Driftwood Reatta convertible - it's the season!

1990 Buick Reatta Description

For auction is a 1990 Buick Reatta convertible. This one has approximately 110,700 miles, and is the color Driftwood with Beechwood (Tan) Leather and vinyl interior. This is the 1st of 60 Driftwood convertibles sold in 1990, and was sold to a buyer in West Pam Beach, Florida. It has mostly been a southern car, and has been well stored since, and therefore is a rust free car.
I bought this car 3 years ago to scratch my collector-convertible itch. I am wanting to sell it only to help my oldest daughter buy a more practical car. It sat all winter, and started right up in the spring. The previous owner did a lot of work to it, which is now 3 year old, so it's not "new" but has created a reliable, comfortable specialty car for use as a convertible.
I did install a new battery last year and I always buy the most expensive battery, so it has a $175 1 year old battery.
I prefer to honestly describe my cars for sale. This is one of very few cars that I have purchased that was honestly described. It is 100% a driver level of car. I did enter it in a local "festival" car show last labor day. (That's why that chair is still in the trunk)
This car has many small scratches that do not show until you get up close. It has NO door dings but has 2 bumper dings. (Comes w a replacement front bumper if you choose) The paint, the panels everything in that sense is original and nice. Buick called this tan interior color Beechwood. Two owners ago - he dyed the carpets black, correct would be tan. The bad shape 16 way seats were replaced with nice non 16 way seats. As with the front bumper, I have the original seats should you choose to take them.
The seats in it now are in great used condition. They were just treated to Leather Honey which soaked in and are in supple condition with good support. No rips, tears and they are both power, which works well.
The door panels are nice, but again, this is driver class, not perfect show condition. See photos. Dash fitment is good and everything works. A/C works! All glass is good, including sewn in rear glass, heated. Power windows work, the passenger side window needs stayed in track for going up.
Carpets are fair, certainly not bad. I don't play the radio but it works. Center console condition is good. Steering wheel is in good condition, as is console lid, which does not have rips in it. Windshield wipers and horn work as they should.
The body as mentioned is driver quality and won't embarrass you but has multiple small scratches. The paint is nice, but no show quality. Yesterday I spent the day polishing and waxing it with carnauba wax and it is ready for tour season. The headlights work as they should - previous owner rebuilt the system. Fog lamps and light switch work as they should.
The engine is the 3.8L V6 producing 165 hp. The radiator was replaced with new 3 years ago. It has received flushes regularly and none of the fluids leak - oil, coolant, transmission. Transmission pan was dropped by previous owner - transmission shifts well and color of fluid is excellent. I have only driven this car about 500 miles a year for 3 years.
The tires are BF Goodrich Ascentias, great top shelf tour tires. The original rims are hand polished. The left front tire has a slow leak at about 10 psi over 3 weeks. Brakes were replaced 3 years ago - from ABS down. This convertible drives solid, with no funky suspension issues. It is a convertible, and has usual cowl shake but recovers very quickly so suspension is fine. Front struts replaced 3 years ago.
Has many newer (again, now 3 years old) support parts like spark plugs, coil, water pump, battery, hoses, drive belt, and so on. As far as I know, all power stuff works - Power steering does not leak and makes no weird noises. The car yesterday sat in one place on a 78 degree day and idled without any hint of overheating. Exhaust is quiet and sound, including muffler.
Convertible top is phenomenal. It's only 3 years old too, and was PROFESSIONALLY made and installed with sewn in rear glass window for $600. It has the correct soft cabriolet inner for quieter operation. For those who do not know, a Reatta convertible top is manual, and easy one person job, and no complicated electrical and pneumatic operation to fail. Easy up and easy down and all convertible parts work as they should.
This car is a good choice for those retirees, younger folks, or empty nesters who want to join the specialty car market purchase without dropping 5 figures or buying a new convertible for $45,000. This will cost a fraction of that. For those who do not know, the Reatta was a specialty "halo" car built by GM from 1988 to 1991. In 1990, they added the convertible to the line up - making about 2250 or so. Driftwood is a 1990 only color in both coupe and convertible. As mentioned, this is the 1st of 60 Driftwood convertibles made in 1990.
To casually make better, you can easily repaint the headlights, possibly the hood. But the paint on these surfaces is still nice. Some people have expensive show cars to sell, some have original 'barn finds' - this car provides a great ownership experience in that it is exotically styled, hand made in the Lansing Craft Center, is well equipped for weekend jaunts, you can show it, take it to Buick Club events. It is safe and reliable for short to long distance trips, is well supported by off the shelf GM parts at your local car parts retailers, and the 3.8L V6 gets as good as 27 mpg.
It comes with a clear, non salvage transferrable, no lien IOWA title in my name. The trunk is as new, and ready for your weekend bags. Power trunk release works, power gas filler door works.
What does it need? I can't think of anything to hop in and enjoy it, but the price reflects it's driver class of vehicle and not a $20,000 15,000 mile Reatta convertible. It's an honest, fun ticket to the specialty car, convertible driving weather hobby. In the spring, as you drive it around you smell the fresh lilacs and in the fall, you can drive through the scenic season with the heat on, and take in the glorious colors. This to me is the best convertible season. But you can also make runs to the ice cream shop in July with the A/C on, while not freaking out if a drop of ice cream hits something.
Best of all, this is a NO RESERVE auction starting at $100. I have watched ebay turn into a dealer dominated marketplace with few bargains. Asking prices on most cars reflect a desire by the seller to make a profit off a car like this one. This car is the "anti profit/greed" car. I have no issue with car's appreciating in value, but it leaves many potential owners on the sidelines.
Conditions for post purchase. This car can be arranged for transport after payment if so desired. I have honestly described it. It has no warranty, especially at whatever low price it sells for. If you want to fly in and drive home, you may. I sold a 1990 Reatta convertible with 203,000 miles on it that the guy flew in from Amarillo Texas and drove home! But I can't make any promises on a low cost car like this one. I will work with the buyer any way possible.
Ask questions - call me at 515-201-8490 evenings but please be respectful of our mutual time. This has been on Craigs List for 2 weeks and I often get calls and questions that are answered in the ad. This is a long content ad, and I believe I have answered 95% of the questions, but call if you need clarification.

On Apr-22-19 at 07:20:05 PDT, seller added the following information:

spelling error - West Palm Beach.

Wanted the potential new buyer to know that I am finding spots where I failed to get all of the Carnauba wax off. I am working on it! More is better? Hard stuff.

Another person texted me on my CL ad regarding the weatherstripping above the window as it seals to the convertible roof. This appears to be original and it is watertight but is not "brand new" in appearance, although it must be in performance. Weatherstripping is available from a couple of specialty Reatta vendors and perhaps from Steele or others. Not sure.