The sixth- and latest-gen Buick Regal is a mere shadow of its predecessors, and as you likely know, it is basically a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. The mid-size car comes to life in Germany and China, and it is a forbidden fruit in the United States, where the GM-owned marque has gone crossover only.
But it wasn't always like this, as Buick was once committed to making passenger cars. Its ties with the Regal moniker date back to the early 1970s, when it launched the first generation that used the same underpinnings as the era's Pontiac Grand Am.
The second generation followed in 1978, and it was the same car beneath the skin as the Chevrolet El Camino, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Bonneville, among others. Buick kept making the Regal throughout the '80s and '90s, when the third and fourth generations were launched, and it was these that switched from rear- to front-wheel drive, with their successor being based on the platform of the old Opel Insignia.
Now, if you have a thing for classic Buick Regals, then you have likely set your eyes on either the first or the second generation. Chances are your ideal copy is an unmolested one that retains the original look, or so we hope, anyway. If not, you should have your petrolhead license revoked, as no real car enthusiast would ever ruin the styling of an old-timer, regardless of the make and model. That said, get ready to meet one that falls into the brash category.
Photo: Instagram | 412donklife
A 1986 example, this Buick Regal can make its presence felt wherever it goes. It is one exaggerated design proposal that bears the signature of 412donklife on Instagram. This vehicle comes with an orange finish, has some shiny accents all around, and a ground clearance that would certainly make various crossovers jealous.
The extra inches between its belly and the road are the result of fitting a set of oversized alloys. These were made by Forgiato, have a dual-tone look and a five-spoke pattern, and were wrapped in ultra-thin tires to fit under the arches. And they're the main reason behind the flashy appearance of this classic car that sports extra tinted windows for some well-deserved privacy, as well as smoked lighting units, by the looks of it.
Now, we already told you how we feel about this digital build, and we'd never be seen in such a ride. Hopefully, you agree not to disagree, unlike most of the web surfers who commented on the social media post embedded at the end of this story. But we wouldn't criticize you if you like it. After all, everyone has their guilty pleasure when it comes to the world of tuned cars, don't they?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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