Greetings Turbo Regal Inner Circle Members 03-14-2018 -
UPDATE ON OUR PERSONAL WHITE 1987 TURBO-T -
The new owner of our Turbo-T in Texas was able to get a similar vanity license plate to the one I had on our Turbo-T for many years. My Pennsylvania vanity license plate read “KWICK.” His new Texas vanity license plate for the Turbo-T reads “KWICK-87.”
PHOTO 1 - Shows my Pennsylvania vanity license plate “KWICK” on the left and his new Texas “KWICK-87” vanity license plate on the right.
Years ago, the vanity license plate on our 1967 ram air Firebird read “A MOVER.” That buyer resided in Illinois and was also able to get the same vanity license plate in Illinois. In both cases, it’s paying homage that both of those cars once belonged to me.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF -
Unknown to us, our son Darrell and his wife have been searching locally for a 1967 Pontiac LeMans to make into a resto mod.
The 1967 Pontiac Lemans holds a special meaning with Darrell, since that was his first car that we put together when he turned 16 back in 1986. At least it wasn’t a Ford Falcon!
Unfortunately, he wrecked that Pontiac LeMans and it went to the junkyard. I had forgotten that I had saved the actual car keys and locks from his Lemans and had it framed as a Christmas gift for him about 10 years ago.
Recently Darrell found a 1967 Pontiac LeMans that had been sitting in a barn for a number of years. It turns out that the owner knows me, which fortunately reflected into Darrell getting a good deal.
Knowing the magic Darrell did on building his 6-door Ford truck, I know this latest project will also be a work of art. The timing is perfect as this year the GTO Nationals is in June in nearby King of Prussia and I am one of the speakers at this National event. Darrell will be able to find plenty of parts he needs on this latest project. Hopefully, the name Kirban will work to his advantage!
PHOTO 2 - The photo on the top left shows the cool display we had made for him years ago with the original keys and key fob, photo and a note that reads, “Darrell SAVE - Your complete lock set & keys from your first car 1967 LeMans.” The photo on the top right shows his original 1967 LeMans wrecked from 1986.
The lower photos shows his newly acquired 1967 Pontiac LeMans. This project car even has factory air, which was fairly rare in a LeMans back in 1967. At one time, it also had a vinyl roof. Parts of the floor pan are rotted so you can put both feet through to the ground. I am confident Darrell can remake this car into something extremely nice.
UPDATE ON THE 1991 FIREBIRD AND 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRUCK -
Between weekly snow storms I was able to get over to where the Firebird has been in hibernation since the spring of 2007. Bill and I rolled it out of a cluttered filled garage into the bright sunlight. He then dropped a new battery in the car and after a few cranks, the Firebird started right up! As I expected, the plastic cable to the power antenna broke, causing the power antenna to run nonstop.
The car shows less than 2,000 actual miles. It still smells factory new inside. Body and paint are mint. Tires show no age cracks from sitting. Under the hood looks almost like new as well, with no sign of any rodent issues. This Formula Firebird has the Performance Package.
The Harley truck sits in another garage at his daughter’s house, which is 50 miles away. Currently, we are waiting for nice weather to get both of them hauled to my house so I can provide photos of the Harley truck to my initial buyer who wants both vehicles. This is the reason for the delay. The Harley truck has been started and run every few weeks as the daughter has had to move it in and out of the garage various times.
PHOTO 3 - We show 4 photos of this barn find - a 1991 Firebird Formula hardtop. This car is the right combination, red exterior with a grey cloth interior.
NEW CORVETTE 1001 FACTS BOOK NOW AVAILABLE -
Steve Magnante is the author of Corvette 1001 Facts. Steve is very well known as one of the on-air announcers at the Barrett-Jackson Auctions since 2002. He has a wealth of knowledge on the muscle car era. He also wrote the book 1001 Mustang Facts. I have both books in my collection. This new Corvette 1001 Facts book is a wealth of trivia information as well as facts that even well-informed Corvette owners may not know. I enjoy reading books like this as they contain a lot of interesting trivia.
I am hoping someday Steve Magnante will do a similar book based on the G-Body format, which would include the Buick Turbo Regals, Monte Carlo SS models and the Oldsmobile 442 models.
He may not be able to come up with 1001 facts, but 501 would probably be within reach. I would be willing to contribute to that book.
2007 DENNIS KIRBAN 60th BIRTHDAY BASH AND REUNION - SEPT 15-16, 2007 -
Many of you were at this 2-day Reunion event in 2007. It was also the very last time Molly would be at one of our events. Look What I Got made just 87 copies of this cool display that featured signatures of the VIP people that were in attendance that weekend.
