Wait, what? Bucket seats! This is definitely a rare Buick & big brother to the Grand Nationals that get all the turbo love. Steen and all those Buick guys definitely know their cars & their car history. Thanks for & sharing this Buick with us, Lou!
Hi Jonathan, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Friends Moms car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
YUP!!! I have! And when I was 12 years old, I got to ride in one for a month! My Dad returned it to the dealership and ordered a "Custom" model, silver, on silver with a 350, after the turbo on the 3.8 had some issues and stopped delivering boost. The thing I remember the most is the seats: they just melt around your body. It's like sitting on the softest pillow ever made. My Dad ordered the car with all options but the sun roof as he knew my Mom would leave it open in a rain storm or something. This was the last Buick he bought. He kept it garaged, bought an El Camino for his company rig and had the car when he finally hung up his business in 1994. The local Buick Dealer, in Arizona, bought the car and put it in their show room as it had less than 30K miles on it, and was perfect, flawless, no alterations, shined like brand new, and for anyone who knows about GM's crap silver paint of that era, is a miracle. These cars are so underrated in terms of their creature comforts and ride. Performance is another story.
Wow, that was fantastic. You never cease to amaze me with the interesting stuff you feature. I didn't even know they MADE a sport version of these beautiful boats. Never seen one in my life.
My first car was a 78 LeSabre Turbo Coupe. Silver just like in the ad (7:47). My uncle had bought it new (and fully loaded) to tow his boat. The rear end was wrecked just months after he bought it and they couldn't get the 78 rear panels so they replaced the whole trunk section with a 79. That was my high school car, the "Turbo Tank". A lot of power for the time, enough to smoke those 305 Berlinetta Camaros. I wish I still had this one, one of the smoothest driving cars I've ever had. The LED lights below the gas gauge were awesome too!
Hi Armaden Restal, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
My first time ever !! 79 Buick 3.8 turbo what a rare machine!! I've seen bunches of these Buick but never 3.8 turbo in 79 big !!! One's I've seen had 305chevy or 307olds engine think I seen one with Buick engine!! During this time GM put olds engine's or chevy in all of there bigger cars!!
I never saw those turbo buick lesabre in person I'm used to seeing those turbo v6 engines on the A and G bodies for my opinion the turbo v6 is too small for the buick lesabre I've seen them with an oldsmobile 307 or a oldsmobile 403 but I do like the rare sighting of this lesabre rare and amazing condition😁👍👍👍💥
What a neat and rare car. I had the 79 Regal Sport Coupe in the early 90s, Cream/Yellow paint with tan cloth interior, T-tops yet it had a bench seat. I miss that car.
Hi Eric, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I was a teen age hot rodder working as a lot boy in the late '70's. I remember being disappointed in the new smaller full size GM cars when they came out, but in driving these cars (not the turbo version) I remember being amazed how great they handled. Now, I really like them, esp the coupes like this Buick. saw a spectacular black '79 Caprice coupe a couple days ago, and I stopped to stare at it. this buick is awesome...beautiful dashboard.
Wow! What a beautiful car! Did not know about these! Like the paint, wheels, tri-colored tailamps, and those slots on the front fenders. 3.8 litre, one of the best GM engines. Great interview Lou, with a great proud owner as well! Thanks for highlighting these rare specialty cars, one of the bright spots of the very dismal, mid to late 70's american cars!!
i had a friend at work that special ordered one of these back in 1979 with the turbo and the bucket seats. As i remember he placed the order for it in October and took delivery in March! So even back then they were hard to get!
I remember my first experience with big American car's was when I lived in the States in the nineteen eighties. We bought a grey 1979 2 door Buick LeSabre 3.8 Liter. With an original 8-track and those door's that shut down with a sound !!!!!!! Man....great stuff. The sound of the engine when you pushed the pedal to the floor. Too bad we can't ride them in the Netherlands where we now live.
Hi Bert, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I had one of these LaSabre turbo coupes as a teen. I pulled the weak turbo 6 and put in a mildly built 455 Olds big block and th400. That car romped man I miss it.
Hi Varg Freeborn, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
As soon as I seen the Turbo Badge it brought me back to 1979 when our restaurant Server bought this same engine in her NEW Tan REGAL Turbo Sport Coupe. It was bench Seat with standard wheel covers. Nothing to me seemed cool except the small hood scoop. Then I read about them.
Hi Steve, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
What a neat car and owner! I love the color and those bucket seats! My aunt had a 1978 LeSabre hers had a v/8 and a four door they were nice riding cars. I do remember this model and never saw one up close like this.What a treat Lou! I enjoyed the car and the history by it's owner. Like I say the owner makes the car too! Thanks for sharing Lou!
Hi Joey, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I love these rare oddball early turbo cars. I think they also made a Century turbo coupe in very low numbers. My neighbors had a few Lesabre sedans when I was growing up and they rode smooth like a sailboat. I had an 86 Grand National for a few years and it was a blast. You should do a review of an 80’s T-Bird turbo coupe if you ever come across one.
Hi Brian Blair, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) Glad to read this one brings back memories of the neighbors car. Thank you for viewing and sharing, and if I see the right 80's T-Bird Turbo, you will too :-) Lou
What a great car from a time with the worst president in office ever. Well almost. I remember one of these driving around State College, PA when I attended Penn State. Lou, keep up all your great work. While not fast with its crude non intercooler turbo engine, it was a tremendous car. Turbo Saabs were all the rage then, but Buick took a chance with turbos. No such thing as AC delete. It simply wasn't ordered, but that is what makes it unique. You say your hot, roll down the windows.
@B. Allen Yea but there's other ways to keep you safe without relying on airbags is one paying attention, no playing on you're phone, keeping you're eyes on the road, Keep you're seat belt on and no distractions. Those are the things that'll keep you safe and sound without relying on any airbags or other safety equipment.
B. Allen Some people like me survived a horrible accident in a 70’ Oldsmobile 88 at 115 mph. Clipped a telephone pole and flipped it walked away without a scratch- no seatbelt. I wouldn’t recommend it lol but many people then and now would’ve died. Maybe I’m too rotten to die but seriously I believe when your candle is done burning it’s over. Even today’s safe cars many would’ve died.
@B. Allen I have mate but at the end of the day these overpriced plastic modern eggshells on wheels will never have the soul and character of an old school muscle car or hotrod or even an old vintage classic. My 96 F150 with a 5.0L (302) Windsor V8 has wayyyyyyyyyy more soul and character and makes girls smile more than any modern eggshell on wheels you see on the road today and it'll probably outlast major of modern vehicles as well.
