Strange Buick I spotted on the streets in Philly. What do you guys think...

[1dollardog]

Did you ever stop and ask about it?

 

[phillyturbosix]

I've been driving by as much as I can looking for any life around the house. I'm off tomorrow so maybe I'll spin by again. It did look like a factory astro roof car. I'll remember to bring the camera

 

[WH1_T-Type]

I've been doing the same thing with a TTA in my area!!

 

[Dennis Kirban]

kirban 2 cents worth

I go with some of the above guesses....no 3rd brake lite pins it down to being a 1984-85 based on appearance. Padded roof seems dealer installed...

After 20 plus years adding turbo hood and rear spoiler is like the old days of popping a GTO hood on a Lemans. I would almost venture a guess it has the plush Limited style interior.

Depending on the neighborhood, I would be hesitate to knock on the door, and if I heard a a dog barking I would cancel the idea of banging on the door.

denniskirban@yahoo.com

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

kirban 2 cents worth

I go with some of the above guesses....no 3rd brake lite pins it down to being a 1984-85 based on appearance. Padded roof seems dealer installed...

After 20 plus years adding turbo hood and rear spoiler is like the old days of popping a GTO hood on a Lemans. I would almost venture a guess it has the plush Limited style interior.

Depending on the neighborhood, I would be hesitate to knock on the door, and if I heard a a dog barking I would cancel the idea of banging on the door.

denniskirban@yahoo.com

sounds like experiance talking:biggrin:

 

[Dennis Kirban]

sounds like experiance talking:biggrin:

kirban 2 cents worth

On the above note....your rite about the experience angle however it has to do with my towing business.

I was picking up a car that was in an impound yard. The yard owner failed to tell me they had a guard dog that was chained up to one of the cars in the yard. So happened it was the car next to the car I was retrieving and this dog was laying under the car.

As I was hooking up the car, this dog with out barking lunged out from under the car luckily I was quicker and he just nailed me slightly in the leg thru my pants....
So you never know.......

denniskirban@yahoo.com

 

[toofastforyou]

kirban 2 cents worth

Padded roof seems dealer installed...

Dennis, in one of my earlier posts (#10), I was referring to your book "Kirban's guide to 1986 & 1987 Buick Turbo Regals", on page 233, where you were saying that the "heavily padded landau vinyl top" (option # CO4) was available...and ended up being extremely hard to find. Could you please explain what makes you think the one pictured isn't factory installed? Couldn't this car be one of those rare "hard to find" ones?

Thanks,

Claude.

 

[Dennis Kirban]

Dennis, in one of my earlier posts (#10), I was referring to your book "Kirban's guide to 1986 & 1987 Buick Turbo Regals", on page 233, where you were saying that the "heavily padded landau vinyl top" (option # CO4) was available...and ended up being extremely hard to find. Could you please explain what makes you think the one pictured isn't factory installed? Couldn't this car be one of those rare "hard to find" ones?

Thanks,

Claude.

kirban 2 cents worth

It could be however, if you look closely top appears to have a seam running from front to rear at least visible on the passenger side. Seeing the trunk ID codes would answer a lot of questions.

Why don't we all cast our bets

Does the owner have a dog? Or no dog?

Being in Philadelphia....I bet on them having a dog!

denniskirban@yahoo.com

 

[phillyturbosix]

I did'nt see any dogs. It's a twin house in a decent area so it should be fine. I'll see if I can snap a few more pics tomorrow of it

 

[Dennis Kirban]

I did'nt see any dogs. It's a twin house in a decent area so it should be fine. I'll see if I can snap a few more pics tomorrow of it

kirban 2 cents worth

Car seems to be pinstriped if it breaks under mirror and its painted on may be original factory pinstripe. It stops by end caps for rear spoiler which was added later is my guess.

I would be very very surprised if the car was anything special outside of having the bolt on parts from a dead Turbo car. What section of Philadelphia? Chestnut Hill? Germantown?

denniskirban@yahoo.com

 

[phillyturbosix]

It's in NE Philly right near Cottman and Frankford Aves.

 

[Slow91z]

I just noticed that if you look close at one of the pics it has woodgrain on the dash...Not looking good.

 

[Bweavy]

kirban 2 cents worth

I go with some of the above guesses....no 3rd brake lite pins it down to being a 1984-85 based on appearance. Padded roof seems dealer installed...


denniskirban@yahoo.com

It's Dealer installed & probablly had a half padded roof at 1 time looking at the quarter glass. One dead give away about the vinyl top trim being aftermarket. On a half padded car the trim stops a little over 2" away from the B-pillar. This is for the molding to join into the roof trim.

So either it was a hard top with hail damage then installed a full vinyl top or some one removed the half pad which is my guess since the quarter glass looks like it is for a padded roof car.

 

[BASS]

Looks like its rust-free

 

[INEEDAGN]

If you can't find the owner you may squat down on that sidewalk and try to see if it has an 8.5 under it. Maybe snap a couple pics under the back with the flash on and decipher later. While you're there look for electric fuel pump wiring or hotwiring. If you're really brave you could step off the sidewalk and get a look at the VIN. Or if you're REALLY REALLY brave you could take a screwdriver and pop the trunk (looks like the lock is missing) and snap a pic of the rpo sticker. C'mon, you know you want to. And we all want to see it as well.

Subscribed!

EDIT: your last pic looks like that little white tag hanging under the bumper could be on the fuel pump wiring. I know it hangs pretty low.

 

[phillyturbosix]

this day light savings time is crap! I tried to get over there for more pics but it's dark too soon! I think during the day it's nice and quiet around there I might stop over during the week. It does have the bar code tag hanging from the pump wires. Also looks like maybe a hooker cat back system on it.

There isn't really hail in this area at all but plenty of salt so maybe it was a padded top and they changed it when it went bad. I'll see if I can sneak around there this week

 

[WH1]

I agree with Dennis; it's an 84 Limited with leftover turbo parts. But I'd really like to know.