While most people remember the 1987 Buick Grand National and the GNX, the Regal Limited Turbo has managed to languish in their shadows. This is a shame because it is a vehicle that offers comparable levels of performance in a more luxurious and subtle package. This Limited Turbo has fallen on hard times, and it needs someone to rescue it before it deteriorates beyond the point of no return. It is located in Lodi, New Jersey, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. It is a classic that has attracted its share of attention, with 48 bids submitted to this point. This has pushed the price along to $8,200 in this No Reserve auction.

The Regal is a sad-looking sight, but when you look beyond the ruined White paint and the crumbling bumper fillers, what you find is a vehicle that shows a lot of promise. The first factor to consider is that the seller says that the floors are rust-free. If that is true, it makes for some good news. The panels are also surprisingly clean, with only a few minor rust spots in the lower rear quarter panels. He says that the Buick has never had a hit and that the doors open and close correctly. The person who ordered the car originally ticked a few excellent options because they chose to equip the Regal with RPO Code CC1, which is the hatch roof. The panels for this look to be in good condition and the interior shots tend to indicate that there has been no leaking around the seals. They also chose tinted glass, and this seems to be in good condition. The bumper fillers are crumbling to dust, which is nothing new on these cars. However, the remaining trim and badges look like they could be salvaged.

While the Grand National came with distinctive cloth seat upholstery, this Regal Limited features nothing less than leather. I admit that it is showing its age, with seam separations and a generally tired appearance. I do think that an experienced professional could repair the seams and condition the leather to bring it back to a decent appearance. The carpet is quite dirty, but once again, I think that this could be cleaned. A few plastic pieces show their age, but I would probably spend a few days undertaking some concerted cleaning before compiling a shopping list of replacement parts. I believe that this sort of work could spring a few pleasant surprises. The new owner of the Buick is not going to miss out when it comes to comfort and luxury features. As well as air conditioning, the car features power windows, power locks, remote exterior mirrors, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, a digital gauge cluster, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette player with a graphic equalizer.

I’m probably one of the few enthusiasts that have come to view tightening emission laws as a good thing. I know that it strangled the traditional V8, but it forced American manufacturers to produce cars that utilized different technologies to squeeze decent performance out of their offerings. I tend to view Regals of this era as a starting point for the high-performance offerings that we see in our market today. If buyers chose to order their 1987 Regal equipped with the optional 5.0-liter V8, what they received for their $590 was a paltry 140hp and a car that would cover the ¼ mile in 18 seconds. At $1,442, the LC2 turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 wasn’t cheap, but it did deliver 245hp, and that was enough to propel the Buick through the ¼ mile in 14.8 seconds. That’s a huge difference, and it’s surprising that more buyers didn’t follow this path. As well as the turbo V6, this Regal features a 4-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. We’ve now come to the point where we may have discovered why this potent classic was parked in the first place. This is not a running car, and there is a problem with that beautiful V6. The engine has a faulty rod, and the owner says that it will need a rebuild. We hope that there has been no further damage because it could become an expensive proposition to get the motor firing again and retain the Regal’s numbers-matching status. The owner does have a replacement engine that he would be willing to sell to the successful bidder, but I would probably look at that as a last resort in this case.

The 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo is a 1980s performance car that has managed to slip under the radar for many people. However, it is also a very rare car that should satisfy those who wish to combine luxury with decent performance levels. Their rarity is beyond question, with only 1,035 buyers choosing to part with their money for one. The only ’87 Regal that is rarer is the GNX, with 547 cars rolling off the production line. They undoubtedly offer higher performance, but that comes at a significant price premium. Where you will struggle to find a good GNX for under $65,000, a Regal Limited Turbo will cost half that much. This one will need some work to reach that level, so would you be willing to accept the challenge?