Professor Lou , Your videos are getting to be so educational that I feel I should be getting credits toward a degree or, at least, a diploma just by watching them. Lord knows I could use a diploma.
HI acts2211, Happy to read this video brings back memories of this Regal Turbo :-) Stay tuned, there is a good possibility there will be a Regal Turbo coming up, Lou
I had to do a double take as a guy in our Buick Club of America Chapter has a 1978 Turbo Coupe, and it’s even the same color. These are rare cars, and his is the only one I’ve ever seen previously. It may be noted that the turbo engine in these cars put out 10 hp more than a 350 4 barrel engine of that era. That 350 put out more torque at a lower rpm (280 @ 1,800 vs 265 @ 2,800) so who knows which one would win a drag race. I have a 1977 Electra with that 350 and although it won’t win many drag races, it eats interstates up better than most cars I’ve owned. I am happy with the 350. Much easier to work on, and parts availability is not a big problem.
I saw the 1979 Turbo Riviera 3.8 before, but never one of these. My family bought the 1979 LeSabre Limited coupe with the 350. I learned how to drive that tank before my father bought me a 1980 Monza with the Iron Duke 4. Beautiful cars all these Buicks were. I remember the Opels were in the showrooms then. My cousin had a V8 Regal of that era too. Pluuuuush.
Never knew Buick LeSabre ever came as a Turbo Sport Coupe such as this one here today. Seems like all the ones I saw at every other house in my neighborhood owned by the ‘older generation’ was some variation of the LeSabre. Nice find, Lou! I happen to have loved my 3.8L in my 1995 Buick Regal Custom 2 door. Black with light grey leather interior, and what a fun car that was to drive!!
These also had 3 V8 options. Pontiac 301, Oldsmobile 350 (exclusive to California emission cars) and the Buick 350 with a quadrajet, WITHOUT the computer control. 1980 was the last year for the Buick 350. The quadrajet equipped Buick 350 was still a very torquey engine even in 1979. I much prefer it to the turbo 231 V6. This is also the first year for the lockup torque converter on the turbo 350 transmission.
Hi Han Schenk, Happy to read you enjoy this episode. Appreciate your Prophetic statement and I hope to be sharing cars with you for a long time to come :-) Lou
I just got my new collectible automobile magazine in the mail today and it has an article on the 1977-1979 full size Buick’s!! And this owners’s car was one of the photographs in the article!
That's a real beauty there sharp first time seeing and hearing about it. I like the color and the wheels are nice too interior looks comfy. The engine sounds nice and smooth.
Keep in mind that this was GM's idea of a downsized full-sized car in 1979...and it's still huge! But with that Turbo, bucket seats and AC delete, it's a rare combination for a Buick LeSabre. Thanks for sharing it, Lou and Steen!
@@JeffKing310 They did in many ways it was a dog that never really performed as well as it should have. What I was talking about was the 1989 Trans Am 20th anniversary version with the same basic motor that went in the GNX . It's performance was as good as even the early 400 and 455 equipped Trans Am's from the early 1970s
@@johnkendall6962 your right now I read that the GNX v6 could not fit in the engine bay of the TA so what Pontiac did was take the original heads from the turbo G body v6 and put modified front wheel drive heads that were smaller maybe that's why they did not perform the way they should??
@@DavidR-ub2dp the 3.8 turbo Trans Am was a performance monster. Again the Turbo Trams am that was a dog was the carbed, turbo, 301 Pontiac of the early 80's
Back in 1962 the f85 Oldsmobile Cutlass that have to Turbo a aluminum engine also had a red Turbo breather just like the LeSabre on this video great video great carved Lu I didn't even know that existed back in the 80s and I was into the late 70 model but I was only 16 at the time.
Hi Bohemia Lite , Happy to read you enjoy this video :-) I'm learning all the time from the Care Takers and I think that is so much fun, and it appears you enjoy that too, Lou
4:15 It's funny to see the incorrect usage of the (obsolete) word "gage" in the Buick brochure, when it should be "gauge". I had a 1992 Cavalier that said "FUEL GAGE" on the dash, and I just shook my head every time I read it. I'm curious to know why they went for that spelling.
Hi David Broughall, Nice attention to details. Hmmm, not sure why they spelled it like that. Hopefully a Viewer can sharing knowledge to answer your question, Lou
Hi Jeffrey, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Nice!!! A friend of mine had one. Not nearly as nice as this one, tho. At that time, the V6 turbo was really a V8 alternative. I don't think it made but 150hp. This guy's dual exhaust version may have been rated at 165hp... AND.. I didn't know they made a LeSabre without A/C. lol.
He can check with original spare part catalogues if it had factory a/c.Or not. GM linked parts as blower motors or vent cowls to cars with- or without -a/c. As far i remember GM used from 1980 a factory option plate in the trunk where all built in factory options on any car are lettered. Or on the inner spare wheel cover.
Nice ! I bought the 86 GN off the salesroom floor and it was the quickest car I have ever owned . Had a 64 tri-power GTO that was faster but not quicker. Miss both of them.
Hi G-Body James, Here is a link to a playlist I've created for you of cars from 1974 - 1979 you love seeing, enjoy! Lou ruclips.net/p/PLkoIzmOYXcciJ2PJT0TbbFg2OjaRK_t2y
I knew about the Turbo Skyhawk, but Buick did a nice job of hiding the LeSabre Sport Coupes...almost like they thought it was a bad idea. Good thing they came to their senses & built the "Corvette Killer" GNX a few years later. I bet w/a little modern tuning & turbo technology(with the 4bbl. carb) that car could live up to the "sport" part of its name. Thanks Lou!
I learned to drive in my parents car it didn't have air I was 11 when you parents leave you in the car to "" to listen to the radio I loved that car my brother rapped it around a pole we a 85' Buick central I put 200k on that car Buicks are the best cars
Hi Stephanie, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Not many of this boats survived. Back in their time many have been crunched but the metal recyclers said they used a good quality sheet metal. The `80 and onward refined Electra Park Avenue was the most desired model in some european coutries. 150 hp (SAE, measured on the flywheel?) in a 3.8 is a joke but such `low compression` engines last any longer. Enjoy your rare gem, Steen.
