1983-1987 Buick Regal T-Type
1978 was the first year that the Regal was available with Buick's 3.8 Liter V6 turbocharged engine. Sporting a characteristic hood bulge, the Turbo Regal was initially available with either a four barrel carburetor (165 hp) or a two barrel carb (150 hp). All were Regal Sport Coupes.
By 1983 the engine was rated at a stronger 200 hp and 300 lb-ft. of torque. Among the many changes to the Turbo Regal that year, perhaps the most obvious was a name change to “T-Type.” Although the T-Type name was already in use on the Riviera, Buick applied it to several new performance models and The Regal, Century, Skyhawk and Skylark each had a T-Type model added to their line-up. In the Regal’s case, the T-Type name would carry on through 1986.
Aimed at the performance market, the T-Type received a different grille, and new T-Type emblems were accompanied by new V6 Logos on the fenders. The new T-Type emblems were different than other Regals of the time as the "T" was vertical, not slanted as in later years. Power came from the Buick 3.8L turbocharged V6 with sequential fuel injection and an intercooler (now producing 235 hp and 330 lb-ft. of torque). An automatic transmission with overdrive was standard as was a 3:42 performance axle ratio in back.
Outside, the hood featured the characteristic “turbo bulge” and most of the exterior hardware was blacked out including window moldings, headlamp bezels, door handles, tail lamp moldings, grille, and windshield wiper arms. The T-Types could be ordered in any Regal color except (for some unknown reason) Light Sage Metallic. A Regal T-Type Designers Package was also available in 1986 and included black and dark gray accent paint along with a front air dam and rear spoiler. The cars rolled on P215/65R/15 Eagle GT black wall radial tires mounted on aluminum wheels and the Regal Gran Touring suspension package was also standard equipment.
The Buick Regal T-Type continued on, with the same powertrain and engine as the Grand National, but it was the Grand National that got all the attention. In fact, the Grand National Package was actually a T-Type cosmetic option. Checking the Regal Grand National box yielded a T-Type Regal in an all-black exterior color with black bumpers, rub strips and guards. The GN package also included a black front air dam and rear spoiler as well as styled steel wheels, front bucket seats, full length console and a performance tuned version of the Regal Gran Touring suspension. Sadly, 1987 was the last year for any type of rear-wheel-driven, turbo-charged V6 Buick Regal, and the marque moved on into the GM W-body platform with a front-wheel drive layout for 1988.
Production Totals
- Regal T-Types produced = 22,806
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