There have been lots of turbocharged cars trotted out by American manufacturers over the years, with varying levels of success. Today’s landscape is far different than the days of yore with Ford jamming turbos on virtually every model they make, Fiat Chrysler is doing the same, and Chevrolet is starting to roll out their small displacement turbo stuff as well. It seems that the little boosters are becoming the rule rather than the exception these days.
There are lots of notable blips on the American turbo scene like the Olds Jetfire from way back in the day, the Syclone trucks, SVO Mustangs, 2.2L Mopars like the Daytona and Omni, Corvairs, Buick’s GN and GNX, and on and on and on. This question could end with the predicable onslaught of Grand National and GNX responses, but we’re interested to see what shakes out here. Sure, some of the turbo stuff, like the Trans-Am below were laughers, it was at least an attempt to keep performance cars going in the face of all the other obstacles that were facing the industry at that time. From insurance, to inflation, high gas prices, a slumping economy….hey wait. Was I just describing today’s world?
BANGSHIFT QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHICH AMERICAN FACTORY TURBO CAR STANDS AS THE COOLEST EVER?
the omni GLH turbo, ’cause it probably had the highest bang-per-buck ratio of any car… probably not the fastest, but it sure shut down a lot of contenders on the WTF factor alone…
My SRT-4 isn’t bad but I’d choose the Buick GN.
John, I also have an SRT-4 and love it, but agree the GN is Coolest ever. (Although I’d prefer a white T-Type)
Mustang SVO
Well it sure as hell isn’t that Trans-Am you put in the picture.
The Grand National or the SVO Mustang are the only answers.
Either the ’87 GNX or the ’89 Anniversary Trans Am. Although my dads 06 Saab Aero is one hell of a fun car too
Buick GNX.
Don’t care much for turbos. Gimme a blower and a couple of drums of nitro, and I’m a happy camper!
Pontiac Solstice GXP
2.0L / 290 HP / 340 TQ in a very sleek little roadster.
I enjoyed the heck out of my Dodge Daytona Shelby Z (My first stick car). Do cars from Illinois count? My Plymouth Laser turbo AWD was a great little car too. Although a timing belt snapping in an interference engine was a bit of a problem.
87 GNX, 89 turbo T/A, Any turbo buick 86,87
’88 Chevy Sprint 3-cyl.
87 Buick T Type Traded in a 85 Mustang 5.0 5speed LX for one of these bad boys. Owned it for 10 years. Wish I still owned it. It was a very fine tire smoker.
Is that really a question? 86,87 Turbo Buick’s .
The 1989 2.5 turbo dodge caravan sport!
Ford SVO is the coolest EVER
GMC Syclone.
I would say the GN was the coolest even though you could not get a manual trans.
Well the Chrysler turbine car of course!
You didn’t specify turbocharged or turboshaft.
Come on guys, Buick Turbo Regal (Grand National, T-Type, Turbo-T) ruled the streets in the 80’s and can still hold its own today!
1980’s Ford thunderbird turbo coupe. fast and handled like a monster and kinda wierd too.
1-GNX
2-GLHS
3-SVO
and maybe the dark horse of them all, an 80’s Dodge Colt Turbo, with the twin stick transaxle, I’ve only rode in one but it was a hell of a ride!
1-GNX/Turbo TA
2-Mustang SVO
3-Omni GLH
gnx syclone or typhoon anything else is irrelevant.