Once again, rumors abound that the recently introduced Buick Regal will add a wagon version before too long. In Europe, where this car is sold as the Opel Insignia. I chopped this sinister looking Regal GS Sportwagon last year, before the domestic-market Regal was introduced, but was just reminded of it while I read this Autoblog post.
Hooray for Buick, They're becoming an American favorite in my book and one of the more successful brands in the auto industry. I do see German written all over this wagon, but I love it regardless.
ReplyDeleteI think Buick will become very widely regarded again in the next 5 years. I just hope the new CEO of GM doesn't start forgetting the past, and start cheapening the products to make more money.
ReplyDeleteI saw the picture on AutoBlog and it looks good -- your chop could be the top of the line with the turbo engine and the 6-speed! As those of us who read AutoExtremist know, this current GM CEO is a real jerk who understands nothing at all about the car business. I shudder to think of what might happen if he stays there long enough -- it could be the front-wheel drive C cars all over again.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Buick will call their wagon the Regal Estate Wagon? That might not be the best name to attract modern buyers but it would be a nice nod to Buick wagons of the past!
Paul, NYC
thanks, Paul. Yeah, I believe Buick will come up with a "hipper" name than Estate Wagon, these days. Maybe Sportwagon from Buick's late '60s Vista Cruiser platform mate
ReplyDeleteI always thought it odd that Buick and Oldsmobile didn't have full-size wagons for 65 through 69 (through 70 for Olds) but I realize that the Vista Cruiser and SportWagon were on 121" wheelbases. There was a fellow at my High School who bought new a silver 64 Vista CRuiser. I thought it was an odd car for a 17-year-old.
ReplyDeletePaul, NYC
I didn't realize they were on an extended wheelbase until a few years ago! I thought it was odd back then that they didn't have full sized wagons, too. But 121" was longer than the big Chevy and Ford back then. The Ford was 119" until '69 when it went to 121" and the Chevy was 119" until '71 when it went to 121. I might be off a bit, that was just off the top of my head. Funny the minutae we remember!
ReplyDeleteWell, the B-body Chevy was 121.5" from 1971 to 1976. (Says someone who learned how to parallel-park with one.)
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to call it the Sportwagon, does it not deserve the Vista Cruiser-like roof the Sportwagons had?
Thanks, Steve. 121.5" does ring a bell with me now. Interesting idea to raise the roof and add skylights...
ReplyDeleteOne of my Flickr contacts spotted an Insignia Stationwagon on US manufacturer's plate in Michigan for winter testing in 2010. The Isignia Wagon was already for sale in Europe then, so maybe a Regal wagon in disguise?
ReplyDeleteyup. I bet it's a Regal. I think it's very cool Buick is going to bring over the wagon.
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