I'd never thought I'd see the day when I would own, of all things, a Buick, but here it sits in my driveway. I'd also never see the day when I would choose a Buick over a Trans Am, but again, here the Buick sits in my driveway and not the car I've aspired to own since I was a kid (well, okay, a second-generation T/A is what my heart really desires, but that's beside the point).
The Monte, I think, went to a good home. The 383 stroker that I thought the Regal would have resting under its Grand National-sourced bonnet will find its way under the hood of my old car. The new owner also has a Monte LS parts car which will donate various bits and pieces to make my old Monte as good as new again.
I didn't get short-changed, though, as far as the powertrain goes. The Regal does have an engine that is just as good as the 383, although it might not be as performance-oriented. It's an engine I know my way around quite well, which is a big plus. It's a '71 Olds Rocket 350 out of a '71 Cutlass the previous owner used to have.
The exterior finally brought it all home. If I personally owned a Regal instead of the Monte, I would have blacked the chrome out, slapped on a Grand National hood and spoiler, and called it a day. I do plan on a set of black Torque-Thrust IIs for the car. I'm also debating on if I should paint the whole car black sometime in the future.
The interior needs to be finished up as it's half blue, half gray. As soon as I source the parts (it's easier to find a Regal around here than a Monte), I'll get this sorted out and finished. I'm also hoping to find a set of nice bucket seats to recover as well.
In short, I love this Regal just as much as I loved my Monte. I just hope this relationship is going to be less love/hate and more love/love.