Recently a local customer of mine, John Lochel, passed away. I had sold him a Grand National several years ago and later sold it for him. I then found him one of those Caddy V cars he bought from a customer of ours.
His wife Jean had this framed poster in their house and wanted me to have it. I felt honored that she would call me and insisted I have this for my personal collection.
PHOTO 4 - The photo on the left shows both of Steve Magnante’s 1001 Facts books. They are both available from www.cartechbooks.com for $24.95 each. The photo on the right shows this rare 2007 Reunion poster that features signatures of the VIP people that were in attendance at our event.
EMPRESS GREY CLOTH MATERIAL -
I had forgotten that I had a total of 10 yards of original C & A Empress 4444 grey seat material. It is also known as Deleo 4136 material in another brand upholstery book. This is the original grey cloth for 1985-1986 T-Type interiors that have the grey interior.
It may also be correct for the 1987 Turbo-T, including the WE4 models. I have 5 yards dated 1985 and another 5 yards dated 1989.
As you know, you want to always buy material all from the same roll, since material never matches from one roll to another (may be different dye lots.) See the Rare Parts listing for prices. Nobody has reproduced the original seat material exactly to match what C & A made originally for Buick that I am aware of. The C & A stands for Collins and Aikman. To my knowledge, they are no longer in business. I can provide a small sample piece if needed before deciding to purchase.
CURRENTLY ON EBAY - 1987 GRAND NATIONAL WITH 13,000 ORIGINAL MILES -
This well-optioned 1987 Grand National with a mere 13,000 miles has a price tag of $44,000. It is advertised as having all the options, including the digital dash and T-Tops. While well optioned Grand National examples are highly sought after, my personal opinion is the digital dash just never appealed to me as being a desirable option.
The T-Tops option, depending on your plans, can also prove to be an issue unless you immediately take steps to tighten up the suspension and install the 4 or 6 missing lower body bushings. Buick never listed these lower body bushings in the parts book or installed them on the Turbo Regals on the assembly line.
OUR SPRING OPEN HOUSE - APRIL 21ST - UPDATE -
We recently emailed many of the suppliers and vendors we buy from and many of them will be contributing some neat door prizes for our Spring Open House. We will start to list them in next week’s Inner Circle.
COMING NEXT WEEK -
Next week we will have another mini contest based on a rare part we found in one of the junkyards over the winter. Watch for this mini contest next week.
UPDATE ON ANOTHER CLEVER NEW PRODUCT COMING SHORTLY -
My friend, who has a shop directly across from us, has made a clever product that we plan to market for him. This product works on any car as a clever form of protection when storing your car or truck. No other company makes this exact same product that can protect your car when it is stored. We recently tried his prototype and he is making a few changes on it so it will be better than his prototype. Watch for updates shortly. It’s a pretty cool product that serves a useful function. Because of the weekly storms, he has not been able to make me a new sample to try yet.
2018 TURBO BUICK RELATED CAR SHOWS EVENTS -
Here is the current listing with dates for events to show your Turbo Regal or attend in 2018. As more information becomes available for these events, we will update them.
KIRBAN SPRING OPEN HOUSE -
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 -KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, 6201 Kellers Church Road, Plumsteadville, PA
This event has no rain date. We will have free Yum Yum donuts and coffee while supplies last. This event features specials on our products, M&M contest, and our popular No Reserve auction. The time is from 9 am until 2 pm. Special pricing to be announced on Pypes exhaust systems and Cold Case radiators. Spoolfool fillers can be reserved for pickup to eliminate costly shipping charges. Those are the 3 big items where you can save money by picking them up at our Open House. Many of our vendors and suppliers are donating door prizes for this event.
2018 Turbobuick.com NATIONALS-
May 2nd thru May 5th, 2018 - Burlington, NC
This event is held at two locations. The first part of the week is at Richard Clark’s Garage, 2557 Faucette Lane, Burlington, NC. It then moves to a different track - Farmington Dragway, 2992 NC Highway 801N, Mocksville, NC, located about one hour west of Burlington, NC. For more information, go to turbobuick.com and click on 2018 Turbo Buick Nationals or on Facebook.
BUICKS@Bates 2018-
Sunday, June 3, 2018
9 am - 4 pm PDT
Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Wood Valley Road, Valley Center, Californian 92082
The largest gathering of 1984-1987 Turbo Buicks and Classic Buicks west of the Mississippi! Come hang with the SoCal GS Club and Turbobuick.com South Westerners.
