Hi.....per this page, it seems for the "regular" Turbo cars, there was the GN, base with turbo, Limited with turbo, and WE4 Turbo-T. https://buickturboregal.com/1987-buick-regal-production-stats/ So would it be correct to say there couldn't be a Limited Turbo-T? Thanks!
So, from the car I was looking at, it seems to be a Limited with the Turbo engine and Y56 T package, which doesn't mean it's a Turbo-T, which was a separate performance model. Does that sound right?
It would be a Regal limited turbo 1,030 made. T emblem on fenders. That’s probably why you’re confused.
Those Regal Limited Turbos are sweet! ANY Regal with the LC2 is cool. I actually like the non GN’s better, black is cool, but I prefer colors other than black.
That has been a point of contention for years... Buick 'officially' did NOT have any cars that were called the "Turbo T" until after the production of the 1547 cars that had a specific package with that name ; the WE4 package cars. These cars had a specific black paint (19L), grey bucket seat trim interior (393), and specific trim exterior (exterior sport package)(W02) and black bumpers and other trim. See the referenced item, and its referenced items in it...http://www.buickwe4.com/story.htm Before that you could get a Regal (G47) with the turbo package (LC2), which REQUIRED the T package (Y56) with black paint (19L) and the exterior sport package (blackout trim) ((W02), but they came with chrome bumpers. There was no 'special' name for these cars; They were actually in the same category as the Base Regal with Turbo mentioned in the OP's first post. How many of those cars were made in black? Nobody knows for sure. One would have to go through each and every production build sheet record for the entire 1987 model year and get ALL of the specified items and be sure to exclude ALL of the specific WE4 cars. Estimates are less than 200. I personally have seen one of those cars back when I was active duty US Navy. One member had both a Grand National and one of those non-WE4 cars. I have seen a few of the black Turbo Regals non WE4 cars in black without the WO2 trim; I have seen a few of the black Regal T package cars that did not have the turbo package (307 Olds engine ); I have seen WO2 Turbo Regals in just about every color available (Except green which was always prohibited); I have seen green Turbo Regals; I have seen Base Regals with Turbo that have the wide rocker and belt moldings (WF6) (same moldings as stock on Regal Limited.) I have seen Turbo Regal Limiteds (M47) with the turbo package (LC2) with the T package(Y56)( I own one, original owner and ordered this car), and I have seen Regal Limiteds with Turbo with the exterior sport package (WO2). You could, in theory, get a green Regal (G47)with a green true bench seat (A65) with the standard chrome trim with the Turbo package (LC2) and T-package (Y56). So, ANY Base Regal COULD have the Turbo package and the T package, but they were NOT officially called "TURBO T" cars; it is a misnomer. In other words, you could get just about anything you wanted in 1987. Did that help you or REALLY muddy the waters? I have been all over YOUTUBE whenever people post cars as being a Turbo T. Sometimes I feel that I am wasting my time, but I TRY to educate people...
...thanks Steve, I was also in process of writing a long response, but now I'll just add a few more details. Somewhat like what Buick did to the GSX in '72 by making parts of package available for any GS, Buick also messed with our heads with turbo Regals. Capitalizing on Grand National recognition, in '87, Buick cannibalized the WE2/WE4 packages we're familiar with into their individual options, so customers could ala carte a base Regal into GN or T-Type wannabes for less money. They even dropped the T-Type designation, opting instead for Turbo-T (Product Information Bulletin 87-031, November 15, 1986 entitled “Regal WE4 Turbo “T” Package"). While WE4 was technically the Turbo-T, you could order any Regal with the LC2 Turbo Package, which included the T package (Y56). Therefore, any Regal with LC2 was a Turbo T, just without some WE4 trim goodies. So, to answer OP's questions, a squishy interior Limited, if ordered with LC2, was a Turbo-T...
Convoluted and interesting... I helped my Dad order his '87 Turbo Regal Limited. We spent days with the order forms... all of the go-fast power-train stuff, but with all the chrome, 6o/40 bench seat, cornering lights, half vinyl roof, etc. I have more photos on a hard drive, but we gave all of the documentation we had when he sold the car in 2002. This photo was probably taken around 1990..
See, even in the Buick community we agree to disagree. John says it is, I say it is not. The Buick brochure " How to Order a Hot Buick", put out early in the model year, before the WE4 was announced, has information regarding the option packages. It has SPECFICS for the Turbo Option (LC2), the T package Sport handling package (Y56), the Exterior sport appearance package (W02), and the Grand National package (WE2) It NEVER refers to ANY car. This was when you HAD to get a Regal with the Grand National package, which at that time had 4 different packages that you could add or delete almost any item from a package. After the 1987 model year closed and GM went to front wheel drive for 1988 model year was the ONLY time that you could order a "BUICK GRAND NATIONAL" Previous to this, you got a Buick Regal Grand National. Back to subject at hand... The very order sheet for the WE4 car SPECIFIES that THIS is a TURBO-T PACKAGE... we4carorderguide.pdf (buickwe4.com). On the regular REGAL and REGAL LIMITED order form, it lists the OPTIONS available, some being the W02 Sport exterior package, the Y56 T-package (sport handling package), and the Turbo option LC2. It NEVER mentions anything about a "Turbo-T" . See the reference here. we4brochure.pdf (buickwe4.com) Notice that it has the T-type dropped, the T-package added, the exterior sport option added, the turbo package added, and (AHEM) the Turbo -T option added... Why would they go to the trouble of listing the Turbo option, the T package option, and the Turbo-T option. If you go to the second page, it breaks down what comes in each package. Specifying the TURBO-T as the WE4...I rest my case. Let the Jury decide based on the FACTS presented...