Oh wow, four wheel disk brakes?! That big four door Electra in the brochure looks really good - I'm guessing that it's wearing Dark Carmine Red, or whatever Buick called it? In '78 my Dad got a new '79 88 Royale Olds on a "drive-away sale" (in the Dark Carmine Red) and we all rode a bus to Lansing to pick up our new cars and drive back to Dayton, Ohio - (where I knew some Traxlers!) The Olds soon went to the dealer to fix the ignition lock cylinder which would pull out of the column with the key. And they gave us a loaner beige 88 Holiday Coupe, which actually had the buckets and console/floor shift! IS THAT A SPEEDMINDER I SEE IN THE SPEEDOMETER?!! Didn't think those were still available in '79... The Turbo 3.8 Litre badge is less crooked than the one in your Bro's Century Sport Coupe mentioned in this vid. Interesting that the LeSabre does have rear defog - is it wire-grid or blower? This car has those same bolts, as the Century Turbo, securing the cowl tag - I thought those were supposed to be riveted. The bolts strike me as suspicious - but do look untouched. Did the dash VIN tag take enough precedence to make cowl tag bolts OK? I also love that '68 Skylark in the background - always loved those.
@@loucostabile I just found a Speedminder speedo like the one in that car, on Ebay. So yes I was seeing correctly. And from those pictures I figured out that the the mystery knob on the bottom of the dash, inboard of the "Left Vent" knob, shown @14:14 is to set the Speedminder - and I guess reset the trip odometer. I'd previously assumed that GM stopped making those in the early to mid 1970s, but what do I know...
I had a 78 in Minnesota. I installed a 403 since the 3.8 was gone. My dads girlfriend sent it to a salvage yard while I was deployed over seas. I'd do just about anything to get it back. If you hear of a car like this, please let me know. I still have the keys, some of the badging and hood ornament. Had white leather interior. Was in really good shape.
@@loucostabile sure sucked, hopefully someone still has it. I've been watching for years to get another, but not having much luck finding one that's realistically priced.
Hi Clifford, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi Raymond, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi John, Happy to read you enjoy this one :-) Hmmm, not sure where to find a 2003 LeSabre Limited Celebration Edition. Hopefully a Viewer can share ideas on where to find it. Lou
My parents bought a brand new 1979 Buick Regal Turbo Coupe in 79. It was a beautiful car, burgundy inside/out, with metal flake paint. It was problematic though...the ignition modules in these engines tended to burn out, and we were stranded quite a few times - some kind of design flaw. The car was sold in 1985. Bucket seats were indeed rare. I wonder if this owner has had any problems with the ignition modules burning out...I'm assuming the problem was fixed with a TSB at some point. It was very quick for its time though, and as a kid I always enjoyed watching the turbo gauge light up on the dash.
Hi Sig Asad, Happy to read this reminds you of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
My Uncle back in 1979 bought a Lincoln Mark 5. We came up to one of these cars on the highway, the two drivers kind of waved at each other and he accelerated and blew passed us. My uncle's 400 cubic inch Mark 5 had about 150hp. Built for comfort not for speed.
Buick had a lot of performance niche cars from the late 70's right through the early 90's. There were T Types of almost everything at one point, including the Electra (!) This turbo actually made a little more power in the Century/Regal, and a bit extra on top of that in the Riviera (in its last year or two I think 190hp). Of the 3, obviously the Century/Regal was quickest weighing several hundred pounds less. (Even so, if I remember buff books at the time it was still a 9 second car at best, and although that was very good performance indeed for the time - it's just that 10 years prior, your Chrysler New Yorker would do that. 10 years later, the SHO would eat it for lunch. But still for the time and place.....) And of course eventually the motor morphed into the Gran Sport which did eat Corvettes. The Sport Coupe was a fun effort, and unique for Buick in the B body. In its first year, 1977, this model was actually a V8 - no turbo yet, and in 77-78 you could get the Olds 403 which produced more power / torque than the turbo. I don't think I've ever seen one of these with the 4 wheel discs - suggests that omitting AC & various power options could have been intentional by original owner who wanted max performance.
Hi Joe, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
It would be so easy to put some performance into that car by putting in an intercooler, awesome car and great video. I could see that LeSabre all blacked out with the Regal GN mechanicals, that surely make one heck of a sleeper.
Hi Brandon Petroski, Depends how much "trunk treats" someone has, and fun to see them when they have them :-) Happy to read you appreciate the video, and hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy on this Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile Well count me in as a new subscriber. I like your variety in vehicles. I tend to lean towards the lesser appreciated 70s and 80s classics myself. I've been running an Instagram called v8_or_die for a few years now with mild success.
Hi Gary Mckee, Good on the vehicle :-) Not so much for the engine :-( Happy to share this one with you that we both haven't seeing since the 80's, and you're welcome, Lou
@@dougbillings2046 because I have had several,a Chrysler slant six was a much more durable engine. I have had 3.8 rear wheel drive,several series2 and now for a work vehicle a 92 Park Avenue with a series 1. Weak oil pumps,intake gaskets,valve cover gaskets etc etc. But they are good cheap disposable work vehicles.
I owned one of the turbo Le Sabre's with the bucket seat center cosole floor shift auto same color but 1978 and yes it was faster than the 350 & 403 Le Sabres it was sporty in a tasteful luxury way.. My current car 2018 Fiesta ST... The cap horn butten has been replaced the original matched the interior color but dealer replacments where black .. the 78 was single exhaust..
These were not bad cars…….when properly cared for. The problem was that people would not change the oil frequently enough and the turbocharger cooling lines would gum up. Kiss one turbocharger goodbye. The 3.8 litre engine in that era was marginal to begin with. Some rocket scientist engineer decided to mount the oil pump out in front of the engine where it was subject to extremes of weather and once again due to improper maintenance they would blow up. I remember one winter where we had a dozen of them sitting on the lot waiting for donor engines. There weren’t enough donor engines to go around.
