1987 Buick T Type Turbo Regal Coupe 2-door With 3.8l Grand National Drivetrain on 2040-cars

 Two Tone Silver Gray Metallic

1987 Turbo Regal Buick

D84 code - Designer T-Type

Ordered out by the original owner - He went thru the list and checked off exactly what he wanted!

This is a RARE great looking 'under the radar' Turbo Regal that will get up and GO when you want it to.  It has been driven conservatively.  I'm not trying to say this car has not gone fast.   I know there are a few overzealous Corvette and import owners on the Interstate that might still be wondering "What that Grandpa & Grandma Regal had under the hood."

No track time - so it's highway mileage - not 1/4 mile at a time nor trips to the grocery store.  No parking lot war door dings or B pillar stress cracks.  It's not perfect but is a super nice car capable of vacation or weekend away "Going fast with class!" 

It gets plenty of respect from others and was fun for us.  It just hasn't gotten the exercise it needs in the last year or so.  We have other interests & demands so it is time for us to sell.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING

1987 Buick T Type aka Turbo T with 73K+ Original Miles – We are the second owners.  The previous owner was a non-smoker.  He ordered it out and had the dealer rust proof the car thinking it might be driven on WI winter highways: It was not.  Also no one smoked in it during the 8-9 years we owned it.  We have not driven it in WI winter (no salt) and I can’t remember the last time we drove it in the rain.  The original owner from WI was in the Armed Services for a couple years & drove it one winter in TX and stored it the following winter while stationed in WA State. They do not use road salt where he was.  We always stored it indoors year round, with before and after oil changes.  ZDDP has been added to every oil change.

Key Options:

Include Posi, moon roof, power antenna, trunk kit, manual seats, door locks, windows, & all other standard Turbo Regal options in 1987.  This car is basically stock and has always been that way.  It spent time in the shop for necessary regular preventative maintenance & updates and for a nice repaint. It starts and runs nicely and is clean in and out.  Engine bay shows rustproof on body parts and is clean (but has never perfectly detailed).

Overall condition:

I believe the car to be at least an 8 on a scale of 10.  Nice repaint in 2007. Tinted windshield was replaced if I recall.  $6000 professional paint work with all chrome, moon roof and trim items removed and NOS GM weather-strip installed. Missing Regal body bushing installed. Good B.F Goodrich TA’s and Detroit Vintage Refinished T Wheels include chrome GTA caps w/Tri-Shield Buick medallions. (Original black caps are available.)   Original 9 hole hood pad on the car.  Bumper fillers are usually an issue with G Body Regals but not on this car.  The originals on this Northern (cool climate) garage kept car are pliable and were nicely refinished during the repaint.

Starts, stops and runs great.  The problematic Powermaster brake system has been regularly flushed and one of the new design Cardone accumulator balls has been installed by a Grand National experienced certified repair shop.

Exterior:

Paint is nice – occasional show winner.  There are a few small chips and a couple spots that could use some buffing.  It has been clayed but not buffed since the painter buffed out his work.  I wax it and clean it.  Pin striping was done by the painter to match original and looks great.  Chrome and stainless is nice with few flaws.  Headlight bezels were replaced with NOS GM parts after repaint and remain almost as nice as they were in the box.  Lighting is clear and bright with NOS yellow bumper turn signals and super nice original tail light lenses and trim.

Interior:

Interior upgrades done include NOS GM door escutcheons & screw covers as well as upper door panels done by JAX (In their MILW. Days)  Moon roof head liner was also replaced with matching gray moon roof shade done also by JAX.  The carpet is good but shows some wear and there is threadbare heel mark near the gas pedal.  Bucket fronts & rear bench seat are excellent but have two hard to find cigarette burns - done before we owned it.  Upper dash (speaker panel) cover has a couple of cracks and could be replaced or repaired but is still nice appearing.  Trunk has a rare factory carpet kit in nearly original condition. Console plate is in nice clean shiny condition as are controls, vents, and trim.  Plastic trim is nice through out including dash bezels/lenses appear shiny with a very minimum of scuffs.