Ahhh... the good ole days when Buick built cool cars! My buddy has an '87 Turbo Limited, also white. Paid $12k for it in '87 or '88. Has the 'comfy pillow' bench seats and a moonroof. IIRC in '87 Buick offered the 'T package' which could be ordered without the turbo engine. I believe that was a departure from the '86 T-type which had the turbo and related package. I always liked the silver and light blue Turbo Regals. Kinda wish I had bought one back then but bought a new pickup instead. I'm expecting that auction to hit at least near $30k, with one day to go....
Yep, you could get the T package on the normal aspirated engine. It does NOT specify that it had to be with the Olds 307 engine, but every one that I have seen have been; I have seen one in black with T-tops and grey bucket seats and standard chrome trim, one in silver with the blackout trim and grey bucket seat interior, and one in silver with standard chrome trim, but do not recall its interior. I make that statement because, in theory, one could get the T package on a normal aspirated v-6. None of the factory literature that I have seen precludes that possibility.
Also to add, when GM dropped T Type after 86 and went to just the “T” package, the T actually meant Touring for the suspension package. Included were the 15x7 turbine wheels with Goodyear eagle GT tires, the F41 suspension and the leather wrapped 3 spoke steering wheel with the T medallion. That’s why it could be had in any drivetrain combination offered that year.
That all gets very complicated. All I know is: my base Regal with Turbo option weighs 300 pounds less than a GN.
And also remember the Grand National was just an option Package, in reality wasn't a model by it self
That is true until August 03, 1987... When the Buick Regal went to the front wheel drive platform, and Buick still wanted to market the Grand National... All of the GN's made BEFORE then were Buick Regal Grand Nationals. (1984, 1985, and 1986 were technically Buick Regal T-type Grand Nationals, but I digress). When Buick chose not to re-certify the LC2 engine for the 1988 model year, they were in a conondrum. They marketed the 'continuation' cars as 1987 models. Look at the window sticker on those cars. They ARE listed as "BUICK GRAND NATIONAL". Earlier cars are listed as Buick Regal with the Grand National package as an option... See reference https://www.turbobuicks.com/threads/original-window-sticker-info.59658/#lg=thread-59658&slide=0 The actual last rear wheel drive G body car was a 1987 Buick Grand National, VIN 1G4GJ1179HP465288. It was built on December 11, 1987, the final car on the Pontiac, Michigan CPC assembly plant.
Yep, apparently Chevrolet and Olds called their late 1987 build Montes and Cutlasses ‘88s, but the GNs being built at the same time were ‘87s. Maybe it had to do with certifying the engine for 1988 emissions-the Chevy and Olds 305 and 307 were going forward and certified, the Buick 3.8T was not. (Not sure about the rear drive Pontiac GP-I think its sales were in the toilet anyway). Patrick
I submit Buick ordering info where the we4 is referred to as the turbo t in their paperwork.(bottom right corner) not wishing to argue what people know but the 87 was pretty much a free fer all when it came to getting anything. The Limited was a different model in the vin so that is something to work with. I didn't look at the ad too close but the carpet/padding was thick, door panels where different and the buckets weren't part of that deal unless you count those fancy Cadillac like leather seats as buckets. so column shift was the way the limited came. all the other performance stuff was a check off on the order sheet away. but as pointed out, y56 t PKG was required to get the lc2 turbo v6. but you could get the y56 without the turbo v6 but wow, what a disappointment that must have been
DERRRRR! You would THINK that I, as the original owner and ORDERER of a 1987 Buick Turbo Limited, would have remembered THAT particular thing about the VIN 1G4GM versus 1G4GJ... Heck, all of my email addresses over the years have involved th fact that the Regal Limited is model M47, as the Regal was model J47.
And, to be totally fair and honest, I learned about the late production GN information from John himself (dynaflow), over 8 years ago. Thanks to his input, I can USUALLY just glance at a 1987 Buick and know if it is a Buick REGAL Grand National, or if it is a BUICK Grand National simply by looking at the VIN,and/or looking at the interior based on the options combination (Later cars were alway the 'package' cars, requiring or preventing certain options , and/or the Service Parts Identification Label in the trunk.) And obviously, the Monroney label on the window.
