MotorCities National Heritage Area
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2023

By Jeffrey D. Brasie
Images Courtesy of the Author 
Published 11.29.2023

Buick Reatta an early design CROPPED AND RESIZED 1An early design sketch of the Buick Reatta

Seventy years ago, General Motors entered the two-seater market with the Chevrolet Corvette. The iconic vehicle was first assembled in Flint, Michigan with 300 units being shipped to dealerships.

Today, the Corvette lives on.

Since the 1980s GM’s various divisions have introduced and mass-produced a number of two-seaters. Among these are the Cadillac Allante and XLR-V, Pontiac Fiero and Solstice, and Saturn Sky.

In 1954 Oldsmobile built a two-seat prototype called the F-88, which never made it to the market. Not a true two-seater, but with a single bench seat was Chevrolet’s El Camino.

A Buick Reatta coupe 2A Buick Reatta coupe

What about GM’s Buick division developing a two-seater?

GM floated the idea in the early 1980s to develop a stylish two-seater using the Buick Riveria, Oldsmobile Toronado, and Cadillac Eldorado’s platform.

At a Buick collector gathering earlier this summer in Flint, Reatta designer David McIntosh revealed GM President Roger Smith gave the “go ahead” for the Buick brand to enter the two-seater vehicle market. With the given parameters, McIntosh began sketching designs in 1982. Throughout the entire process, McIntosh, along with modelling designers, engineers, marketing, and financial leadership teams, ensured the vehicle would exhibit Buick’s unique and cutting-edge brand identity. In summary, this was not a reduced in size Buick Riviera.

The Reatta conventible 3The Reatta convertible

Both the Cadillac and Buick Divisions were proceeding with the design and production of a two-seater. Cadillac would arrive first with the Allante market introduction in 1987, followed by Buick’s Reatta in 1988.

On naming the Reatta, McIntosh said the name was attributed to the 1956 movie “Giant,” starring James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. The ranch in the film was called Reata. Buick and their advertising agency reworked it, and the Reatta name was born.

Production began in January 1988 at Lansing’s Reatta Craft Center. The front-wheel drive Reatta was powered by GM’s 3.8L V-6 engine and assisted by a four-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes and anti-lock brakes.

The original Reatta was introduced as a coupe with the convertible arriving in the 1990 model year.

Another view of the Buick Reatta CROPPED AND RESIZED 4A view of the author's 1990 Buick Reatta

For the first two years, the vehicle’s dashboard offered an “Electronic Control Center.” This screen offered touch control of HVAC, the radio system, a number of sensors, date and trip reminders, and an over-speed alarm reminder. The 1990 and 1991 models returned to a more traditional dashboard design. This decision was based upon research into their target audience who saw the center as an excessive electronic level.

The 1990 and 1991 models also offered a steering wheel-mounted airbag.

With all models, the exterior offered pop-up head lamps, fog lights, wrap-around tail lamps, push button trunk and fuel doors, along with a power antenna.

For the most part, the drivetrain remained the same until the 1990 and 1991 models, when transmissions were upgraded.

The distinctive “R” logotype was frequently found in the vehicle’s interior and exterior –- including the floor mats, wheel covers, steering wheel, owner’s manual, and related materials.

Priced in 1988 at $25,000, GM’s sales target was mature adults. The vehicle was literally hand-assembled by a team. The goal was to annually sell 20,000 units. The Reatta was competing against its Cadillac sister and numerous European and Japanese two-seater models -- all in the same price range.

The 20,000-unit annual sales goal was never achieved. In fact, when the last Reatta was assembled on May 14, 1991, a total of less than 20,800 units were sold over the model’s four-year run. Coupled with the low sales, the hand-crafted production process was expensive and difficult.

There is a national Reatta Club with information found at www.reatta.org. In addition, Marck Barker of Durham, North Carolina, operates a significant Reatta parts and vehicle sales business. Information can be found at www.EastCoastReattaParts.com.

 

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit. He drives a gray 1990 Buick Reatta coupe.

By Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of GM Media Archives
Published 11.22.2023

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Images Courtesy of the Chrysler Archives and Walter P. Reuther Library
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Images Courtesy of Cragar Industries/Gary Gabelich Blue Flame Rocket Engine
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Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives
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Images Courtesy of R.M Sotheby’s Car Auctions and The Robert Tate Collection
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1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car front end R.M. Sotheby RESIZED 4The front end of the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car (R.M. Sotheby)

For many years, show cars have represented a vision of the future for automakers, with designs showing where they were thinking for new and upcoming models.

In 1955, the Lincoln Indianapolis show car made its debut at the Turin, (Italy) Automobile Salon as a unique and different automobile design. Today, the car is a mostly forgotten design.

