Greetings Turbo Regal Inner Circle Members 11-20-2019 –
Here is the link to this Inner Circle and photos on our website.
RIP WALTER MILLER -
I was just made aware of this yesterday. Walter Miller passed away at age 66 from Pancreatic cancer.
When it came to finding any kind of original automotive literature, Walter Miller was the person to contact. Over the years, he had amassed over 2 million individual items covering 15,000 square feet of storage in Syracuse, New York.
In the 1980s I would often call him up for various literature on Turbo Regals. As a matter of fact, I mentioned him as a good source on page 306 in my “Kirban’s Guide to 1986 and 1987 Buick Turbo Regals.”
Walt was at the top of his game in the automotive literature world. His focus was always on original literature, brochures, artwork, and paint guides pertaining to virtually any car ever made.
COLLECTIBLES –
Since we moved, I’ve come across lots of collectibles and things I didn’t even know I had. As we go through the items, we will make some unique items available to our readers before we put items on eBay.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON RARE PARTS FOR SALE –
In order for our Inner Circle members to have an equal opportunity on the Rare Parts, no emails regarding orders on rare parts will be honored prior to 3 pm Wednesday. This way Inner Circle members get the opportunity first to purchase any of the rare items that may be pictured in the main body of the Inner Circle which may go on our website earlier in the day each week. Inner Circle members get to see the Rare Parts listing and see the prices first.
TWO BUICK RELATED SIGNS FROM OUR COLLECTION –
We have had the banner and poster board sign in Photo 1 for over a dozen years. We are offering these two Grand National items for sale. One is a 4 foot by 2 foot vinyl banner. The other is a unique sign featuring the Grand National emblem on a poster board backing. You can feel the edges of each of the various colors over the black background mounted on a poster board. It appears to be a layered format. I can’t recall when I got it or from where, but it is probably over 15 years old. It does show some wear on the edges and at the point on the power six logo.
See the Rare Parts section for prices.
PHOTO 1 - The photo to the left shows the vinyl Grand National banner that measures 4 foot long by 2 feet tall. The photo to the right shows the very unique Grand National emblem on a poster board background. It measures approximately 10 inches high by 40 inches wide. It does have wear on the corners due to age.
SEVERAL MORE CLOTH PROOF SAMPLES OF OUR T-SHIRT DESIGNS FROM THE PAST
I found several more proof shots of our early Turbo Regal Buick designs from the 1990s. All of these T-shirts were discontinued over 10 years ago. One design shown was not made by us. They are listed for sale under the Rare Parts section. It’s a chance to buy some early Turbo Regal history from our past. In some cases, you may actually have the matching T-shirt!
PHOTO 2 –The top shows the Ten Top Reasons T-shirt for owning a T-Type. The top right shows the Top Ten Reasons for owning a Grand National. The bottom left photo was the design we did that had our company logo and shows a Military jet against a Grand National related to one of our “Reunion” events at the Naval Base. The bottom right cloth proof was artwork done by Jack’s Classic Concepts, who did the some of the very first T-shirt designs for the Turbo Regals. His most popular T-shirt design was entitled, “Bad Medicine.” We used to sell these T-shirts back in the late 1980s. This was one of his designs. All these are listed for sale under the Rare Parts section.
MORE PHOTOS OF THIS LOCAL CUSTOM -BUILT BUICK 1985 REGAL –
A few months back we printed photos of this very tasteful custom-built Regal that is powered by an earlier Buick V8. I happen to see this local car again last month and the owner was by the car so I could take photos of the interior.
According to Marty the owner, he bought a badly rusted Grand National for the interior and suspension, which provided the key parts for making this conversion. He had the seats redone in the Grand National colors minus the power six logo on the head rests.
What caught my eye in the interior was the way he had the door panels done. The car retained power windows and the basic bottom half of the factory door panels. He wisely eliminated the plastic moldings and the pull straps on the top half of the door panels. Although I have seen this treatment before, Marty had a thin chrome molding strip installed in the upper half of the door panel, which almost would pass for a factory look. Every Turbo Regal owner knows the factory pull straps with the plastic molding, are quite primitive and, if you are not careful, are prone to breaking.
To complete the later 1986-1987 look he also installed the proper third brake light in the back window. The dash gauge set-up is quite exquisite. It has a matte black background with vintage- style gauges. He retained the original leather-wrapped steering wheel. (I’m pretty sure he got it from us).
He went with the black-out theme on the exterior and did the bumpers in the matching exterior dark grey color. The detail under the hood clearly shows a lot of effort went into making everything appear like it belonged there. By obtaining various components in a nearby junkyard, he has virtually made everything look clean and like it belongs there. That is the key when you do any custom work to make it look like it belongs. By doing so, values will usually remain higher if you decide to sell the car. Modifications that are not clean looking or appear to not show much thought can cost you in the end.
PHOTO 3 – The top left photo shows the front end of Marty’s Regal. The top right shows the engine compartment. He even retained the factory air conditioning system. The bottom left photo shows the dash layout. The bottom right shows the passenger’s side door panel, which looks like it was done at the factory. The perfect blend of old and new Buick performance.
