The regression showed up with this patch:
Tue Feb 19 12:37:23 CET 2002 Jan Hubicka <jh@suse.cz>
* regmove.c (regmove_optimize): Avoid increasing of
register pressure.
http://gcc.gnu.org/cgi-bin/gnatsweb.pl?cmd=view%20audit-trail&database=gcc&pr=7949