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car R.M Sotheby Car Auction RESIZED 1The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car (R.M Sotheby Car Auction)

The Lincoln Indianapolis show car was designed in collaboration with Carrozeria Boano Turino. Ford Motor Company’s design team had nothing to do with the vehicle, as the styling was commissioned to Italian Fiat designer Gian Paolo Boano, who had also coined the concept vehicle’s American-sounding name. Because of this, many automotive historians have said that, in no way was it a Lincoln show car. 

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car R.M. Sotheby car auction RESIZED 3Another view of the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car (R.M. Sotheby car auction)

The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis was designed to compete with jet age and Buck Rogers-esque space age designs unveiled during the 1950s. The project began with a Lincoln chassis provided by Ford CEO Henry Ford II. The styling featured a jet aircraft look with its pointed nose, rear fenders, great looking fender intakes, and those high marked fins. The interior was designed for two people with leather bucket seats and a divided console. This futurist streamlined aircraft-like design was supposed to represent 1930s Le Mans racing cars. However, I don’t think that worked out.

1955 Auto Age Magazine Robert Tate Collection 2A 1955 issue of Auto Age Magazine (Robert Tate Collection) 

The Indianapolis show car had some success with the Turin show, and a 1955 issue of Auto Age magazine put the car on its cover with the question “Is this the next Lincoln?”

Some auto enthusiasts did not like the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis show car, and historians have said the model left much to be desired. Some did not like the orange paint color finish, along with the front end and hood design. Ultimately, this was not the future design for Lincoln production as the 50s continued.    

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis museum display R.M. Sotheby car auction 5The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis on display in a museum (R.M. Sotheby car auction) 

After Henry Ford II purchased the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car, it was later sold to Thomas Kerr, a prominent Packard collector. Kerr looked to undertake a total restoration project for the car, which included the engine and body enhancements as well. Some automotive historians have reported that the restoration led to numerous awards at prestigious events around the country, like the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance and the Greenwich Concours.

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car interior R.M. Sotheby car auction 6A glance at the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car's interior (R.M. Sotheby car auction)

The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car had many owners over the years. When it was part of the Andrews Collection, it was displayed at various automotive museums. The car was also a part of the Automotive Renaissance collection for a time.

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis interior panel R.M. Sotheby car auction RESIZED 7A view of the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis interior panel (R.M. Sotheby car auction)

In 2013, the fully restored 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car sold for $1.21 million dollars at RM’s Andrew Collection sale in Fort Worth, Texas.  

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car engine R.M. Sothebys car auction RESIZED 8A look at the engine of the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car (R.M. Sotheby)

In conclusion, Lincoln Indianapolis concept car was introduced to the public in 1955. Featuring a stacked head light design, it was a car that automotive enthusiasts would not talk about for many years. However, this concept is still an intriguing part of our auto history.

  

Bibliography

Ernst, Kurt. “Straight from Pebble Beach: Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe Heads to Auction.” Hemmings.com, September 13, 2013.   

Newton, Andrew. “Sadly, This Gorgeous 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis was Only a Pawn.” Hagerty Media Car Profiles, July 19, 2019. 

Auto Age Magazine. “Henry Ford Boano Lincoln.” November 1955.

By Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of GM Media Archives, Wallpaper.com
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Photos by Bob Sadler, the Robert Tate Collection and the Automotive Hall of Fame
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Images Courtesy of MotorCities, Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of the GM Media Archives
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Images Courtesy of Ford Motor Company Archives, Chrysler Archives, GM Media Archives, Mecum Auctions and the Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of the Ferens Collection
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Images Courtesy of the Robert Tate Collection/Chrysler Archives
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Images Courtesy of the Automotive Hall of Fame
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Images from Ford Motor Company Archives and the Ferens Collection
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Images Courtesy of Packard Archives, Moment Auctions, Hershey Auctions, the Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of GM Media Archives, Ford Motor Company Archives, Chrysler Media Archives, Shorpy Historic Archives
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Images Courtesy of GM Media Archives
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Images Courtesy of the Ferens Collection
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Images Courtesy of Ford Motor Company Archives/Robert Tate Collection, ClassicCar.com
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Images Courtesy of The Henry Ford, Ferens Collection
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Images Courtesy of Various Auto Collectors, the Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of Chrysler Archives and Ron Konopka
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Images courtesy of GM Media Archives
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Images Courtesy of Don Nicolson
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EDITOR”S NOTE: As Autism Awareness Month draws to a close, our Deputy Director Brian Yopp recently conducted an interview with Don Nicholson of Westland, whose son Edward is in the autism spectrum.

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Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives
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Images Courtesy of Ford Motor Company Archives, DragTimes.com, Barnfinds.com, and the Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives, ClassicCars.com
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Photos Courtesy of MotorCities
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Images Courtesy of MotorCities, Robert Tate Collection
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Images Courtesy of the Ford Motor Company Archives & Roy O’ Brien Ford
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