Even though the eighties decade isn’t typically remembered as fondly for exciting offerings as many periods before or after, Buick broke the mold by developing what was known as the T-Type trim level, synonymous with a sportier look and sometimes increased performance. In 1987, this package became available on the LeSabre, making the somewhat docile-looking front-wheel-drive car stand out in a crowd. However, it was short-lived, with this 1989 model here on eBay being the last of the breed for the LeSabre lineup. This beautiful black coupe is located in Commack, New York, with the current bid of $2,025 still understandably shy of the reserve.
For the LeSabre, the T-Type option got buyers black trim outside, which works exceptionally well if the body is also the same color. Also included were 15-inch aluminum wheels, a heavier-duty suspension, different light lenses in the back, a rear spoiler, and a front air dam, which all work well together to show the public that this is no ordinary Buick. The seller says all of the panels are original except one, the driver’s side front fender, which got lightly tapped in a parking lot mishap. That one got replaced and repainted, but the rest of the finish is stated to be from the factory. There’s a small amount of surface rust present in a few small areas, but it appears minor, and the body seems quite solid for the most part.
Some of the T-Type Buicks got a turbocharger as part of the package, but the LeSabre stuck with the standard 231 cubic-inch V6, which was factory rated at 165 horsepower. The seller says that even after more than a hundred thousand miles of travel, his car is still running and driving the same as when it left the factory, with the 4-speed automatic transmission stated as shifting perfectly. A new battery has also been recently installed, along with a set of brand new tires.
The sportiness continues inside, with a console, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leather seats, with both front buckets power-assisted. All interior components are still working except for the radio, but the power antenna was functioning before it went out, and the A/C continues to provide cold air. For a late-eighties LeSabre, the T-Type package added a lot of coolness to an auto that was more often than not thought of as a family car, and I’d certainly consider this one a welcomed addition to my fleet. What are your thoughts here?
Always thought, considering the timeframe, that this was a VERY sharp looking Buick; very different from our ’70 LeSabre, like a hot older cousin. Nothing slouchy about the 3800 either…
Indeed, always thought these T-type coupes at least looked the part of a worthy successor to the Grand National, too bad about the FWD and comparatively puny engine…
That said, the 3800’s 165 HP wasn’t that far off the early turbo GN’s 175 HP, tho’ of course later GNs rose to 200 HP and beyond. Too bad they dropped the T-type package before the 205 HP supercharged 3800 debuted, tho’ one of those prolly wouldn’t be that difficult to swap in.
I always liked these. I have to admit, I did not believe it when I read that this has over 100000 miles on it. Its in excellent condition. I had a chance to drive one of these when it was new, back in ’89, that 3800 V6 was very quick. ( comparing it to Malaise era cars especially) I always though the T Type was a great looking car.
In the 90’s I bought a used Park Avenue Ultra, before they went to the SC added to the 3800 V6 and it had 122,000 miles on it. I drove it for work and when it got to 189K it lost a bushing internally and had to be rebuilt for about $2k, I drove it a while longer and sold it to a friend for his mother and she sold it with 249K on it. Before the Buick I drove a Bonneville for a while with the earlier version of the 3800 both great engines but the coil pack on the Poncho would have to be replaced every year before the cold weather hit or the car would not start during the colder days of Winter in MI.
Agree w Fahrvergnugen and Driveinstile here. That interior looks super comfortable too 😎
I ordered quite a few of these during my time as fleet manager at Fanning Cadillac-Buick in Chicago.
I later bought a Sterling Silver `89 with the black cloth interior in 2009, and had it until I sold it to a friend in 2016.
The interior, spoilers and other parts still live on in other T-Types, including an Electra T-Type which were made `85-`90, with only `85 offering 2 doors and 4 doors..
`86-`90 Electra T-Types were all 4 doors.
There were 5389 LeSabre T-Types built in 1989.
LeSabre T-Types were `87-`89 only, and only available in 4 colors.
Arctic White, Black, Sterling Silver & Ruby Red.
I’ve seen that 5389 figure for 1989 LeSabre T-Type production before, and I think it’s probably wrong. These cars were rarely seen when new, so that number just seems too high. Also, other sources, including the “Standard Catalog of American Cars” list total 1989 coupe production of 4117 units, divided among base, Limited, and an unknown number of T-Types.
I’ve had that number in my head over 35 years.
Unfortunately the old LeSabre T-Type website is gone.
Now replicated by the Facebook group.
But here are the production numbers that were featured on it.
`87 – 4123
`88 – 6426
`89 – 5389
15,938 total for the 3 years.
Confirmed by the The Buick Owners Group
Website and Forum.
I will link to it in a reply to this.
Because any replies with links added require Barn Finds page approval.
Here is the link to the Buick Owners Group
Website and Forum.
https://buickforums.com/buick-lesabre-information2.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJixopleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHq9c2W6ymTSLBPnYCWFJhd5OpnIO473Jty3VjhRWhPJwey_tehl-Oz5-AcLk_aem_scD6bN3tx3ohNjErSyxjEQ
One correction to the Buick Forums link.