PYPES and MAX PERFORMANCE 8th Annual American Muscle Car and Truck Show -
June 29th and June 30th, 2018 - Hatfield, PA
This show is hosted by Pypes and Max Performance. A BBQ and cruise is Friday afternoon and Saturday is the car show. The location is at their facility at 2705 Clemens Road B103, Hatfield, PA 19440. This event draws a huge amount of all kinds of GM muscle cars, including Ford and Chrysler. The company owner has been our friend for over 30-plus years. We will be attending this event. For more information, go to their website - maxperformanceinc.com
MAGNA - MID ATLANTIC GRAND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
22nd EAST COAST BUICK REGIONALS -
September 14th and 15th, 2018 - Cecil County Dragway, Cecil, Maryland
The MAGNA Group has their annual event September 14th and 15th at Cecil County Dragway in Cecil County, Maryland. This event grows bigger each year and is open to all Buick muscle cars not just the Turbo Regals. We expect to be attending this event. (It falls on my birthday). For more details, go to turbobuick.com - or - their website - magnabuick.com
CUSTOM-MADE GM LICENSED VINYL BANNERS UPDATE-
Finally, some progress to report, The GNX banner they submitted for GM approval has been approved. They still have to get approval for the Grand National and Buick Motorsports banners. All designs we submitted to the company that has the GM license for Buick/Oldsmobile/Pontiac. We hope to have all of these banners on display at our Spring Open House in April. I did get a sample GNX banner, however it was not correct, so the company is going to redo it.
GOOD NEWS - WE ARE ACCEPTING CLASSIFIED ADS -
Good news - We now accept Classified Ads in our weekly Inner Circle emails. Over the years several customers have asked about placing an ad in our weekly Inner Circle.
Here are the options and the costs.
Ads can be from any individual or company. It needs to be automotive related, meaning it does not need be specifically Turbo Regal related. It can be for something for sale or something wanted.
Maximum number of words is 125 words, which is about 7 to 9 lines of copy. No photos. You can list a website. We recommend you state your name, phone number or email, a price, and your location in your ad.
The cost for 2 consecutive weeks is $25. The cost for 4 consecutive weeks is $40. You save $10 with the 4-week plan. No changes can be made to your existing running ad. You can only run one ad at any given time. We will have a code system at the end of your ad, so we will know what week number your ad is to run - 2 or 4 weeks.
It can be an ad for something for sale or an ad for something you are looking for.
We have never missed a single week since we started the Inner Circle email format in 2009. It’s something I enjoy doing and I just always seem to have enough material to write about.
Our weekly Inner Circle reaches over 3,200 members every Wednesday direct to their inbox. The Inner Circle also appears every Wednesday on our website with the related photos. Your ad would be visible to both groups of readers. So, the exposure to your ad is well over 3,200 potential buyers.
My Rare Parts section is only viewed by those that subscribe. Subscription is free, so complaints on what I write are nonexistent!
Ads submitted properly by the previous Sunday would appear that next Wednesday in the weekly Inner Circle. Ads must be submitted by email to - [email protected]
Payment by credit card must be done by phone to our office 215-766-1611 x 0.
THIS WEEK’S CLASSIFIED ADS -
FOR SALE: Clean and rare 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo-T with 87k original miles. Factory grey with grey leather interior. Extra padded vinyl roof, factory G80 posi rear, remote trunk release, PDL, PW, and PS. Comes with all the original paperwork. Not a spec of rot or rust on the body. Tons of new parts and recent work over the years. Most modifications done for drivability. Just installed a new 1 piece rear filler and all new AC Delco AC components and converted to R134a. Blows cold! I have a laundry list of work done and tons of pictures. Email [email protected] for more info and pictures or call/text 401-487-1207 if serious. Reduced to $14,900. Car is located in Rhode Island. 3 of 4.
FOR SALE - Remember, if you are local to us check out the inventory of used vehicles 611 Auto Sales. They are located near us at 8307 Easton Road in Ottsville, PA. Their website is -611autosalespa.com Many of the cars are priced under $3,995. Mention my name and it may save you a few bucks! They have several one-owner cars to choose from.
Their office number is 610-847-0100. Currently they have the 1987 Bronco II for $6,495. Several of their real nice 4-door sedans are priced under $3,995. These are ones I bid on that checked out as 1-2 owners, non-smoker with real nice exterior and interiors.
