1987 Buick Grand National 25,000 miles $29,900 call (717)-801-0352 For more Information and Details
1987 Buick Grand National Low miles 52,000 original miles, Laser straight $18,800 call (717)-801-0352
1986 Buick Grand National 38,000 Original Miles, Like new all stock, T-TOP car Call for PRICE (717)-801-0352Hell on wheels, but not for sale
A pristine Buick that's sat in the showroom of a Signal Hill dealer for 23 years is the stuff of turbocharged automotive legend.
December 10, 2010|By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times
The sinister-looking black coupe sits in a corner of the showroom floor, oozing macho and muscle. Square headlights. Evil sneer for a grille. Six cylinders of turbocharged fury.
If Darth Vader drove a car, this is what you might find in his garage.
This new car is 23 years old. It's a Buick Regal GNX, and in 1987 car enthusiasts including celebrity collectors Reggie Jackson, Burt Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone snapped them up.
This menacing Buick — one of only about 500 — still sports its original $29,389 sticker on the window. Experts say it could sell at auction for north of $120,000, especially since most of its surviving siblings have many more miles of rough roads under their fenders.
Why this GNX still sits there in Signal Hill amounts to a miscalculation by the dealership, Boulevard Buick, which tried unsuccessfully to boost its profit by auctioning it to the highest bidder.
"This was a car that was meant to go fast and driven hard," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, the Scottsdale, Ariz., rare and classic auto auction house. "So when you find one in virgin condition sitting unsold at a dealer, that is bulletproof provenance. There is no question this car was born the way you are seeing it."
The GNX was the last and greatest in the Grand National series Buick launched in 1982 and named after the NASCAR racing series. Essentially a souped-up version of the Buick Regal, Grand Nationals had a unique appeal: They could blow the doors off many cars on the road, yet pass for family sedans. From 1982 to 1987, Buick sold nearly 30,000 of them.
"They are so misconceiving," said Lee Westrope, a GNX owner and car collector from Nuevo, Calif. "They don't look like a hot rod. After all, they are a Buick and the majority of the people take a look at the car and think it is just a Chevy Monte Carlo or an Olds Cutlass."
With the passage of time, the GNX has become the most sought after of the Grand Nationals, and the car in Signal Hill may be the most coveted of all.
"People talk about that car. It is a legend," Westrope said.
Westrope, 61, remembers driving his GNX to an auto show in Burbank two years ago and pulling up next to a "kid in a Camaro" at a stoplight.
"I took off gently but he really got into it, so I stepped on the gas," he said. "When the turbo kicks in it accelerates like a rocket and I just walked away from him."
Buicks in the Grand National series, including the GNX, all look pretty much the same — and almost all came out of the factory painted black. For the final year of the car's production in 1987, Buick pulled out all the stops, commissioning Automobile Specialty Co. and McLaren Engines, known for its work on race cars, to make the GNX the baddest of the bad.
The results were impressive for the era. With 276 horsepower and tons of torque jetting to the wheels, the GNX could go from zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds. It was as quick as a contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo, for about half the price.
The similarities ended there, however. In its review, Car and Driver magazine complained that the GNX "rattles and bounces like bolts in a blender."
But it had nothing but praise for the engine modifications, which it called "straightforward hot-rod stuff: ported and polished heads, a larger turbocharger with a ceramic turbine wheel, dual exhaust" and modifications to the engine-control computer chip.
GM made only 547 of the cars. Boulevard Buick has No. 308, which is thought to be the only new one in existence, although there may be a few in private collections that rival its mint condition.
The odometer shows 164 miles, mostly racked up when the car is driven to the service bay for oil changes. Regardless, General Motors has warned the dealer that it won't honor the new car warranty.
When the GNX came on the market in 1987 the first ones went to East Coast dealers and commanded huge premiums.
"It was just crazy numbers," said Brad Willingham, owner of Boulevard Buick. "Double the sticker."
Jim Willingham, Brad's father and the boss at the time, didn't like charging buyers more than the sticker price. But an easy profit proved hard to resist. So when the dealership was given a GNX to sell, it put the car up for an auction in hopes of juicing the sales price.
Buick Boulevard took out an ad in The Times and hired accounting firm Arthur Andersen to take silent bids. Not a single buyer stepped up.
