It is fair to say that Buick rewrote the muscle car rulebook in the 1980s. Previously the preserve of firebreathing V8s, the company’s range of turbocharged V6 Regals recaptured an era when outright performance was everything. While many people focus on the Grand National and GNX, the 1987 Turbo-T seems to be underappreciated. It isn’t as rare or potent as a GNX, but its lower curb weight makes it faster than a Grand National. This Turbo-T is an amazing survivor with 28,000 miles on its odometer. It needs a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this beauty.
The seller describes this Turbo-T as a three-owner survivor that has never seen snow and hasn’t tasted rain since the 1980s. I’m prepared to take the claim at face value, although the additional exterior-mounted gauge undermines the originality claim. The same is true of the wheels because this car should wear the 15″ aluminum “turbo-style” ones, not those that were standard firment on the Grand National. I admit I prefer those on this Buick, but locating a set of correct wheels would maximize the investment potential. Both changes are easily reversible, so I don’t view them as deal-breakers. The Code 19 Black paint is original, and finding anything worth criticizing about it or the panels seems impossible. I can’t spot any flaws or defects, and there is no evidence of corrosion or developing rust. The trim and plastic are in good order, and the glass appears perfect.
Buick’s 3.8-liter V6 engine was always a competent performer that saw service in many models, including the Australian Holden VN Commodore range. However, the company pursued the forced-induction path to create a genuine high-performance powerplant. Internal upgrades, fuel injection, electronic engine management, a turbocharger, and an intercooler were all contributing factors that delivered an “official” 245hp and 355 ft/lbs of torque. It is widely believed that Buick significantly understated the output figures, along with the ¼-mile ET. The Turbo-T may have featured the same engine and four-speed automatic transmission combination that powered the iconic Grand National, but the package brought a significant weight reduction courtesy of the company’s decision to substitute aluminum for steel in a few key areas. The Grand National tipped the scales at 3,373 lbs, but the Turbo-T reduced that figure to 3,210 lbs. That was even lower than the GNX, but the “T” didn’t feature the same power output. However, place a Grand National and a Turbo-T side-by-side on a drag strip and the difference becomes apparent. The Grand National completes the journey in 14.8 seconds, with the Turbo -T taking 14.6 seconds. It is also worth noting that the figures in both cases were supplied by Buick, and independent testing produced significantly better results. The engine bay of this car presents as beautifully as you would rightly expect from a pampered survivor with only 28,000 miles on its odometer. The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence but states that the Buick runs and drives perfectly. I see many years of enjoyable motoring ahead for its new owner.
The interior shots supplied by the seller brought a couple of surprises, including the sight of a selection of aftermarket gauges. That is disappointing, but since it appears that nothing was cut during the installation, reversal should be straightforward. The other surprise was the lack of a center console and the column shifter. I don’t recall seeing another Turbo-T with this configuration, although my research confirms that buyers could order their new Turbo-T in this form. The presentation is excellent, with no evidence of wear or marks on the prone Gray and Black cloth seatcovers. The headliner hasn’t suffered the typical sagging problems, and the plastic is in good order. This Buick might lack the console, but the buyer scores air conditioning, a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
The seller listed this 1987 Buick Regal Turbo-T here on Craigslist in Palatine, Illinois. Their price of $47,900 means it isn’t an affordable classic, and that figure is at the top end of the market. However, with values climbing slowly but steadily, the figure is probably justified for a vehicle of this caliber. I doubt the seller will have potential buyers beating down their door while holding a fistful of cash, but I believe it will eventually find a new home. The biggest question revolves around its price. Do you believe the seller will taste success at the current level, or will a compromise be required?
Never saw one with column shifter!
Lots of T-Types had a column shifter. The seats in this car should be Light Grey Velour Bench. Someone has switched them out for Grand National seats.
I also noticed no tilt no power windows and no power locks. It looks like a very clean well kept buick
Vehicle is missing the velor bench seats front and rear , missing the turbine wheels, missing the center cap T on steering wheel.
At this point , I’d be seriously deciding this vehicle from stem to stern. Be all over this car before buying in
Yeah, for a supposed “low mile” WE4 I am not sure why you would remove the bench and change to GN patterned buckets. The wheels are easy enough to swap as long as the owner smartly kept the original Turbo Regal wheels. Still, perhaps the cynic in me, but I am always very leery of low mileage claims and when I see a car that has supposed low miles and it has been modified significant enough to draw questions, I am only that much more skeptical. A thorough inspection from nose to tail is definitely warranted.
The RPO codes would tell you what it originally had. I do not believe that this is a WE4. It appears to be a Limited and I’ve never seen a Limited WE4. I owned a WE4 and it was nothing like this car.
I have seen several with column shift but never have I seen one with mis-matching seat colors. The black and grey seats doesn’t match the dash and door panels and I have never seen such a console in a Buick.
1987 was the year of “anything goes” with the Regal turbos. Someone in my neighborhood had a white Turbo T with bench seat, column shift, power sunroof, and padded landau roof. It looked like something Grandma would drive to bingo, if not for the wheels and the bulge on the hood with “3.8 SFI TURBO” emblems.
This one has incorrect seats and wheels. It probably had a 45/55 split bench seat, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it started out a different color. That was a big reason why someone would choose a Turbo T over a GN.
You could get the T package on any Regal in 87, even non turbo cars. The T package didn’t mean it had the turbo engine.
A few red flags…, low miles and immaculate condition reflect a garage queen, but why the aftermarket gauges? A split bench with a column shifter would have been expected in a Regal, with either base cloth or the pillowed velour if a Limited trim. And why take off the aluminum wheels and replace with heavier chrome steel GN wheels? Not throwing stones, it’s a beautiful car, just too many “huh’s” for me.
Hmmmm….lots of questions to be asked about this one…
First, this is not a WE4. I know, I have one and did much research on them. WE4s never had the column shifter. Other Turbo Regals with chrome bumpers did, but were never combined with bucket seats. Those are Grand National seats, and combined with the black bumpers and GN wheels this is one bad clone.
I also noticed they painted over, instead of removing the Regal emblems which WE4s never had either. That center horn medallion is after market and just sticks on over the original T one. WE4s also didn’t have the header panel emblem.
I would like to see the SPID trunk label as the WE4 Turbo T only came with specific options, not shown here ?
This looks like a Limited model that someone had the Chrome bumpers painted black. They also removed the split bench seat for GN buckets. The WE4 didn’t come in a Limited model. I was the original owner of a WE4 and have an original sales brochure. Y56 was the T package, WO2 was the sport package that gave you the black trim and LC2 gave you the turbo package. In buick literature the term Turbo T wasn’t used, not until the bulletin for the WE4 was it used. The WE4 didn’t have Regal emblems on the quarters. The only emblems were the two on the trunk lid, the T and the SFI Turbo on the hood.
This car has a rear spoiler which only came on the GN. It didn’t come on Limited or WE4. This was either added on at the dealer or when all the other changes were made. The taillights also look like they are blacked out. Too many questions about this one.
My WE4 has a GN spoiler. The original owner told me it was factory installed, but he probably meant dealer.
For info on the WE4, check out BuickWE4.com. There’s a link to the WE4 bulletin as well as others.