1981 Buick Regal

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

$7,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Buick

Model

Regal

Year

1981

Body Type

Coupe

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Description

This 1981 Buick Regal Limited has covered just 42,000 original miles, making it a remarkably preserved example of American muscle car elegance from the muscle car era. The distinctive two-tone exterior and matching interior showcase the careful stewardship this car has received over four decades. The original engine remains strong and responsive, delivering the torque and presence that made Regals icons of early 80s automotive design.

Interior trim is clean and well-maintained, with original upholstery showing minimal wear consistent with the low mileage. Chrome and exterior brightwork retain their luster, and the body presents straight lines and solid panel gaps throughout. The Limited designation brought upscale appointments that distinguish this Regal from base models, evident in the quality of materials and attention to detail.

This is a genuine time capsule opportunity, the kind of low-mileage classic that enthusiasts seek out to preserve exactly as Buick intended.

Buick Regal Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1973–1987

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Buick Regal Grand National and GNX are legends of the turbocharged 1980s — cars that humiliated Ferraris at stoplights and proved that American engineering could match European performance on its own terms. But the Regal's story is richer than just the performance variants.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Regal Buyer's Guide

Buick Regal Market Overview

Based on 25 Buick Regal listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$41,720

Avg. Asking Price

1979–1987

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $7,995

Low: $6,495 High: $89,900

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 88%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 20%

Good 20%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 25 listings →

💰

What is this car worth?

Check sold prices for the 1981 Buick Regal

Valuation Tool →

Buick Regal Buyer's Guide

Mike Sullivan here. The 1987 Buick GNX is the fastest American production car of its era. That's not hyperbole — the GNX ran the quarter mile in the low 13-second range, making it quicker than a contemporary Corvette, faster than a Ferrari 328, and quicker than nearly anything else for sale in an American showroom. GM's own engineers reportedly drove the final prototypes against a Ferrari Testarossa and the GNX won.

But here's what the GNX legend obscures: the broader Regal family from 1973 to 1987 is an undervalued platform with excellent bones, strong parts support, and collector interest that extends well beyond the turbocharged variants. The G-body Regal that spawned the Grand National is one of GM's most capable platforms, and even the standard V6 and V8 Regals represent good value in the current market.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Grand National Documentation — Verify boost gauge, shift light, and underhood components are original GN equipment — not add-ons.

✓

GNX Serial Number (if claimed) — Confirm the ASC/McLaren GNX serial plate and have a Buick specialist verify all GNX-specific components.

✓

Turbocharger Condition — Check turbo shaft for play — hold the shaft and wiggle laterally, any movement indicates bearing wear.

✓

Intercooler Condition — Inspect intercooler core for damage and verify it's free of oil contamination.

✓

Lower Quarter Rust — Probe lower rear quarters and rockers — G-body rust in these locations.

✓

Dashboard Condition — Inspect plastic dashboard for cracking — a common issue on 35+ year old GM interiors.

✓

Transmission Operation — Test TH200-4R or TH350 through all ranges — smooth shifts with no slip.

✓

Head Gasket — Check oil for coolant contamination and exhaust for white smoke — 3.8L head gasket is a known wear item.

Common Issues

Grand National clone cars built from standard Regals — documentation verification is essential. Turbocharger shaft wear and intercooler deterioration on high-mileage GN examples. Lower rear quarter and rocker panel rust. Plastic dashboard and interior trim deterioration on 1980s examples. 3.8L V6 head gasket issues on high-mileage or overheated engines. TH200-4R automatic transmission wear on performance-driven cars.

What to Look For

On Grand National and GNX cars, verify documentation before paying any performance premium — boost gauge, shift light, and specific underhood components are all verifiable. For GNX cars, the ASC/McLaren serial number plate and GNX-specific suspension and turbo components must all be present and verifiable. For all turbocharged Regals, inspect the intercooler condition and the turbo for shaft play. On standard Regals, check for rust at the lower rear quarter panels and rocker panels. Verify the automatic transmission operates smoothly through all ranges.

Price Guide

Standard Regal V6 or V8 (1978–1987): $5,000–$14,000. 1984–1985 Grand National T-top: $18,000–$32,000. 1986 Grand National: $25,000–$45,000. 1987 Grand National: $35,000–$65,000 for clean low-mileage examples. 1987 GNX (verified): $80,000–$180,000+. Clone GNs misrepresented as genuine: avoid without documentation.

Did You Know?

The 1987 Buick GNX outran a Ferrari 328 GTS in a comparison test conducted by Car and Driver — achieving 0-60 in 4.7 seconds to the Ferrari's 5.8 seconds. Only 547 GNXs were built, all in 1987, all black, all numbered. The turbocharged 3.8L V6 in the Grand National was controversial inside GM — Corvette engineers reportedly objected to a Buick outperforming their flagship, though the LT5-powered Corvette ZR-1 program had in fact already begun in 1985.

$7,995

Price is negotiable