The seller of this 1987 Buick Regal T-Type cites California’s draconian clean air act with his reason for selling – and making the switch to a pre-75 project that doesn’t face such scrutiny. The T-Type is the lesser seen and more conservative sibling of the GNX, and I personally like them for the sleeper vibe they give off. Find this one here on eBay with bidding to $8,400 and the reserve unmet.
While the eyeball appeal of the GNX is hard to ignore, there’s nothing wrong with the Regal’s clean lines in its more conservative duds. The color is a bit unique, t00, with the seller noting it as a dark maroon / cherry exterior paired to a cloth interior of a similar color. No badging out back adds to the sleeper effect.
The interior is standard issue, aside from some aftermarket auxiliary gauges mounted to the A-pillar. The seller notes a tear on the driver’s seat, but that’s the only major defect (aside from the color, if you can live with it). Despite coming from New York State before moving to California, the seller says there’s no rust. The T-tops do leak, however, a common GM problem.
The seller acquired the car with modifications performed by the previous owner. These include supposedly forged internals, cat-back stainless steel exhaust, vacuum brake booster conversion, rebuilt turbo, Crane cam, and a performance chip. The 86-87 model years also came from the factory with an intercooler, making them the one to buy if you’re bored with the GNX scene.
I like the interior colour..
Madame Ruby predicts a huge amount of low mileage Buick Regal T-Types to appear in Barn Finds future.
I was always and still continue to be amazed by California’s super strict laws that seem to inhibit the collector car hobby. Even those wishing to play in the “tuner” or street racer hobby are in violation by just changing an air filter. Yet, California still seems to be the epicenter for nearly everything associated with the hobby. I know that’s a blanket statement and things are changing but there is a saying here on the east coast. Why does all the cool stuff have to come from California? With that said I suppose I’m in the extreme opposite group. No safety inspections or emissions checks here. Done away with in the 90’s. Registration fees and property taxes are based on car value and mine from the 60’s are considered nearly worthless. 58 dollars last year. Anything with a VIN shorter than 17 characters is not even recognized by the state’s computers.
Hmmm? Good or bad?
I just received the registration renewal notice for my 2001 Chevy Silverado it’s $238 plus whatever it will cost for the emissions inspection, last December it cost me $146 to register my 1995 mercury Mystique. When I bought it brand new the registration on my Silverado was just over $330. I’d hate to see what it costs to register a new, expensive car.
Then there is the $3.91 per gallon cash price at the cheapest gas station in the area.
Steve R
Gas. Regular. 2.30 right now.
$8:45 a gallon here ..
Good old Calufornia
Glad that I cannot afford to live there
Doesn’t seem like a very friendly place with all its anti car rules. I stay away when I visit the US
Not even the GN could match the killer look of the GNX, T-types were the way to go to stay under the radar so to speak…but we all knew about those crazy Buicks back then. No disguising it. Catch em under high temperature but even then my 5.0 had me working overtime..
California’s not all bad, it’s the price we pay to avoid tornadoes, sub freezing temperatures and so forth, at least here in so cal.
My rule with Turbo Buicks….
Gauges on the A-pillar?
Run away
98% signs that it was abused.
Hence the forged internals…lol.. first thing I ordered when I rebuilt stock engine…
It was pointed out that GM T-tops leak and they do, but back in 1978 my wife purchased a new Mustang ll with the Cobra package and T-tops-it leaked from day one. We took it back to the dealer twice and it was never fixed! Finally, he sent it to some “hot shot” miracle working body man; it leaked worse after he tried to fix it! If you look at a car with T-tops and the owner says they don’t leak be afraid, very afraid!
I’ve always liked the sleeper appeal of these, even from when they were new. I’d say this is the sibling to the GN, more so than the ultra-rare GNX.