1981 Buick Regal Indy 500 pace car

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NCTyphoonKid

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Hey everyone a few people have asked that I post my 81 Indy pace car Regal car #148 out of 150 produced. A little back story I was originally on the hunt for another Turbo Regal and I was going to go look at a 84 GN in VA however it sold before I could go look at it, that same weekend searching marketplace on Facebook I found this 1981 Indy up in Va I knew exactly what it was when I saw the pictures (not many people know of the 81 Indy Regals) and decided to message the guy on it, which turned into a few phone calls back and forth and I went and looked at the car the following weekend as it was 4 and half hours from my house in NC. I knew it needed quite a bit of work as it had sat in a field for 10-12ish years as the previous owner before the guy I got the car from left the car in 2nd gear getting on the highway and overrevved the little 90k mile 3.8 V6 and then it sat and sat until it finally sold to the guy I bought the car from. The only thing the guy I bought the car from really had done was they shoved a 84 3.8 into the engine bay and it was done very badly as it only had two bellhousing bolts and the engine was pulling away from the bellhousing and the motor mount bolts were very incorrect among many other things. I got the original 3.8 with the car and it’s been at the machine shop since March should have it back here in the next couple weeks hopefully. So far I have removed the junk 84 3.8 engine and I’ve done a lot of cleaning and painting under the hood however I wasn’t going for a perfect look as I plan on driving it but do want it presentable, I have cleaned up the wiring harness and fixed any damaged wires. I have removed the stock exhaust completely as I will be running a test pipe and installing a pypes 2.5 dual exhaust to help it breathe a little easier. I have installed all new brake lines (hard lines and the flexible rubber lines) I have installed all new wheel cylinders, drums and pads. Upfront I have installed new pads and I’ve decided to leave the rotors as it looks like the rotors were replaced not long ago so we will see how they do once it’s driving again. When I first got the car the shifter cable was broken and it’s probably a good thing it was so it didn’t damage the bellhousing with the pitiful engine install it had done prior to me getting the car, after a few aftermarket junk cables that didn’t work even they were supposed to I was able to track down with the help of a gbodyforum member a NOS genuine gm cable and that fixed the shifter cable issues ( I also bought a spare NOS GM one as you just never know when you may need a good quality part). I also installed a one piece front air dam on the car as I think all regals look better with air dams however this one is made a inch longer than the stockers and is more of a stronger material. The interior is in remarkably good shape there are a few pieces I will replace but the seats, carpet, steering wheel, door panels and headliner are in super nice shape. I have the original turbine wheels however I do not plan on running these on the car unless I plan to take it to a high end show because they are so hard to find and I don’t want them getting anymore damage than what they already have. Instead I plan on running a set of gold GTA Trans Am wheels with a 84-85 GN center cap. On to pictures I’m sure I’ve missed some stuff as I’ve just done so much to the car since purchasing it back in March. It has been a labor of love bringing life back to this very unusual piece of Buick history.

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NCTyphoonKid

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NCTyphoonKid

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NCTyphoonKid

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NCTyphoonKid

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And the last few pics I will post for now

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78C10BigTen

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And the last few pics I will post for now

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I will be watching this thread! The regal was one of my favorite buicks! I almost had an 87 but stupidly wouldnt trade the guy. I like that typhoon hidin in there too!!
 

NCTyphoonKid

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I will be watching this thread! The regal was one of my favorite buicks! I almost had an 87 but stupidly wouldnt trade the guy. I like that typhoon hidin in there too!!

The Indy is in very good company with my Typhoon, Fiero, Cutlass Supreme, a Lumina Z34 and then my 87 R10. My plan is to try and have the Indy to one car show or cruise in by the end of this year. I’m not sure if it will happen but going to try my hardest to if not it will be ready for sure by Spring. I also plan on changing out all the body bushings and adding frame bracing as the t top cars really benefit from the extra bracing and support
 

78C10BigTen

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The Indy is in very good company with my Typhoon, Fiero, Cutlass Supreme, a Lumina Z34 and then my 87 R10. My plan is to try and have the Indy to one car show or cruise in by the end of this year. I’m not sure if it will happen but going to try my hardest to if not it will be ready for sure by Spring. I also plan on changing out all the body bushings and adding frame bracing as the t top cars really benefit from the extra bracing and support
It looks to be in great shape for sittin in a field! Did you have any issues with the t tops
 

NCTyphoonKid

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It looks to be in great shape for sittin in a field! Did you have any issues with the t tops

Honestly it is super solid, the floors are mint and I’m really shocked by that. There is a little bit of rust under the t top seals on the windshield side but I have treated all of that with Ospho.
 

bucket

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VA has a funny environment. Cars can sit in the grass for years and they stay solid underneath. Stuff doesn't really grow up around them. Same thing in the woods.

But if you let something sit in Ohio, within a few weeks, it will be surrounded by tall grass, giant ragweed, sticker bushes and honeysuckle bush. After a couple years, you need a machete and a chainsaw to gain access to the car again.
 

gotyourgoat

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I really like this car and your other cars and your garage, it's all win. :D

VA has a funny environment. Cars can sit in the grass for years and they stay solid underneath. Stuff doesn't really grow up around them. Same thing in the woods.

But if you let something sit in Ohio, within a few weeks, it will be surrounded by tall grass, giant ragweed, sticker bushes and honeysuckle bush. After a couple years, you need a machete and a chainsaw to gain access to the car again.
Spoken like someone who's never had to hack at arm sized vines of Virginia creeper, kudzoo, and wild grapes. It's all the **** ohio has plus some other terrible things.
 

bucket

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I really like this car and your other cars and your garage, it's all win. :D


Spoken like someone who's never had to hack at arm sized vines of Virginia creeper, kudzoo, and wild grapes. It's all the **** ohio has plus some other terrible things.

Yeah, I forgot about the kudzoo, lol. But seriously though, you guys have a lot of areas where stuff really just doesn't grow. And so much wooded area that has a nice open understory. Obviously it's not the case everywhere though.
 

NCTyphoonKid

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It’s really a wonder the t tops didn’t leak everyone knows they leak but these look like they never did
 

78C10BigTen

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VA has a funny environment. Cars can sit in the grass for years and they stay solid underneath. Stuff doesn't really grow up around them. Same thing in the woods.

But if you let something sit in Ohio, within a few weeks, it will be surrounded by tall grass, giant ragweed, sticker bushes and honeysuckle bush. After a couple years, you need a machete and a chainsaw to gain access to the car again.
Same here in pa
 

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