Engine, transmission & brakes:

The stock original unopened block (rear main) marks the garage floor occasionally – not bad at all.  Oil changed every 3000 miles (or more often - twice a year without fail).  ZDDP always used as an additive to protect the flat tappet cam.  Under hood turbo shield and up pipe look good.  Visible areas are clean and rust free. Coolant reservoir and washer tank have been replaced.  Air intake has stock replacement K&N filter in OEM canister location. Transmission regularly flushed and serviced.  Original Powermaster brakes system flushed every other year & running well – recent accumulator ball replaced with new version (nut on inside location next to threaded end of the bowl).

Fuel, ignition, & engine management systems:

Stock GM.  Top of the line battery installed from Advance Auto Parts.

Cooling system:

Stock radiator regularly flushed, stainless thermostat housing with 160 degree stat.  Engine temps run cool in any kind of weather.

Undercarriage & suspension: 

No upgrades to shocks, springs or control arms – a virgin.   Exposed unfinished metal has some surface rust but the frame and sheet metal is excellent without flaking or repairs.  Visible areas are clean.  Exhaust is original repaired/replaced over rear axle done by a shop that still does mandrel bends if you need them.

HOT & COLD: 

Both work fine.  AC has been upgraded to 134 professionally. 

Radio:

The original AM/FM/Cassette with 5 band equalizer works well. The power antenna works.  I have always taken then time to wipe down the mast with silicone spray to keep clean low friction operation.

Wheels:

Detroit Vintage Wheels refinished an original set of 'T" wheels for me.   You can find examples of his fine work on Ebay and on the Internet.   The wheels were cleaned checked for flaw and true,  powder-coated with Metallic Silver Sparkle in valleys etc.,  then machined and finally coated with gloss clear.  This gives you an improvement on (or depending on your perspective an excellent approximation of) the original appearance of factory wheel and the easiest finish out there to clean & rinse off the brake dust.

The center caps are chrome GTA's with very nice Buick Tri-shield medallion attached.  I like them but you may not.  If you want I can get you a set of new  black GTA caps (w/metal clips) with a black center decal with a silver circle & Tri-shield (Ebay item)  OR a set of original Buick T Type caps in good usable condition (overall one or two teeth missing and one medallion showing separation in the Tri-shield). Your choice.

The tires are road ready (maybe 15K miles) Goodrich Radial TA's & the 245's in the rear have plenty of tread.  As I said, this car has been driven carefully.

What it needs to be close to factory appearance:

Some Regal emblems are missing - Buick trunk, 3.8l SFI trunk, square chrome & blue strip behind 1/4 windows.  I have the emblems in decent shape packed in the trunk.  The factory body side moldings in gray/silver/chrome were weathered when removed at the time of the repaint.  There is a similar 5/8" silver/chrome version still available on Ebay right now if desired.

What needs to be sorted out:

• Astro roof works well – there is something loose about 5” back on the track.  I can’t see it.  The moon roof opens and closes as it should as long as I do not run it back that far.  I do not know what the problem is but I expect there is a screw or some other hardware causing the hang-up and should be not too expensive to have it fixed or removed.
• There is some wind noise near the front of the passenger side window.  The weather-strip needs to be shimmed in the right spot to seal out the noise.  OEM General Motors upper and lower door seals were used when the car was repainted so I believe this fix is fairly easy.
• Escutcheon screw covers are silver from basic Regal (charcoal ones were used on the non-limited Turbo Regal).
• The long narrow speaker cover on upper dash is cracked as usual but still nice appearing.
• Emblems - the originals that survived paint are included separately.   New "T" fender emblems & as "3.8l SFI Turbo" hood emblems were put on after repaint but all others were left off to keep the clean straight appearance.
  

Some extras:

• Third brake light modified – now has custom “BYE NOW” in lens. 
  
• We drove the car to the 2007 Kirban Reunion.   “Molly” Sanders signed all Turbo Buick's in attendance that day.  There is a small photo book with a picture of 'Molly signing the trunk' - nice.  
  
• Kids like the included 1/18  (From the Epitome inspired series) Designer Two Tone Gray scale model (needs right mirror epoxied in place & has NO MOON ROOF).  
  
• Floor mats from Highway Stars are the "T" badged version and match the gray carpeting. 
  
• One bottle ZDDP for your first oil change.

QUESTIONS?  Don't hesitate to ask.  I have tried to represent the car as it IS but you may have more detailed interest.

PAYMENT?   Cash.

SHIPPING?  Why?  Fly in and drive it home!  If you want I will try to assist with arrangements for pick up if you arrange for transport.