I love the Gnx they were well buit 547 produced built by a collaboration of ASC and McLaren they are my dream car now there in the neighborhood of 100,000 dollars or more for a very low mileage examples definitely you can buy one that s more affordable good luck in your quest of your GNX🤙😁
Awesome Lou《☆》Ya the A/C delete may have been a brain fart unless A/C is not required in the environment where the car would be driven :*: Very nice example of a rare car with 2×65 A/C🤓☻🤠
Parents bought light blue one in '78 . B-pilar is black on turbo model & chrome on n.a. also cool steering wheel but awful milage. Monte Carlo turbo 79 too
Hi Ronald, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi Thomas Hill, Yeah the cars in the late 70's were not the best looking cars produced and the engines were crushed with emissions do dads killing horse power, however they do get better looking with age, and clearly this bring memories (good or bad) back to many of us, Lou
Hi Ty Mac, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I have a strange infatuation with the rare/odd/somewhat ugly transitional gm b body coupes they made from 80-81. I got my eyes out for an 80 lesabre sport (turbo)coupe. They are rare and you don’t see barely any info or videos of them online. Nice to actually see a vid of a 79
Hi LauedBeatZ, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Hi dodge sportsman, Happy to read you appreciate this "Great car" :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Rare beauty only thing I see wrong is it’s not an Oldsmobile lol My Dad bought a 79’ black Riviera off the showroom floor. In 79’ it had the olds 350. 12 years later looked showroom New
the olds holiday 88 had bucket seats 78-80 ,pontiac Bonneville 79&80, buick lesaber 78-80 turbo sport coupes. and no bucket seat option on the Chevy impala go figure. lol. is what's rare here is the no a/c .in a buick. find an extra turbo controller box or two. you'll need em if your gona drive them. lol. they went out a lot. death of most of these early turbo buick's oh and the air filters nos only item.
Wait, what? Bucket seats! This is definitely a rare Buick & big brother to the Grand Nationals that get all the turbo love. Steen and all those Buick guys definitely know their cars & their car history. Thanks for & sharing this Buick with us, Lou!
Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
I hope this never leaves the internet. A friend had one that belonged to her mom and we drove it all over in our senior year of high school, 1982.
Hi Jonathan, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Friends Moms car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
1979 buick century with turbo 3.8 was a performer!!
Those Buick LeSabre 4 disc brake & turbo 3.8 options are very rare indeed!!
Hi Sam Spelvin, Happy to read ppreciate the rarity of this car :-) Lou
My 78 Regal with that engine was a disaster.
YUP!!! I have! And when I was 12 years old, I got to ride in one for a month! My Dad returned it to the dealership and ordered a "Custom" model, silver, on silver with a 350, after the turbo on the 3.8 had some issues and stopped delivering boost. The thing I remember the most is the seats: they just melt around your body. It's like sitting on the softest pillow ever made. My Dad ordered the car with all options but the sun roof as he knew my Mom would leave it open in a rain storm or something. This was the last Buick he bought. He kept it garaged, bought an El Camino for his company rig and had the car when he finally hung up his business in 1994. The local Buick Dealer, in Arizona, bought the car and put it in their show room as it had less than 30K miles on it, and was perfect, flawless, no alterations, shined like brand new, and for anyone who knows about GM's crap silver paint of that era, is a miracle. These cars are so underrated in terms of their creature comforts and ride. Performance is another story.
Hi Chuck, Happy to read this car brings back memories of the car your Dad had for a month :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Love it Lou. Never knew about these Buicks. Without a doubt you have the best car channel on RUclips!
Hi David Kastin, Happy to read you "love it" :-) Appreciate the kind words on this Channel, Lou
Wow, that was fantastic. You never cease to amaze me with the interesting stuff you feature. I didn't even know they MADE a sport version of these beautiful boats. Never seen one in my life.
Hi Todd Wall, Happy to read you appreciate "the search" for cars I hope you'll enjoy :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
My first car was a 78 LeSabre Turbo Coupe. Silver just like in the ad (7:47). My uncle had bought it new (and fully loaded) to tow his boat. The rear end was wrecked just months after he bought it and they couldn't get the 78 rear panels so they replaced the whole trunk section with a 79. That was my high school car, the "Turbo Tank". A lot of power for the time, enough to smoke those 305 Berlinetta Camaros. I wish I still had this one, one of the smoothest driving cars I've ever had. The LED lights below the gas gauge were awesome too!
Hi Armaden Restal, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
My first time ever !! 79 Buick 3.8 turbo what a rare machine!! I've seen bunches of these Buick but never 3.8 turbo in 79 big !!! One's I've seen had 305chevy or 307olds engine think I seen one with Buick engine!! During this time GM put olds engine's or chevy in all of there bigger cars!!
Hi Scotty Jones, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) Lou
77 had 350
77 lesabre my dad had
I never saw those turbo buick lesabre in person I'm used to seeing those turbo v6 engines on the A and G bodies for my opinion the turbo v6 is too small for the buick lesabre I've seen them with an oldsmobile 307 or a oldsmobile 403 but I do like the rare sighting of this lesabre rare and amazing condition😁👍👍👍💥
What a neat and rare car. I had the 79 Regal Sport Coupe in the early 90s, Cream/Yellow paint with tan cloth interior, T-tops yet it had a bench seat. I miss that car.
Hi Eric, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I was a teen age hot rodder working as a lot boy in the late '70's. I remember being disappointed in the new smaller full size GM cars when they came out, but in driving these cars (not the turbo version) I remember being amazed how great they handled. Now, I really like them, esp the coupes like this Buick. saw a spectacular black '79 Caprice coupe a couple days ago, and I stopped to stare at it. this buick is awesome...beautiful dashboard.
Hi Steve S. Glad to read this one brings back memories for you :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
I never knew they made a turbo model ! My grandfather bought a 1984 Buick lesabre 2 door new back then...baby blue !
Hi al reynolds, Glad to read this one brings back memories of your Grandfathers car :-) Lou
Wow! What a beautiful car! Did not know about these! Like the paint, wheels, tri-colored tailamps, and those slots on the front fenders. 3.8 litre, one of the best GM engines. Great interview Lou, with a great proud owner as well! Thanks for highlighting these rare specialty cars, one of the bright spots of the very dismal, mid to late 70's american cars!!
Hi Carlos Carpinteyro, Happy to receive a "Wow!" from you regarding this car :-) Lou
i had a friend at work that special ordered one of these back in 1979 with the turbo and the bucket seats. As i remember he placed the order for it in October and took delivery in March! So even back then they were hard to get!
Hi John Miller, Happy to read this one brings back memories of your Friends car :-) Lou
This LeSabre is in spectacular condition ! Great video Lou.
Thank you and the owner.
Hi Jeff King, You're right, in spectacular condition :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and you're welcome, Lou
I remember my first experience with big American car's was when I lived in the States in the nineteen eighties. We bought a grey 1979 2 door Buick LeSabre 3.8 Liter. With an original 8-track and those door's that shut down with a sound !!!!!!! Man....great stuff. The sound of the engine when you pushed the pedal to the floor. Too bad we can't ride them in the Netherlands where we now live.
Hi Bert, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I had one of these LaSabre turbo coupes as a teen. I pulled the weak turbo 6 and put in a mildly built 455 Olds big block and th400. That car romped man I miss it.
