1981 Buick Regal

The 1981 Buick Regal received styling updates that resulted in a more aerodynamic profile that made it more suitable for NASCAR competition. During the 1981 NASCAR season, Richard Petty drove a Regal to victory in the Daytona 500, and the car won the majority of the races during the 1981 and 1982 seasons and won the NASCAR manufacturers title in 1981 and 1982.

The 1981 Buick Regal was part of the Second Generation of styling, introduced in 1978 and built through 1987. Compared to the First Generation, the '2nd Gen' was smaller with a 108.1-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 200.6-inches, compared to a 112-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 212-inches of the '1st Gen' (the sedans had a length of 216-inches). Buick's new 196 cubic-inch V6 engine became standard equipment and a revised version of the 231 cubic-inch V6 was optional. The 231 CID V6 became standard for 1980. A three-speed manual transmission was initially standard but was later replaced by an automatic gearbox. Initially, body styles were exclusively coupes but gained a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon in the early 1980s when the Century was replaced by an all-new car on the front-wheel-drive A platform. The wagon was dropped after 1983 and the sedan followed a year later.

Styling updates for 1981 included a raked front end with a new grille, downward-sloping hood, and a taller rear end with a spoiler-type cutoff. The grille had vertical bars and angled sharply outward, with Buick - in block letters - inset into the upper horizontal bar. The name 'Regal' - in script - was positioned at the lower corner. The grille was flanked by dual, square headlights and rested above the integrated bumper. Wide horizontal parking and turn lamps were integrated into the bumper. In the back were full-width, wraparound taillamps. There was a redesigned reinforced plastic wheelhouse panel that contained a battery tray and a new side-lift frame jack.

A special Somerset Limited Edition trim was offered on the 1980 and 1981 Regal. It received unique tan and dark blue designer exterior paint, sport mirrors, chrome Somerset badging, and wire wheel covers. The interior had brushed chrome trim, Somerset badging, and tan and blue plush velour upholstery. The 1981 Somerset Edition wore unique dark sandstone and Carmel exterior paint, turbine wheels, and sport mirrors. The velour upholstery was finished in camel and dark brown piping.

The Buick Regal Limited trim level wore new wheel covers, optional cornering lights, and bodyside wide rocker panel moldings that traveled from ahead of the front wheels to the back of the rear wheels. A new blue crest was located on the hood. The interiors were done in new soft knit velour fabric and new fur-like carpeting extended to the lower door sections. The standard seating was 55/45 with a fold-down center armrest but could be optioned with the new 45/55 seating configuration.

The Decour Package came with sport mirrors, a sport steering wheel, turbine wheels, and was offered in four colors and each had a silver lower section. There were a black-trimmed grille, headlamps and taillamps, and turbine-style wheels, a sport steering wheel, and wide bright center rocker molding.

The 1981 Buick Regal coupe had a base price of $7,550 and the Regal Sport Coupe with the turbocharged V6 listed for $8,530. The Regal Limited was priced at $8,025. The standard engine was an overhead-valve V6 with a cast-iron block and head, a 231 cubic-inch displacement, a compression ratio of 8.0:1, four main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a two-barrel Rochester carburetor, and delivered 110 horsepower at 3,800 RPM and 190 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 RPM. The optional turbocharged version had 170 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. The optional 265 cubic-inch V8 built by Pontiac had an 8.0:1 compression ratio, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a two-barrel Rochester carburetor, and delivered 119 horsepower at 4,00 RPM and 203 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 RPM. The engines were backed by a Turbo Hydramatic transmission with a converter clutch, and stopping power was provided by the front disc and rear drum brakes. Standard equipment continued to include the sport mirrors and fast-ratio power steering. When the turbocharged engine was installed, the hood received a 'Turbo 3.8-Liter' emblem proudly proclaiming what was lurking underneath.

New standard equipment included a lighter weight battery and low-rolling-resistance tires. New options included the electronically-tuned radio with Extended Range speakers and the Gran Touring suspension.

The total Buick Regal coupe production, including the turbocharged Sport Coupe, for 1981 was 123,848 units, plus 116,352 units of the Regal Limited coupe.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021