Turbo T or not Turbo T

[Mike S]

BUICKWE4.com

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

Excellent info, thanks!

I just finished reading all of it.

 

[benoitthegr8]

They can call mine whatever they want, just not slow....

 

[T-CHRGD]

All '87 Regals with the turbo motor, except the Grand Nationals, are Turbo T's. They were called that long before they came out with, or even thought of the WE-4. I know that I, and the Dealer called my car a "Turbo T" when it was delivered in August of 1986. Just because it wasn't in "print" before the WE-4 flyer, doesn't make it (not) so. In fact if you read the flyer Very carefully, it supports this. "The WE-4 is a "SPECIAL" Turbo T" so the rest are Regular "NOT SPECIAL" Turbo T's. "The Turbo T is lighter, and thus theor. Faster than a Grand National" They were saying that in 1986. It applied to All non-GN's with aluminum wheels and no spoiler. This is of course MY Opinion. It will not change.:biggrin: But, I don't expect to change anyone else's opinion either. That's what makes America GREAT. As long as we are driving turbocharged Buicks, we are ALL RIGHT !!!

 

[turbofish38]

Here's a pic of the color brochure that dealers recieved. All it was is a 8X10 post card with the specs on the back side.

Notice the red TURBO T across the front. This was the only time I've ever seen the name Turbo T mentioned anywhere in the 87 delaer order albums.

 

[GNBRETT]

Here's a pic of the color brochure that dealers recieved. All it was is a 8X10 post card with the specs on the back side.

Notice the red TURBO T across the front. This was the only time I've ever seen the name Turbo T mentioned anywhere in the 87 delaer order albums.

That's pretty kool.

 

[2QUIK6]

This has never happened to me, but would anyone be upset if someone walked by and said "Hey thats a very nice lookin' Regal" rather than saying GN, or Turbo T, or T-Type???

 

[usetaboost]

I'd rather hear regal than, "when are you gonna get your monte carlo done"? I don't even try anymore.

 

[dgoodhue]

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......

I agree. Most people on this site when advertising their car FS sell Regal's with the LC2 package and required T package and badging as Turbo T's. Ususally when when a WE4 Turbo T are advertised people call them WE4 or WE4 Turbo T. Buick created this problem, by sell a car with the Turbo package/badging and the T package/bedging and selling a Turbo T package, which were 2 different models.

 

["Turbo-T"]

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!!!!!!!!!!"

Yep same thing here. Nobody knows what a T-type is....or a Turbo T.....but mention "Grand National" and all the sudden their eyes get wide.

Really funny how some of these wanna be car guys can't distinguish a Regal from a Monte Carlo. I've had a few people refer to my car as a Monte Carlo. I just look at them wierd like I don't know what they're talking about.

 

[TexasT]

While I hate to think I am stirring the pot, I do like to hear (read) everyone's opinion. I found another reference to the Turbo "T" in Buick literature. Look down where the WE4 is highlighted at the bottom right.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

You guys are too funny
I just call my car a Regal and save my self all of the added health threatening stress of explaining the deference between a T, T-Type, GN, T-Type with the V8 and the twin turbo GNX's.

I hate to admit it but every time I pull up on a GN I can’t help my self but to say “nice Monte “ and “I have a blue one”

 

["Turbo-T"]

Rich that is something else I am also curious about. It says Y56 is the T package and the WE4 is the Turbo T.

So does that mean an 87 Regal that came factory with a 307 Olds engine, 10 fin turbine rims, and the T on both fenders only has the Y56 option, and the same car fitted with the 3.8 turbo engine (instead of the 307 Olds) has the WE4 option???

 

[SilverSleeper]

Rich that is something else I am also curious about. It says Y56 is the T package and the WE4 is the Turbo T.

So does that mean an 87 Regal that came factory with a 307 Olds engine, 10 fin turbine rims, and the T on both fenders only has the Y56 option, and the same car fitted with the 3.8 turbo engine (instead of the 307 Olds) has the WE4 option???

Not quite. The T package could be had with any motor combination, even the NA V6 or the Olds 307. T in 87 stood represented touring suspension. WE4, however, is an all black, LC2 powered, T package Regal. T package could be had on any Regal. White, black, silver (like mine) or whatever. It was a seperate option package.
The WE4 stated exacting colors, motor, suspension options. (ie, no silver WE4s, no 307 powered WE4s.)
Besides my own, I have seen a few T package Regals. Mine was an original 307 car, a local guy has an 87 T package on a deep blue NA V6. Has the finned wheels, the steering wheel, the badges, just no LC2.

I think thats where the confusion comes from. If its a Turbo Regal, it automatically had the T package.
I wish I still had the literature from when my grandpa bought his new. Basically, it was a 307 powered Regal, with the "T" touring suspension, and that was it. I swapped the LC2 in myself. Does that make it a turbo T? No. Its a turbo Regal with T package. Turbo T was reserved for the GN alternative I believe. And very few official Buick documents refer to the moniker at all. Its more of an informal moniker among us owners. Turbo T sounds better than, T package Regal with the LC2.

There were, as far as I can tell in 87 these basic models
Regal, Regal Grand National, Regal Limited. Everything else is an option package on the above. WE2 was limited to 33% production (Grand National), so Buick decided to "Make" a GN look alike in the WE4. The WE4 was an option package on the Regal model. Not a model of its own.