Hi Varg Freeborn, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
As soon as I seen the Turbo Badge it brought me back to 1979 when our restaurant Server bought this same engine in her NEW Tan REGAL Turbo Sport Coupe. It was bench Seat with standard wheel covers. Nothing to me seemed cool except the small hood scoop. Then I read about them.
Hi gene978, Happy to read this one brings back memories of the Regal Turbo :-) Lou
my parents owned one of these in a metallic-like light blue...great car...
Hi Steve, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
The Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Delta 88 are my favorite GM B bodies of this generation.
Happy to read this Model is a favorite of yours :-)
What a neat car and owner! I love the color and those bucket seats! My aunt had a 1978 LeSabre hers had a v/8 and a four door they were nice riding cars. I do remember this model and never saw one up close like this.What a treat Lou! I enjoyed the car and the history by it's owner. Like I say the owner makes the car too! Thanks for sharing Lou!
Hi Steve Flad, Happy to read you enjoy this "neat" car. Glad to read it brought back memories of your Aunts 78 LeSabre :-) Lou
Awesome Car Lou! I love the rare guys.
Hi Joey, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I love these rare oddball early turbo cars. I think they also made a Century turbo coupe in very low numbers. My neighbors had a few Lesabre sedans when I was growing up and they rode smooth like a sailboat. I had an 86 Grand National for a few years and it was a blast. You should do a review of an 80’s T-Bird turbo coupe if you ever come across one.
Hi Brian Blair, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) Glad to read this one brings back memories of the neighbors car. Thank you for viewing and sharing, and if I see the right 80's T-Bird Turbo, you will too :-) Lou
What a great car from a time with the worst president in office ever. Well almost. I remember one of these driving around State College, PA when I attended Penn State. Lou, keep up all your great work. While not fast with its crude non intercooler turbo engine, it was a tremendous car. Turbo Saabs were all the rage then, but Buick took a chance with turbos. No such thing as AC delete. It simply wasn't ordered, but that is what makes it unique. You say your hot, roll down the windows.
Hi George Mattar, Happy to read this one brings back memories of State College PA. Appreciate the encouragement, Lou
Interesting “face”, our ‘79 Riviera Turbo did not have the air cleaner painted red, it was silver with black tube.
Hi tasaab, Thank you for viewing & sharing, Lou
That's when cars were cars nowaday we drive video machines
Hi James Veach, Gliding down the road in your comfy Buick :-) Lou
Exactly mate but these modern car lovers will never learn.
@B. Allen Yea but there's other ways to keep you safe without relying on airbags is one paying attention, no playing on you're phone, keeping you're eyes on the road, Keep you're seat belt on and no distractions. Those are the things that'll keep you safe and sound without relying on any airbags or other safety equipment.
B. Allen
Some people like me survived a horrible accident in a 70’ Oldsmobile 88 at 115 mph. Clipped a telephone pole and flipped it walked away without a scratch- no seatbelt. I wouldn’t recommend it lol but many people then and now would’ve died. Maybe I’m too rotten to die but seriously I believe when your candle is done burning it’s over. Even today’s safe cars many would’ve died.
@B. Allen I have mate but at the end of the day these overpriced plastic modern eggshells on wheels will never have the soul and character of an old school muscle car or hotrod or even an old vintage classic. My 96 F150 with a 5.0L (302) Windsor V8 has wayyyyyyyyyy more soul and character and makes girls smile more than any modern eggshell on wheels you see on the road today and it'll probably outlast major of modern vehicles as well.
Hi Lou! Never saw a turbo version of this car. Nice looking car. Sporty and luxurious.
Hi Joseph, Happy to share this unique Buick with you :-) Lou
Professor Lou , Your videos are getting to be so educational that I feel I should be getting credits toward a degree or, at least, a diploma just by watching them. Lord knows I could use a diploma.
Hi Right Lane Hog, Not sure of the "Lou Grading System" however I know you'd get an "A" for attendance :-) Glad you're along for the ride, Lou
@@loucostabile That's the first A I ever got.
Great video Lou growing up we had a 83 turbo Buick Regal two-tone black and silver car was very quick thanks for the throwback
HI acts2211, Happy to read this video brings back memories of this Regal Turbo :-) Stay tuned, there is a good possibility there will be a Regal Turbo coming up, Lou
I had to do a double take as a guy in our Buick Club of America Chapter has a 1978 Turbo Coupe, and it’s even the same color. These are rare cars, and his is the only one I’ve ever seen previously. It may be noted that the turbo engine in these cars put out 10 hp more than a 350 4 barrel engine of that era. That 350 put out more torque at a lower rpm (280 @ 1,800 vs 265 @ 2,800) so who knows which one would win a drag race. I have a 1977 Electra with that 350 and although it won’t win many drag races, it eats interstates up better than most cars I’ve owned. I am happy with the 350. Much easier to work on, and parts availability is not a big problem.
Thanks for sharing this car reminds you of a Guy in your Buick Club, and happy to read about your Electra too.
Cool car for sure Lou and thanks for sharing.
Hi Ed B., Glad to read you think this is a cool car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and you're welcome, Lou
I saw the 1979 Turbo Riviera 3.8 before, but never one of these. My family bought the 1979 LeSabre Limited coupe with the 350. I learned how to drive that tank before my father bought me a 1980 Monza with the Iron Duke 4. Beautiful cars all these Buicks were. I remember the Opels were in the showrooms then. My cousin had a V8 Regal of that era too. Pluuuuush.
Hi Mark W, Glad to read this car brings back memories of the 1979 LeSabre your family purchased :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Never knew Buick LeSabre ever came as a Turbo Sport Coupe such as this one here today. Seems like all the ones I saw at every other house in my neighborhood owned by the ‘older generation’ was some variation of the LeSabre. Nice find, Lou! I happen to have loved my 3.8L in my 1995 Buick Regal Custom 2 door. Black with light grey leather interior, and what a fun car that was to drive!!
Hi Rusty, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this Big Buick :-) Glad to read it brings back memories of your 95 Regal, Lou
These also had 3 V8 options. Pontiac 301, Oldsmobile 350 (exclusive to California emission cars) and the Buick 350 with a quadrajet, WITHOUT the computer control. 1980 was the last year for the Buick 350. The quadrajet equipped Buick 350 was still a very torquey engine even in 1979. I much prefer it to the turbo 231 V6. This is also the first year for the lockup torque converter on the turbo 350 transmission.