NOTE - IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE RARE PARTS SECTION -
If you are not able to see the Rare Parts section at the end of this Inner Circle, it is because you are not an Inner Circle member, but instead are reading this on the website. You must subscribe to see the Rare Parts section each week. It would go directly to your inbox every Wednesday afternoon. It is FREE, probably one reason why nobody complains about what I write about. Simply email - [email protected] - to get on our weekly Inner Circle email.
EMAILS TO KIRBAN PERFORMANCE -
NOTE- If you email us and do NOT get a timely reply, be sure to check your “SPAM” folder. Some emails do not go thru.
If you need to email us, use - [email protected]
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If you have a tip or a discovery that you found that works on your Turbo Regal, drop us an email giving us the details so we can pass the info on to our readers. Remember, even with my knowledge, I don’t know it all. Simply email me at - [email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN -
If you own a Grand National, you know the seat material is not easy to keep clean. Whenever possible it’s best to keep the driver’s seat covered. Besides dirt, the bright sun rays can quickly fade the grey and even the black pallex seat material.
CORES NEEDED -
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
NEED - Powermaster brake units. The must be complete. We will issue you a Letter of Credit for $125 for each acceptable core. We currently will not buy any powermaster units outright only letter of credit towards parts.
If you ship to us, the post office is the cheapest method. Pack the item(s) with a note with your name, address and phone number. These are the only 2 items we are currently accepting as cores.
MAIL - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
PO BOX 1199
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949
UPS - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6201 Kellers Church Road
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949-1199
TECH CALLS -
If you need technical information, it’s best to email - [email protected] - rather than call us. We will do our best to answer any technical questions within 24 hours. Please remember I have very little knowledge of the mechanical workings of the engine.
NEW PRODUCTS FROM US -
1985-1987 Buick GRAND NATIONAL -
ONE-PIECE BUCKET SEAT COVER
Because the original grey and black pallex Grand National seat material is so costly, here is a simple and inexpensive method to protect it.
We offer a one-piece form-fitting seat cover for the front bucket seat. No tools are required and it’s easy to clean. You simply slide it over the seat. It can be removed easily.
This seat cover has the same two-color color (black and grey) design, so it looks like it was made specifically for the Grand National.
The durable and breathable material is double nylon mesh cloth with 2mm thick sponge in the middle. The spandex back provides a universal fit that conforms to the Grand National’s bucket seat.
It’s an inexpensive investment to protect your Grand National bucket seats from damage.
To purchase one cover, order #7821. To order two covers, order #7822.
Another excellent way to protect the seats.
7821 - 1985-1987 Buick Grand National - One-piece Bucket Seat Cover - $18.95
7822 - 1985-1987 Buick Grand National -
TWO One-piece Bucket Seat Covers (2) - $29.95 (Save $7.95)
Here is a link to this seat cover on our website.
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS -
If you have any product ideas that would fit our Turbo Buick market that you would like to see available, email me direct - [email protected]
ALWAYS IN A BUYING POSITION FOR TURBO REGAL PARTS -
Got any Turbo Buick parts you are not using? Why not cash them in for parts you need with a Letter of Credit. Simply email me a list - [email protected]. Also, we are still buying dead or partially dead 1984-1987 Turbo Regals under $4,000 that are within 250 to 350 miles of our location.
NOTE - ABOUT LINKS IN THE INNER CIRCLE -
We have heard from a couple people that have had problems with the links in our Inner Circle.
When we check the links, they work fine. However, if you are not able to be directed to the exact website page or internet site, you can "copy" and "paste" the link into the URL in your browser (such as Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.) If it doesn't link in one browser, it may work in another.
Most people having problems are using Internet Explorer. If you are having issues with links, try another browser to see if it works.
You may need to "UPDATE" your browser to be use you are using the current version.
NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE -
We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these must be low-resolution photos to work on the Inner Circle segments on the website, any photos of text don't appear clear when enlarged. This is a problem when you are trying to see numbers, such as those on the VIN labels or pages from Options booklet. Also, because of photo reproduction and computer screen variations, the colors may not be true to the actual product or photo.
If you would like to have us email you any photo at the higher resolution for viewing, just email us and we will email them to you. Be sure to be specific on which pictures you want to see - Reference Inner Circle date and photo number 1, 2, 3 or 4 - [email protected]
ABOUT OUR EMAILS -
Any inquiries concerning used parts, you must email me direct - [email protected] - I will answer you. However, if I fail to answer you within 24 hours, please email us again. Since expanding into used parts, I get a lot of emails and sometimes I may forget your request or may not remember who requested the item.
IN CLOSING -
I can’t wait until Spring. These weekly storms in our area are tough on us old people.
