About a month back, Tom Klockau found a great 1989 Buick Reatta coupe. Among the comments, Carmine mentioned the rare Select Sixty limited edition Reattas. As he already mentioned, these Select Sixties were made special to the 60 largest Buick dealers in the United States.
The Select Sixty editions were actually available twice. First in 1988, then again in 1990. The ’88s all were black coupes (as convertibles didn’t arrive until 1990), with tan leather interior. Select Sixty badging was their only unique feature.
The 1990 Select Sixties were more unique.
All of them were the convertible model, white over white leather with red dashboard and carpeting, and a white convertible top. They also came with unique white seven-spoke wheels and special Select Sixty badging.
This one up for sale is in pristine condition. It has only 4,022 original miles, and certainly looks that way.
It even has the Certificate of Authenticity and the signed Reatta Craftsman’s log that came with all Reattas.
A great find for any Reatta lover. It appears the seller is one too, as two other Reattas, a white coupe and white convertible, can be seen in his driveway.
Beautiful car I didn’t know this trim level even existed. In my opinion though, that steering wheel design ruins the look of the interior.
I always like the full width tailights that some Buicks from this era had, I would love to see them bring that styling element back.
These were special, most people have never heard of them since they weren’t for the general public, they all came fully loaded from what I recall, I love interiors with so much bright colors and trim. I think I would take a Reatta over an Allante, the Buicks meat and potatoes drivetrain is a better bet against the more complex Cadillac.
Thanks another car I’ve neither seen or heard of,were they good?It’s a nice looker I really like the red and white interior
I know them well. I was a Buick factory rep at the time and had two in my district. They have pretty much all of the ’91 features, including 16″ wheels, cup holder in the armrest lid and twilight sentinel. The interior accent color is Flame Red, and is unique to the Select Sixty only. Very rare indeed,
You could almost spec a “civilian” one out that was close to this, but the dash would either be a dark red or blue, at least thats what I’ve seen from the any of the trip white Reattas I’ve seen, don’t recall if the white wheels were available as a RPO ?
The white seats and the white wheels were unique. It’s the same wheel that ’91s will have, but painted white. And the accent color is Flame Red instead of the standard dark red.
Though you could get white seats on a regular Reatta? I know I’ve seen Rivieras of the same vintage with white seats.
White was an interior offering for the 1990 Riviera at mid year, but not Reatta. The only 1990 Reatta with white seats was the Select 60, and note that unlike Riviera, only the seats themselves were white. I don’t honestly recall if white was offered for ’91, I ordered too few of them.
Carmine, I believe you are correct. You could have ordered a 91 Reatta with a white interior, in either red or blue basic color, as long is it was a convertible. With white seats and doors like this 90 S60. White was also available on the 92-93 Riviera with either the red,tan or blue interior. Here’s a copy and paste from my 91 Reatta parts catalog. EC97 is Reatta and C05 is convertable.
“** The following is a list of accent colors used w/White Interior(C05 only). Accent color arears include instrument panel(including steering column & wheel), all carpet, & front & rear speaker grilles. 4CE97 & C05 – 201(Very Dk Sapphire), 731(Flame Red). ”
I cant recall if I’ve ever have seen a 91 Reatta with the white interior. I’ve seen many a Riviera with it though.
I have never seen a reatta with an all white interior. I do not even believe it could be ordered. No matter what the catalogs may have said.
Flame Red WAS the interior color for 91. 1990 had a deeper (garnet) red. The Select 60 (or as I call it, the ugliest reatta ever made) was the only 1990 with Flame Red and the wheels that became standard for 1991. The Select 60 was an award car to the top 60 Buick dealers. Maybe GM knew they could never sell a car this gaudy! They supposedly built 65 cars, all convertibles. In essence, they were 1990 Reatta’s built with 1991 parts.
I own 7 reattas (and 3 more as parts cars), varying colors and body styles, but never would consider a Select 60. It would ruin the beauty of my collection.
I added a couple more since this photo.
You woulds not trade them Greg but what about good old fed reserve notes? Well I supposed that is a trade right? How about it any one with a Crt screen so 89 or 90. I have a 91 towncar.
