12-11-2013 Inner Circle

Greetings Turbo Regal Inner Circle Members 12-11-2013

MOLLY PROTOTYPE GRAND NATIONAL -

One of the more desirable GMP Turbo Regal diecast cars was the 1983 Molly Grand National prototype. According to the box, this was done in 2002 and limited to just 2,400 produced. It was offered in the 1:18 scale.

PHOTO 1 - The top photo shows the actual 1:18 scale Molly 1983 prototype Grand National with Molly’s personal signature on the trunk lid. The box is also shown. The bottom photo shows an overhead view showing the autograph, and another view of the box featuring Molly's picture and background. Of the 2,400 that were produced, my guess is there are fewer than two dozen ever autographed by Molly.



LAWRENCE CONLEY RACE CAR TWEAKED -

One of the most famous Turbo Regal racecars was owned and race by Lawrence Conley for many years. Lawrence and his wife Janace hail from Humble, Texas. Lawrence’s car was done in a distinctive teal green color. Named "Tweaked," it quickly became well known in the Buick Turbo World. It was featured in many magazines back when these cars were still fairly new.

In 1994 we produced our version of the fiberglass hood to compliment the front and rear fiberglass bumpers we had gotten made earlier. Our hood I believe was the first one that attached and functioned like the factory steel hood. It used hood shocks and retained the factory latch assembly. The weight savings was about 25-26 pounds over the stock steel hood.

One of the very first to get one of our new fiberglass hoods was Lawrence Conley.

One additional feature we came up with for our fiberglass hoods was offering the hood vents that Pontiac used in the 1980s on the Trans Am. This neat feature actually looked factory when installed in a similar position on the new fiberglass hood. For several years we offered these plastic Pontiac vents as an option for just $35 a pair. They simply snapped into the slot you would cut into the fiberglass hood.

Around the same time, we also supplied Buddy Cox with a fiberglass hood for his tubbed 10-second GNX. This was good PR for us, as it proved our fiberglass hoods could stand up to 10-second passes and eventually quicker times in the quarter mile.

PHOTO 2 - Shows the GMP 1:18 scale "Tweaked" Turbo Regal. It was produced in 2003 and limited to 3,500 made. The top photo shows the actual diecast model. You can clearly see the Trans Am black vents on the hood. The bottom left photo shows the original outer box and the bottom right photo shows the inner box that the car comes in.

PHOTO 3 - Shows "Tweaked" on our driveway at our old house in Furlong, PA, probably around the mid 1990s. Conley (in the green shirt) and his crew were preparing it to be raced against Kenny Duttweiler at Englishtown Raceway in New Jersey.

PHOTO 4 - Shows an actual set of these Pontiac Trans Am Vents that we used to sell in the mid 1990s. I recently got this set from a car in one of the You Pull It Yards I frequent. These vents were plastic and actually snapped into the factory hood on a Trans Am.



THE DANGER OF DEFROSTER DUCTS -

Defroster ducts on any car, including the Turbo Regals, are areas you want to make sure you don’t accidentally drop in any screws or anything else. This can happen if you need to replace your upper dash panel and are not careful.

A story in our local newspaper gave a good example what else can drop into a defroster duct. An individual has a pet snake and would take him for short rides in his Ford truck. He would place him up on the dash so he could feel the warmth of the defroster. Unfortunately the snake was small enough to squeeze in the defroster duct. This is exactly what the snake did. He slivered into the defroster duct. After several hours of trying to entice the snake out of the defroster vent, he gave up for the night. The owner spent that night starting his truck up every few hours to keep his pet snake warm. The next day he went to the service department of the local Ford Dealership to see what could be done to rescue his pet snake.

The mechanics had no idea where the snake was hiding inside the truck dash, so they had to dismantle the entire dashboard. After about three hours they were able to rescue the snake. The cost was about $1,300 to perform this unusual task! The snake was unharmed.

So, the lesson here is, if you drop something down the defroster duct, be prepared that it is either gone for good or you will spent several tedious hours removing your dash to retrieve the object!



CHRISTMAS CARDS

This information comes from Jason out of Canada.

When he was shopping for Christmas cards, he read on the back, “Designed in the USA” But "Made in China."



NEW PRODUCTS FROM US -


GM LICENSED -
“BUICK MOTORSPORTS” FENDER COVER

The “BUICK MOTORSPORTS” logo is silk screen in white, red and yellow on a 34" x 22" black fender cover. It is made from a non-slip cushioned material, so it won’t slide off the fender.

Because the surface is non-slip, it holds your tools in place. It is impervious to automotive fluids, such as motor oil, brake fluid, coolant, etc.

It is made in the U.S.A. by Fender Gripper®, a division of SSnake-Oyl™, and is licensed by GM.

This recognizable logo is sure to appeal to any Buick owner. We offer it individually Part #7647 or as a pair Part #7648.

These fender covers are a must-have addition to your garage items, and can also be stored in the trunk in case you need to protect the fenders while away from the garage.

Our photos show the fender cover flat, and as it appears folded in half.

This fender cover also makes a unique gift for any Buick enthusiast or mechanic.

7547 - GM Licensed -
“BUICK MOTORSPORTS” Fender Cover - $22.95

7548 - GM Licensed -
TWO “BUICK MOTORSPORTS” Fender Covers (2) - $40 / pair

Here is the link to this Fender Cover on our website
http://www.kirbanperformance.com/products.php?search_text=7547&submit_button=



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 WORKS -

Got any turbo 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 PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE - We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these have to 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 -

With Christmas fast approaching, our hope is for all of our readers to enjoy the upcoming holidays.


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