A TOUCH OF MEMORIES FROM MY PAST –
The house us kids grew up in was sold about 20 years ago. It was a typical 2-story rancher with a full basement. I was the oldest of 5 kids with 3 sisters and one brother. I don’t recall which one of us kids first took a black marker to the walls leading to the basement. It was probably me as I was the oldest. Over the years, I continued to write messages on the walls leading down to the basement. Those walls were a light wood finish in color. Before long it became a very popular tradition to write something on the walls leading to the basement. In roughly 20-years, the walls leading to the basement of our house were well covered with remarks from us kids and grandkids.
Most of the wording is dated from the early 1970s thru the mid-1990s. When my parents decided to sell the homestead and move to a smaller house, to make the house more appealing the walls to the basement would have to be painted to cover up all the graffiti us kids had done over the years. That decision wiped out a bit of our memories. The only record we have of the writings are some photos.
Here are some of the writings on the walls…
“Merry Christmas 1993” 11-16-73
“Mom finally cooks roast beef rite” (I wrote that)
“Hi Dad & Mom Love Doreen 1983” (my sister)
“Duane when in despair use swatter to kill ferocious bees instead of spray glue” Dawn (my sister).
“Bob Conner drive all nite to play Dennis at pool only to lose 1-8-74” (Bob was an associate of my dad’s and loved to play pool)
“11-27-86 Thanksgiving”
“This is Darrell head 1984”
“GTO Dennis Kirban”
Maybe it’s an idea you want to start with your family as they gather around for the holidays! It helps if you have a basement rather than picking a more visible wall on the main floor of your house!
PHOTO 4 – Shows 4 different views of the walls leading to the basement of the house us 5 kids grew up in. Note in one of them you see a Ghost wearing a black hat with a GTO emblem on the front. It’s a shame it was such a narrow staircase, which made it difficult to take better photos. Looking back, I wish there had been some way to save the writings on the walls.
IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY - LIMITED SUPPLIES –
We have a few redone grey leather-wrapped steering wheels, part #7135, in stock. Also, we have several of the MAF Translator #7326, the Rebuilt AC Delco LT1 Mass Air Sensor #7342, and the Translator custom-made bracket #7785. It’s a great time to buy the 3 items needed to make the conversion from the stock mass air flow sensor.
1986-1987 BUICK TURBO REGAL DATA BOOKLET & 1987 PRICE DIRECTORY –
Note - See Rare Parts section we still have a few copies of both booklets available.
Few years ago, we did a small run of these popular booklets - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal Data Booklet and 1987 Price Directory. I recently came across a few more copies of both booklets. The 1987 Price Directory is pocket size and runs 66 pages. It lists every 1987 Buick model with every option, the price of that option, and most important the order code for that option.
It is that order code that appears on your SPID label (also referred to as the trunk ID label.) Those codes appear on several lines depending on the number of options, and are in alphabetical order.
This little handy pocket-size booklet is great to have and to keep in your glove box as you can quickly decode any option found on a 1987 Turbo Regal. This copy is identical to the original.
The other booklet I found was the 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal Data Booklet. This runs 55 pages, is 8½ by 11, and is spiral bound.
It covers both Drivability and Emissions in detail, explaining various codes such issues as rough, unstable, or incorrect idle. The booklet also has a section on turbos including the specs to tighten all the various parts to the turbo. It also covers the exhaust manifolds, intake, and intercooler. Again, all original factory critical information at your fingertips with this booklet.
This Data booklet and the pocket size 1987 Price Directory are listed in the Rare Parts section for sale. The best deal to save shipping costs is to buy both, as shipping is virtually the same.
This breaks down every option possible.
COMING NEXT WEEK –
We will have a car show stand-up display available. This unique display was actually designed and is marketed by a customer of ours.
This metal display sign is secured by your front tire when the car is at a car show. You simply put the information about your car or truck on an angled plate that sits slightly above waist high. By securing the stand with your car or truck tire, it eliminates any possible issues of the wind blowing the sign away or the sign getting tripped over. It is available in bright silver or matte black finish.
COMING SOON - OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
This list of Christmas Specials will be available for the entire month of December. You will have to contact our office in order to buy any of the Christmas Specials. Watch for this listing later this month.
WELL-KNOWN AUTOMOBILE WRITER JERRY HEASLEY CALLED ME THE OTHER DAY –
Jerry Heasley, a well-known automotive writer currently with Motor Trend magazine, called me. He also writes for Muscle Car Review, Vette and Mustang Monthly, just to name a few magazines. He also does numerous “YouTube” Videos focusing on barn find stories.
He wanted more information on the 1956 Corvette that I recently wrote about. He is thinking about planning a trip out here shortly to do a story on this original 1956 Corvette that I detailed a few months ago in the Inner Circle. He is looking for stories. If you are local to me and know of any other unique cars or trucks that have been stashed away, email me as [email protected]
HERE IS A BIT OF 1956 CORVETTE TRIVIA I DIDN’T KNOW –
According to the owner of this 1956 Corvette, he has owned it since the mid-1960’s, and he claims that Goodyear the tire company made the front header panel for GM that year. He says the Goodyear decal is still on the backside of his header panel, which was visible when he had to have the radiator rebuilt.
