Editing Buick (section)

====1980s====
In the 1980s, Buick's lineup saw several changes including the downsizing of various models. In 1980, Lloyd Reuss was appointed as general manager and further pushed Buick into turbocharging, racing, and performance production cars, building momentum which continued a number of years after his departure in 1984 as he headed toward a brief term as GM president. Also in 1980, the [[Oldsmobile Diesel engine|Diesel engine]] became available on select Buick models and Somerset was introduced as an optional package on the Regal Limited. In 1981, the [[T-Type]] performance trim was introduced on the Riviera. Regal was the official pace car of the [[Indianapolis 500]] race in 1981. In 1982, the [[Buick Grand National|Grand National]] high-performance package was first offered on Regal. A soft-top Riviera helped lead the return of the convertible, which had disappeared from domestic lineups in 1976. The following year, a Riviera convertible with a twin-turbo V6 paced the Indy 500. Also in 1983, Buick had its best model year to date with 810,435 vehicles sold.

In 1984, Buick was the official car of the [[1984 Summer Olympics|XXIII Olympiad]]. A reorganization split manufacturing & engineering from sales and marketing. The first pilot Buick is produced at "Buick City", a state-of-the-art assembly center built inside the walls of Buick's home plant in Flint. Buick had its best model year sales to date with 906,626 vehicles sold plus Buick's worldwide sales topped one million for the first time. Lloyd Reuss ended his tenure as general manager of the Buick Motor Division in 1984.

For the 1985 model year, Buick introduced the downsized sixth-generation Electra, effectively GM's first front-drive, transverse-engine, full-size unibody cars &mdash; initially powered by a carbureted 3.0 liter Buick [[V6 engine]], a fuel-injected 3.8 liter Buick V6 engine, or a 4.3 liter [[Oldsmobile Diesel engine|Oldsmobile diesel]] V6 engine. Each was mated to a 4-speed [[automatic transmission]] with a 0.70:1 overdrive gear. The 3.0 liter V6 and 4.3-liter diesel V6 were discontinued after 1985. During the 1985 through 1989 model years, the Electra name also continued to be used on the rear-wheel-drive B-body "Estate" station wagon. Also in 1985, Buick introduced the [[Buick Somerset|Somerset]] as its own model. Buick-powered cars won the pole and second position in qualifying for Indianapolis 500. Over the next few years, Buick engines would set a number of stock-block records and twice would power a third or more of the 33-car Indy 500 field (11 in 1990 and 12 in 1992). 1985 would be the final year for the rear-drive LeSabre before another downsizing and conversion to front-wheel-drive for 1986 (sedans and coupes only; the rear-drive LeSabre Estate Wagon would soldier on largely unchanged for a few more years). The top-line LeSabre Limited became the LeSabre Limited Collectors Edition to mark the end of an era for the rear-wheel-drive coupe and sedan; engine offerings included the standard 231 V6 (sedans and coupes) or optional Olds 307 V8 or Oldsmobile 350 diesel V8. 1985 saw Buick's best model year sales to date with 915,336 vehicles sold.

In 1986, the LeSabre was introduced on the new [[front wheel drive]] [[GM H platform|H platform]], after departing from [[rear wheel drive]] on the [[GM B platform]]. Joining the LeSabre on the H-body included the [[Oldsmobile 88|Oldsmobile Delta 88]]. Like the previously introduced Electra, the LeSabre's hood was hinged at the front of the car instead of near the cowl and windshield. Styling and did not include Buick's long-standing [[#Ventiport|ventiports]] or [[#Sweepspear|sweepspear]] styling cues. In 1986, a LeSabre Grand National model was built to qualify the coupe body style for NASCAR competition. Less than 120 units were made, all finished in black with a gray interior.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lesabret-type.com/LeSabreGN.html |title=1986 LeSabre Grand National Page |access-date=2012-01-08 |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120211083727/http://lesabret-type.com/LeSabreGN.html |archive-date=2012-02-11}}</ref>

Also for 1986, the [[GM E platform|E-body]] Riviera was converted to [[Monocoque|unibody construction]] and further downsized to a {{convert|108|in|mm|abbr=on}} wheelbase similar in length to that of the [[Buick Regal]]. The V6 was now the only engine, rated initially at {{Convert|142|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} SAE and {{convert|200|lbft|Nm|-1|abbr=on}} of torque. It used the Turbo-[[Hydramatic]] 440-T4 [[Automatic transmission|automatic]] with a 2.84:1 final drive ratio. This generation was noted for advanced electronic instrumentation displayed on a dash-mounted {{convert|9|in|mm|adj=on}} CRT. The CRT controlled the vehicle's climate control system and stereo, and also supplied advanced instrumentation such as a [[trip computer]] and maintenance reminder feature. Four-wheel disc brakes were standard. With a choice of three suspension packages available, up to the performance oriented FE3 setting, handling was notably improved. The Riviera placed fourth for ''[[Motor Trend]]''{{'}}s 1986 Car of the Year contest. Fuel economy was notably improved for the 1986 Riviera, but the investment in the downsized, [[transverse engine]] front-wheel drive platform resulted in a substantial price increase to $19,831 for the base model to $21,577 for the new [[T-Type]]. Downsizing also resulted in a dimensional similarity to smaller, less expensive offerings from GM. The smaller dimensions, generic styling, and lack of a V8 led to Riviera sales plummeting to 22,138 for 1986.

In 1987, the last of the turbo/intercooled Regal Grand Nationals, often called the quickest American cars, were offered as well as 547 even quicker special edition '87 GNXs. It would also be the last year for the rear-wheel-drive Regal. General manager Ed Mertz promoted the new "Premium American Motorcars" theme which focused Buick marketing on the various qualities that made the marque famous.

In 1988, Buick was the official car of the [[U.S. Olympic Team]]. The [[Buick Reatta|Reatta]] two-seater was introduced, to be followed two years later by a convertible. Also in 1988, [[Buick Regal|Regal]] was downsized and converted to front-wheel drive. Bobby Allison won the Daytona 500 in a Regal that year. 1988 also saw the debut of the slogan "The Great American Road Belongs to Buick".

In 1989, a new Electra trim level was offered called the Park Avenue Ultra. The Ultra was an upgrade to the Electra Park Avenue and featured a standard leather-trimmed interior with dual 20-way power front seats (shared with Cadillac's restyled 1989 [[Cadillac Sixty Special|Fleetwood Sixty Special]]), lower-body accent exterior paint treatment, distinctive thick-padded vinyl top with limousine-style rear-window surround (available only on Ultra), simulated burled elm trim on the doors and instrument panel, unique aluminum wheels, anti-lock brakes, chromed [[B-pillar]] moldings, specific grille and tail lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, electronic instrumentation, padded glove-compartment door, unique interior door panel trim, and a variety of otherwise minor changes. With its long list of standard equipment, the Park Avenue Ultra carried a higher base price than Cadillac's [[Cadillac de Ville series|Sedan de Ville]]. The Riviera was also restyled for 1989, adding 11 inches to its overall length. In the late 1980s, the Flint-built LeSabre ranked #1 in North America and #2 in the world in a major independent quality study which eventually led Buick to change its ad slogan from "The Great American Road Belongs to Buick" to "Buick: The New Symbol for Quality in America."