How rare are Hot Airs?

[BRAD_PADGETT]

I just went to the Midwest meet in the northwest Chicago suburbs for a picnic and have a good time. It was great -54 Buick powered cars showed up over the day. It was sad thet there was only my hot air GN and a wreck TTYPE hot air there. Even the 89 Pontiac TTAs showed two cars.

The bottom line is the Hot Airs are very rare and the 86/87 experienced guys understand our issues. Thanks - Brad

 

[esinger]

My personal experience is that the Hotair T-Type is pretty darn rare. I've never seen one in person, but have seen several 84-85 GNs in the general area since owning my car. Everytime I've taken my car to any show or gathering I'm the only Hotair (minus Conrad with his 84 GN with 86/87 engine).

 

[boostmaster]

Hot Airs

Very rare your talking a total of maybe 4-5k GN's and T Types built each year in 84-85. If theses were Hemi Cudas or SS Chevelles no one would be hacking them up. All the more reason that it makes me hot under the collar to see one converted. The ora and legend of the 86-87 cars and the plentifulness (about 33k units total) has lead to the demise of some rare cars being converted over. All I can say is 20 years from now when my slow car starts bringing big dollars because there are only 100 uncoverted oe cars left I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

No flaming intended just my $ .02 worth.

 

[boostmaster]

I just went to the Midwest meet in the northwest Chicago suburbs for a picnic and have a good time. It was great -54 Buick powered cars showed up over the day. It was sad thet there was only my hot air GN and a wreck TTYPE hot air there. Even the 89 Pontiac TTAs showed two cars.

The bottom line is the Hot Airs are very rare and the 86/87 experienced guys understand our issues. Thanks - Brad

Don't take it on the chin Brad every time I attend any type of event here in my area I am the only hot air in attendence. I often get to talking with my fellow turbo 6 owners about our cars and upgrades then I pop the hood and it's like " Oh!! it's a hot air " see ya later. After I bust a few low 12 second passes and show little brother how it's done then they come talk to me again.

 

[Jerryl]

Don't take it on the chin Brad every time I attend any type of event here in my area I am the only hot air in attendence. I often get to talking with my fellow turbo 6 owners about our cars and upgrades then I pop the hood and it's like " Oh!! it's a hot air " see ya later. .............

:biggrin:
Similar experience here, typically from the IC'd crowd, not the "other" crowd.

MANY MANY years ago I was involved in a National Design Competition.
We were the "underdogs" based on budget. Simplicity was however the key.
None of the competitors looked at our car and it's design
It took about one year to have other competitors copy us, after we busted some 1.05G skid-pad runs, etc.
Of course, it helps to take fourth out of 45 entries. :biggrin:

So, the story remains the same and things have not changed from my "underdog days".

I am not going to get into pricing as anything is only worth as much as someone will offer.
80% of the IC'd crowd would not believe me anyway since they would not buy a HA.
Trust me when I tell you, there are people who will, don't care how fast it is, and do NOT want an IC'd car.

One thing is for sure: When it comes to Rarity, HA's win hands down.
This is why I have been thinking to get the car back to OEM ...........
At the average show, the HA may be the next "rare thing" following a GNX.
Most have seen pics, but never "touched one". :wink:

Put plain and simple:
I could give a ***** how fast anyone's car is or can be, no matter the make, model or year.
Speed and Money do not impress me no matter the make or model.
Values, Hard work, Honesty and integrity do. To each their own.

 

[timevacuum]

My personal experience is that the Hotair T-Type is pretty darn rare. I've never seen one in person, but have seen several 84-85 GNs in the general area since owning my car. Everytime I've taken my car to any show or gathering I'm the only Hotair (minus Conrad with his 84 GN with 86/87 engine).

I've got an 85 Hot Air T-Type with CF5 moonroof option. Spent 3 years (of weekends) restoring it. It was a basket case when I bought it. (Some people should NOT be allowed to own these cars). I made a few upgrade mods but kept it a hot-air car.

Bill

 

[boostmaster]

:biggrin:

One thing is for sure: When it comes to Rarity, HA's win hands down.
This is why I have been thinking to get the car back to OEM ...........
At the average show, the HA may be the next "rare thing" following a GNX.
Most have seen pics, but never "touched one". :wink:
.