UPDATE ON OUR PERSONAL WHITE 1987 TURBO-T -
The new owner of our Turbo-T in Texas was able to get a similar vanity license plate to the one I had on our Turbo-T for many years. My Pennsylvania vanity license plate read “KWICK.” His new Texas vanity license plate for the Turbo-T reads “KWICK-87.”
PHOTO 1 - Shows my Pennsylvania vanity license plate “KWICK” on the left and his new Texas “KWICK-87” vanity license plate on the right.
Years ago, the vanity license plate on our 1967 ram air Firebird read “A MOVER.” That buyer resided in Illinois and was also able to get the same vanity license plate in Illinois. In both cases, it’s paying homage that both of those cars once belonged to me.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF -
Unknown to us, our son Darrell and his wife have been searching locally for a 1967 Pontiac LeMans to make into a resto mod.
The 1967 Pontiac Lemans holds a special meaning with Darrell, since that was his first car that we put together when he turned 16 back in 1986. At least it wasn’t a Ford Falcon!
Unfortunately, he wrecked that Pontiac LeMans and it went to the junkyard. I had forgotten that I had saved the actual car keys and locks from his Lemans and had it framed as a Christmas gift for him about 10 years ago.
Recently Darrell found a 1967 Pontiac LeMans that had been sitting in a barn for a number of years. It turns out that the owner knows me, which fortunately reflected into Darrell getting a good deal.
Knowing the magic Darrell did on building his 6-door Ford truck, I know this latest project will also be a work of art. The timing is perfect as this year the GTO Nationals is in June in nearby King of Prussia and I am one of the speakers at this National event. Darrell will be able to find plenty of parts he needs on this latest project. Hopefully, the name Kirban will work to his advantage!
PHOTO 2 - The photo on the top left shows the cool display we had made for him years ago with the original keys and key fob, photo and a note that reads, “Darrell SAVE - Your complete lock set & keys from your first car 1967 LeMans.” The photo on the top right shows his original 1967 LeMans wrecked from 1986.
The lower photos shows his newly acquired 1967 Pontiac LeMans. This project car even has factory air, which was fairly rare in a LeMans back in 1967. At one time, it also had a vinyl roof. Parts of the floor pan are rotted so you can put both feet through to the ground. I am confident Darrell can remake this car into something extremely nice.
UPDATE ON THE 1991 FIREBIRD AND 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRUCK -
Between weekly snow storms I was able to get over to where the Firebird has been in hibernation since the spring of 2007. Bill and I rolled it out of a cluttered filled garage into the bright sunlight. He then dropped a new battery in the car and after a few cranks, the Firebird started right up! As I expected, the plastic cable to the power antenna broke, causing the power antenna to run nonstop.
The car shows less than 2,000 actual miles. It still smells factory new inside. Body and paint are mint. Tires show no age cracks from sitting. Under the hood looks almost like new as well, with no sign of any rodent issues. This Formula Firebird has the Performance Package.
The Harley truck sits in another garage at his daughter’s house, which is 50 miles away. Currently, we are waiting for nice weather to get both of them hauled to my house so I can provide photos of the Harley truck to my initial buyer who wants both vehicles. This is the reason for the delay. The Harley truck has been started and run every few weeks as the daughter has had to move it in and out of the garage various times.
PHOTO 3 - We show 4 photos of this barn find - a 1991 Firebird Formula hardtop. This car is the right combination, red exterior with a grey cloth interior.
NEW CORVETTE 1001 FACTS BOOK NOW AVAILABLE -
Steve Magnante is the author of Corvette 1001 Facts. Steve is very well known as one of the on-air announcers at the Barrett-Jackson Auctions since 2002. He has a wealth of knowledge on the muscle car era. He also wrote the book 1001 Mustang Facts. I have both books in my collection. This new Corvette 1001 Facts book is a wealth of trivia information as well as facts that even well-informed Corvette owners may not know. I enjoy reading books like this as they contain a lot of interesting trivia.
I am hoping someday Steve Magnante will do a similar book based on the G-Body format, which would include the Buick Turbo Regals, Monte Carlo SS models and the Oldsmobile 442 models.
He may not be able to come up with 1001 facts, but 501 would probably be within reach. I would be willing to contribute to that book.
2007 DENNIS KIRBAN 60th BIRTHDAY BASH AND REUNION - SEPT 15-16, 2007 -
Many of you were at this 2-day Reunion event in 2007. It was also the very last time Molly would be at one of our events. Look What I Got made just 87 copies of this cool display that featured signatures of the VIP people that were in attendance that weekend.
