The introduction of the Buick Regal Grand National and Buick GNX we all know and love ended the disappointing performance that had accompanied the Regal Grand National appearance package of earlier years. The GN now came in all-black dress, with chrome wheels, black and gray cloth interior with the stylized Buick 6 logo embroidered in the headrests. The new Grand National made the turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 standard, adding sequential fuel injection and computer-controlled ignition. The hood grew a bulge to accommodate the new hardware. Output grew to 200 horsepower – yes, we know, your riding mower has more than that. Keep in mind, the 1984 Corvette was only laying down 205 ponies.
Grand National performance improved over its 1984-1987 production run. For the Grand National’s final year in 1987, Buick wanted to make a statement. Working in conjunction with ASC/McLaren, they built the Grand National into a street beast in black sheep’s clothing, the Buick GNX (Grand National Experimental).
From the outside, a Buick GNX looks much like a standard Grand National. Upon closer inspection, the differences become more evident. Composite fender flares, functional fender vents over the front tires helped cool the engine compartment, larger basket-weave 16-inch black wheels with polished aluminum lips, and GNX badges appeared in the grille, trunk lid, and on the wheel center caps. The interior featured a serial number plate that was mounted on the passenger side of the dash. Standard gauges were swapped for Stewart-Warner units, with gauges for oil pressure, coolant temp, and boost level housed in a modified cluster.
Even more changes had taken place beneath the hood. The Buick GNX had freer flowing heads, improved engine management controls, less restrictive exhaust, and an upgraded turbo, all combined to boost output to 276 horsepower and 360 pound feet of torque. In addition to the engine mods, there was a transmission cooler, stiffer body, and an improved rear suspension design with stiffer springs and stabilizer. The performance improvement was undeniable. The Buick GNX laid down a zero-to-60 time of 4.6 seconds, and shot through the quarter mile in the low 13-second range. All this was enough to best GM’s flagship Corvette.
Only 547 Buick GNXs were built by ASC/McLaren. This copy, number 480, is new in the plastic wrappers, having covered just 8.7 miles from new. It was never prepped for delivery. It has been stored in a climate-controlled display its entire life. The window sticker, books, point-of-sale materials, odometer statement, and delivery forms will be included in the sale. This Brand new GNX will be offered at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas event June 17th-19th.
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Comments
I bought an 87 Regal Limited with the turbo engine package Leather Bucket seat interior shift on the column no cruise control black out trim no vinyl top best stereo AC posi rear. $15250.00 out of Buick dealers door. Great car sold it 15 years ago. Will be interesting to see what BJ wrings out of the GNX a shame it will be too expensive to enjoy.
Soon enough, it will fall into the hands of someone who uses it as a driver, uses most of its life up, and then passes it on to the moron kid who’ll blow it up his first time out.
Jerrydiver. Contact regal diver @ dmckie887@gmail.
I think we have more in common than just Buick’s. Have a great weekend.
There are plenty of ragged out Grand Nationals, T-types and other turbo Regals for that crowd. It’s unlikely this car will be driven, like or not, these are highly collectable cars. Besides if you the $$ to buy this car ($200K), you have others to DRIVE!
Very sharp!
Around 1990 I came across a grand national with only close to 10000 miles on it one owner. I could’ve bought it for 9000. Payments I sure could afford. The insurance not a chance then. So I had to settle for Buick Skylark t type. Loved the car but regretted not trying to find a way to get the National. Quickest car I set my foot to the pedal to test drive. Sweet memory. This would be a dream come true… if I won the lottery!
Beautiful car, shame it most likely will never be driven the way it was designed. Makes you wonder – should it be preserved forever, or is they a buyer out there with enough money to buy it and drive the wheels off of it (at the expense of devaluation)? Gotta be someone out there who wants to see if this thing still works!
It’s like saving your Girlfriend for the next guy. Expensive and pointless and you only get to watch.
There were huge problems with the turbo and lack of oil on spool down. I think that was corrected for the last year of production.
The GNX only had one year of production?? 1987. It used a different Garrett turbo than previous GN’s anyway.
…and they get paid handsomely for it! Use the proceeds to buy many others to enjoy, even all at once! CARS that is, CARS!
Another one with under 300 miles just sold recently on BaT for north of $200K, so big $$ on these that never got used.
When people start to get use to the idea that these cars really belong in a museum, they will gladly pay a few bucks a person to take the family out to reminisce about the old days. They are great cars, owning one anymore just doesn’t make sense. A lot of classic cars now are heading that way. The days of working on your car on the weekend with your kid, races car shows and such just aren’t attainable anymore unless you have really big bucks. I HAVE decided now to save my money towards the future- ELECTRIC CARS. They too will become classics that my kids will collect someday. These beautiful old gas powered performance collector cars should be saved— in a museum. I’ll see you guys there , we’ll get some coffee and talk about the old days. Robert Levins.
