Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:57 pm

Anyone once own one or knew someone that did? Most underperformed. My buddy had a turbo mustang right out of high school. So it was around a 1980. He also had a pinto with the same 2300 just n/a. I just remembered comments like “you can kinda feel it kick in”. So road race guy took it for a ride and made the over boost light come on. My buddy never managed to do that.
But there were many odd turbo cars of the era:
-turbo Omni. Adds only listed 0-50 times.
-turbo Trans Am. With a 301 boat anchor engine
-two then four barrel V6 Regals and Monte’s. I knew someone that had a pre-Grandnational carbrated turbo Regal the when 14’s!
-Renault Fuego. Knew someone that bought one new. He was French.
-Turbo 3 cylinder Sprint. You felt the boost come it. I worked on the lube rack at a Chevy dealer.
-All them turbo Lazers and Daytona’s. People make them fast nowadays
-older, but I’ve never heard much about Corvair Spyders. System looks like it should work
And many more.
Any stories to add?

buguy · Post by **buguy** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:52 pm

I had a few of the Daytonas. I would buy them, put basically a manual boost controller on, and sell them. They sold easy because they were pretty fast. Doubt they lasted long though.

woodsbuggy1 · Post by **woodsbuggy1** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:04 pm

I used to have a 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 3.1L turbo motor, was lots of fun to drive and had the most comfortable and adjustable seats that I have seen in any vehicle. However the Buick Grand National was a Beast that deffinately needs reconigation

. I will own a Grand National before I retire.
Kenric

Clonebug · Post by **Clonebug** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:16 pm

I owned a 1979 Mustang Cobra with the 2.3 turbo. I thought it performed pretty good.
It was rated at 120 hp which was the same as the 302 around that time. I just drove it at the time since I was more occupied chasing girls than working on cars.

buguy · Post by **buguy** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:37 pm

I bought 2 of those cobras one time as a pair. They were 302 cars though. One black and gold 4 speed, and one white and blue auto.

Clonebug · Post by **Clonebug** » Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:54 pm

buguy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:37 pm I bought 2 of those cobras one time as a pair. They were 302 cars though. One black and gold 4 speed, and one white and blue auto.

I had a 1976 Cobra II with a 302 that was blue with white stripes and I had it painted Metallic Blue and silver stripes. It was a fun car to drive.... I found a set of 53 cc chamber heads and a 4 barrel intake and it bumped the compression and power enough to get me in plenty of trouble.
With the little 13 inch wheels it would do the smokiest burnouts I have ever seen!!!!

buguy · Post by **buguy** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:24 am

They are fun cars! I used to take a corner near my house and I would basically drift it on the way home. One day it got away from me and I put it in the ditch. Had to walk home and get the tilt bed and drag it out. I don't remember it hurting it.

V8Nate · Post by **V8Nate** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:35 am

Those turbo trans as were a joke.lol granted I drove one that was 20 years old which didn't help! The turbo 300zx was an alright rig with spongy rear suspension, I definitely liked the turbo 200sx that Nissan made of the same era(both early to mid eightys) The other factory turbo car of the 80's that I drove and worked on was an 86 isuzu impulse, that car was bad ass! My friend picked it up for a grand and we placed the head gasket and some vacuum lines and hammered on that car! It had suspension by lotus, crazy space shuttle like dash and gauges and if I remember right it actually would talk to you( door is open, please fasten seat belt) the first time driving it went 110 mph and about trashed both rear tires, it would spin thru 2nd and chirp 3rd! Posi and a 5 speed was awesome in that car. The front always reminded me of a delorean and the back like a Porsche 928. Great car though I would have like to have bought it from him if I had the chance.....can't keep em all

madmike · Post by **madmike** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 5:41 am

Their's a Father & son team that has them Buick Grand National's Son's is modified and Dad's is bonestock so I was told ,,
My bug has 'spanked' both

sure are nice lookin cars, both cars are Black

andy198712 · Post by **andy198712** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 5:45 am

man they sure had some rubbish cars in the states lol

madmike · Post by **madmike** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:47 am

compared to what a Morris minor

andy198712 · Post by **andy198712** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:20 am

madmike wrote: ↑Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:47 am compared to what a Morris minor

now were talking!!

split1950 · Post by **split1950** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:17 am

I had a MG Metro Turbo - it was crap! The fastest thing about it was the rust...……..

madmike · Post by **madmike** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:29 am

was that statside? ya know a lot of them british car were shipped over here 'On Deck"

John S. · Post by **John S.** » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:08 pm

GMC Cyclones and Typhoons we’re Corvette eaters.

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Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s

Re: Factory Turbo Cars of the 70’s and 80’s