"It was a real lesson in free-market economics," Brad Willingham said. "All the collectors must have purchased theirs already by the time we got ours."
The car sat there, attracting only tepid interest. The dealership almost sold the car in 1987, but the buyer turned out to have bad credit. Another offered $5,000 below the sticker, or about $24,000.
The Willinghams, who paid GM $26,856 for car, decided not to take a loss on what they thought would be their most profitable car ever.
"That's when I stepped in and said, 'We aren't selling it. We will just keep it,'" Brad Willingham said.
Most shoppers today barely glance at the GNX, passing it over for Buick's sporty new Regal, a four-cylinder, front-wheel drive sedan, or the bigger LaCrosse.
Now and then an enthusiast who recognizes the GNX for the rarity it is comes by to ogle it, and once in a while someone asks about buying the car.
Willingham has always balked. His office window looks out on the GNX, and he likes seeing it there in the showroom every day.
"We had visions of making big money," he said. "Now it's part of our heritage."
Grand National, T-Type and GNX
In 1982, the Regal Grand National debuted, which was named for the NASCAR Grand National racing series. Buick had won the Manufacturers Cup in 1981 and 1982, and wanted to capitalize on its success: "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday". These 1982 cars were not painted black, which may confuse those not familiar with them. All started out as charcoal gray Regals that were shipped off to a subcontractor for finishing.
Originally intended for a run of 100 units, Cars and Concepts of Brighton, Michigan, retrofitted 215 Regals with the GN package. Most obvious was the light silver gray firemist paint added to each side. Red pinstripes and billboard shadow lettering proclaiming "BUICK" were applied. The wheel opening moldings and rocker panel moldings were blacked out using black vinyl tape. Finally, a front air dam and rear spoiler were installed. On the inside, special "Lear-Siegler" seats were installed. These seats are fully adjustable and were covered with silver brandon cloth with black vinyl inserts. The front seat had Buick's "6" emblem embroidered onto them. To finish it off, a special clock delete plate was added to the instrument panel which contained the yellow and orange "6" logo and the words "GRAND NATIONAL BUICK MOTOR DIVISION."
The '82 GN came with a naturally aspirated 4.1 L V6 engine with 125 hp (93 kW) at 4000 rpm and 205 lb·ft (278 N·m) of torque at 2000 rpm. Of the 215 Regal Grand Nationals produced in 1982, a handful were based on the Buick Regal Sport Coupe package with the turbocharged 3.8 V6 engine with 175 hp (130 kW) at 4000 rpm and 275 lb·ft (373 N·m) of torque at 2600 rpm. There were only 2022 Sport Coupes produced in 1982, and the number of cars with both the GN and Sport Coupe packages is estimated to be less than 50.
For 1983, there was no Grand National. The Sport Coupe model was renamed the T-Type; 3732 were produced (190 hp (140 kW) at 1600 rpm and 280 lb·ft (380 N·m) of torque at 2400 rpm). The T-Type had been used on other Buicks, starting with the Riviera in 1981 (in 1979 and 1980, it was the S Type). The 1983 Regal T-Type featured tube headers, Hydro-Boost II brakes, 200-4R 4-speed overdrive trans and 3.42 rear axle (7.5").
In 1984 the Grand National returned in all black paint. The turbocharged 3.8 L became standard and was refined with sequential fuel injection, distributor-less computer controlled ignition, and boasted 200 hp (150 kW) at 4400 rpm and 300 lb·ft (407 N·m) of torque at 2400 rpm. Only 5,204 Turbo Regals were produced that year, only 2000 of which were Grand Nationals. Because this was the first year production of the computer controlled Sequential Fuel Injection and Distributor-less ignition, this is often considered the year/model that started the development of the legendary intercooled Grand Nationals. The performance of this package was well ahead of its time and the “Little V6” easily matched that of the bigger V8’s. Quarter mile (~400 m) performance was listed at 15.9 seconds at stock boost levels of 10 psi (0.69 bar), while for the same year, the Chevrolet Camaro was listed at 17.0 and the Chevrolet Corvette at 15.1 seconds. Soon, performance enthusiasts determined the modifications that worked and the Grand Nationals easily broke into the 13 second territory. All Grand Nationals for this year had the Lear Siegler-made cloth/leather interior which was only available for this year. An estimated 425 of the 1984 Grand Nationals were produced with the T-Top option which makes these one of the rarest of the Grand Nationals.