Recently a local customer of mine, John Lochel, passed away. I had sold him a Grand National several years ago and later sold it for him. I then found him one of those Caddy V cars he bought from a customer of ours.
His wife Jean had this framed poster in their house and wanted me to have it. I felt honored that she would call me and insisted I have this for my personal collection.
PHOTO 4 - The photo on the left shows both of Steve Magnante’s 1001 Facts books. They are both available from www.cartechbooks.com for $24.95 each. The photo on the right shows this rare 2007 Reunion poster that features signatures of the VIP people that were in attendance at our event.
EMPRESS GREY CLOTH MATERIAL -
I had forgotten that I had a total of 10 yards of original C & A Empress 4444 grey seat material. It is also known as Deleo 4136 material in another brand upholstery book. This is the original grey cloth for 1985-1986 T-Type interiors that have the grey interior.
It may also be correct for the 1987 Turbo-T, including the WE4 models. I have 5 yards dated 1985 and another 5 yards dated 1989.
As you know, you want to always buy material all from the same roll, since material never matches from one roll to another (may be different dye lots.) See the Rare Parts listing for prices. Nobody has reproduced the original seat material exactly to match what C & A made originally for Buick that I am aware of. The C & A stands for Collins and Aikman. To my knowledge, they are no longer in business. I can provide a small sample piece if needed before deciding to purchase.
CURRENTLY ON EBAY - 1987 GRAND NATIONAL WITH 13,000 ORIGINAL MILES -
This well-optioned 1987 Grand National with a mere 13,000 miles has a price tag of $44,000. It is advertised as having all the options, including the digital dash and T-Tops. While well optioned Grand National examples are highly sought after, my personal opinion is the digital dash just never appealed to me as being a desirable option.
The T-Tops option, depending on your plans, can also prove to be an issue unless you immediately take steps to tighten up the suspension and install the 4 or 6 missing lower body bushings. Buick never listed these lower body bushings in the parts book or installed them on the Turbo Regals on the assembly line.
OUR SPRING OPEN HOUSE - APRIL 21ST - UPDATE -
We recently emailed many of the suppliers and vendors we buy from and many of them will be contributing some neat door prizes for our Spring Open House. We will start to list them in next week’s Inner Circle.
COMING NEXT WEEK -
Next week we will have another mini contest based on a rare part we found in one of the junkyards over the winter. Watch for this mini contest next week.
UPDATE ON ANOTHER CLEVER NEW PRODUCT COMING SHORTLY -
My friend, who has a shop directly across from us, has made a clever product that we plan to market for him. This product works on any car as a clever form of protection when storing your car or truck. No other company makes this exact same product that can protect your car when it is stored. We recently tried his prototype and he is making a few changes on it so it will be better than his prototype. Watch for updates shortly. It’s a pretty cool product that serves a useful function. Because of the weekly storms, he has not been able to make me a new sample to try yet.
2018 TURBO BUICK RELATED CAR SHOWS EVENTS -
Here is the current listing with dates for events to show your Turbo Regal or attend in 2018. As more information becomes available for these events, we will update them.
KIRBAN SPRING OPEN HOUSE -
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 -KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, 6201 Kellers Church Road, Plumsteadville, PA
This event has no rain date. We will have free Yum Yum donuts and coffee while supplies last. This event features specials on our products, M&M contest, and our popular No Reserve auction. The time is from 9 am until 2 pm. Special pricing to be announced on Pypes exhaust systems and Cold Case radiators. Spoolfool fillers can be reserved for pickup to eliminate costly shipping charges. Those are the 3 big items where you can save money by picking them up at our Open House. Many of our vendors and suppliers are donating door prizes for this event.
2018 Turbobuick.com NATIONALS-
May 2nd thru May 5th, 2018 - Burlington, NC
This event is held at two locations. The first part of the week is at Richard Clark’s Garage, 2557 Faucette Lane, Burlington, NC. It then moves to a different track - Farmington Dragway, 2992 NC Highway 801N, Mocksville, NC, located about one hour west of Burlington, NC. For more information, go to turbobuick.com and click on 2018 Turbo Buick Nationals or on Facebook.
BUICKS@Bates 2018-
Sunday, June 3, 2018
9 am - 4 pm PDT
Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Wood Valley Road, Valley Center, Californian 92082
The largest gathering of 1984-1987 Turbo Buicks and Classic Buicks west of the Mississippi! Come hang with the SoCal GS Club and Turbobuick.com South Westerners.
