The Buick Regal GNX was the last hurrah of the Buick Regal Grand National in 1987, its final year of production. Dressed all in black with chrome wheels, black and gray cloth interior with the stylized Buick 6 logo embroidered in the headrests, Grand National stood apart from its Regal T-Type stablemate. The 1987 Grand National made 245 turbocharged horsepower from its 3.8-liter V6, topping that of GM’s flagship Corvette by five ponies.
For the Grand National’s final year, 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). The Buick GNX got 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 hood grew a bulge to accommodate the increased dimensions of all the performance goodies. The 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.
The outside of the GNX had its own unique styling cues. Composite fender flares, the aforementioned hood bulge, functional fender vents over the front tires to help 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.
Only 547 Buick GNXs were built by ASC/McLaren, making them instantly collectible. This copy, number 480, is still in the plastic wrappers, having covered just 8.7 miles from new and 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 were included in the sale at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas event, where Number 480 just sold for an eye-watering $275,000.
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Comments
Too bad buick the FWD CUV company will never make something cool again like this. They had their chance with the Avista.
I’d never heard of the Avista, but wow does it remind me of the Tesla Model S. GM really could have had something special here.
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Yes, Avista. Buicks version of the 6 gen Camaro and Cadillac ATS-V CTS-V chassis.
Nice – but a poor investment. $50k invested in stocks in January 1987 at a compounded yearly gain of 9.23% would yield you well over $1m today
Not everybody is obsessed with making money. Sometimes people buy things just because they like them, not because it make “financial sense.” I feel sorry for people who look at everything through eyes of greed.
The privilege of owning a GNX is worth far more than $1MIL.
I agree with the comments below – however this car has never been driven or enjoyed. Apparently someone bought this as an investment or to just admire in their garage. Either way it represents as huge loss in value for the original buyer – and perhaps a value opportunity for someone else.
You can pick the right stock, buy it at the rock bottom , HOLD it for 35 years and sell it at the absolute high (1 in a million plus shot) and still have not been a part of the fortunate ‘547’. I have owned mine for more that a decade and have absolutely no regrets. When I’m dead and gone, in my mind I will always be a part of the legacy forever. Worth a million bucks to me!
P.S. Increase that million for inflation every few years.
I was fortunate enough to own an 87 turbo Regal for a good number of years back around 95. I remember the first time I took it to the shop to get modified a little bit. I think I dropped $1,200 on that car that day. The guys at the shop told me everything they did in the last thing they told me was “be careful with this car it’s not the same car you brought to us”. Of course the first thing I did was square up at a light, gased on green and holy crap that car scared the crap out of me, rear end broke loose coming out of first gear and I was like holy SH!T
no doubt its perfect and still brand new, but id rather paid $85k less for the LAST gnx when it was up for auction a few years ago. but typical BJ bringing crazy drunk prices
GNX #547 sold for $220k ($242k with commission) in 2017. I guarantee it will TOP the $275k by far, if it were to sell anywhere today! Just like that house that was worth 220k (in 2017) I bet it is worth 350-400 now! Not to mention most blue chip cars as well. We cannot compare the past prices to present prices on cars like these. It is simply apples to oranges. especially when it is the last orange made. This is just the beginning.
That is a valid point. its just crazy to see these cars more than double in value in last 10 years.
I had a boss in the late 80’s who had a GNX, also with plastic still on the seats and the window sticker still in place. (He had a Grand National as his daily driver) All I can remember was the (what seemed to me) HUGE turbo charger under the hood, and the 1 time he got the GNX out and took me for a ride…
For the late 80’s, I remember thinking “Wow, this thing is FAST!”
So does that mean all the turbo regals from that ’80s era are going up in value? Because I have a 84 regal T-Type the same thing as a GNX just different motors
Probably depending on the condition, but your going to get a lot more for and 86 or 87. Because of all the extras… Like intercooler.
Yes, all Turbo Regals across the board are up. I love them all, mint original, modded, and rusty. It doesn’t matter to me.