And that's why I'm running a spare engine and trans. I have kept all my stock parts so I can retire my car after I have achieved my goals. Then I will return her to a stock matching no. hot air. At present I have a 84,85,86 all T Types, lookin for a cheap 87 to restore.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

Don't take it on the chin Brad every time I attend any type of event here in my area I am the only hot air in attendence. I often get to talking with my fellow turbo 6 owners about our cars and upgrades then I pop the hood and it's like " Oh!! it's a hot air " see ya later. After I bust a few low 12 second passes and show little brother how it's done then they come talk to me again.

Actually- At our meet on Saturday There was alot of interest in my car. Alot of the IC guys had to idea what a Hot Air looks like. The IC guys also did not know how to get a Hot Air going fast. I had a great time and nobody put me down at all. Take- Care. Brad

 

[turbofish38]

Yep, any hot air is rare. Just try to explain to somebody that Buick put the same motor in a Riviera.

 

[esinger]

Very rare your talking a total of maybe 4-5k GN's and T Types built each year in 84-85. If theses were Hemi Cudas or SS Chevelles no one would be hacking them up. All the more reason that it makes me hot under the collar to see one converted. The ora and legend of the 86-87 cars and the plentifulness (about 33k units total) has lead to the demise of some rare cars being converted over. All I can say is 20 years from now when my slow car starts bringing big dollars because there are only 100 uncoverted oe cars left I'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

No flaming intended just my $ .02 worth.

I plan on being there right with you in twenty years and I hope these cars do increase in value. I know of atleast 3 (Possibly 4) hotair cars that have been converted in the general area and I figure to each his own.

I get a little flack from owning a hotair from the majority IC guys, but it's all in fun. They know I have the same passion for my car as they do theirs. I just grin when my car causes confusion with the general car show crowd when the hoods up. 10 IC cars that look basically the same under the hood and mines the one that's different.

Turbo Riviera, now that's some cool stuff

 

[bd1320]

Don't judge a book by it's cover

I just went to the Midwest meet in the northwest Chicago suburbs for a picnic and have a good time. It was great -54 Buick powered cars showed up over the day. It was sad thet there was only my hot air GN and a wreck TTYPE hot air there. Even the 89 Pontiac TTAs showed two cars.

The bottom line is the Hot Airs are very rare and the 86/87 experienced guys understand our issues. Thanks - Brad

So when do you want to race my "wreck" ?
From Dennis Kirban - The rarest regal T-Type is the 1985, since only 2,100 were produced, You can't say that about your POS. I couldn't stop laughing when you told me you paid $850 for that down pipe. You could have bought a Mease 3'' downpipe part number; D3IWGSS45 For $350. It's painfully obvious that you don't know anything about cars, you would think with 1200 posts you would have learned something by now. Have you wondered why nobody wanted a downpipe after you told them it will be close to a grand for one...everybody on the board is laughing at you also. This is also coming from a guy that paid $400 to get his motor mounts changed. Buy some pipe for $60 and make your own downpipe. I also have a '85 GN, an 86 with 15,000 miles on it and two '87 GNs. and that's just my Buicks. You dont know anything about me Sally ( or cars ) so dont judge a book by it's cover. PS your rear emblem is on the wrong side of the car and your interior upholstery is wrong. What a ahole.

 

[Boostnitup]

Going fast with class...

No need to rip on someone for what they bought, purchased, and or added to their ride. Each one of us have our own experience in this hobby. Let it go at that...

If you are into these cars because you think one day it will be worth a mint you are into the hobby for the wrong reason... I don't see these cars ever being worth their weight in gold. (My take on it)

I had my car at the local track on 20 July... it was the only Turbo Buick there period. I don't see that situation changing any day soon unless we have a club meet and folks show up for that experience.

I intend to convert my car over to a turbo V8 Chevy "eventually." That is sacred ground for some of you, and possibly peeing in the Wheaties of others... but it is my car and it remains a genuine '84 GN with the moonroof option - as rare as it gets.

 

[84GNGary]

If you are into these cars because you think one day it will be worth a mint you are into the hobby for the wrong reason... I don't see these cars ever being worth their weight in gold. (My take on it)

I would tend to agree with you. This is why after owning and keeping my car original for 23 years I began to mod it a little. I wanted to make it faster and have some fun with it and not worry what it's going to be worth in years to come. Do I need a 11 or 12 sec car, no I don't, nor do I want one. I do not believe these cars will bring in top dollar in the future but they will hold their own for someone who wants one.