In 1986 I had just ordered a fully loaded Monte Carlo SS with T-Tops upon going home from the Chevrolet dealership I decided to stop at the Buick dealership out front and they had 8 black GN. The salesperson was willing to match my deal penny for penny on the Chevrolet deal. Two things that made me not buy the Buick, no T- Tops and at the time of advertising only 20 horsepower difference between the two cars. Well about 6 months after the GN has been on the road quite a few were being wrecked. The car insurance industry made Buick to officially put the horsepower rating of the car which was more like 240 not 200 which would be 60 more then the SS. If Buick would have published the true horsepower numbers I would have gotten the Grand National.
It should go to someone who will be over the moon to own it. Drive it? It’d be up to them. I would like to have it just as a time capsule.
My is not all that but it means the word to me. My father purchased a used 78’ Buick Regal in 1980 and we drove around in it all the time up and down the beaches of MISSISSIPPI listings to Van Halen,Beach Boys you get the picture. It wasn’t till years later I grew to appreciate that old Buick and wished I had one. Years later I got a used 78’ as well and worked on it all the time to keep her going but I did. Had an accident one night had to hall her off. Got another one that was prettier but sold it a short time after,miss them so. My fathers had a fender bender and he sold his as well in the 90’s. Over the years I’ve grown to fall in love with Grand National. I agree with some of the others on here that it should be kept up and gazed upon as an absolute work of beauty! They just don’t make them like they use to.😌
Yes it should be kept up as a thing of beauty. A museum piece. It’s fast it’s elegant it’s an incredible sweet car. We are often torn between experiencing the true power of a well designed driving machine and putting it behind a piece of glass to assure it doesn’t become a victim of poor judgment sitting in a junkyard. Our nature should be to preserve the past for future generations to appreciate someday. This is one of those cases.
Growing up in a family that had a Buick Regal as a daily driver. She loved her car polished it and loved it. The 301 pulled like no tomorrow. A car full of kids and a old starcraft camper full made no difference in how this car preformed. The 301 pulled that camper and kids like it was nothing.
When the GNX hits the stage at BJ. Actions pullout your wallets 100 grand will probably be starting price. The Buick Regal over the years made a good name for its self Weather it was pulling the trailer to the lake or just going for a cruse down the street . Young people saw it and immediately wanted to own it . My hats off to GM. The GNX is truly a one of a kind stallion.
Worked at a Michigan Buick dealership in 87′ doing new prep delivery. Had a blast driving the G.N,’s back and forth to fill gas tank two miles back and forth.
But had two GNX’s that waiting delivery that were locked up in body shop’s paint booth with distributor cap removed until delivery day. Because we did have one stolen during the day and another was broken into over night and the “chip” [ECU box] was stolen out of it. FBI came in and took finger prints and statements from all that had access to the car. Over, crazy times!
These had no distributor they were computer controlled spark and coil packs I have one and original owner
Correction, would’ve been coil pack removed.
Near my grandma’s house her neighbors raced cars and had one in her yard and I always wished to buy it but they sent it to the junkyard. It was nice but I was only 8 years old
Hi me myself I bought a 1997 buick regal gs supercharged one of da best cars I have ever purchased .
My Eleanor
Had several chances over the years when they were actually affordable for common folks including my last chance back in 2010 when it was this or a Trailblazer SS. Damn these children.
I bought a GNX from a car museum back in the 90s. It was incredible. It had about 4000 miles on it. I drove it on occasion and took it on a few cross country road trips. These cars should not sit in a museum. They are very reliable and will last as long as they are serviced and maintained.
I bought my GN new in 1987. Before I took the car from the dealer I got a kill switch installed in the trunk. That little baby saved my car four or five times
WOW! A real find.
The best and most interesting Buick currently for sale. If the new buyer keeps it in this condition it will do nothing but go up in value.
Bet it’s the same one I eyed back in about 1990 at signal hill GM in Cali. On Leno garage a few years back. Who would have guessed 30 years later it would b the oldest new car in existence.
Neighbor who worked for GM at Pontiac, MI final assembly told me about the night they ran the FBI/Customs and Border Patrol Regals. Any hourlys who could be subbed out for Mgt. punched out early. Two strapped agents in the cage passing out the ECMs, Place crawling with Feds. checking everything before loading them out on private transportation. Apparently, no fuel cutoff and other changes they were very mum about.
Update! This car hammered for…….$250K. Surely more more GNX’s will come to market shortly as others look to “cash out”