I had a 1956 Corvette many years ago, but never got it on the road. It sat at my buddy’s shop for over a year waiting for him to work on it. I eventually got frustrated and sold it. The year was probably around 1972. Around the same time, I had a 1940s Packard. Being in the towing business back then, it provided me a lot of opportunities to spot and buy various cars. Also, the rules in Pennsylvania regarding car titles were not very strict back then.
My main focus was looking for performance cars. However, I was attracted to rare or what many would consider “oddball” cars. I had a Sunbeam Alpine and Hillman Minx convertible that would fall into that category. At various times, I also owned 3 different Studebaker trucks and various Studebaker cars, including two of the rare Hawk models 1963 vintage as well as a 1940 Studebaker coupe.
A RECORD FOR ME –
As many of our readers know, I go to 2 bid lots for a little local dealership twice a week. Both bid lots are run by two of the biggest car dealerships in my area and they usually have low-end cars. Last week I drove a car that the odometer read 367,000 miles. I had never driven a car showing that high a mileage. The car actually ran very good and quiet. In case you’re wondering, it was a Honda Civic. Finding a Kirban-quality car is like hitting the lottery, they are that scarce. Although I have found 2 that with a little TLC would now qualify. One I actually own and one that we got for Devyn. Both have proven to be worthy investments.
UPDATE ON THE RARE CHEVY 3500 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK - FOR SALE –
This Chevy Silverado is still available for sale. Her husband bought it brand new in 1996. He has since passed away and she can’t drive it. I took a bunch of photos. The truck started right up and the motor was extremely quiet. Her husband was a non-smoker, so the truck was never smoked in. The driver’s seat is like new. Throw a paint job on this truck and it would pass for a 3-4-year-old truck. It is that nice. It has a mere 48,000 actual miles and the latest PA inspection. The tires don’t appear to have more than 5,000 miles on them. The interior shows no wear issues anywhere.
The truck can be bought for $9,000 firm. She was asking $10,000. If you are interested and would like to see more photos, email me - [email protected]
WELL-OPTIONED LOW-MILEAGE 1987 GRAND NATIONAL - FOR SALE –
This Grand National is still available. This extremely well-optioned, low-mileage 1987 Grand National that is for sale. The owner wants me to sell it for him. He has had it 6 years. The miles on this Grand National is a mere 48,200. Options include factory moonroof, power windows, power locks, tilt, cruise, delay wipers, concert sound, power trunk, digital dash, power seat, working power antenna, and posi rear. The Grand National is located in Maryland.
It has a beautiful repaint done prior to his owning it. He had paint correction done and ceramic coating this past Spring. The car really shines, probably 100%, better than original. Everything functions 100%, even the original AC.
Additional features include embroidered floor mats, few chrome goodies under the hood, Kirban adjustable fuel regulator, hot wire kit, 60lb injectors, adjustable wastegate, TT chip, new bumper fillers, new fuel tank, and has dual a-pillar gauges and console gauge package. He checked the car with a magnet and shows no putty or filler anywhere. It has the factory chip guard along bottom of the car.
According to the owner Mike, the Grand National has had 4 previous owners. The car shows no accidents or any indication that mileage is not accurate.
The price is $26,900. This Grand National is priced to sell. You would be hard pressed to find a better example of a well-optioned 1987 Grand National that would measure up to the quality of this one at this price. A factory moon roof with a power seat option is extremely rare. This car next Spring would easily bring several grand more than it is priced at this fall.
This car is show quality from any angle. For more information and photos, email me direct [email protected]
Pass the word along to your friends who may be looking for a great-looking well-optioned Grand National.
CORES NEEDED - URGENT REQUEST –
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
POWERMASTER BRAKE UNITS. Currently, due to issues getting brake bowls we are not accepting any additional powermaster cores until I get word Cardone has brake bowls again.
TURBO CORES must be the 1986-1987 Turbo Regal stock turbo. They must be complete. We will issue you a $150 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
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. This is the only item 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
529 HAYCOCK RUN ROAD
KINTNERSVILLE, PA 18930
CARSMARTS RADIO IS ON THE AIR AND ON THE WEB! –
Turbo V6 enthusiast Steve Saffier (who produced “Dennis Kirban” story on YouTube) is producer and host of CarSmarts Radio which is in its third season! The show is heard in eastern PA on 610 ESPN Radio every Saturday from 11 am – 12 noon and on WOND 1400 in southern New Jersey, Sundays from 10am – 11am. You can also listen to the live stream at that time - download the podcast on http://www.610 espn.com (Live and Local)
Past guests have included me (Dennis Kirban) Brock Yates Jr, Steve Magnante, as well as car photographers, car museum staff, tech students, car clubs, and much more. Tune up and Tune in! More info at http://www.carsmartsradio.com
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If there are any tips or ideas you want to share with our readers, email me –[email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN –
Christmas Specials will be listed soon and available only for the month of December. Watch for 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 3,300 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.
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.
NOTE - IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE BUICK RARE PARTS SECTION -
If you are not able to see the Buick 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. To subscribe simply email – [email protected] - to get our free weekly Inner Circle email.
The Buick Rare Parts section is only viewed by those that subscribe. Subscription is free, so complaints on what I write are nonexistent!
