There’s always this curiosity and interest about the Turbo Regals used by the various law enforcement agencies back in the day.
And of course, lots of it is just speculation, guesses and theories.
(and comments by people who don’t really know what they are talking about, or rumors that they heard that they pass on as fact, whether it’s correct or not)
However, there is also evidence of some real occurrences.
There recently was another conversation about these type of cars on Facebook, which we are sharing here for those who aren’t Facebook users.
Some of the comments are interesting, and point to the actual reality of the Turbo Buicks being used by assorted LEO’s.
(comments have been edited for clarity, and names removed for privacy)
(photos are from that post, plus a few others we found that are included)
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Original post about the subject:
Ever heard of the infamous DEA or FBI Turbo Buicks?
It’s true and i stumbled upon one back in 2013.
I paid under 10k for this car was thrown in a barn under the seat a was gold mine of paperwork!
A factory 87 T, carfax had no info, no owners, couldn’t find any information on it and then realized it was used by the DEA, purchased new by the Dept of Justice and debadged.
Enjoy the pics if your into the more rare stuff.
* While total production of the 1987 Buick Turbo T (specifically the WE4 lightweight package) was 1,547 units, the exact number owned by the government is not officially documented.
However, historical accounts and automotive records suggest approximately 80 to 200 total 1987 Buick Turbo Regals were purchased for federal use.
Key details regarding government-owned 1987 Turbo Buicks include:
– The FBI Order: It is widely reported in automotive publications like Hemmings that the FBI purchased roughly 80 units for investigative and pursuit duties.
– Model Varieties: While many believe these were Grand Nationals, reports indicate they were often “Turbo Regals” in various colors (to remain low-profile) or standard T-Types with upgraded performance chips.
– Special Features: The FBI-spec cars reportedly had the fuel-injection governor removed and were equipped with tires rated for 150 MPH.
– Current Status: Most of these vehicles were sold at GSA auctions in the late 1980s, often with high mileage.
* Connecticut trooper T. Still have the original title that says the state is the original owner and you can’t get any better than that for paperwork.
* There was one here in town that was hit in the front for years, it was a astro roof car, it got parted out and then the roof was cut off and rest went to the scrap. It had a tag under the hood that had DEA and a number. Wish i would have taken the tag off of it.
* my uncle has a white 87 that was a DEA car originally.
* Louisville, KY police traffic patrol had (11)- 1987 Grand Nationals. One even had T-tops.
* I had one. Bought my brother’s car. One of 130 X FBI cars.
* The first GN I owned was a DEA car from New Jersey.
* I have the chip that was developed for law enforcement by GM.
* Back in 1987 I was in down town Fort Wayne, IN in my 86 T-Type and an 87 GN pulled up beside me at a light and goosed it a little. We hit it off the line for about 3 or 4 lights and then the guy driving honked and waved at me and drove off. I looked at the back of his car and the license plate was a US Marshall plate and he pulled into the federal courthouse about a 1/2 mile down the road.
* The state of Connecticut bought several T types and GN that were used by the state troopers. I lived in Connecticut at the time and use to see them all the time. Many had radio delete plate. All had different tires, shocks and a special calibrated PROM that deleted the MPH limiter.
* Had one in the early 2000s that was rosewood with factory radio delete.
* A treasury agent in a black GN or T-Type came to my house to interview me in about 1991.
* City of Pittsburgh Police had three 1987 T Type that they used for speed traps. I was pulled over once in my 86 GN. Thinking I was caught but the officer just wanted to talk and check out my car!
* It also an blue inverter and a really long cig lighter attachment.
* Pittsburgh used to patrol with blue and maroon T-Type Regals on several roads throughout the city.
* My brother had a 87 turbo Buick Philadelphia police car called a VASCAR. It had the evidence bags and first aid and such still in the trunk.
I was told that only the Chiefs got to use them. Was a great car though.
– VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer And Recorder) is a law enforcement tool used to measure vehicle speed by timing how long it takes to travel a known distance, often using fixed points on the road like painted lines. It’s popular because it’s undetectable by conventional radar. Police use it by starting and stopping a timer as a target vehicle passes two marked locations, then the device calculates the average speed, allowing for enforcement even from moving patrol cars.
* I got pulled over once by a Connecticut State Trooper in an unmarked Grand National.
* I have one myself. Mine was owned by the state of Minnesota. A 1987 T. I bought it from the man who drove it for work. He was some sort of Fed. He bought the car when the state of Minnesota was done with it. I bought it from him. So the original owner of my car was the state of Minnesota.
* Friend of mine was a drivability tech and worked on one at the local Buick dealership back in the day. An agent stayed with the car the whole time and would not let him open the trunk.
* My college buddy and I got pulled over in Louisville circa 1987. We passed what we thought was another car on the road. I looked back and saw the cop just folded down the visors with the police flashers in them. It was all blacked out. Stealth mode. Older guy. In uniform. Real nice. Let us off with a warning. May have been an impounded Grand national. Had GN badging.
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[ previous posts we’ve published about this subject:
Buick Police Cars Buick Grand National Police Cars Buick T-Type FBI Car ]
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FROM THE ORIGINAL FB POST, PICS OF TURBO T PAPERWORK, + PHOTO OF THAT CAR:
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CT Buick GN:
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OTHERS (MN Turbo T & LOUISVILLE, KY DARE CAR):
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