First introduced in 1973, the Regal would be Buick’s premium mid-size automobile. Like the rest of GM’s intermediates, it was downsized in 1978 to more manageable outside proportions with passenger space remaining about the same. This 1978 edition has the optional turbocharger that came with the Regal Sport Coupe and was popular with more than 30,500 copies built. Though in Costa Mesa, California now, it stayed in a garage in Ohio for many years and could use a bit of TLC. This turbo is available here on craigslist for $8,600, and is a tip brought to us by Barn Finder “num”.
The Regal has been a mainstay at Buick for 50 years and is currently in its sixth generation of production. It would be the basis for the famous Grand National Series of the 1980s which would also find success in NASCAR. In 1978, when you ordered a Regal, you could get the 231 cubic inch V6 equipped with a turbocharger for the first time. The Regal Sport Coupe, as it was called, was only offered with an automatic transmission. Two variants of the turbo were available, one with a 2-barrel carburetor and the other with a 4-barrel. The latter was the most popular at 165 hp and 27,811 of the 30,507 assembled were so equipped.
I’m not sure how much zip the turbo added, but surely it helped. We had an ’83 Cutlass with the regular 231 V6 engine and it was fairly gutless. We’re told the seller’s car has less than 20,000 miles, likely due to its being in storage for many years (for reasons not mentioned). The seller says the engine runs, but the carburetor needs to be rebuilt. We’d also wonder about the fuel delivery system after sitting for so long.
The body looks good, although the green paint is a bit faint and the plastic filler inserts between the sheet metal and rear bumper are missing (they all eventually cracked and fell apart). The interior is original and could use a thorough detailing, though the carpeting is faded and may need to be dyed or replaced. We’re told the Buick still has a new car smell inside, an interesting feat for a 45-year-old vehicle. Hopefully, that can be retained when the car is cleaned up.
Stone Cold Sleeper. I remember hearing the turbo whistle from these monsters back in the day.
Sorry Bobby but these where horrible,this isn’t the GN turbo set up…
lol: “stone cold sleeper” and “monsters”.
When you consider what else was available, at the time, these ran pretty good. No, not as good as an intercooled Grand National, but still, pretty good.
I had one of these turbo Sport Coupe’s when I was young and foolish. The whine was from the turbo bearing failing at about 20,000 miles or less. Not one of GM’s better designs. I would not touch another ’78 Sport Coupe with a 10 ft. pole!
Yeah, these were not “those” Turbo Regals…When I first drove my Dad’s 86 T Type and eventually my own GN, it took awhile to get used to the turbo whining. Reflexively I always remember glancing up at the rear view mirror looking for a police car. The turbo was not that loud, but I seemed to assimilate it to the sound to emergency vehicle sirens. Then again, I was 20 when I bought my GN, and having been warned by the CA DMV of my driving habits via, a few too many moving violations, maybe it was my guilty conscious.
Just look under that hood,Get ya some of that!
My GF back in the day had 78 turbo Monte Carlo which I believe was the same turbo and engine. It was awful, engine never ran right which is most likely why only 20k miles. Eventually disconnected the turbo setup which helped make it run better.
I bet the turbo just needed rebuilt.
Back then I rebuilt my Turbo for less than $120 with a kit from Turbo City in California. The dealer wanted over $1000 since it was off warranty by 2000 miles. Ran great after that and with synthetic oil it didn’t need to be rebuilt for another 60K miles.
I don’t remember the 231 ever coming with a 4 bbl carb! However I could be mistaken.
Bill McCanless,
Engine codes ES, EP and ER came with the 4 barrel carburettor. Only available for the trubo engines.
Here is a photo I took of the 1978 Buick engine information:
https://i.ibb.co/tPB878H/1978-Buick.jpg
On a turbo, most were that way. Normally aspirated, no. However if you find a normally aspirated Buick V6 with a four barrel, it’s probably a 4.1L.
