5k: LeSabreTooth Tiger: 1988 Buick LeSabre T-Type
The LeSabre was an entry level sedan from Buick in the ’80s but the name dates back to the time of legendary GM car designer Harley Earl. But in the decade of excess the LeSabre had become a front-wheel-drive H-body punchline and it was only in the rare T-Type version that some fun could be had. Find this 1988 Buick LeSabre T-Type for sale in Uniontown, PA for $3995 via craigslist and bidding for $2,036 with 5 days to go on ebay.
It never ceases to amaze us that every car (no matter how odd, obscure, horrible) has an enthusiast website with some information and a forum for owners to get together and discuss stuff. Lesabret.com sounds like some kind of website for lesbian cabaret enthusiasts…but it is actually a site for LeSabre
T-type lovers to hang out…last updated in 2004. That is cool with us because we rue the day that web 2.0 became popular and allowed every Rube on the planet to use a WSIWYG interface to share his/her opinion on everything from T-tops to typhoid. If you can’t code in HTML you have no business being anything other than a reader on the web…damn kids. A tumbler is something that holds a few fingers of scotch and pee-interest is what a med student has when he decides to become a urologist.
The pig under the hood of this T-type is the Buick 3800 V6, a 3.8 liter fuel injected odd-firing engine that is based on the infamous Buick 215 V8. In fact, it is considered rough for a V6 because it uses the V8 firing pattern but with two cylinders lopped off – not ideal, but it gets the job done. The Buick 3800 only puts out 165 horsepower and 210 ft-lbs of torque, but it is known for its longevity and highway cruising fuel economy.
Selecting option code WE2 on the LeSabre order sheet got you the T-Type goodies that included a sport suspension package, special aluminum wheels, a leather wrapped steering wheel, special seats, a rear spoiler and a few other cosmetic items.
Rumor has it that the use of a 1.25 inch front sway bar gives the LeSabre T-type about the least amount of body roll possible in a late ’80s American car and about the best handling front-driver from the land of the red-white-and-blue. Bottom line: This is a decent amount of rarity and one of one for sale right now…but will it ever be a collectible classic? At this price who cares? Just drive it and enjoy!
See a better cool Buick? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
We had a Chevy Celebrity Eurosport wagon growing up. It was actually a fantastic car. At 275,000 miles, we tore the (admittedly rusted) subframe out on a nasty pothole and sold it to a broke friend for $1.
Since then I've had a soft spot for hard-body 80's GM FWD cars. Buy this, and swap an L32 supercharged V6 that came in such steeds as the Grand Prix GXP.
In 93 when I was in jr high one of the teachers had one identical to this one that she loved. It was one of the more interesting cars in that lot and I liked its boxy yet sporty looks. Everytime I had to go between the pottable classrooms and the school I would wounder about haw this car came to exist.
How about the teacher, did she have "boxy yet sporty looks" too?
I'm strangely attracted to this car; it's like the GM FWD cousin of the Volvo 242. Wouldn't mind rocking one for a while. Those barcaloungers look comfy.
"A tumbler is something that holds a few fingers of scotch and pee-interest is what a med student has when he decides to become a urologist."
Don't forget, an insta-graham is a sudden insatiable urge for s'mores.
I grew up with a perma-wood for all the GM badge specials, especially the Buicks. This is one of the only American cars with amber turn-signals during its run. Don't forget the "mighty" FE3 suspension/handling package 😀
"The pig under the hood of this T-type is the Buick 3800 V6, a 3.8 liter fuel injected odd-firing engine that is based on the infamous Buick 215 V8. In fact, it is considered rough for a V6 because it uses the V8 firing pattern but with two cylinders lopped off – not ideal, but it gets the job done. The Buick 3800 only puts out 165 horsepower and 210 ft-lbs of torque, but it is known for its longevity and highway cruising fuel economy."
Wow, that is a stunning display of ignorance in only three and a half lines. Where to begin?
– The Buick V6 had received a split-pin crankshaft way back in 1977. Furthermore, in new-for-1988 LN3 guise it had a balance shaft, making it quite smooth.
– How exactly is the Buick 215 "infamous"? Do you even know what that adjective means? Yes, there were issues with casting and servicing aluminum engines in the early ‘60s, but fundamentally it was a very good design. The Brits bought the tooling and kept it in production for four and a half decades – not exactly the stuff of infamy.
– "Only" 165 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Do you have any concept of what was on the market in the '80s? For example, the LN3 was down about 15 horsepower and essentially even on torque with the M30B34 inline 6 in the E28 535i. Yes, that iteration of the M30 was being phased out, but the 535i was a very fast, very expensive sedan by 1988 standards.
– You are correct about the longevity and highway fuel economy. Congratulations.
But seriously, do yourself and us a favor: write less and read more.
It only took you a little over a year to craft that comment? Too bad you just missed the close of that auction, you could have bid on it.