It mentions the T-Type package being available on LeSabre sedans, which was not the case.
It was a T Package available on Custom & Limited 2 doors and 4 doors, which included the suspension and optional gauge package that was standard on T-Types.
You could not get the console shift in T Package cars however.
The T Package added to Limiteds made them far too expensive for our customer base, so I did not order many for stock. Only Sold cars.
T Package on Customs were good for switch cars from T-Types, but you could not get the spoilers that were only available on T-Types.
Thank you Mr. Zornig for the link to that Buick site. Back in the day, a co-worker constantly bragged about how rare his Buick was. You saved me countless hours searching the internet for it, because I’d forgotten the model name. Turns out the co-worker wasn’t bragging without merit, turns out Buick built only 117 Le Sabre Grand Nationals in 1986.
…m-m-m-m…..what’s with that bungee cord holding the interior driver’s side door together ? …..m-m-m-m….
I think that is the seat/shoulder belt. It’s built into the door, a cheap implementation of a passive restraint.
Nice cars. Had a ’90 Bonneville with the 3800, 190k miles with only an Alternator replacement. Fantastic highway cruisers. Never drove the T-Type Buick but loved their appearance, they should have gotten the Supercharged 3800 as well to back up the looks. I had a chance to spend a week in a Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe fitted with the Olds FE3 suspension. I found it an almost ideal road car, tons of room, stable and solid handling, supremely comfortable and quiet and great fuel mileage with the 3800. Only negative was the door mounted belts like this Buick. I loved the big coupe body style, huge doors made entry/exit a breeze and somehow couples just feel different, despite identical chassis as a sedan. I miss those big 2 doors.
These things handle very well for a larger car, and the pre-Series 1 3800 didn’t have any of the plastic intake manifold issues of the later series engines. Love the 2-door versions of these and the Olds 88s.
During the 1980s and 1990s, I was the director of service operations for a mid-sized Chevrolet-Buick-Oldsmobile dealership and the owner bequeathed the ordering of new vehicles and wholesale purchasing and disposal of wholesale units to me. Accordingly, I had some experience with the T-Types.
I thought they were sharp diversions from the Buick genre so I ordered some. Without exception, they did nothing but absorb floor plan interest. We did order one Electra T-Type coupe in 1995 for a client who later backed out of the sale. As we were legally permitted to retain his $1,000 deposit, a lot of money back then when $100 deposits were commonplace, we did eventually get rid of that one at little gross profit. The rest we were fortunate to trade to other dealers when they called for one of our more desirable models. For us to give up a good piece of inventory, they had to also take a T-Type.
I still like those cars.
Back in the day, a friend of mine told me to keep a sharp eye peeled for one of these. I was at Win Stephens Buick one day and there in their indoor used car showroom was a red T-Type Lesabre with grey cloth. Don’t recall the year. Looked beautiful so he bought it.
Well, after he unfortunately passed on, it was sold to another car guy who found out it wasn’t as nice as it looked. Been hit and some of the bondo was starting to crack. Sometimes you miss this crap.
The featured car has the unusual options of both leather and dual powered seating. I would repair the seat backs and, as far as the dead radio, probably the amp, I must have 6 of these in my stash with the eq. and search features.
In the year these came out Buick had several hundred at the Daytona 500. I was chosen to represent our dealership and flew there for a three day event.
We had rooms at a hotel on the beach and in the parking lot were hundreds of these things. Each dealership had one, which we bought, and on race day we drove them to the track with police escort and parked in a huge parking lot in front of the track.
I drove ours back to West Palm Beach and it was sold in hours and I never saw it again. They were really few and far between. I think that was the year Bobby Allison won the race in a Buick.
Good to see some love for the LeSabre T-Type! I had this exact same car, but in maroon, back in 2000-2001. Daily drove it 300 miles a day, 6 days a week. Only issue I ever had was one of the gauges in the dash (volt meter I think) went bad and had to be replaced, and the passenger side window motor went out. Other than that, rock solid and it had close to 200k miles on it when I sold it. They look great at night: the dash is lit up all red.
I had an ’87 with GN style seat material, 3.8L not 3800 and the 440-T4 four speed.For some reason mine did not have the front spoiler or rear trunk spolier. Maybe an early build?? This would break loose the tires at command but it was not a muscle car. Turning hard onto the 401 going to school at Centennial College I was wearing out inner tie rods due to the crappy rack/pinion setup these used!
The rear spoiler was an option, mine had it but most T-Types I’ve seen don’t have it. The leather seats I believe were only available on the 1989 T-Types, 1988 & 1987 models had the GN style you refer to.
Back then my wife and I both had LeSabre T Types. Hers was silver and mine was burgundy. I think they only came in 4 colors,white,black, silver and burgundy. Really liked the looks of those cars!