1979 Buick Regal w/Factory V6 & 4-speed???
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Flip through these... Lots of G-body literature, amongst other things!
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html
Thanks BillyJack for posting the option information for the 1978 Regal. I ordered mine from Jack Jones of Jack Jones Buick in Bethlehem PA. When I told him I wanted the 4-speed, he told me it was not available. I quoted the option from an Edmunds paperback (I always used one to plan what car I was ordering back when I could only afford a few options on a barebones car) and he looked and found that it was available. I ordered the car and was pleasantly surprised to see it was a Hurst shifter on my new Regal. Jack drove the car a couple of days before letting me know it was in, and was very pleased with the 4-speed manual trans, code MM4 @$125. This is another one of the cars I wish I had been able to afford to keep. But I can confirm that the 1978 Regal was available with the V6 and a 4 on the floor.
There was a YouTube video of a 5-speed Olds at a track somewhere. I assumed it was aftermarket. I'd like to hear more about the automotive Jackalope known as a G-body from the factory with a five-speed. I thought the T-5 did not arrive until 1983, and only in the F-bodys and S-10s. The Doug Nash 4+3 was in the Corvette in 1983 and 1984, I think. Anyone have any data?
Olds used the weaker T-50 behind the mighty Olds 260. Probably made the 260 slightly less pathetic.
The only data I have without digging through all the old Buick info I have packed away from my years at a Buick dealer is my memory. From '78 thru '80, the 4-speed was available in the Century and Regal, but only with a V-6. V-8 models, powered by a Pontiac-built 301, were only available with a floor-mounted 3-speed. I was told that the 4-speed didn't have enough torque capability for a V-8. I know that for a fact that you could get a 4-speed in an El Camino behind a 350 in '78-'79, as I spent many miles rowing gears with my buddy's El Camino SS, so it was probably an issue with vendor supply. The three speeds, IIRC, were the same Saginaw unit used in 1/2 ton trucks but with a floor shifter, while the 4-speeds were purchased from Borg-Warner.
Late in 1980, our dealership purchased a dark green/tan cloth Century Custom 4-dr from GM Company Car Operations. it had next to no miles on it, since it was used only as a display car at the Flint Airport. A strange car for a Buick, it was optioned with a V-8 and floor shift 3-speed. It was probably assigned to the Airport display because nobody at Buick HQ in Flint who had enough tenure and status to earn a company car wanted to drive it.
It took a while to sell that one.
Bill
Late in 1980, our dealership purchased a dark green/tan cloth Century Custom 4-dr from GM Company Car Operations. it had next to no miles on it, since it was used only as a display car at the Flint Airport. A strange car for a Buick, it was optioned with a V-8 and floor shift 3-speed. It was probably assigned to the Airport display because nobody at Buick HQ in Flint who had enough tenure and status to earn a company car wanted to drive it.
It took a while to sell that one.
Bill
I know for a fact the Monte Carlo did come with this option, I worked with a guy that bought one in 1980 new. It was a 4 speed.
1979 was a good year for 4 speeds. I saw a '79 LeMans with the "Sprint" option. That was a 4 barrel 301 and 4 speed manual trans and a funky decal on the fender . Essentially that was the '79 Trans Am 301 set up. I have two 301 manual trans flywheels and both came from '79 LeMans cars, one is in my Bonnewagon right now.
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