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]
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 –
MAGIC GUARD®
MAGIC GUARD® is a new patented multi-use product that protects wheels, prevents rust and repels rain. It is used as a wheel sealant that works on all wheels (chrome, mag, aluminum, etc.) by providing a hydrophobic barrier that decreases brake dust contamination and decreases wheel cleaning time by up to 50% post-application,
Another use for Magic Guard® is to protect plated and coated metals from rust and corrosion,
Because of Magic Guard’s hydrophobic nature, customers also apply it to their window glass to enhance visibility due to its superior water beading.
WHEEL SEALANT - Protect chrome, aluminum and all other wheels from brake dust, road grime, saltwater and more.
RUST PREVENTION - Protects all bare, coated and plated metal from mother nature with its durable barrier.
RAIN REPELLENT - Enhances visibility with superior water beading technology, and prevents water spots.
These two products - Magic Guard® #8002 and Rust Prevention Magic® #8003 - were created and patented by Dave Walden, who is the founder of ECS Automotive Concepts. He is also a three-time Mopar Nationals OE Gold and Best of Show winner (2005, 2008 & 2010). A rare accomplishment and Dave did it with 3 different Mopars!
Dave invented these two products out of necessity because what was available for protecting metals was not effective, and his hard work began to flash rust soon after completion.
When applied to bare metal it creates a durable barrier and prevents rust.
Comes in an easy-to-use 4-ounce container, complete with soft application cloth and easy-to-follow directions.
*NOTE - Price includes the USPS shipping and handling in the U.S.
NOTE - Because of a problem with the website, we note the final cost of this product which INCLUDES a predetermined shipping rate. The “FREE SHIPPING” box that shows on this page is there in error
8002 - MAGIC GUARD®, 4 oz jar $14.99 + $5 shipping = $19.99
Here is the link to Magic Guard® on our website.
RUST PREVENTION MAGIC®
Rust Prevention Magic® is a patented and lab certified rust/corrosion prevention product. RPM provides a near impenetrable barrier on bare metals such as alloys, aluminum, copper, iron, brass, cast iron, stainless steel and many other metals to protect them from the harmful effects of acids, corrosion, moisture, salt water, rust and more!
US Patented Product, winner of the Top New Product Award at SEMA show, 100% Lab Certified by Dale Institute LLC, featured on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage, and over 25 articles in various automotive publications.
Comes in an easy-to-use 4-ounce container, complete with brush and easy-to-follow directions. There is no better way to maintain a 100% correct automotive restoration project.
These two products - Magic Guard® #8002 and Rust Prevention Magic® #8003 - were created and patented by Dave Walden, who is the founder of ECS Automotive Concepts. He is also a three-time Mopar Nationals OE Gold and Best of Show winner (2005, 2008 & 2010). A rare accomplishment and Dave did it with 3 different Mopars!
Dave invented these two products out of necessity because what was available for protecting metals was not effective, and his hard work began to flash rust soon after completion
*NOTE - Price includes the USPS shipping and handling in the U.S.
NOTE - Because of a problem with the website, we note the final cost of this product which INCLUDES a predetermined shipping rate. The “FREE SHIPPING” box that shows on this page is there in error
8003 - RUST PREVENTION MAGIC®, 4 oz jar $19.99 + $5 shipping = $24.99
Here is a link to this Rust Prevention Magic® on our website.
1984-1987 Buick Regal (All Models) -
Reproduction REAR DUAL EXTENDED RANGE 10 OHM SPEAKERS (2) Set
Finally, a company has reproduced the extended range 10 ohm 4" x 10" rear speakers that was an option available on every 1984-1987 Regal, including the Turbo models.
To determine if your car came equipped with the extended range speakers, check for the code “U66” on the trunk ID label (SPID).
These upgraded extended range speakers were included with most of the various upgraded factory radios for an additional cost of $25 for the pair.
NOTE - You must have the factory cages to properly secure this speaker to the back deck.
These have the same matching 3-1/4" diameter magnet. To see if your car has this format check the SPID label for the “U66” code. If the label is missing, measure the magnet on the current rear deck speakers to see if it measures 3-1/4" diameter.
If it does, these are the speakers you need.
After more than 30 years, many are blown out due to heat and the age of the speaker.
Each pair comes with an adapter harness so you do not have to cut the factory harness.
Speakers are marked and come with directions so you know which is the plus terminal and which is the minus terminal.
NOTE - You may also be interested in this related part - #7433 Power Antenna Upgraded Steel Cable Repair Kit
Another excellent replacement for any interior restoration.
7877 - 1984-1987 Buick Regal (All Models) - Reproduction Rear Dual Extended Range 10 OHM Speakers (2) Set - $109.95
Here is a link to these speakers 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. We also may buy your new or used parts. 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] - and 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 went to see the new Ford vs Ferrari movie the first night it came out. The Ford vs Ferrari movie very entertaining and period correct looking with the cars in the various scenes. For some of us that remember the 1960s it will ring true! It is just a shame that in real life most of the main characters have passed away. I plan to take Devyn to see it next week since she will be working at Ford Headquarters this summer.
Here is the link to this Inner Circle and photos on our website.
