autoevolution 4 May 2021, 8:20 UTC · by Introduced in 1973 as a replacement for the Skylark, the Buick Regal started life as a variant of the Century. That changed in 1978, when Buick introduced the second-gen car. A downsized version of its predecessor, the Regal became a standalone model exclusive to the two-door coupe body style, while Buick continued to sell the sedan and wagon as the Century. 1 photo The nameplate started to gain traction in the early 1980s, when Buick launched the Grand National and the T-Type. In 1987, Buick rolled out the beefed-up GNX and the second-gen Regal became a 1980s performance icon. Almost 40 years and four generations later and the 1980s car remains the most representative. And while they don't get as much attention as the GNX and the Turbo-T, regular second-gen Regals are just as popular as the Fox-body Mustangs among drag racers. And sometimes they end up being cool sleepers that are faster than their appearance suggests. Like the cream-painted coupe in the video below.