What would make you consider it.
what is twilgiht sentinel buddy?
If you have the time.
Do you know where I could get a 16 way with a crt? Doesnt matter if its only a shell.
Neat. So they only made 60 of them, one for each of the 60 largest Buick dealers, or those were the only dealers that were allowed to place an order for this model? ie: Could one of the “chosen” dealers order two of them if they had multiple customers that wanted one?
Carmine, I read your previous comments and you say these cars were not offered for sale to the public. What were the dealers expected to do with them then? Did they still have to buy the cars from GM or were they gifts?
No, The “Select Sixty” was a dealer achievement award, for dealers that attained high volume and CSI targets. They did not order the Select Sixty car, Buick did and shipped it to them. Each Select Sixty dealer would have gotten one car.
Nice car!
The retina-searing red interior is a little tough to look at though.
Cool car – I had no idea that these existed. It is a shame that such a rare variant is not from a car that is really highly collected. Imagine the value if the Select Sixty had been a Grand National instead of a Reatta. But for those of us who love the boulevard cruisers over muscle, these are something special.
I wonder how many of these are around? I would imagine that a fairly high proportion of these would have been pampered as “collector’s items” instead of retailed off or sold as used cars after the dealership owner got a couple of years out of it. Sad to say, the dealers would probably have been best off financially by retailing the car for a premium when new. Sort of like the Indy Pace Car 1980 Corvette.
Indy Pace Car 1980 Corvette?! WTF??? The first time a Corvette paced the Indy 500 was in 1978. For 1980 the Indy Pace Car was the attractive second generation Pontiac Trans Am with the super-duper crappy 4.9 liter turbo V8. For 1981 it was the ugly, boxy, Bucik Regal with a “blown” 3.8 liter turbo. An ugly, ugly, car with a half decent motor.
Apparently you could get flame red interiors in other ones in 91… but not two tone:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Reatta-Base-Coupe-2-Door-1991-buick-reatta-coupe-2-door-3-8-l-price-reduced-/130937320538?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1e7c78f45a&vxp=mtr#v4-43
That seems like a pretty good deal on one too, miles are bit high but it seems very well cared for.
I miss red interiors, dangit!!!
Me, too. Would love to see it make a come back. That baby is sharp!
Unbelievable. A badge on a turd and now it’s unique and/or special? There is no way any Reatta deserves any special appreciation except for how it is at the top of The Deadly Sins list.
FWIW, I test drove one when they were new actually hoping to like it enough to buy one. I walked away knowing it really was a lowly Skylark. And I hated Skylarks, too.
Well you know what they say about opinions……
It is obvious Stan that you know absolutely nothing about the reatta. It shares parts with the Riviera, not the Skylark. The car was hand built at the Lansing Craft Center.
Although the earlier years where not as good, the 1991 turned out to be a fantastic car (this is typical GM.. get the car perfected and stop building it).
The only thing that killed the Reatta was it 40k price tag in 1991. Too much money for the car. But it IS a great and fun car to drive. I own several and would not trade them for anything.
? Reatta shares nothing with the Skylark.
Nice to see someone else from palm springs!
Nice ride. I have a hard time liking most cars in white, but this one pulls it off pretty good.
I’d like a black/tan 91 conv.
As an Alabama fan, I approve this color scheme.
Redneck’s rejoice!
Love it! I never knew you could get white leather on these. Looks especially good with the red trim.
Even a pimp would puke at it!
As former Allante owner, I think the Reatta is prettier. In long run, this may become one of the most collectible GM product of its era?
I liked the Allante. But that damn dash was hard too see with the top down. What was GM thinking?
You’re a true comedian toffee!
That red is certainly pretty bright, but I like it. And that’s a pretty decent looking dashboard too, much better (in my eyes) than most other late 80s/early 90s efforts from GM.
That pregnant steering wheel is just awful. I know most manufacturers struggled with this part at the beginning but no one was worse at it than GM.
That Reatta looks like an old man’s oxford or golf shoe: UGLY! Put it through the crusher and recycle it into a new Lexus, Bimmer or Benz; something that is beautiful, not an old, ’90s, pos Buick!