RIP WALTER MILLER -
I was just made aware of this yesterday. Walter Miller passed away at age 66 from Pancreatic cancer.
When it came to finding any kind of original automotive literature, Walter Miller was the person to contact. Over the years, he had amassed over 2 million individual items covering 15,000 square feet of storage in Syracuse, New York.
In the 1980s I would often call him up for various literature on Turbo Regals. As a matter of fact, I mentioned him as a good source on page 306 in my “Kirban’s Guide to 1986 and 1987 Buick Turbo Regals.”
Walt was at the top of his game in the automotive literature world. His focus was always on original literature, brochures, artwork, and paint guides pertaining to virtually any car ever made.
COLLECTIBLES –
Since we moved, I’ve come across lots of collectibles and things I didn’t even know I had. As we go through the items, we will make some unique items available to our readers before we put items on eBay.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON RARE PARTS FOR SALE –
In order for our Inner Circle members to have an equal opportunity on the Rare Parts, no emails regarding orders on rare parts will be honored prior to 3 pm Wednesday. This way Inner Circle members get the opportunity first to purchase any of the rare items that may be pictured in the main body of the Inner Circle which may go on our website earlier in the day each week. Inner Circle members get to see the Rare Parts listing and see the prices first.
TWO BUICK RELATED SIGNS FROM OUR COLLECTION –
We have had the banner and poster board sign in Photo 1 for over a dozen years. We are offering these two Grand National items for sale. One is a 4 foot by 2 foot vinyl banner. The other is a unique sign featuring the Grand National emblem on a poster board backing. You can feel the edges of each of the various colors over the black background mounted on a poster board. It appears to be a layered format. I can’t recall when I got it or from where, but it is probably over 15 years old. It does show some wear on the edges and at the point on the power six logo.
See the Rare Parts section for prices.
PHOTO 1 - The photo to the left shows the vinyl Grand National banner that measures 4 foot long by 2 feet tall. The photo to the right shows the very unique Grand National emblem on a poster board background. It measures approximately 10 inches high by 40 inches wide. It does have wear on the corners due to age.
SEVERAL MORE CLOTH PROOF SAMPLES OF OUR T-SHIRT DESIGNS FROM THE PAST
I found several more proof shots of our early Turbo Regal Buick designs from the 1990s. All of these T-shirts were discontinued over 10 years ago. One design shown was not made by us. They are listed for sale under the Rare Parts section. It’s a chance to buy some early Turbo Regal history from our past. In some cases, you may actually have the matching T-shirt!
PHOTO 2 –The top shows the Ten Top Reasons T-shirt for owning a T-Type. The top right shows the Top Ten Reasons for owning a Grand National. The bottom left photo was the design we did that had our company logo and shows a Military jet against a Grand National related to one of our “Reunion” events at the Naval Base. The bottom right cloth proof was artwork done by Jack’s Classic Concepts, who did the some of the very first T-shirt designs for the Turbo Regals. His most popular T-shirt design was entitled, “Bad Medicine.” We used to sell these T-shirts back in the late 1980s. This was one of his designs. All these are listed for sale under the Rare Parts section.
MORE PHOTOS OF THIS LOCAL CUSTOM -BUILT BUICK 1985 REGAL –
A few months back we printed photos of this very tasteful custom-built Regal that is powered by an earlier Buick V8. I happen to see this local car again last month and the owner was by the car so I could take photos of the interior.
According to Marty the owner, he bought a badly rusted Grand National for the interior and suspension, which provided the key parts for making this conversion. He had the seats redone in the Grand National colors minus the power six logo on the head rests.
What caught my eye in the interior was the way he had the door panels done. The car retained power windows and the basic bottom half of the factory door panels. He wisely eliminated the plastic moldings and the pull straps on the top half of the door panels. Although I have seen this treatment before, Marty had a thin chrome molding strip installed in the upper half of the door panel, which almost would pass for a factory look. Every Turbo Regal owner knows the factory pull straps with the plastic molding, are quite primitive and, if you are not careful, are prone to breaking.
To complete the later 1986-1987 look he also installed the proper third brake light in the back window. The dash gauge set-up is quite exquisite. It has a matte black background with vintage- style gauges. He retained the original leather-wrapped steering wheel. (I’m pretty sure he got it from us).
He went with the black-out theme on the exterior and did the bumpers in the matching exterior dark grey color. The detail under the hood clearly shows a lot of effort went into making everything appear like it belonged there. By obtaining various components in a nearby junkyard, he has virtually made everything look clean and like it belongs there. That is the key when you do any custom work to make it look like it belongs. By doing so, values will usually remain higher if you decide to sell the car. Modifications that are not clean looking or appear to not show much thought can cost you in the end.
PHOTO 3 – The top left photo shows the front end of Marty’s Regal. The top right shows the engine compartment. He even retained the factory air conditioning system. The bottom left photo shows the dash layout. The bottom right shows the passenger’s side door panel, which looks like it was done at the factory. The perfect blend of old and new Buick performance.