OK so the GNX is a car on its own and has many differences than the T-Type, Turbo-T and Grand National. The GNX started as a highly optioned Grand National then taken to ASC McLaren to add the options: bigger turbo with ceramic impeller (much less lag), 15 psi of boost (vs 9 psi for GN), bigger tires and rims (biggest available at the time) , all aluminum rear end with ladder bar, full dual exhaust (unique to car), reprogrammed transmission, Stewart Warner Dash cluster, dash plaque, side vents, fender flares and unique automobilia to the original purchaser: numbered jacket, hat, manuals, etc.
The motor was rated at 276 HP and 300 HP depending on the article/magazine. Well underrated for insurance purposes. They are actually around 380-400 HP which perform like a 500 HP motor with the unique GNX turbo. Lots of torque at a low RPM.
They made the GNX one year only.
Congrats to all current Turbo Buick owners!!
People w money will pay for the best of best. Starting w 84 8k were made. Yours would have to appear stock w original looking parts and be in close to, as new condition and drive as such. The amount of effort, time and cost to be in this condition would probably barely make up for appreciation. Your car has a 0-60 time of 9 seconds @ 16second qtr. That is what a new prius does. I woulld sell it and buy a lightly modded or original 86 t type or turbo T and watch it appreciate. As for the comment ignoring all other GNX mods. well thats like someone who owns a 64 bug saying its same as a 911GT2RS w just different motors
I may have known the owner of this gnx. I was there when the vehicle was delivered on flatbed to his home in the neighborhood where I grew up. The following weekend he wetsanded the considerable orange peel to a glossy mirror like finish. The vehicle was put into an environmentally controlled bubble on Jack’s. I will have to see if he is home when I go to visit this summer.
I thought it had 11 or 13 miles but I could be wrong. I feel like 275k is low for that car. I don’t follow value but out of states buyers used to pay crazy money but don’t know about now.
Cheers. Great car. This man had a gn that was beefed up and customized and was around 550 hp daily drivable. I guess that’s how he copped with having a gnx in the garage.
He is a very successful self made businessman.
I own 1 of 547 GNX’s (#278 or 287) that I bought at a go’vt action in Miami in 1994, it was used by the DEA Miami Field Office drug enforcement agents. It had just over 100, k miles on it with good original paint in good running mechanical condition with non operational a/c for $13, 837 with buyer’s fees. The car was only advertised in the auction brochure as a GN, so I assumed by the pictures, it was a GNX clone, but upon inspection of the car 2 days before the auction, I realized it was a REAL GNX, and I knew I had to have it to match my 89 TTA. My brother and I removed the number plaque from the cars interior and we disabled the hood latch, so it couldn’t be opened easily. That’s how I STOLE it! It must be the lowest-priced running GNX sale in history! I still have those 2 same cars to this day, plus the lowest mileage (78 miles) TTA known to exist. I bought it 15-years ago from Bobby Unser at his families New Mexico Ranch in Albuquerque. It was given to him by the PMD for driving 1 of 3 ACTUAL pave cars in the 89 Indy 500 race. I have all the documentation from Bobby, as well as from my good friend at PHS, as it was also used for Indy 500 parade & festival duty with Bobby behind the wheel. I wish this car was worth as much today as this GNX in this article, but it’s still got a way to go.
I was always curious about which is faster TA or GNX? Between my buddy and me have or had 2 87GNs, 86 Turbo T, 86 T Yype, Syclone, 89 Transam pace car All w mostly w same chip exhaust intake mods 16-19lbs boost. I think 89 TA was best power/weight but Syclone awwsome launch, Trans am worst reliability, All regals good reliability w exception of brakes.
Is it just me or does the gauge surround look like wood?
If it is, that ain’t stock.
At quick glance it does look like woodgrain, but go to the BJ link and you will see it’s actually a protective sticker that was never removed. This is as “in the wrapper” as they come.
This is not just about Barrett Jackson either, another one with under 300 miles, recently sold on BaT for $205K+fees. It certainly doesn’t hurt the GNX that the blacked out look is more popular than ever.
At these values, I’m sure we will see more of these coming to market soon.
I’ve owned #355 for 10 years now. It puts a smile on any bad day anyone could have. 👍