Fast For The Time: 1984 Buick Skyhawk T-Type
This might seem odd to people accustomed to blistering performance from every car on the street in 2020…but a car with 150 horsepower and a zero-to-60mph time of 7.5 seconds was a quick in 1984. That was faster than a Mustang GT (or SVO), faster than a Porsche 944, faster than an Mazda RX7, faster than a Z28 Camaro, faster than a V12 powered Jaguar XJS, faster than anything from Mercedes-Benz. Now you might ask, what front-wheel-drive car could hit 60mph in 7.5 seconds — and you might be tempted to look for some Honda CRX or something from Shelby’s Dodge years…but this car came straight from the lunatics at Buick, yes the Buick Skyhawk T-Type. The Skyhawk T-type with a 4-speed manual is the most unlikely and forgotten hero of the sport compact car era, for whatever that’s worth. Find this 1984 Buick Skyhawk T-Type offered for $3,500 in Daly City, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
From the seller:
1984 buick skyhawk
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
paint color: white
size: compact
title status: salvage
transmission: manual
type: coupePLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST
I have for sale a very rare 1984 Buick Skyhawk T-type, with only 97k original milles and in excellent shape. The engine is a 1.8 fuel injected and Turbo charged, with a 4 speed manual transmission. The engine runs perfect and strong. Turbo is in good condition too. Transmission shifts fine and clutch engages properly. Did a full tuneup, oil (Royal Purple) oil filter, air filter (K&N) cap, rotor and spark plugs. Car runs perfect and it’s pretty fast for it’s age. The car has AC, which works, but needs to be charged. It just passed California smog check. The exterior is decent, paint is faded, but looks ok still. No body damage, very straight. There’s absolutely no rust anywhere, being this car has spent it’s life in California originally purchased in Stockton CA. Interior is complete and in good condition, just has some rips on the driver seat, the rest is mint. Has a nice sunroof. All lights work properly. This car has been adult owned and well taken care of. It’s all original, even down to all the wheels. Car runs, drives, shifts and stops perfectly. It’s been my daily driver for the last few months. I never seen another one like it. I have it registered and insured. Title under my name. It has a salvaged title, due to theft back in the 90s, not because of accident. I’m located in Northern California. I’m willing to deal with people out of state and will aid in shipping on their expense. Asking $3,500 I’m glad to answer any questions.
See a better way to drive something quick when new? tips@dailyturismo.com
Now there’s 1 way to get yourself a Turbo Buick for cheap $! J bodies were GM’s econo platform and wound up in the hands of teenage drivers in the 80s and 90s and most were beaten and thrashed right into the junkyard.
The engines in these were so mysterious, something about Opels but from Brazil or maybe Daewoo.
They don’t even have a catchy name like iron duke or zinc butterfly or lead banana or 4kxyz.
Probably the only one still running in the whole country!