A TOUCH OF MEMORIES FROM MY PAST –
The house us kids grew up in was sold about 20 years ago. It was a typical 2-story rancher with a full basement. I was the oldest of 5 kids with 3 sisters and one brother. I don’t recall which one of us kids first took a black marker to the walls leading to the basement. It was probably me as I was the oldest. Over the years, I continued to write messages on the walls leading down to the basement. Those walls were a light wood finish in color. Before long it became a very popular tradition to write something on the walls leading to the basement. In roughly 20-years, the walls leading to the basement of our house were well covered with remarks from us kids and grandkids.
Most of the wording is dated from the early 1970s thru the mid-1990s. When my parents decided to sell the homestead and move to a smaller house, to make the house more appealing the walls to the basement would have to be painted to cover up all the graffiti us kids had done over the years. That decision wiped out a bit of our memories. The only record we have of the writings are some photos.
Here are some of the writings on the walls…
“Merry Christmas 1993” 11-16-73
“Mom finally cooks roast beef rite” (I wrote that)
“Hi Dad & Mom Love Doreen 1983” (my sister)
“Duane when in despair use swatter to kill ferocious bees instead of spray glue” Dawn (my sister).
“Bob Conner drive all nite to play Dennis at pool only to lose 1-8-74” (Bob was an associate of my dad’s and loved to play pool)
“11-27-86 Thanksgiving”
“This is Darrell head 1984”
“GTO Dennis Kirban”
Maybe it’s an idea you want to start with your family as they gather around for the holidays! It helps if you have a basement rather than picking a more visible wall on the main floor of your house!
PHOTO 4 – Shows 4 different views of the walls leading to the basement of the house us 5 kids grew up in. Note in one of them you see a Ghost wearing a black hat with a GTO emblem on the front. It’s a shame it was such a narrow staircase, which made it difficult to take better photos. Looking back, I wish there had been some way to save the writings on the walls.
IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY - LIMITED SUPPLIES –
We have a few redone grey leather-wrapped steering wheels, part #7135, in stock. Also, we have several of the MAF Translator #7326, the Rebuilt AC Delco LT1 Mass Air Sensor #7342, and the Translator custom-made bracket #7785. It’s a great time to buy the 3 items needed to make the conversion from the stock mass air flow sensor.
1986-1987 BUICK TURBO REGAL DATA BOOKLET & 1987 PRICE DIRECTORY –
Note - See Rare Parts section we still have a few copies of both booklets available.
Few years ago, we did a small run of these popular booklets - 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal Data Booklet and 1987 Price Directory. I recently came across a few more copies of both booklets. The 1987 Price Directory is pocket size and runs 66 pages. It lists every 1987 Buick model with every option, the price of that option, and most important the order code for that option.
It is that order code that appears on your SPID label (also referred to as the trunk ID label.) Those codes appear on several lines depending on the number of options, and are in alphabetical order.
This little handy pocket-size booklet is great to have and to keep in your glove box as you can quickly decode any option found on a 1987 Turbo Regal. This copy is identical to the original.
The other booklet I found was the 1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal Data Booklet. This runs 55 pages, is 8½ by 11, and is spiral bound.
It covers both Drivability and Emissions in detail, explaining various codes such issues as rough, unstable, or incorrect idle. The booklet also has a section on turbos including the specs to tighten all the various parts to the turbo. It also covers the exhaust manifolds, intake, and intercooler. Again, all original factory critical information at your fingertips with this booklet.
This Data booklet and the pocket size 1987 Price Directory are listed in the Rare Parts section for sale. The best deal to save shipping costs is to buy both, as shipping is virtually the same.
This breaks down every option possible.
COMING NEXT WEEK –
We will have a car show stand-up display available. This unique display was actually designed and is marketed by a customer of ours.
This metal display sign is secured by your front tire when the car is at a car show. You simply put the information about your car or truck on an angled plate that sits slightly above waist high. By securing the stand with your car or truck tire, it eliminates any possible issues of the wind blowing the sign away or the sign getting tripped over. It is available in bright silver or matte black finish.
COMING SOON - OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
This list of Christmas Specials will be available for the entire month of December. You will have to contact our office in order to buy any of the Christmas Specials. Watch for this listing later this month.
WELL-KNOWN AUTOMOBILE WRITER JERRY HEASLEY CALLED ME THE OTHER DAY –
Jerry Heasley, a well-known automotive writer currently with Motor Trend magazine, called me. He also writes for Muscle Car Review, Vette and Mustang Monthly, just to name a few magazines. He also does numerous “YouTube” Videos focusing on barn find stories.
He wanted more information on the 1956 Corvette that I recently wrote about. He is thinking about planning a trip out here shortly to do a story on this original 1956 Corvette that I detailed a few months ago in the Inner Circle. He is looking for stories. If you are local to me and know of any other unique cars or trucks that have been stashed away, email me as [email protected]
HERE IS A BIT OF 1956 CORVETTE TRIVIA I DIDN’T KNOW –
According to the owner of this 1956 Corvette, he has owned it since the mid-1960’s, and he claims that Goodyear the tire company made the front header panel for GM that year. He says the Goodyear decal is still on the backside of his header panel, which was visible when he had to have the radiator rebuilt.
