North Carolina Dealership Offering Waiting List For Buick Grand National, GNX
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There’s an old saying out there: “if you tell the dealers confidential information, consider it published.” But we’ve never seen anything quite like this.
So far, Buick has not formally announced that it even has plans to produce either the Grand National of the faster GNX, but both USPTO filings and our own sources have pointed to the contrary. Adding to the evidence pile is one Buick dealership in North Carolina appearing to be offering spots on a waiting list for both models in a sign that perhaps something is indeed in the pipeline.
“Customers have already started calling about test driving one of these new cars” said Scott McCorkle owner of Liberty Buick GMC in South Charlotte NC. He went on further adding “We are adding their names to a waiting list.” Again, however, Buick is currently mum (officially).
The original Buick Grand National first made its debut in 1982 to commemorate Buick’s involvement in NASCAR racing but did not achieve its most iconic form until 1984 when its all black paint scheme debuted, and 1986 when its turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 was tweaked for more power. The GNX arrived in 1987 (when the Grand National line was on its way out of production) and was modified by McLaren to be a potent farewell to the Grand National thanks to its under-rated “245 horsepower” V6 as well as its limited production of only 567 units. Make note that it was faster than the Corvette at the time in 0-60 acceleration.
In addition to offering a waiting list for the supposed performance variants, McCorkle’s dealership also revealed when it plans to have the first production units on its lot, claiming that the first examples will arrive sometime late next year, and also revealing that both models being based on GM’s Alpha RWD platform. We’ve heard the same.
It will be interesting to see if GM will address Liberty Buick GMC’s bold claims and actions, but the thought of a revived Grand National GNX model sounds compelling to us, and we look forward to hearing more from GM on these models in the near future if they are indeed in the works.
Update: Buick is passing this as a miscommunication of sorts, and the dealer mentioned that the waiting list was based on speculation. However we like to think that this is resulting from the lid opening a little early on the expected Grand National and GNX, and this is routine damage control.
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I know GM can’t just trademark names just for the heck of it, but still, this sounds way too good to be true. I honestly hope the GNX and Grand National happen, as Buick desperately needs some excitement that its FWD lineup isn’t going to deliver.
If this is true, I hope Buick will make a true coupe meaning two doors and only would come in black. Also it would probably used the LFX engine used in the Cadillac V Sport for the Grand National, and ATS V engine used in the GNX.
I like the concept in the car but is this really the right name?
First Buick is no longer in NASCAR so you lose that marketing angle.
Second do you want them all black? I love black cars but not everyone. Then if you make another color you make the ones who like black mad because a GN should be black.
Third the big if is will this be on a RWD two door model. If it is a sedan that will be another mark against it from the fan base.
I almost would think a move to GS and GSX may have been a better move. The name is less restrictive in expectations for many.
Either way I hope they do have some kind of performance model. In this day and age I would expect AWD in the Buick class.
I agreed that the name is a but dated & clings to glory days better forgotten. GNX would make for a good trim level, nothing more, but Ruess seems intent on reliving the past with his SS as an example.
GM has a stable of great names to leverage. I’d love to see Cutless replace Malibu and for Tempest to find its way back: We can all dream!
My only concern about these cars hitting the road is Cadillac. What would happen to the ATS? Would those Buicks take sales from the Cadillacs?
Buick offering similar performance for thousand dollars less on a RWD vehicle…
I would not worry about Cadillac as they are now going much more upscale and it will give Buick even more room to work.
The thing is as Buick has more room it will make their cars even less affordable.
Also I expect Cadillac to have a level of performance that Buick will be kept under. Now they will not be slugs by any means as the new Cadillac’s will be that much more.
The new ATS is the old Cadillac thinking and I expect it will only get more power and performance as we go.
The real trick is to do a proper Buick and not get crossed over into the Chevy SS replacement. That is where the conflict will be greatest.
I speculated the XTS AWD TTV6 could be the new Impala SS but it also could be what is under the new Buick performance sedan too. That drivetrain in a smaller lighter, lower aggressive package could be wicked.
No matter what the new car will only share the name with the past as GM really has nothing close to what they were in production anymore. Besides GM is going into the future and not going retro here. This model will be share in Europe where GN and GNX mean little. Just something to keep in mind. I don’t mean to piss on anyone’s parade but this is going to be a different kind of car.
There were only 547 GNX’s made for 1987 not 567.
GM needs to leave these nameplates alone and not stick them on cars that are not deserving of the name
Sounds like we’re about to go from the GM that produced the most powerful car under $30k (to this day), the G8 GT…
… to possibly the most powerful car under $40k, the Grand National.
If Buick does it properly, it might pay off splendidly. A nicely-uplevel CTS-based Buick at $39,990 with a LS3… fully optioned clocking in at $48-54k, above the SS but below a Vsport.
That said, I am still not optimistic the Grand National will debut a sub-$40k V8 offering. More likely the 2.0T will come in at that price-point with V6 and V8 options sending it into the $59k region.
At least it would give Alpha people a V8 option, finally. And a path for a second-gen Chevy SS (+Impala) down the line with a 2.0T and V6.
Buick needs to offer more exciting cars in the lineup…like the Grand national and Roadmaster….right now the whole Buick lineup doesen’t seen vary exciting.
Buick needs to offer more exciting cars in the lineup like Grand national and Roadmaster…right now the Buick lineup doesn’t seem exciting.
you can count on GM getting it wrong. GM is going to use the Cadillac ATS body. you can’t bring back a legend like the Grand National and the GNX without some sort of retro styling that resembles the original and expect to have good sales. The reason why the Camaro has been so successful is the
retro body styling. GM just doesn’t get it.