In 1986, a modified engine design with intercooling boosted the performance even further; in 1987 it reached 245 hp (183 kW) and 355 lb·ft (481 N·m) of torque. Buick dropped the T-Type package for Regal in 1987. There were only 7,896 Turbo Regals produced in 1986. In 1987, when Turbo Regals reached their peak in popularity, a total of 27,590 Turbo Regals were produced through December, with those models produced between September and December of that year window stickered as "1987½ Buick Grand National" vehicles.
In 1987, a lightweight WE4 (Turbo T) option was offered. Only 1,547 of this variant were produced. They were painted black and treated to the same blackout package as the Grand National, including bumpers, grille, headlight and taillight trim. The differences between a WE4 and the Grand National were the interior trim package, wheels, exterior badging, aluminum bumper supports, and aluminum rear brake drums as opposed to the Grand National's cast iron. The rear spoiler was only available as a dealer installed option. 1987 was the only year that the LC2 Turbo option was available on any Regal, making it possible to even see a Limited with a vinyl landau roof and a power bulge turbo hood. The 1987 model would be the end of the manufacture of the RWD "G-Body" Regal, but GM had to extend the build of the Grand National to meet customer demand.
For the final year, 1987, Buick introduced the GNX at $29,900. Produced by McLaren Performance Technologies/ASC, Buick underrated the GNX at 276 hp (206 kW) and a very substantial 360 lb·ft (488 N·m) of torque. This was created to be the "Grand National to end all Grand Nationals." Changes made included a special Garrett T-3 turbocharger with a ceramic-impeller blowing through a more efficient and significantly larger capacity intercooler with a "CERMATEL (Ceramic/Aluminum) coated" pipe connecting the intercooler to the engine. A GNX specific EEPROM, low-restriction exhaust with dual mufflers, reprogrammed Turbo Hydramatic 200-4R transmission with a custom torque converter and transmission cooler, and unique differential cover/panhard bar included more of the performance modifications. Exterior styling changes include vents located on each front fender, 16 inch black mesh style wheels with VR-speed rated tires, and deletion of the hood and fender emblems. The interior changes of the GNX included a serial number on the dash plaque and a revised instrument cluster providing analog Stewart-Warner gauges, including an analog turbo boost gauge. Performance was measured with a quarter mile time of 13.5 seconds at 102 mph (164 km/h) and a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds. GNX #001 is the 1986 prototype currently owned by Buick and sometimes makes appearances at car shows around the US. The GNX had a ladder bar that ran from the mid-section of the car to the rear axle, so as to increase traction. This is also the reason why a GNX will actually lift the rear end up when the car is about to launch heavily.
Looks are deceiving. Locked beneath the demure Buick Grand National's signature black-swathed body lurked a turbocharged V6 ready to casually blow away any arrogant opponents that dared to press the pedal. The Buick Grand National was a true American muscle car, and is now a cult favorite among collectors and enthusiasts. Here's a glimpse into greatness.
The Inauguration
The Chrysler Corporation, the parent company of Buick, used the Grand National to showcase their automotive prowess, and designed the Grand National with meek Buick styling but injected a bundle of torque and horsepower under the hood. Introduced in 1982 as a subset of the Buick Regal, the Grand National – named for the NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup racing series – found 215 owners its first year. After a one year hiatus, the Grand National returned in 1984 with its all-black color scheme, chrome-plated wheels, and the renowned electronically fuel-injected, 3.8-liter, 200-hp turbocharged V6. That year, 2,000 Grand Nationals hit the streets. It was the start of a legend.
The Sleeping Giant Awakes
In 1986 and '87, Buick determined to perfect its deceptively mild-looking sleeping giant. After adding an intercooler in 1986 and tweaking the engine in 1987, Buick had created a resilient beast capable of a dramatically-underrated 245-hp and 355 lb-feet of torque (fuel efficiency was not atrocious, estimated at 17/25). Coming off the assembly line, it easily blew away the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette and other "Pony cars." Joseph Hazelbacker goes so far as to claim that the only production cars that could compete were the luxurious Ferrari 308 GTS and Lamborghini Jalpa P350 GTS, as the Buick Grand National hit speeds past 145 mph.