I had a 1956 Corvette many years ago, but never got it on the road. It sat at my buddy’s shop for over a year waiting for him to work on it. I eventually got frustrated and sold it. The year was probably around 1972. Around the same time, I had a 1940s Packard. Being in the towing business back then, it provided me a lot of opportunities to spot and buy various cars. Also, the rules in Pennsylvania regarding car titles were not very strict back then.
My main focus was looking for performance cars. However, I was attracted to rare or what many would consider “oddball” cars. I had a Sunbeam Alpine and Hillman Minx convertible that would fall into that category. At various times, I also owned 3 different Studebaker trucks and various Studebaker cars, including two of the rare Hawk models 1963 vintage as well as a 1940 Studebaker coupe.
A RECORD FOR ME –
As many of our readers know, I go to 2 bid lots for a little local dealership twice a week. Both bid lots are run by two of the biggest car dealerships in my area and they usually have low-end cars. Last week I drove a car that the odometer read 367,000 miles. I had never driven a car showing that high a mileage. The car actually ran very good and quiet. In case you’re wondering, it was a Honda Civic. Finding a Kirban-quality car is like hitting the lottery, they are that scarce. Although I have found 2 that with a little TLC would now qualify. One I actually own and one that we got for Devyn. Both have proven to be worthy investments.
UPDATE ON THE RARE CHEVY 3500 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK - FOR SALE –
This Chevy Silverado is still available for sale. Her husband bought it brand new in 1996. He has since passed away and she can’t drive it. I took a bunch of photos. The truck started right up and the motor was extremely quiet. Her husband was a non-smoker, so the truck was never smoked in. The driver’s seat is like new. Throw a paint job on this truck and it would pass for a 3-4-year-old truck. It is that nice. It has a mere 48,000 actual miles and the latest PA inspection. The tires don’t appear to have more than 5,000 miles on them. The interior shows no wear issues anywhere.
The truck can be bought for $9,000 firm. She was asking $10,000. If you are interested and would like to see more photos, email me - [email protected]
WELL-OPTIONED LOW-MILEAGE 1987 GRAND NATIONAL - FOR SALE –
This Grand National is still available. This extremely well-optioned, low-mileage 1987 Grand National that is for sale. The owner wants me to sell it for him. He has had it 6 years. The miles on this Grand National is a mere 48,200. Options include factory moonroof, power windows, power locks, tilt, cruise, delay wipers, concert sound, power trunk, digital dash, power seat, working power antenna, and posi rear. The Grand National is located in Maryland.
It has a beautiful repaint done prior to his owning it. He had paint correction done and ceramic coating this past Spring. The car really shines, probably 100%, better than original. Everything functions 100%, even the original AC.
Additional features include embroidered floor mats, few chrome goodies under the hood, Kirban adjustable fuel regulator, hot wire kit, 60lb injectors, adjustable wastegate, TT chip, new bumper fillers, new fuel tank, and has dual a-pillar gauges and console gauge package. He checked the car with a magnet and shows no putty or filler anywhere. It has the factory chip guard along bottom of the car.
According to the owner Mike, the Grand National has had 4 previous owners. The car shows no accidents or any indication that mileage is not accurate.
The price is $26,900. This Grand National is priced to sell. You would be hard pressed to find a better example of a well-optioned 1987 Grand National that would measure up to the quality of this one at this price. A factory moon roof with a power seat option is extremely rare. This car next Spring would easily bring several grand more than it is priced at this fall.
This car is show quality from any angle. For more information and photos, email me direct [email protected]
Pass the word along to your friends who may be looking for a great-looking well-optioned Grand National.
CORES NEEDED - URGENT REQUEST –
Here is the information on our credits for cores.
POWERMASTER BRAKE UNITS. Currently, due to issues getting brake bowls we are not accepting any additional powermaster cores until I get word Cardone has brake bowls again.
TURBO CORES must be the 1986-1987 Turbo Regal stock turbo. They must be complete. We will issue you a $150 Letter of Credit for each acceptable core.
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. This is the only item 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
529 HAYCOCK RUN ROAD
KINTNERSVILLE, PA 18930
CARSMARTS RADIO IS ON THE AIR AND ON THE WEB! –
Turbo V6 enthusiast Steve Saffier (who produced “Dennis Kirban” story on YouTube) is producer and host of CarSmarts Radio which is in its third season! The show is heard in eastern PA on 610 ESPN Radio every Saturday from 11 am – 12 noon and on WOND 1400 in southern New Jersey, Sundays from 10am – 11am. You can also listen to the live stream at that time - download the podcast on http://www.610 espn.com (Live and Local)
Past guests have included me (Dennis Kirban) Brock Yates Jr, Steve Magnante, as well as car photographers, car museum staff, tech students, car clubs, and much more. Tune up and Tune in! More info at http://www.carsmartsradio.com
TIPS AND IDEAS YOU HAVE TRIED -
If there are any tips or ideas you want to share with our readers, email me –[email protected]
TIP FROM KIRBAN –
Christmas Specials will be listed soon and available only for the month of December. Watch for 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 3,300 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.
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.
NOTE - IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE BUICK RARE PARTS SECTION -
If you are not able to see the Buick 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. To subscribe simply email – [email protected] - to get our free weekly Inner Circle email.
The Buick Rare Parts section is only viewed by those that subscribe. Subscription is free, so complaints on what I write are nonexistent!