Hi When Better Cars Are Built, Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Lou
NICE CAR AGAIN LOU ENJOYED THE VIDEO.STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE VIDEOS
HOPE YOU DO IT FOR A LONG TIME YET
Hi Han Schenk, Happy to read you enjoy this episode. Appreciate your Prophetic statement and I hope to be sharing cars with you for a long time to come :-) Lou
I just got my new collectible automobile magazine in the mail today and it has an article on the 1977-1979 full size Buick’s!! And this owners’s car was one of the photographs in the article!
Hi Thomas Perkins, That's awesome :-) Lou
That's a real beauty there sharp first time seeing and hearing about it. I like the color and the wheels are nice too interior looks comfy. The engine sounds nice and smooth.
Hi Pete Medina, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car & engine sounds too :-) Lou
Keep in mind that this was GM's idea of a downsized full-sized car in 1979...and it's still huge! But with that Turbo, bucket seats and AC delete, it's a rare combination for a Buick LeSabre. Thanks for sharing it, Lou and Steen!
Hi Scott, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou
Thanks Lou good morning , good old American made Iron (Doug in Ga)
Hi Doug in GA, Well said :-) You're welcome, Lou
you're welcome
Welcome to Wisconsin Lou. Beautiful car as well brother.
Hi CJ Colvin, Fun times on a perfect day :-) Stay tuned, there will be more from WI, Lou
Very unique cool car. The bucket seats are great and the color and wheels look very nice
Hi steve fields, Happy to you appreciate the uniqueness of this car :-) Lou
First one I ever saw. I knew about the Regals and GNX with the turbo Buick 3.8 and I think Pontiac put that same engine in one year of the Firebird.
Hi john kendall, Happy to share this rare Buick with you :-) Lou
I think the Trans Am actually had a turbo 4.9L V8 for 1981.
@@JeffKing310 They did in many ways it was a dog that never really performed as well as it should have. What I was talking about was the 1989 Trans Am 20th anniversary version with the same basic motor that went in the GNX . It's performance was as good as even the early 400 and 455 equipped Trans Am's from the early 1970s
@@johnkendall6962 your right now I read that the GNX v6 could not fit in the engine bay of the TA so what Pontiac did was take the original heads from the turbo G body v6 and put modified front wheel drive heads that were smaller maybe that's why they did not perform the way they should??
@@DavidR-ub2dp the 3.8 turbo Trans Am was a performance monster. Again the Turbo Trams am that was a dog was the carbed, turbo, 301 Pontiac of the early 80's
Back in 1962 the f85 Oldsmobile Cutlass that have to Turbo a aluminum engine also had a red Turbo breather just like the LeSabre on this video great video great carved Lu I didn't even know that existed back in the 80s and I was into the late 70 model but I was only 16 at the time.
Hi Bohemia Lite
, Happy to read you enjoy this video :-) I'm learning all the time from the Care Takers and I think that is so much fun, and it appears you enjoy that too, Lou
4:15 It's funny to see the incorrect usage of the (obsolete) word "gage" in the Buick brochure, when it should be "gauge". I had a 1992 Cavalier that said "FUEL GAGE" on the dash, and I just shook my head every time I read it. I'm curious to know why they went for that spelling.
Hi David Broughall, Nice attention to details. Hmmm, not sure why they spelled it like that. Hopefully a Viewer can sharing knowledge to answer your question, Lou
very pretty cars. i had a 83 lesabre loved it.
Hi Jeffrey, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Nice!!! A friend of mine had one. Not nearly as nice as this one, tho. At that time, the V6 turbo was really a V8 alternative. I don't think it made but 150hp. This guy's dual exhaust version may have been rated at 165hp... AND.. I didn't know they made a LeSabre without A/C. lol.
He can check with original spare part catalogues if it had factory a/c.Or not.
GM linked parts as blower motors or vent cowls to cars with- or without -a/c. As
far i remember GM used from 1980 a factory option plate in the trunk where all built in
factory options on any car are lettered. Or on the inner spare wheel cover.
Hi Keith Jackson, Glad you think this car is "Nice!!!" :-) Glad to read this one brings back memories of your Friends car, Lou
Nice ! I bought the 86 GN off the salesroom floor and it was the quickest car I have ever owned . Had a 64 tri-power GTO that was faster but not quicker. Miss both of them.
Hi disgustedvet, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Sounds like you have wonderful memories of some fun cars you had. Good times, good times, Lou
More of the 78-9-80,s slow fast cars please love seeing the specialty cars of these years
Hi G-Body James, Here is a link to a playlist I've created for you of cars from 1974 - 1979 you love seeing, enjoy! Lou ruclips.net/p/PLkoIzmOYXcciJ2PJT0TbbFg2OjaRK_t2y
I knew about the Turbo Skyhawk, but Buick did a nice job of hiding the LeSabre Sport Coupes...almost like they thought it was a bad idea. Good thing they came to their senses & built the "Corvette Killer" GNX a few years later. I bet w/a little modern tuning & turbo technology(with the 4bbl. carb) that car could live up to the "sport" part of its name. Thanks Lou!
Hi chemxfan, Happy to share this one Buick was hiding and bring it to out to view :-) You're welcome, Lou
Thanks nice car never seen one with that motor. Most had a v8. Buick’s were nice cars. I had a 76 Regal v8 4 four barrel. Auto loaded . Was fast car.
Happy to share this Buick with the Turbo engine with you :-) Sounds like you had a nice Regal too.
My dad had one in maroon. Sweet!
Hi Mark Johnston, Happy to read this one brings back memories of your Dad's car :-) Lou
Thanks Lou good morning from blane minn
Hi David Terry from Blane MN :-) You're welcome, Lou
Please do a video on the 70s Skyhawk. Such cool looking cars.
Hi acertainshape
, If I can find a good one, and a Care Taker to discuss the car, you'll see it. Let's see what happens and stay tuned, Lou
@@loucostabile Thanks, Lou. I love your videos and especially like that you focus so much on the small details and the ephemera.
I'm glad you're enjoying the details with me, and happy you're along for the ride :-)
I learned to drive in my parents car it didn't have air I was 11 when you parents leave you in the car to "" to listen to the radio I loved that car my brother rapped it around a pole we a 85' Buick central I put 200k on that car Buicks are the best cars
Hi Stephanie, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Not many of this boats survived. Back in their time many have been crunched
but the metal recyclers said they used a good quality sheet metal. The `80 and
onward refined Electra Park Avenue was the most desired model in some
european coutries. 150 hp (SAE, measured on the flywheel?) in a 3.8 is a joke
but such `low compression` engines last any longer. Enjoy your rare gem, Steen.
