Background | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983/1984 | End of the Road

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1982 MODEL YEAR

A new grille with smaller openings was just the first clue that many subtle and not-so-subtle changes were in store for 1982. This model year marked the debut of what could be described as one of the most elegant versions of American luxury to ever hit the road -- the Regency Brougham Sedan. Plush new seats covered in sumptuous Prima velour and adorned with elegant, embroidered emblems, luxurious deep plush cut pile "Tampico" carpeting, and richly appointed door panels were the most striking interior features of this model.

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Inside and out special emblems identified the most luxuriously appointed of all Regency vehicles and a new trademark feature adorned the center pillars -- electroluminescent opera lamps. The distinct blue glow of these lamps was an amazing touch of stylish '80s class.

Inside a new feature called the "multi-function lever" debuted on all models (Toronado got this feature a year earlier). This combined wiper, washer, cruise control and headlamp beam level controls into one single stalk mounted on the left side of the steering wheel. As a result, the opening in the dash panel for the dash-mounted wiper switch disappeared.

Unfortunately, this model year proved the most troublesome as magazines like Consumer Reports tabulated more frequent reliability issues than were had with 1980, 1981, 1983 or 1984 models.

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