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]
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 –
MAGIC GUARD®
MAGIC GUARD® is a new patented multi-use product that protects wheels, prevents rust and repels rain. It is used as a wheel sealant that works on all wheels (chrome, mag, aluminum, etc.) by providing a hydrophobic barrier that decreases brake dust contamination and decreases wheel cleaning time by up to 50% post-application,
Another use for Magic Guard® is to protect plated and coated metals from rust and corrosion,
Because of Magic Guard’s hydrophobic nature, customers also apply it to their window glass to enhance visibility due to its superior water beading.
WHEEL SEALANT - Protect chrome, aluminum and all other wheels from brake dust, road grime, saltwater and more.
RUST PREVENTION - Protects all bare, coated and plated metal from mother nature with its durable barrier.
RAIN REPELLENT - Enhances visibility with superior water beading technology, and prevents water spots.
These two products - Magic Guard® #8002 and Rust Prevention Magic® #8003 - were created and patented by Dave Walden, who is the founder of ECS Automotive Concepts. He is also a three-time Mopar Nationals OE Gold and Best of Show winner (2005, 2008 & 2010). A rare accomplishment and Dave did it with 3 different Mopars!
Dave invented these two products out of necessity because what was available for protecting metals was not effective, and his hard work began to flash rust soon after completion.
When applied to bare metal it creates a durable barrier and prevents rust.
Comes in an easy-to-use 4-ounce container, complete with soft application cloth and easy-to-follow directions.
*NOTE - Price includes the USPS shipping and handling in the U.S.
NOTE - Because of a problem with the website, we note the final cost of this product which INCLUDES a predetermined shipping rate. The “FREE SHIPPING” box that shows on this page is there in error
8002 - MAGIC GUARD®, 4 oz jar $14.99 + $5 shipping = $19.99
Here is the link to Magic Guard® on our website.
RUST PREVENTION MAGIC®
Rust Prevention Magic® is a patented and lab certified rust/corrosion prevention product. RPM provides a near impenetrable barrier on bare metals such as alloys, aluminum, copper, iron, brass, cast iron, stainless steel and many other metals to protect them from the harmful effects of acids, corrosion, moisture, salt water, rust and more!
US Patented Product, winner of the Top New Product Award at SEMA show, 100% Lab Certified by Dale Institute LLC, featured on My Classic Car with Dennis Gage, and over 25 articles in various automotive publications.
Comes in an easy-to-use 4-ounce container, complete with brush and easy-to-follow directions. There is no better way to maintain a 100% correct automotive restoration project.
These two products - Magic Guard® #8002 and Rust Prevention Magic® #8003 - were created and patented by Dave Walden, who is the founder of ECS Automotive Concepts. He is also a three-time Mopar Nationals OE Gold and Best of Show winner (2005, 2008 & 2010). A rare accomplishment and Dave did it with 3 different Mopars!
Dave invented these two products out of necessity because what was available for protecting metals was not effective, and his hard work began to flash rust soon after completion
*NOTE - Price includes the USPS shipping and handling in the U.S.
NOTE - Because of a problem with the website, we note the final cost of this product which INCLUDES a predetermined shipping rate. The “FREE SHIPPING” box that shows on this page is there in error
8003 - RUST PREVENTION MAGIC®, 4 oz jar $19.99 + $5 shipping = $24.99
Here is a link to this Rust Prevention Magic® on our website.
1984-1987 Buick Regal (All Models) -
Reproduction REAR DUAL EXTENDED RANGE 10 OHM SPEAKERS (2) Set
Finally, a company has reproduced the extended range 10 ohm 4" x 10" rear speakers that was an option available on every 1984-1987 Regal, including the Turbo models.
To determine if your car came equipped with the extended range speakers, check for the code “U66” on the trunk ID label (SPID).
These upgraded extended range speakers were included with most of the various upgraded factory radios for an additional cost of $25 for the pair.
NOTE - You must have the factory cages to properly secure this speaker to the back deck.
These have the same matching 3-1/4" diameter magnet. To see if your car has this format check the SPID label for the “U66” code. If the label is missing, measure the magnet on the current rear deck speakers to see if it measures 3-1/4" diameter.
If it does, these are the speakers you need.
After more than 30 years, many are blown out due to heat and the age of the speaker.
Each pair comes with an adapter harness so you do not have to cut the factory harness.
Speakers are marked and come with directions so you know which is the plus terminal and which is the minus terminal.
NOTE - You may also be interested in this related part - #7433 Power Antenna Upgraded Steel Cable Repair Kit
Another excellent replacement for any interior restoration.
7877 - 1984-1987 Buick Regal (All Models) - Reproduction Rear Dual Extended Range 10 OHM Speakers (2) Set - $109.95
Here is a link to these speakers 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. We also may buy your new or used parts. 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] - and 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 went to see the new Ford vs Ferrari movie the first night it came out. The Ford vs Ferrari movie very entertaining and period correct looking with the cars in the various scenes. For some of us that remember the 1960s it will ring true! It is just a shame that in real life most of the main characters have passed away. I plan to take Devyn to see it next week since she will be working at Ford Headquarters this summer.