Turbo T or not Turbo T

[j47/lc2]

I know it's no big deal, but am I the only one who cringes when someone calls any Turbo Regal (other than a GN) a Turbo T? Someone writes a Guide to 1986 and 1987 Buick turbo Regals and perpetuates this misinformation. Should we call all Camaros, except Z28s, Berlinettas? No. Fact is, Buick only called the WE4 a Turbo T. Sorry for the rant.

 

[need boost]

lol, 86 T TYPE here, I can live with turbo T more than what I usually get. You know, Hey man, what year is your monte carlo hahahahaha Idiots !!!

 

[Rodney87GN]

My co worker still can't get it right, he keeps calling my car a Grand AM or Grand Prix....uhh big difference there.

 

[Mike S]

I'm still new to turbo Buicks, but I understood it as the T Type became the "Turbo T" in '87 because the cars were badged with just the single red and black "T".

If that's wrong, let me know so I don't spread misinformation. This is something I found while researching these cars on another site.

 

[2QUIK6]

My co worker still can't get it right, he keeps calling my car a Grand AM or Grand Prix....uhh big difference there.

Yep...for some reason I have several non-car friends that always say Grand Am...WTF??? and my Trans Am's are Camaros....geezs

 

[Gary Wells]

It is my understanding that Buick went with the Turbo-T designation in '87 as the T-Type became a handling performance option available without the turbo package.

 

[j47/lc2]

In reply to Wells and Mike S, Buick did drop the T-Type designation in '87 as they decided to offer the Turbo Package on any Regal that year. All turbo Regals for '87 came with the Y56 T Package Which was the Gran Touring suspension, fast steering, gas shocks, 15" aluminum wheels, Eagle GTs, & leather sport steering wheel. This package put the little T emblem on the cars. This package DID NOT make them Turbo Ts. GNs had this same package, just no T emblem. In December 1986, Buick made available the WE4 Turbo 'T' package which got you a GN looking (sorta) Regal that was not capacity limited to 33% of production like the GNs were. In fact, Buick quit offering the WO2 trim package on black cars around the same time to move people to the WE4. In short, The WE4 is the only Turbo T. All others are simply turbo Regals, or Regal with turbo as the Buick brochures call them.

 

[gpadilla1071]

Better yet, I had this teen stop by my house one day to sell me some cleaning product; and as I was listening to him on how great his product was, he made an outstanding observation and asked me what year is my "Chevy Grand National SS"

I couldn't help but to slam the door on his face!!:biggrin:

It's just too funny to get angry at them....

 

[Gary Wells]

j47/lc2:
Thanks for the correction.

 

[GNBRETT]

I have posted this before so here it is again.

Buick History

 

[BLACK6PACK]

Had mine called a Buick International, a few times. Maybe its the tractor tires I have on it!

 

[turbofish38]

In reply to Wells and Mike S, Buick did drop the T-Type designation in '87 as they decided to offer the Turbo Package on any Regal that year. All turbo Regals for '87 came with the Y56 T Package Which was the Gran Touring suspension, fast steering, gas shocks, 15" aluminum wheels, Eagle GTs, & leather sport steering wheel. This package put the little T emblem on the cars. This package DID NOT make them Turbo Ts. GNs had this same package, just no T emblem. In December 1986, Buick made available the WE4 Turbo 'T' package which got you a GN looking (sorta) Regal that was not capacity limited to 33% of production like the GNs were. In fact, Buick quit offering the WO2 trim package on black cars around the same time to move people to the WE4. In short, The WE4 is the only Turbo T. All others are simply turbo Regals, or Regal with turbo as the Buick brochures call them.

Not exactly. First off you'll never be able to crunch the numbers to come up with 33% of anything. That might have been the goal but I think once somebody figured out that the cars were going to be canned for the 88 model year than it was no holds barred. That little "T" emblem just means Touring suspension. Just like in 86 when you could get any Buick as a T-Type in 87 you could get any Buick with the Touring suspension. Or little "T" on the fenders. I've even seen 87 LeSabre 4 door sedans with those "T's. Electra and LeSabre still had a T-Type in 87 though. Only the 87 Buicks used the "T". They went back to T-Type for 88 with the exception of the Regal GS. 1990 was the last year for the T-Type.

I suspect the only reason Buick came out with the WE4 was to justify the building of more GrandNationals. Think about it. Nobody wanted a turbo Regal. NA Regal sales were flat lining. The GN was the big seller. You cant bump up GN production unless you kick out more Regals. A WE4 was a no brainer. Here you have a Regal that looks like a GN. No extra tooling needed. Just slap on the GN bumpers to a black W02 Regal. How's come the WE4 got a special bulletin telling the dealers how to order and sell them and the turbo'd Regals didn't?