 

[TexasT]

Not quite. The T package could be had with any motor combination, even the NA V6 or the Olds 307. T in 87 stood represented touring suspension. WE4, however, is an all black, LC2 powered, T package Regal. T package could be had on any Regal. White, black, silver (like mine) or whatever. It was a seperate option package.
The WE4 stated exacting colors, motor, suspension options. (ie, no silver WE4s, no 307 powered WE4s.)
Besides my own, I have seen a few T package Regals. Mine was an original 307 car, a local guy has an 87 T package on a deep blue NA V6. Has the finned wheels, the steering wheel, the badges, just no LC2.

I think thats where the confusion comes from. If its a Turbo Regal, it automatically had the T package.
I wish I still had the literature from when my grandpa bought his new. Basically, it was a 307 powered Regal, with the "T" touring suspension, and that was it. I swapped the LC2 in myself. Does that make it a turbo T? No. Its a turbo Regal with T package. Turbo T was reserved for the GN alternative I believe. And very few official Buick documents refer to the moniker at all. Its more of an informal moniker among us owners. Turbo T sounds better than, T package Regal with the LC2.

There were, as far as I can tell in 87 these basic models
Regal, Regal Grand National, Regal Limited. Everything else is an option package on the above. WE2 was limited to 33% production (Grand National), so Buick decided to "Make" a GN look alike in the WE4. The WE4 was an option package on the Regal model. Not a model of its own.

I believe things got relaxed on the 33% edict in favor of selling what ever they could, though I have no documentation to support it.


To throw a little more into the mix, the WE2 Grand National Package was an option on the J47 Regal early in the 1987 year. Later it became one of the models. In '86 the WE2 Grand National Package was an option on the K47 Regal T-Type Model. See how confusing this is.

In '87 Buick opened the optioning up and made you work to get what you want rather than packaging it neatly in the T-Type. Crazy combos could be had if you worked at it.

I suppose one of the rarest combos could be a Regal Limited with the Y56 "T" Pkg without the LC2 Turbo. I've seen a few Regal "T" cars with the v8. I never noted one with the n/a v6 or one that was a Limited. Anyone have one of these?

There was a brochure that was available from the dealer and I see them pop up every so often on ebay called "How to order a hot Buick" or something like that. It went over the performance options.

One thing I do know from experience and has been noted here many times is that the Grand National is a legend on the street. Even twenty years later the young guys with the WRXs and the Evos know what they are. Turbo T, Turbo Regal, T-Type, etc... just doesn't command the respect.

 

[usetaboost]

Let's add some more to the mix. Under "model" on my title it says "Turbo T"

 

["Turbo-T"]

One thing I do know from experience and has been noted here many times is that the Grand National is a legend on the street. Even twenty years later the young guys with the WRXs and the Evos know what they are. Turbo T, Turbo Regal, T-Type, etc... just doesn't command the respect.

That's ok, they'll be respecting when all they see and hear is a turbo whine and the rear tail lamps of what appears to be grandma's Regal.

 

[2QUIK6]

That's ok, they'll be respecting when all they see and hear is a turbo whine and the rear tail lamps of what appears to be grandma's Regal.

Exactly! All these kids are afraid of a GN usually..some just jack with you to see what it will do, knowing they'll lose..I usually just look and wave at them....But when they get whipped by an old buford that they never even thought would try to race them.....hehe...that's why I've been considering getting one...like the kids in the LS1 TA's thinking they're going to kick my 80's TPI TA


Question..I thought I had read this before on here many years ago, but can't find any reference to it now...but could you get the LC2 option without getting the "buldge" hood?? I had read before that was the ultimate sleeper TR...but cannot find that info any where now.

 

[LBNJWE4]

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.

That's what I thought, every turbo Regal in 87 has the red T on the fender, so limited's are turbo t limited's and we4 is an option on the turbo t. If this were not true, turbo regals would have just the "3.8 SFI Turbo" emblems on the hood and trunk!

 

[LBNJWE4]

I believe things got relaxed on the 33% edict in favor of selling what ever they could, though I have no documentation to support it.


To throw a little more into the mix, the WE2 Grand National Package was an option on the J47 Regal early in the 1987 year. Later it became one of the models. In '86 the WE2 Grand National Package was an option on the K47 Regal T-Type Model. See how confusing this is.

In '87 Buick opened the optioning up and made you work to get what you want rather than packaging it neatly in the T-Type. Crazy combos could be had if you worked at it.

I suppose one of the rarest combos could be a Regal Limited with the Y56 "T" Pkg without the LC2 Turbo. I've seen a few Regal "T" cars with the v8. I never noted one with the n/a v6 or one that was a Limited. Anyone have one of these?

There was a brochure that was available from the dealer and I see them pop up every so often on ebay called "How to order a hot Buick" or something like that. It went over the performance options.

One thing I do know from experience and has been noted here many times is that the Grand National is a legend on the street. Even twenty years later the young guys with the WRXs and the Evos know what they are. Turbo T, Turbo Regal, T-Type, etc... just doesn't command the respect.

There was a limited "T" V8 Regal on ebay last week, with t-tops, I tried to get it, but had no way to bring it home.

 

[LBNJWE4]

Let's add some more to the mix. Under "model" on my title it says "Turbo T"

I have a WE4 and had another one, both titles just said Regal