence using unremarkable elements. That 3800 will run forever and always have a weird wiggle, even after a tune-up. The trans isn’t great but isn’t terrible. The best part of the car is the overall shape and that wonky CRT touchscreen dash control that was way ahead of its time.
As for this example, it’s pretty nice, but a good number of them are.
The Reatta is interesting as its sum is less than its parts. It looks great, it was nearly handbuilt, it is packed with technology… but it is totally uninspiring to drive. Not exciting in any way. VERY mid80s-90s GM. It isnt baaaaaad, it just isn’t special, at all. The Reatta should have been an amazing car but somehow GM sucked the life out of it.
This is one is one of the best I’ve ever seen. EastCoastReatta has more than a few pristine examples, but I dont know if they are better than this one.