Hi junkman, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of sharing this car in todays day :-) Lou
You mean there is a actually a Buick world!
Go fast with class! BUICK.
Right in front of Cadillac World, Chevrolet World, Oldsmobile World, and Pontiac World :-)
Oh wow, four wheel disk brakes?! That big four door Electra in the brochure looks really good - I'm guessing that it's wearing Dark Carmine Red, or whatever Buick called it?
In '78 my Dad got a new '79 88 Royale Olds on a "drive-away sale" (in the Dark Carmine Red) and we all rode a bus to Lansing to pick up our new cars and drive back to Dayton, Ohio - (where I knew some Traxlers!) The Olds soon went to the dealer to fix the ignition lock cylinder which would pull out of the column with the key. And they gave us a loaner beige 88 Holiday Coupe, which actually had the buckets and console/floor shift!
IS THAT A SPEEDMINDER I SEE IN THE SPEEDOMETER?!! Didn't think those were still available in '79... The Turbo 3.8 Litre badge is less crooked than the one in your Bro's Century Sport Coupe mentioned in this vid. Interesting that the LeSabre does have rear defog - is it wire-grid or blower? This car has those same bolts, as the Century Turbo, securing the cowl tag - I thought those were supposed to be riveted. The bolts strike me as suspicious - but do look untouched. Did the dash VIN tag take enough precedence to make cowl tag bolts OK?
I also love that '68 Skylark in the background - always loved those.
Hi Dan, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads 88 Royale :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
@@loucostabile I just found a Speedminder speedo like the one in that car, on Ebay. So yes I was seeing correctly. And from those pictures I figured out that the the mystery knob on the bottom of the dash, inboard of the "Left Vent" knob, shown @14:14 is to set the Speedminder - and I guess reset the trip odometer. I'd previously assumed that GM stopped making those in the early to mid 1970s, but what do I know...
Beautiful LeSabre 👍
Glad you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
@@loucostabile I had recently bought my first car and it's a 79 Buick lesabre with a v8.
I had a 78 in Minnesota. I installed a 403 since the 3.8 was gone. My dads girlfriend sent it to a salvage yard while I was deployed over seas. I'd do just about anything to get it back. If you hear of a car like this, please let me know. I still have the keys, some of the badging and hood ornament. Had white leather interior. Was in really good shape.
Hi Melberg Family, Happy to read this car / video brings back memories of your 78 :-) Sorry to read the end result of your car :-( Lou
@@loucostabile sure sucked, hopefully someone still has it. I've been watching for years to get another, but not having much luck finding one that's realistically priced.
My parents owned the non-turbo version of this car. Wish I had encouraged them to keep it. Impossible to find one now.
Hi Clifford, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
The brochure is very interesting - it really took me back in time.
Hi Jeff King, That brochure is a magazine :-) Lou
Lou Costabile
You’ve got that right!!
Great find fantastic 👍
Hi Carl Rainford, Happy to read you appreciate this find :-) Lou
Now all you need is the 3.8 SFI V6 turbo from the Buick Grand national,then the car will be as much as Grand national.
Hi Raymond, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I'm looking for a 2003 buick lesabre limited celebration edition. Any suggestions? Thanks! Beautiful car you have there!
Hi John, Happy to read you enjoy this one :-) Hmmm, not sure where to find a 2003 LeSabre Limited Celebration Edition. Hopefully a Viewer can share ideas on where to find it. Lou
My parents bought a brand new 1979 Buick Regal Turbo Coupe in 79. It was a beautiful car, burgundy inside/out, with metal flake paint. It was problematic though...the ignition modules in these engines tended to burn out, and we were stranded quite a few times - some kind of design flaw. The car was sold in 1985. Bucket seats were indeed rare. I wonder if this owner has had any problems with the ignition modules burning out...I'm assuming the problem was fixed with a TSB at some point. It was very quick for its time though, and as a kid I always enjoyed watching the turbo gauge light up on the dash.
Hi Moparian, Happy to read this one reminds you of your Parents Regal :-) Stay tuned, there might be a "Turbo Regal" coming up, Lou
I have a '77 Sport Coupe, though mine is a rebuilt Olds 350 V8 not the turbo V6
Hi Sig Asad, Happy to read this reminds you of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
My Uncle back in 1979 bought a Lincoln Mark 5. We came up to one of these cars on the highway, the two drivers kind of waved at each other and he accelerated and blew passed us. My uncle's 400 cubic inch Mark 5 had about 150hp. Built for comfort not for speed.
Hi South Hill Farm, Happy to read this one brings back memories of your Uncles 79 Lincoln highway cruise :-) Lou
Buick had a lot of performance niche cars from the late 70's right through the early 90's. There were T Types of almost everything at one point, including the Electra (!) This turbo actually made a little more power in the Century/Regal, and a bit extra on top of that in the Riviera (in its last year or two I think 190hp).
Of the 3, obviously the Century/Regal was quickest weighing several hundred pounds less. (Even so, if I remember buff books at the time it was still a 9 second car at best, and although that was very good performance indeed for the time - it's just that 10 years prior, your Chrysler New Yorker would do that. 10 years later, the SHO would eat it for lunch. But still for the time and place.....) And of course eventually the motor morphed into the Gran Sport which did eat Corvettes.
The Sport Coupe was a fun effort, and unique for Buick in the B body. In its first year, 1977, this model was actually a V8 - no turbo yet, and in 77-78 you could get the Olds 403 which produced more power / torque than the turbo. I don't think I've ever seen one of these with the 4 wheel discs - suggests that omitting AC & various power options could have been intentional by original owner who wanted max performance.
Hi Joe, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Gorgeous car!
Glad to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)
Great looking Buick. Give the grand national a run for the money. Interesting story withit. Thanks for sharing guys.
Hi Big Charlie's Model Garage, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, and you're welcome, Lou
A true beauty
Hi William, Happy to read "A true beauty" :-) Lou
It would be so easy to put some performance into that car by putting in an intercooler, awesome car and great video. I could see that LeSabre all blacked out with the Regal GN mechanicals, that surely make one heck of a sleeper.
Hi Elizabeth Cherry, Happy to read the tips you'd add :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Very interesting Buick!
Hi Clark Griswold, Happy to read you found this car "interesting" :-) Lou
Maybe a lower optioned Lesabre ,but she certainly is a looker and has the stuff i would want.. a beauty Lou 👍
Hi Mark J, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou
The early turbo cars had a unique sound to them
Hi larry borkstrom, Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Lou, are you up early or late? It's 4:23AM here.
