Jalopnik: Buick Regal

Buick Regal Caught In Brilliant Red, Makes Us Wish We Lived In China

Ray Wert — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EDT

We've already told you the Buick Regal is back. We've also told you the unfortunate news the brand's new hotness will only be available in China. We've also already shown you the very first spy photos of the new Regal, looking stunning in silver. Well, now the folks over at ChinaCarTimes have caught the new Opel Insignia re-badged as a royal four-door in red, and we must say, it looks hot.

We're assuming powertrain choices will be pretty similar to those offered for the Opel Insignia, except probably sticking with gas engines over the oil-burning options. Expect to see the re-born Buick Regal see an official reveal at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Unfortunately, despite our excitement over Buick's new hotness, we won't be there in person. [via China Car Times]

First Pictures: The Buick Regal Is Back...In China!

Mark Arnold — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Despite being dead as a badge in the United States for four years and dead as a duck in China for just as long, Buick plans to sell the Opel Insignia as the Buick Regal in the People's Republic. While this news has been on the street for about a month now, thanks to our friends at China Car Times, we've got the very first shots of Buick's new royalty. Hit the jump for the full scoop of a story that'll make your grandparents grab their canes, stand up and cheer.

Usually we're not advocates of badge-engineering, but these spy photos of what absolutely appears to be a new Insignia (check out that cut-line on the side of the car) rebadged as a Buick Regal for the Chinese market somehow make sense to us. Buick is a hugely popular brand in China for GM and although Opels are sold there, it probably will sell better under the Buick lineup. Kind of like over here with the Chevy Malibu, the car you can't ignore and the Saturn Aura, the car everyone did. Could this possibly mean the US will get a Buick-branded Insignia rather than one badged as the new 2010 Saturn Aura like we'd expected? Probably not. But now we're even more jealous of those spiffy Chinese Buicks. Who knew a Buick could look hot? Well, your grandparents, for starters. Us, we're only hoping we can get our hands on a "Grand National" version — but we're not holding our breath. [via ChinaCarTimes]

Goal Of 100% Reliability Not Met, LeMons Cars Break Stuff

Murilee Martin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:45:00 EDT

Can you believe it? Flogging mercilessly on a cheap-ass race car can lead to mechanical woes! According to UDMan:
Well, all the entries are still on the track, and we are in hour 4. However, there have been some close calls. Team Pro-Crass-Duh-Nation (an Alfa Romeo) was black flagged because the Battery was on FIRE. The Track Fire Department had to put it out, and the team had a spare battery, and they are now back on the track. However, Team Chard Beef Racing is now in the middle of changing out a rear end. They had a spare on their trailer, and within ½ hour are almost ready to go back onto the track.

Judges Skeptical About Chard Beef Regal's Alleged 307 Small-Block: 100 Penalty Laps!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EDT

It turns out that the LeMons Supreme Court did hand out a stiff penalty to at least one racer during the BS Inspection process… and whaddya know, it went to the Team Chard Beef Buick Regal! For some inexplicable reason, a GM G-body with a so-called 307 Chevy aroused judicial suspicion, and the gavel fell hard. These guys obviously didn't read Cheating Tip #2. But maybe it really is a 307 and these poor innocent New Englanders are getting railroaded- let's have a poll!

Team Chard Beef's Buick Regal Ready For LeMons New England!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:40:00 EDT

MagicalTrevor was checking out a cruise night in Connecticut, and look what comes rumbling by: a menacing Buick Regal with vaguely steer-themed appearance, all ready to race this weekend at the 24 Hours of LeMons New England race this weekend. I won't be there (not to worry- Jalopnik's all-seeing eye will find a way to bring you coverage), but rest assured that the judges will be taking a real close look at that small-block Chevy. Make the jump for the whole gallery and to read MagicalTrevor's observations.

Hey guys,
At last night's Mark's Auto Parts Classic Cruise in East Granby, CT, one of the hopeful entrants to this weekend's LeMons event at Stafford Motor Speedway showed up with their Buick Regal-prepped by team Chard Beef Racing. It still had working lights and was temporarily registered in Connecticut, without any race numbers yet. I got a few pictures for you (though not great-it was dark). I won't be able to attend myself, so I hope you have found somebody to take pictures/video! Thanks for the great site...

Burglary Suspect Caught With Six Foot Alligator Copilot

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Though our love for Texas knows no end, the state certainly has its share of people who have more balls than common sense. Take Mr. William Johnson, the Thomas Crown of Brazoria, Texas. On the way to burgling a house he came across a wild American Alligator and thought it would be a good idea to wrestle it and put it in the back of his Buick Regal. After arriving at the house he found he had trouble moving a big screen television by himself and recruited a neighbor. The neighbor was willing to rob his other neighbor but relented when he saw the gator, saying "Alright, I ain't got nothing to do with it."

The alligator turned out to be an awful lookout as state troopers managed to find the would-be thief fairly easily, hauling one off to jail and the other off to a preserve. To make things more interesting, they also found Johnson with a nearly five-foot water moccasin. Though he had a snakebite, it didn't seem to bother him. This story makes us a little homesick. [KTRK-TV]

Pedal-Powered Buick Owner Stands Up To The Man In Court!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:45:00 EDT

It turns out that John Law takes a dim view of human-powered cars on the streets of Toronto, as artist Michel de Broin discovered to his dismay when he attempted to take his pedal-powered 1986 Buick Regal out for a little spin last year. In Mr. de Broin's view, the Shared Propulsion Car, with its perfectly functional brakes and steering, is safe for street operation. Safer, in fact, than gasoline-powered vehicles, and so he is fighting his Operation of Unsafe Vehicle ticket. [National Post]