Roaring Out of Existence
1987 was, unfortunately, the final year of the Buick Grand National. Rather than quietly departing, it roared out of existence, much the same way as it had arrived. Buick introduced the Grand National GNX, valued at $29,000. Only 547 were ever made. Built with a single turbocharger, the GNX shoveled out 276 horses and 360 lb-feet of tire-shredding torque. The initial torque level was so great that Buick engineers had to modify the rear axle and transmission, lest they crumple under the strain. Labeled as the "Grand National to end all Grand Nationals" by Buick, and "Darth Vader's vehicle" by a sassy Car & Driver, the GNX blasted previous performance out of the water. By means of several engine modifications, it was able to speed past 160 mph, although it was electronically limited to 124 mph. It rocketed from 0-to-60 mph in a blistering 4.7 seconds. Buick claimed it was the fastest production model of its time.
A Glorious Symbol
Despite its grandiose claims of glory, however, it is a quiet protégé. The Grand National, unlike the Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette or Dodge Challenger, has never enjoyed the pop culture fanaticism these other muscle cars revel in daily. Perhaps it was the angular and aloof styling, rather than the belligerent attitude of the Camaro and Charger, that distanced the Grand National from its competitors. However, to those in the know, the Grand National represents a by-gone age of true American muscle. Raw, powerful, and with a clandestine attitude, it defines the pioneering spirit and clout of an era when gas was cheap, cars were fast, and muscle was in.
The Buick Grand National was a two-door, rear wheel drive performance car using a turbocharged 3.8L V6, being offered from 1982 to 1987 (the 1982 models also came with a 4.1L naturally aspirated V6). When it was decided that 1987 would be the final year for the G-body based Regal (in 1988 the Regal became a FWD model), General Motors wanted to end the Grand National’s run with an exclamation point. The 1987 Buick Grand National GNX provided that grand encore for the high performance Buick’s and the GNX has become one of the most sought after 1980’s American cars as well as one of the most collectable Buick’s.
Each 1987 Buick GNX started off as a fully loaded, all black 1987 Grand National but they were then shipped off to ASC/McLaren Specialty Products for the X-treatment. The GNX received few cosmetic changes with the GNX logos and the unique 16” wheels being the only readily visible differences from the standard Buick Grand Nationals. The rear wheels were wider than the front wheels and helping to make the most of those wide tires was a modified suspension setup utilizing a longitudinal torque ladder bar with a panhard rod with a GNX embossed rear differential cover adding additional reinforcement.
Under the hood was where the 1987 GNX really stood apart from the basic Grand National. When you open the hood, the most prominent feature is the GNX Turbo heat shield proudly displaying the logo of the special package. The GNX featured a Garrett hybrid turbocharger using a lightweight ceramic impeller and low friction turbine shaft seals to help reduce spool time and “turbo lag”. A high flow dual exhaust setup adds exhaust flow (so more power) and an audible difference from the basic Turbo Regal. The improved turbo forced 15psi of air into the engine after passing through ceramic coated charge piping and the GNX-unique air-to-air intercooler with the full complement of engine upgrades allowing the 1987 GNX to make an incredible 275 horsepower and 360lb-ft of torque. Compare that to the 1987 Chevrolet Corvette making 240 horsepower from its standard V8 engine, and you have an idea of just how “high performance” the ’87 GNX was for that time. All of that power was sent through a beefed up Turbo Hydramatic 200-4R automatic transmission with an improved torque convertor and firmer shifts than the standard Grand National automatic transmissions.
Finally, the GNX received chassis upgrades to make the car more rigid with bracing added behind the rear seat and steel reinforcement bars running between the chassis rails. This helped the prevent chassis flex during a hard launch or under hard cornering and helping to make the GNX an amazing all-around performance car.
The performance capabilities of the 1987 Buick Grand National GNX were the key reason for its popularity over the years but its low production volume – with just 547 units produced – makes it an incredibly rare vehicle (and the subject of a great many clones).
1987 Buick Grand Naitonal $12,500 (717)-801-0352
1987 Buick Grand National 1,896 original MILES Excellent CONDITION $33,000
1987 Grand National 1,763 Original MILES Call For PRICE
