Confused about The 87 Buick Turbo-T

[adzmcss]

Ok i need to know exactly what a buick turbo t really is ??? Because I've been thinking that have one of these only 1547 cars made... My car came silver paint with blue interior (buckets and console)It also has the black exterior trim except for it has chrome bumpers...Now what made beleave I have a WE4 turbo t is i do have aluminium inner bumper braces and the "T" badges on the fenders and steering wheel...

Whats confusing me is I've been seeing other 87 turbo regals with all chrome and T badges on them,being called turbo t's??? And I thought that they were just called regal limited's


Will somebody please correct me so that I don't look stupid .Thanks

 

[GNBRETT]

WE4? Black not silver. Buick History

 

[WH1_T-Type]

If an '87 came from the factory turbocharged it is a 'turbo-T', be that a regular Regal, a Limited, or anything in between.

The WE4 package is just that....a package option for the turbo-T. It is NOT what made the car a turbo-T. WE4 is also all black like a GN. Sounds like you have the WO2 'black out' package. UNLESS you have a repainted WE4. Do you have that code in your RPO sticker?

 

[pacecarta]

if your trunk sticker doesnt show we4 then its not and as brett said WE4s were black only (pant code 19U)

and all Ts even the we4s had aluminum supports , the 87 GN had steel supports

 

[adzmcss]

Thanks alot guys see I kinda was thinking that too.. Now I know for sure..lol

My car has been repainted by the previous owner all black and the spid sticker must of been painted over along with door ones... (dumb!!) There is still the vin on the dash and I have the original title is there anyway to decode it that way?

 

[WH1_T-Type]

No. You gotta have the RPO code or original build sheet to know what options that the car came with. I think that I remember the thread about a repainted WE4 though. If the RPO sticker is painted over though, you've got no chance of presenting it as a WE4.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

Thanks alot guys see I kinda was thinking that too.. Now I know for sure..lol

My car has been repainted by the previous owner all black and the spid sticker must of been painted over along with door ones... (dumb!!) There is still the vin on the dash and I have the original title is there anyway to decode it that way?

see if this helps...

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/1870135-post15.html

 

[Sal 87WE2]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/ge...48605-part-original-86-gn-window-sticker.html

might want read the whole thread instead...

 

[Turbo1dr]

I think the WE4 is suppose to be the "Turbo T" model.

It just depends who is talking about the 87 model Turbocharged Regal. Some people call them Turbo T, T-Type, Buick T or Regal T. I call mine all of those. However, T-Type is the most popular name.

 

[t-topflyer]

May or may not still have the build sheet inside the door and/or under the rear seat cushion. That should have WE4 on it if it is one or at the very least would give you more info.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Does anyone know why they decided to drop the T type name and not really give any special name designation to the turbo models for '87?

 

[Pittsburghkid]

Here's something i read that might help. Also if i'm not mistaken you can call the any gm dealer and get a reprint of the RPO code label that would be on the truck lid of the car. Here's a link to how to read to RPO codes.

Buick Turbo Regal Option Codes (Regular Production Options - RPO)

1987 Buick Turbo Regal?

"At the risk of ruffling feathers of some, I'll try and clarify the "Turbo T" package as Buick marketed it in 1987. Despite Buick dropping the T-Type designation for 1987, all the cosmetic and suspension options common to the T-Type were made available for any 1987 Regal with the standard 3.8-Liter V6. They did this by offering a "T" Package (option code Y56). This "T" Package consisted of the Touring Suspension; Leather wrapped Sport Steering Wheel, Turbo aluminum wheels, Eagle GT Tires, Fast Ratio Power Steering, Gas Shocks, and "T" ornamentation. For those who also wanted the black trim from the previous T-Type model, Buick offered the Exterior Sport Package (option code WO2). The WO2 option was available on any Regal, regardless of the engine.

