Vehicle Description
It was tough being a General Motors fan in the 1980s. The company
had relegated most of its models to bland copycats of compromised,
committee-driven designs which, for the most part, suffered
terrible quality problems. But every once in a while, the true car
guys broke free of the massive corporate bureaucracy and belted one
straight out of the park! Featuring a turbocharged 3800 V6, fitted
with a comfortable cockpit and well known for its world-class
performance, the Buick Regal Turbo was one such homerun. Thanks to
a continued rise in desirability, the search is on to find the best
turbo Buicks that will set the standard for the future collector
car market. And, benefitting from meticulous care throughout its
life, this highly original T might just be one of the nicest Regals
on the planet!
HISTORY/APPEARANCE
For car enthusiasts, the late 1980s meant one thing: the end of the
much maligned Malaise Era. And this hard-edged coupe's
sophisticated Medium Emerald Firemist paint is a refreshing change
from the polar palette that marks the hobby's plight during that
decade. In fact, the car's glossy aesthetic, upgraded to modern
basecoat/clearcoat pigment, is decidedly contemporary, proving once
again that good taste never goes out of style. With that pigment
comes a straight profile, which, throughout the car's four owners,
has been carefully stored and mostly paraded for show. Those
owners, the first being a lady who purchased this Turbo T, a Grand
National and a GNX at the same time, kept that fuselage solid and
well-aligned. A rare Blackout Trim Package highlights factory
T-Tops and correct chrome bumpers. And at the end of the day, this
Regal provides a raw and appealing contrast to the sea of
monochromatic Grand Nationals that seems to be flooding '80s GM
folklore.
ENGINE
Speaking of survivors, and GM's core strengths, if anyone ever
creates an ultimate engine survivors list, Buick's stalwart 231
cubic inch V6 will surely be at the top. Introduced as the
Fireball, and eventually renamed the 3800, its early '60s design
was sold to Kaiser, bought back by General Motors and, with the
help of turbos, superchargers and continuous improvements, would
remain one of the company's core powerplants until the turn of the
century! In 1986, the Grand National's turbocharged 3.8 liter,
which had already benefitted from sequential fuel injection and
distributorless ignition, saw significant mechanical changes that
included a new air-to-air intercooler, adjustments to its Garrett
turbo, improved upper and lower intake manifolds, and a redesigned
exhaust system. By 1987, those carefully calculated tweaks were
good for a newly impressive 245 horsepower and 355 lb./ft. of V8
slaying torque. And the car's drag strip scorching performance
would not only best GM's own Camaro and Corvette, but also catapult
it to the forefront of '80s performance! This spry Buick mill is
mostly stock, with the exception of a multi-stage tune, a polished
turbo cover and polished charge pipes. And naturally, the
numbers-matching engine floats a correct 25526109 casting number in
front of a matching 448591 partial VIN.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
The car's hot engine spins torque through a proven 200R4 4-speed
that's a member of the ultra-reliable Turbo-Hydramatic family: an
honorable and faithful group that's survived behind GM's toughest
performance blocks for decades. That seasoned gearbox twists a
tough G80 differential, which spins aggressive, 3.42 gears to offer
a great combination of starting line grip and high-speed cruising.
And, under that first-class drivetrain, an FE3 Sport Suspension
creates NASCAR-inspired handling characteristics. Of course, all
that power demands a good set of binders, with GM's proven front
discs combining with Buick's beefy aluminum drums to provide solid,
power-assisted stops. Quick-ratio power steering makes cornering
easy and turning a cinch. Single-into-dual exhaust makes good use
of a factory-spec muffler. At the corners, original wheels spin
215/65R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As around gray-trimmed center caps.
And, aesthetically, the bottom of this Buick is exactly what you'd
expect from a well-maintained cruiser.
INTERIOR
Naturally, the Dark Blue cockpit is just as authentic as the rest
of the car, featuring mostly original components that document
three decades of character. Comfortable velour seats are nicely
patterned pieces that feel just as soft as they look. In front of
those seats, a lightly weathered dash hangs simple telemetry above
factory air conditioning and a correct Delco tape deck. Below that
dash, a small console frames an elegant shifter. Dark Blue carpet
shows a surprisingly minimal amount of wear thanks to color-keyed
floor mats. At the sides, clean door panels wrap small accessory
switches in a stylish combination of velour, carpet and plastic,
while an attractive, 3-spoke steering wheel spins a vivid "T"
around a tilting column and functional cruise control. And behind
the passengers, a spacious trunk conceals a small spare tire
beneath original decals and unrestored decklid paint.
VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND
ACCESSORIES
The car's original Owner's Manual
Original factory accessory booklets
A vintage Buick Buyer's Guide
A copy of the car's Title from its first owner
A written survey from the car's original owner (conducted during
ownership transfer)
A copy of a vintage Registration from a previous owner
Buick Turbo decals
A Buick Motorsports patch
A Tomco pass code retrieval kit
A vintage Pyramid amplifier
Today, turbo Regals are almost universally regarded as future
collector cars. That means clean, well-stewarded cruisers like this
slick Medium Emerald Firemist coupe are becoming as exclusive as
they are cool. If you're a diehard tri-shield fan, a lover of
unique classics, or just a smart investor looking for a good bet on
a solid return, this stealthy G-Body is the deal of the year!
SUMMARY
Original 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 / Multi-stage tune
Correct Turbo-Hydramatic 200R4 4-speed automatic transmission
Factory G80 rear axle / 3.42 gears
Factory power steering
Factory power front disc and rear drum brakes
Factory air conditioning
Largely original Dark Blue velour interior
Medium Emerald Firemist paint / Blackout Trim Package
Factory T-Tops
Original 15-inch wheels
Factory FE3 Sport Suspension