 

[j47/lc2]

Hi Eric. As stated "All turbo Regals for '87 came with the Y56 T Package Which was the Gran Touring suspension, fast ratio steering, gas shocks, 15" aluminum wheels, Eagle GTs, & leather sport steering wheel." which is absolutely correct. I didn't say that the T package was exclusive to Regals. The T package is more than the suspension. Not sure what part of that is unclear. As for the 33% part, thats from Buick, I'm not privy to any info that disputes that. I don't like to speculate. Thanks!

 

[j47/lc2]

GNBRETT, thank you, thank you, thank you!! I had no idea that was on the net, but explains it perfectly! For those who being correct is important, read that! That is very similar to an email I sent Kirban many years back. Got some incohesive reply. Thanks again!!

 

[GNBRETT]

GNBRETT, thank you, thank you, thank you!! I had no idea that was on the net, but explains it perfectly! For those who being correct is important, read that! That is very similar to an email I sent Kirban many years back. Got some incohesive reply. Thanks again!!

 

[salvageV6]

Why in the world would you not think some people could easily put together the packages as displayed on badges on their cars, specifically, Turbo on the hood, T on the fenders, and come up with calling their cars Turbo T's?

Why is it only an obscure piece of literature from Buicks order dept. for the WE4 cars that makes it exclusive?

If I had a car that said Turbo and T on it I'd call it a Turbo T when trying to describe it, then again I'd call it a T-Type if I was in a hurry too whether it was an 86, or 87.

And yeah, I own a WE4 too.

Believe me the common man can relate to Turbo T when you point out the badges, even if the car is burgundy, white, blue...... :smile:

The rest don't care that much about your "Monte Carlo". :biggrin:

 

[qwks6]

to some people it's all about the little emblems and what they mean to them. To some people it's all about the car. Bottom line, we all care about the history and culture of our cars, but like any history there are different interpretations.

Some packages are more attractive than others. I have a 96 impala ss that's black, ss package... now that's the attractive part of it, the trim package the impala came with. The caprice had the same driveline, but didn't look as good. Same thing here.

If you like your car or even love your car, good for you! These are all great cars, consider yourself luck to have one!!!!! I sure do!

 

[Mike S]

In reply to Wells and Mike S, Buick did drop the T-Type designation in '87 as they decided to offer the Turbo Package on any Regal that year. All turbo Regals for '87 came with the Y56 T Package Which was the Gran Touring suspension, fast steering, gas shocks, 15" aluminum wheels, Eagle GTs, & leather sport steering wheel. This package put the little T emblem on the cars. This package DID NOT make them Turbo Ts. GNs had this same package, just no T emblem. In December 1986, Buick made available the WE4 Turbo 'T' package which got you a GN looking (sorta) Regal that was not capacity limited to 33% of production like the GNs were. In fact, Buick quit offering the WO2 trim package on black cars around the same time to move people to the WE4. In short, The WE4 is the only Turbo T. All others are simply turbo Regals, or Regal with turbo as the Buick brochures call them.

I have posted this before so here it is again.

Buick History

Thanks for the info and the link. It makes a lot more sense now.

Why in the world would you not think some people could easily put together the packages as displayed on badges on their cars, specifically, Turbo on the hood, T on the fenders, and come up with calling their cars Turbo T's?

Why is it only an obscure piece of literature from Buicks order dept. for the WE4 cars that makes it exclusive?

If I had a car that said Turbo and T on it I'd call it a Turbo T when trying to describe it, then again I'd call it a T-Type if I was in a hurry too whether it was an 86, or 87.

I agree, I'd like to see a copy of the brochure/insert/flyer/memo/whatever that distinguished the WE4 package as the real and only 'Turbo T'. I'm not saying it dosen't exist (I believe that it does), but I'd like to read it for myself.

Why couldn't they just make it simple?

 

[F8L WS6]

I would love to get even just that. If I tell anyone I have a Turbo Buick, Turbo T Type, WH1 any of that I get blank stares. As soon as I say "It's a Grand National sorta" THEN comes the "OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[TexasT]

Thanks for the info and the link. It makes a lot more sense now.



I agree, I'd like to see a copy of the brochure/insert/flyer/memo/whatever that distinguished the WE4 package as the real and only 'Turbo T'. I'm not saying it dosen't exist (I believe that it does), but I'd like to read it for myself.

Why couldn't they just make it simple?

BUICKWE4.com

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for some links to the info you want.