PYPES and MAX PERFORMANCE 8th Annual American Muscle Car and Truck Show -
June 29th and June 30th, 2018 - Hatfield, PA
This show is hosted by Pypes and Max Performance. A BBQ and cruise is Friday afternoon and Saturday is the car show. The location is at their facility at 2705 Clemens Road B103, Hatfield, PA 19440. This event draws a huge amount of all kinds of GM muscle cars, including Ford and Chrysler. The company owner has been our friend for over 30-plus years. We will be attending this event. For more information, go to their website - maxperformanceinc.com
MAGNA - MID ATLANTIC GRAND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
22nd EAST COAST BUICK REGIONALS -
September 14th and 15th, 2018 - Cecil County Dragway, Cecil, Maryland
The MAGNA Group has their annual event September 14th and 15th at Cecil County Dragway in Cecil County, Maryland. This event grows bigger each year and is open to all Buick muscle cars not just the Turbo Regals. We expect to be attending this event. (It falls on my birthday). For more details, go to turbobuick.com - or - their website - magnabuick.com
CUSTOM-MADE GM LICENSED VINYL BANNERS UPDATE-
Finally, some progress to report, The GNX banner they submitted for GM approval has been approved. They still have to get approval for the Grand National and Buick Motorsports banners. All designs we submitted to the company that has the GM license for Buick/Oldsmobile/Pontiac. We hope to have all of these banners on display at our Spring Open House in April. I did get a sample GNX banner, however it was not correct, so the company is going to redo it.
GOOD NEWS - WE ARE ACCEPTING CLASSIFIED ADS -
Good news - We now accept Classified Ads in our weekly Inner Circle emails. Over the years several customers have asked about placing an ad in our weekly Inner Circle.
Here are the options and the costs.
Ads can be from any individual or company. It needs to be automotive related, meaning it does not need be specifically Turbo Regal related. It can be for something for sale or something wanted.
Maximum number of words is 125 words, which is about 7 to 9 lines of copy. No photos. You can list a website. We recommend you state your name, phone number or email, a price, and your location in your ad.
The cost for 2 consecutive weeks is $25. The cost for 4 consecutive weeks is $40. You save $10 with the 4-week plan. No changes can be made to your existing running ad. You can only run one ad at any given time. We will have a code system at the end of your ad, so we will know what week number your ad is to run - 2 or 4 weeks.
It can be an ad for something for sale or an ad for something you are looking for.
We have never missed a single week since we started the Inner Circle email format in 2009. It’s something I enjoy doing and I just always seem to have enough material to write about.
Our weekly Inner Circle reaches over 3,200 members every Wednesday direct to their inbox. The Inner Circle also appears every Wednesday on our website with the related photos. Your ad would be visible to both groups of readers. So, the exposure to your ad is well over 3,200 potential buyers.
My Rare Parts section is only viewed by those that subscribe. Subscription is free, so complaints on what I write are nonexistent!
Ads submitted properly by the previous Sunday would appear that next Wednesday in the weekly Inner Circle. Ads must be submitted by email to - [email protected]
Payment by credit card must be done by phone to our office 215-766-1611 x 0.
THIS WEEK’S CLASSIFIED ADS -
FOR SALE: Clean and rare 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo-T with 87k original miles. Factory grey with grey leather interior. Extra padded vinyl roof, factory G80 posi rear, remote trunk release, PDL, PW, and PS. Comes with all the original paperwork. Not a spec of rot or rust on the body. Tons of new parts and recent work over the years. Most modifications done for drivability. Just installed a new 1 piece rear filler and all new AC Delco AC components and converted to R134a. Blows cold! I have a laundry list of work done and tons of pictures. Email [email protected] for more info and pictures or call/text 401-487-1207 if serious. Reduced to $14,900. Car is located in Rhode Island. 3 of 4.
FOR SALE - Remember, if you are local to us check out the inventory of used vehicles 611 Auto Sales. They are located near us at 8307 Easton Road in Ottsville, PA. Their website is -611autosalespa.com Many of the cars are priced under $3,995. Mention my name and it may save you a few bucks! They have several one-owner cars to choose from.
Their office number is 610-847-0100. Currently they have the 1987 Bronco II for $6,495. Several of their real nice 4-door sedans are priced under $3,995. These are ones I bid on that checked out as 1-2 owners, non-smoker with real nice exterior and interiors.
NOTE - IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE RARE PARTS SECTION -
If you are not able to see the Rare Parts section at the end of this Inner Circle, it is because you are not an Inner Circle member, but instead are reading this on the website. You must subscribe to see the Rare Parts section each week. It would go directly to your inbox every Wednesday afternoon. It is FREE, probably one reason why nobody complains about what I write about. Simply email - [email protected] - to get on our weekly Inner Circle email.