Another car I didn't know about. Excellent!
Hi Ray S, Up early. Happy to read you learned about this car :-) Lou
Commercial printing named as `buyers guide` lol Thats GM merchandising.
:-)
Nice 😀
Glad to read you think this one is nice :-)
@@loucostabile 😀
I had a '78 model, white with red interior about 1994.
Hi Dann, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your model car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Wow what a great lookin' car !
Glad to read you enjoy this one Mark :-)
20 minute video, and 10 minutes in the trunk looking at the brochure lol. However, I appreciate the video. These turbo b-body cars are very forgotten.
Hi Brandon Petroski, Depends how much "trunk treats" someone has, and fun to see them when they have them :-) Happy to read you appreciate the video, and hope you see many more cars you'll enjoy on this Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile Well count me in as a new subscriber. I like your variety in vehicles. I tend to lean towards the lesser appreciated 70s and 80s classics myself. I've been running an Instagram called v8_or_die for a few years now with mild success.
Top choice car for the Mob. The gangster mobile.
Hi Steve Porter, Good to know :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
13:23 Hard to believe this car topped out at 85mph.
Wouldn't know as we're always doing the legal speed limit on this Channel ;-)
@@loucostabile It would be interesting to get some of these cars on a test facility to see what their limits really are.
That was just the federally mandated 85 MPH speedometer at the time. This car will easily break 85.
@@dnanestrau you are correct sir.
I like the vehicle but not the 3.8 engine.
Thanks for bringing the unusual vehicles to us haven't saw one of those since sometime in the 80's
Hi Gary Mckee, Good on the vehicle :-) Not so much for the engine :-( Happy to share this one with you that we both haven't seeing since the 80's, and you're welcome, Lou
3.8 is the best v6 ever made why wouldn't u like it?
@@dougbillings2046 because I have had several,a Chrysler slant six was a much more durable engine.
I have had 3.8 rear wheel drive,several series2 and now for a work vehicle a 92 Park Avenue with a series 1.
Weak oil pumps,intake gaskets,valve cover gaskets etc etc.
But they are good cheap disposable work vehicles.
Gary Mckee
That’s too bad you didn’t have luck with these 3.8 engines I know several people whom put close to 300k on theirs
I owned one of the turbo Le Sabre's with the bucket seat center cosole floor shift auto same color but 1978 and yes it was faster than the 350 & 403 Le Sabres it was sporty in a tasteful luxury way.. My current car 2018 Fiesta ST... The cap horn butten has been replaced the original matched the interior color but dealer replacments where black .. the 78 was single exhaust..
Hi Dennis Bonnett, Thanks for sharing your 1st hand knowledge of your memories of your 78 :-) Lou
Myyyyyy favorite buick
Winner :-)
Lou Costabile love huge cars and regals
These were not bad cars…….when properly cared for. The problem was that people would not change the oil frequently enough and the turbocharger cooling lines would gum up. Kiss one turbocharger goodbye. The 3.8 litre engine in that era was marginal to begin with. Some rocket scientist engineer decided to mount the oil pump out in front of the engine where it was subject to extremes of weather and once again due to improper maintenance they would blow up. I remember one winter where we had a dozen of them sitting on the lot waiting for donor engines. There weren’t enough donor engines to go around.
Hi Dave, Thank you for sharing your knowledge of these cars, Lou
Cool car, I want an 87 GNX!
Hope you're behind the wheel of one soon :-)
I love the Gnx they were well buit 547 produced built by a collaboration of ASC and McLaren they are my dream car now there in the neighborhood of 100,000 dollars or more for a very low mileage examples definitely you can buy one that s more affordable good luck in your quest of your GNX🤙😁
No A/C is this a Candain Spec car?
Hmmm, I guess not.
Awesome Lou《☆》Ya the A/C delete may have been a brain fart unless A/C is not required in the environment where the car would be driven :*: Very nice example of a rare car with 2×65 A/C🤓☻🤠
Hi BDOG JR, Happy to read you appreciate the uniqueness of finding this one to share :-) Lou
I'm really trying to find one of these with the bench seats and the shifter on the console if anybody has any leads please let me know!
Hope you're behind the wheel of the right one for you soon.
Parents bought light blue one in '78 . B-pilar is black on turbo model & chrome on n.a. also cool steering wheel but awful milage. Monte Carlo turbo 79 too
Hi Ronald, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Parents car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
My best friend's parents had a non turbo one of these. The camera really doesn't capture the scale of this car. They are BIG.
Hi Freedonquest08, Happy to read this one brings back memories of your Best Friends Parents car :-) Lou
Sweet!
Glad you like this car :-)
1979 is, thankfully, no longer with us... four-wheel disc brakes were something tho O_o All the better to slow from 55 mph x_x
Hi Thomas Hill, Yeah the cars in the late 70's were not the best looking cars produced and the engines were crushed with emissions do dads killing horse power, however they do get better looking with age, and clearly this bring memories (good or bad) back to many of us, Lou
Like my father's car for many years😢
Hi Ammar Dukmak
, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Fathers car. Lou
Lou Costabile yes it’s
Thank you 🙏
More pruning please
Hi Ty Mac, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RUclips Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
I have a strange infatuation with the rare/odd/somewhat ugly transitional gm b body coupes they made from 80-81. I got my eyes out for an 80 lesabre sport (turbo)coupe. They are rare and you don’t see barely any info or videos of them online. Nice to actually see a vid of a 79
Hi LauedBeatZ, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile thanks will do. Here is a video of my 75 lesabre convertible ruclips.net/video/zu_G2k3Zl0o/видео.htmlsi=7xGyvH_nLsKxjTKQ
Great car..... I found one but damn! He wanted 33k
Hi dodge sportsman, Happy to read you appreciate this "Great car" :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RUclips Channel, Lou
Rare beauty only thing I see wrong is it’s not an Oldsmobile lol
My Dad bought a 79’ black Riviera off the showroom floor. In 79’ it had the olds 350. 12 years later looked showroom New
Hi Don’tell Gucci
, Happy read your story of your Dad's 79 Riv :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
the olds holiday 88 had bucket seats 78-80 ,pontiac Bonneville 79&80, buick lesaber 78-80 turbo sport coupes. and no bucket seat option on the Chevy impala go figure. lol. is what's rare here is the no a/c .in a buick. find an extra turbo controller box or two. you'll need em if your gona drive them. lol. they went out a lot. death of most of these early turbo buick's
oh and the air filters nos only item.
Hi D Owen, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts :-) Lou