Now, if you wanted a Regal with a turbo engine, you ordered the "Turbo Package" (option LC2). This package automatically included the "T" package (but not the WO2 Package). What you ended up with was a Regal with the "Turbo" and "T" Packages. Many have chose to call these cars "Turbo T's". However, no where in Buick's literature was there ever any mention of the term "Turbo T" until Buick released Product Information Bulletin 87-031 on November 15, 1986 entitled "Regal WE4 Turbo "T" Package. This bulletin announced the release of the WE4 as a "Special Turbo T Package" and made numerous references to the term Turbo T as unique to the WE4. Here is a direct quote from this bulletin: "The WE4 Turbo 'T' Package will enable you to merchandise a car that is similar in appearance, and yet lighter in weight, than today's Grand National. This reduction in weight theoretically makes the Turbo T faster than a Grand National, and for a lower price."

So, a 1987 Turbo Regal, without the WE2, Grand National or WE4 Turbo T option packages, really had no unique name. It was merely a Regal with the Turbo Package or a Turbo Regal, if you will. Now, having said all that, it certainly is no great sin to call a Turbo Regal a "Turbo T" because it's convenient to do so. It's just not technically correct." --RK

- This text was taken from a post from Turbo Buick list member Ray Kammer on December 25, 1998. It is probably the best (long) explanation of the "T" signification.

 

[salvageV6]

You've got a base Regal, check the hood cowl tag under the drivers wiper, and find the codes on that and post them ALL up.

Original paint code should be on it, that will tell you if it's been repainted a different color.

Sounds like a base Regal with the turbo package that includes the T package in 1987 as well as having the WO2 black out package option.

Blue interior ain't in a WE4 car.

If it's got the Turbo and T packages so no biggie to me if you want to call it a Turbo T, just don't call it a WE4 just yet.

If the paint is over one of the labels perhaps the right solvent could take that off or it could be scraped off preserving the codes intact.

Won't be easy but probably could be doable if you can remove the stickers from the car and take your time with the restoration of the labels.

 

[Sal 87WE2]

Great info!

Thanks for posting that!

 

[turbofish38]

and all Ts even the we4s had aluminum supports , the 87 GN had steel supports

I used to say the same thing............until I ran across a few base Turbo Regals with steel supports from the factory. I don't have access to my SPID labels to post an example but I have a couple of LC2 cars without the VD6 and VD7 codes on them. I don't know why but they exist. I have yet to find a WE4 with steel supports so I can safely assume that part is true. Not that we need to rehash the factory lightweight myth again.

 

[usetaboost]

I wonder what's lighter, your 86 gn or my we4?:biggrin:

 

[1quick6]

I think the WE4 is suppose to be the "Turbo T" model.

It just depends who is talking about the 87 model Turbocharged Regal. Some people call them Turbo T, T-Type, Buick T or Regal T. I call mine all of those. However, T-Type is the most popular name.

I've called mine everything but a T-Type. The funny thing is, at trophy time at car shows, my car has never been called anything but a Buick Regal by the anouncer even though I am very specific on the entry sheet. I'm sure the crowd is saying big whoop, but they probably wouldn't think any more of it with a "T" added.

 

[usetaboost]

I've called mine everything but a T-Type. The funny thing is, at trophy time at car shows, my car has never been called anything but a Buick Regal by the anouncer even though I am very specific on the entry sheet. I'm sure the crowd is saying big whoop, but they probably wouldn't think any more of it with a "T" added.

Mines been called everything BUT a turbo T. Let's see... monte of course, cutlass, regal, big ugly car, pos (that's my wife's name for it), sh!tbox (mine), rusty (mine too), beer can, waste of space, stupid car, T-TOP (as opposed to T TYPE) ...I'm sure there's more, that's just off the top of my head.

 

[Turbo-Archie]

I've always used:

Turbo Regal
Turbo Limited
WE4 (Turbo T)

T-Type if non-Buick guy asks .....



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