Just for $hits & giggles think of this logic when it comes to the future car collectors. Todays car collectors want fast cars from when they were teenagers and began to drive, maybe it was their first dream car. This is why you have all middle age millionaires buying all the muscle cars from the 60's & early 70's for outragious amounts. Now think of this. What do most of todays teenagers and the younger crowd want now ?....ricers.
Could you imagine a Honda with an oversized fart cannon and suicide doors going 100 grand on Barret Jackson in 30 years One good thing is that those P'sOS will never last that long .

Yes the HA's are rare but are not in high demand. Who knows what the future holds but I am not going to worry about it. I and most of you are fortunate to see a HA every day. It does not matter what someone else thinks about your car. It's your car not theirs and it's their opinion and you know what they say about opinions.

 

[novaderrik]

a couple of weekends ago at the Car Craft Nats in St Paul, i had the only hot air that was still a "hot air" car- out of 20 or so 84-87 GN's. i think there might have been maybe 1 or 2 other T Types there- the rest were GN's and a couple of GNX's thrown in for good measure.
i'm not sure how many 84's and 85's there were there, but i had the only one that didn't have an intercooler- and the only blue one. maybe even the only one with a column shift. too bad i didn't have the patience to try to drive over and park by the GN's- i'm sure my 84 would have really confused a few people after looking at a line of black cars with intercoolers, what with the turbo being on top of the motor and having all that room between the motor and radiator.
well, there was one other hot air car i saw there- a 78 turbo LeSabre with an 84/85 engine in it..

 

[blestx4]

hey hey!!!

BD1320 Chill man. We get enough disrespect from outsiders who think we have a weak sounding Monte Carlo. This should be Holy Ground. I dont agree with everyone here but I respect that we are here bc we like turbo Buicks. Brad , I wish I could afford an 800 dollar downpipe but at this time that is not an investment I can make. I have welding skills so I will probably build my own when time allows. Lets get along here and Brad I do appreciate all the detailed posts and knowledge you pass on here. Thanks everyone.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

BLESTX$- I spent the money because I had to in order to eliminate the turbo elbow( 2 inch). I am cashed out for awhile and I really need to go to a power logger and maybe a wide band o2 sensor. Without these two tools I am really fishing because my scanmaster is at it's limit for tuning. Do not worry about BD1320. I met him at a big midwest meet last Sat. He took offence because I called his car a junk. PM BD1320 on Monday and no response. Check out the thread- Think I will Pack..... I will be posting and update. Take it easy. Brad

 

[Boost231]

I Got My Pop Corn

..... My WH1 Is Rare

 

[Boostnitup]

Ebay '84 GN

There is an '84 Ebay GN that continues to be offered time and time again. it is low miles located in texas... and they want over $21K for it.

It is a prestine car... hard top, and doesn't have the desired mods like digital dash, moonroof, or T-tops.

It doesn't sell.

I use Ebay as a means to see what the market is out there. It is overpriced IMO... everyone thinks their car is worth it's weight in gold. Some cars sell and meet "reserve" others simply don't.

 

[Grumpy]

Pinto wagons are RARE BUT who wants them not a fan of HA cars .. ya I did have 1... wasn't even a good parts car oh .. I don't own a Buick anymore :biggrin:

 

[turbofish38]

Pinto wagons are RARE BUT who wants them not a fan of HA cars .. ya I did have 1... wasn't even a good parts car oh .. I don't own a Buick anymore :biggrin:

Ya but they made a bizillion Pintos and non were hi-po models from the factory. Plus they were throw away cars. Use them and throw them away when you done with them. Come to think of that pretty much describes you and your cars doesn't it? Come to think of it that pretty much decribes any mass produced automobile. If you're in this hobby to make money thinking any car is an investment than you're crazy. Leave the garage queens to the GNX guys. I like a little rarity when it comes to cars. I hate being a belly button. Here's a list of some rare stuff I still own.
1984 Riviera T-Type 1,085 made
1975 Cosworth Vega #1676 out of @3500
1975 Suzuki RE5 Wankel powered bike @4000
1982 Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana @1000-1200
1995 Roadmaster wagon @5500
1986 GN 1 of 5,512

How many of those particular models are still on the road I dont know or really care. The greatest compliment to me is whemn somebody says it's been a long time since I've seen one of those.

If there is one thing that sets a hot air owner above any of the IC guys is the fact that you have to more in tune to your car. I've encounted more pesky little problems,and have solved them all successfully on my hot airs that would have sent an IC guy crying for surrender. You have to be resourceful to own a hot air IMO.