EMAILS TO KIRBAN PERFORMANCE -
NOTE- If you email us and do NOT get a timely reply, be sure to check your “SPAM” folder. Some emails do not go thru.
If you need to email us, use - [email protected]
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If you have a tip or a discovery that you found that works on your Turbo Regal, drop us an email giving us the details so we can pass the info on to our readers. Remember, even with my knowledge, I don’t know it all. Simply email me at - [email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN -
If you own a Grand National, you know the seat material is not easy to keep clean. Whenever possible it’s best to keep the driver’s seat covered. Besides dirt, the bright sun rays can quickly fade the grey and even the black pallex seat material.
CORES NEEDED -
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
NEED - Powermaster brake units. The must be complete. We will issue you a Letter of Credit for $125 for each acceptable core. We currently will not buy any powermaster units outright only letter of credit towards parts.
If you ship to us, the post office is the cheapest method. Pack the item(s) with a note with your name, address and phone number. These are the only 2 items we are currently accepting as cores.
MAIL - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
PO BOX 1199
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949
UPS - Ship to Address -
KIRBAN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
6201 Kellers Church Road
PLUMSTEADVILLE, PA 18949-1199
TECH CALLS -
If you need technical information, it’s best to email - [email protected] - rather than call us. We will do our best to answer any technical questions within 24 hours. Please remember I have very little knowledge of the mechanical workings of the engine.
NEW PRODUCTS FROM US -
1985-1987 Buick GRAND NATIONAL -
ONE-PIECE BUCKET SEAT COVER
Because the original grey and black pallex Grand National seat material is so costly, here is a simple and inexpensive method to protect it.
We offer a one-piece form-fitting seat cover for the front bucket seat. No tools are required and it’s easy to clean. You simply slide it over the seat. It can be removed easily.
This seat cover has the same two-color color (black and grey) design, so it looks like it was made specifically for the Grand National.
The durable and breathable material is double nylon mesh cloth with 2mm thick sponge in the middle. The spandex back provides a universal fit that conforms to the Grand National’s bucket seat.
It’s an inexpensive investment to protect your Grand National bucket seats from damage.
To purchase one cover, order #7821. To order two covers, order #7822.
Another excellent way to protect the seats.
7821 - 1985-1987 Buick Grand National - One-piece Bucket Seat Cover - $18.95
7822 - 1985-1987 Buick Grand National -
TWO One-piece Bucket Seat Covers (2) - $29.95 (Save $7.95)
Here is a link to this seat cover on our website.
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS -
If you have any product ideas that would fit our Turbo Buick market that you would like to see available, email me direct - [email protected]
ALWAYS IN A BUYING POSITION FOR TURBO REGAL PARTS -
Got any Turbo Buick parts you are not using? Why not cash them in for parts you need with a Letter of Credit. Simply email me a list - [email protected]. Also, we are still buying dead or partially dead 1984-1987 Turbo Regals under $4,000 that are within 250 to 350 miles of our location.
NOTE - ABOUT LINKS IN THE INNER CIRCLE -
We have heard from a couple people that have had problems with the links in our Inner Circle.
When we check the links, they work fine. However, if you are not able to be directed to the exact website page or internet site, you can "copy" and "paste" the link into the URL in your browser (such as Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.) If it doesn't link in one browser, it may work in another.
Most people having problems are using Internet Explorer. If you are having issues with links, try another browser to see if it works.
You may need to "UPDATE" your browser to be use you are using the current version.
NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE -
We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these must be low-resolution photos to work on the Inner Circle segments on the website, any photos of text don't appear clear when enlarged. This is a problem when you are trying to see numbers, such as those on the VIN labels or pages from Options booklet. Also, because of photo reproduction and computer screen variations, the colors may not be true to the actual product or photo.
If you would like to have us email you any photo at the higher resolution for viewing, just email us and we will email them to you. Be sure to be specific on which pictures you want to see - Reference Inner Circle date and photo number 1, 2, 3 or 4 - [email protected]
ABOUT OUR EMAILS -
Any inquiries concerning used parts, you must email me direct - [email protected] - I will answer you. However, if I fail to answer you within 24 hours, please email us again. Since expanding into used parts, I get a lot of emails and sometimes I may forget your request or may not remember who requested the item.
IN CLOSING -
I can’t wait until Spring. These weekly storms in our area are tough on us old people.