The Buick Regal is a car that can wear many hats depending on which performance-grade you choose. A standard-issue Regal is a lazy grandma-spec cruiser, while a GNX is a high-performance, limited-production icon that goes for big money. However, in 1987, you could combine the two personalities, ordering a base spec Regal and then checking the box for the LC2 option which unlocked the turbocharged 3.8L engine option – and thus, one of the greatest factory sleepers was born. Find this Regal Turbo T listed here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $55,000 and bids to $14,000.
Now, this asking price is knocking against the price of a nicely presented Grand National and for some Regal enthusiasts, that could seem absurd. The Grand National obviously has some visual cues that make it more intimidating and leave little doubt that it’s a factory hot rod. However, if you enjoy sleepers, or cars that otherwise can surprise you at a stop light, the Regal Turbo T is the way to fly under the radar. You got the sportier 15×6 wheels, some subtle badges, a three-spoke steering wheel, and Gran Touring suspension. Despite being in Connecticut, the body on this Regal appears to be in mint condition.
The low mileage certainly pays dividends in the cockpit, and the velour seating surfaces are in mint condition. The familiar insignia that alerts passengers to the presence of a much hotter engine than what came stock is visible on the floor mats. However, the signs of this being a factory hot rod that flies under the radar are evident in areas that may not be obvious to the naked eye: the wheels, bumper supports, and rear drum brakes are aluminum on the Turbo-T’s and some armchair quarterbacks will tell you that this offers a key advantage via a curb weight advantage as those same components are made of cast iron/steel on the Grand National.
With 245 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, there’s little doubt that this Regal could run circles on other performance cars of era, all while looking like a vehicle you used to see parked at Denny’s on a Saturday night. With only 1,035 examples produced, the Turbo T is also incredibly rare, and we can’t blame the seller for asking big money for what is likely one of the lowest-mileage examples left. Combined with the fact that it’s bone stock and has a clean Carfax and you have a car that is likely to hold its value for a long time to come.
So much nicer than a GN. Your choice of colors and a cleaner over all body panels. I have always wondered why a group of engineers smart enough to turbo a V6 to such a great result, could not turbo up a 350 for even better results.
This was on ebay before and didn’t bid anywhere close to the BIN or meet reserve. This is a relisting.
It’s definitely very cool. But I think with the market now, it’s going be hard to get 55k for a non GN. I guess if they find someone who has to have it, maybe. But I think that’s going to be a pretty limited audience. Everybody wants the mystique of the GN.
I had one of these once, mine was the base 2 door Regal that came with the turbo 3.8L V6 and the Y56 suspension package. Mine was 1 of 4,268 built. It was a blast and when I sold it in 2013, could give most V8s a run for their money.
Jeff, once again BF muffs a writeup on a
T-Type Regal. Buick built 1547 Turbo-Ts in ’87. All were black over solid gray and were equipped with aluminum bumper supports, brake drums, and aluminum wheels. The RPO code for the Turbo-T was WE4. Although this is an awesome turbo Regal, it is not a Turbo-T.
RPO code for Turbo-T appearance package in 1987 was Y56 which when I checked the RPO label picture on the eBay ad, it shows it as being equipped. Turbo-T cars could be in many colors available that year along with bright trim and even vinyl landau roofs. The RPO WE4 is a blackout trim package which this car does not have. Therefore this is an actual Turbo-T car, just not one with WE4 blackout trim.
To add to this, Y56 was available on any Regal, and then you could get the LC2 on any Regal with the Y56 package. That is why we have the cool Regal Limiteds with the Turbo motor. Technically, you could even get a Mary Kay pink Regal with the turbo, LOL. And yes, such a car would be considered a Turbo-T as well.
2001 Lexus, to add to your comment, in the original write-up, a figure of 1,035 builds was mentioned. I’m wondering if Jeff was referencing the #s of Limited Turbo-ts that were built because that’s the figure I always heard when it came to Regal Limited Turbo-T-types.
Sure was interesting to read all of the tech stuff that others have posted!
I’ve seen one Limited T-type Turbo in person. Finished in light Briar Brown with dark Briar Brown interior.
He’s referring to the WE4 package. His cited production number is correct. The Turbo T Limited is rarer with only 1,035 made. In comparison, Buick made 20,193 Grand Nationals in 1987. This is a strange case where rare does not equal valuable because the Grand National brings a huge premium.
Regals with the LC2/Y56 package could be ordered until the cows came home in 1987, but for most of the year they couldn’t be released for production because the vast majority of LC2 engines were restricted to Grand Nationals only. Every once in a while Buick would declare the LC2 as “free flow”, but before you could get the Zone Car Distributor to select one for production the engine would go back on restriction, which is why ’87 Turbo Ts are so scarce.
I am not an expert in these cars and I don’t even play one on TV, LOL. But my limited google research shows that for 1987, the T-Type was canceled and its parts were divided into different option packages. Y56 was the T package that had most of the stuff that the now cancelled T-Type had – leather wrapped sport steering wheel, Turbo aluminum wheels, Eagle GT tires, fast ratio power steering, gas shocks, and “T” ornamentation.
You could then get the blackout trim via option WO2, and the turbo motor via option LC2. This car has both Y56 and LC2 codes, and the seller is calling it a “Turbo T.” So unless I’m missing something, I don’t think BF muffed at all.
You’re citing the WE4 package. That was yet another package. But it doesn’t mean cars without WE4 are not Turbo-Ts. It is a separate animal.
https://www.hotrod.com/features/readers-ride-1987-buick-regal-we4-turbo-t/
those turbo V6s were underrated regarding horsepower, my stock GN with over a hundred thousand miles on it made over three hundred Horsepower on the dyno, they were more like 350 HP when new.
Perfect sleeper in gray. Very cool 😎 Buick sedan. Love it. Nice looking interior and Delco stereo 📻
Only 8K miles. Look closely at the interior.
It’s been used for more than 8K.
Just my opinion.
Why do you say that? What specifically do you see in that 38 year old interior that says it has more mileage than claimed?
There’s an ’87 Turbo T for sale on Denver CL for $20k….41k miles. Appears to be in nice condition.
One of the most underrated HP engines ever. Buick was good at that. The 70 GS stage 1 was probably the most underrated engine of all time. A set of rear tires, a little tuning and open exhaust would put these nearly 2 ton behemoths in the high 12s basically factory. You can’t do that with 360HP. More like 425.
My 87 GN had a TE44 turbo, TurboTweak chip, 42 lb injectors, hotwired Walbro fuel pump, RJC power plate, adjustable fuel pump regulator, Terry Houston downpipe, no cat, Hooker cat back, on Nitto drag radials would run 11:90’s all day, and that was with old technology. I added a alcohol injection kit but never got it back to the track to fully test it. The Turbo T’s had a very slight weight advantage over the GN with the aluminum bumper supports and wheels, so in theory, a quicker car.
be a bit nicer if had the optional body color bumpers which very few were made.tough get at 55k
You can have a GN. I’ll take this.