I’ll never forget my friend Steve, when the turbo Regal came out he totally creamed his jeans. He couldn’t afford one, so in typical Steve fashion, he came up with a brilliant scheme to get himself one. He actually paid some kid to test drive the car, make copies of the keys, then Steve had him STEAL the car off the dealer’s lot late one night. Obviously, it being a stolen car, he wasn’t ever able to drive it, though he did risk it occasionally on sunny Saturday afternoons. He kept it hidden in a rented garage on the other side of town for two years before tiring of it, and he eventually abandoned it in a McDonald’s parking lot. Steve Obviously wasn’t an Einstein, and was pretty lazy, and I was surprised that he gave up his prize so easily. I could tell Steve stories till the end of time, but suffice it to say that he eventually went to prison for yet another stolen car misadventure. Sometimes I wonder what ever became of that fool…
Sometimes they realize they can breathe easier after they hear popping sound as they pulled their head out-some never get that clue.
I think a whole lot of us have had a Steve friend and learned whoever taught us right from wrong saved us from the fate of those”friends”.
I had a red ‘78 Regal turbo. Worst car I ever owned. Without fail, every summer the A/C would not work. I was told they used a compressor from the Chevette in them. The belts were always breaking. It blew black smoke because the dealer could never get the mixture right.
When it did run, it was a very nice ride.
Mine ran great from new till about 30K miles. Rebuilt the turbo and drove it till 115K+ miles. Never had an AC problem for the first 12 years, don’t know why you had a problem other than a bad dealership?
OK here’s the truth about those cars. I ordered one new in November 1978. Loaded it out with 2 tone gold paint, tan bucket seats with console and every option available. First thing I did was swap the tires/wheels for larger 8″ wide alloys and 60 series BFG T/A’s. Found it to be a very good handling car entered a few Gymkana’s. I would leave it in 1st gear and blast around the tight parking lot courses keeping up with and sometimes beating Vettes and Camaro’s. Now the downside was the 231 with a 4bbl and Turbo was factory limited to about 4.5# boost. The only electronics on the first 3 years was a knock sensor to retard the spark advance. The car was quick enough to hold it’s own with same year Z28’s and Vettes but not fast by Grand National standards. The biggest problem was with the bearings in the Turbo coking due to heat and non synthetic oils of the period. No warnings were given to owners to allow the engine to cool down a bit after running it hard before shutting it off. I had to rebuild my Turbo after about 30K miles and 80K. Buick wouldn’t warranty them. Remember 3yrs/36K mile warranties? I even played around with the boost and put in a real boost gage but anything over 6# would have heavy detonation under load in 3rd gear. Great driving car for trips and around town. Had mine for 15 years until Michigan road salt killed the body :o(
Really cool cars that steadily evolved into the Mac Daddy Turbo T’s and Grand Nationals.
The 1984 Turbo Buicks were the dawn of a new era, with Fuel Injection, electronic ignition and Computer Command Control/ECM.
My father had one in this color combo back in 1978, but naturally aspirated.
I’ve been a Turbo Buick enthusiast ever since! I would personally bring this car to the next level….lots of great memories.
👍🤓
My girlfriend back then had a1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe 3.8 V6 Automatic, it is basically the same car except for the lights in front and back. From the side, you can’t tell them apart.
Looked alike but the Turbo V6 was a lot faster than the stock 231 she had. Plus mine was ordered with a 3.23 posi to help it launch.
Buick 455 and a five speed for me.
IIRC, these had 165hp with a 4 barrel.
The interior plastics on these look to be the same shape as Chevys from the day, but they to appear to have held up better and be of better quality. I bought an 80 Monte Carlo turbo used in 84 and the maroon plastics inside were turning purple and crumbling. And yes, the car was a typical total POS GM product.
BTW, the motor fried itself at 40k despite my 2.5k oil changes. It was a 2 barrel version. If my hatred of GM products shows, trust me, they’ve spent a good part of my lifetime selling me a product and me being stupid enough to think it will be ok this time. It never will be and I’ll never ever by another GM product.
My 78 Turbo 4bbl ran for 114K and was only taken off the road because of extensive rust in Michigan. I have run Chevy 4.3 engines in 4 vehicles all running over 200K miles and they still ran good. Only vehicles I have had problems with are Fords.