HERE'S WHY THIS BOXY V-6 POWERED '80S MUSCLE CAR IS WORTH A FORTUNE TODAY

What started as a publicity stunt in the early 1980s by Buick became a cultural icon and a true American legend. The underappreciated and overpowered coupe, though it took the market and speed community by storm, didn't receive the notoriety it deserved until after its heyday. This was largely due to the blemish it would put on GM's darling sports car of the era, the Corvette.

Buick downplayed the GNX's performance in order to appease the bigwigs, but a few independent groups took it upon themselves to get to the bottom of the GNX and its turbocharged V-6. Soon, the truth about the GNX was out, and it was indeed a powerhouse. All 300 horses were revealed to be stabled under the power-bulged hood, along with a nasty 420 pound-feet of torque.

The years have been very kind to the Buick GNX as well as its turbocharged Grand National stablemates, considering prices have skyrocketed since their official discontinuation. Though few were ever put into official production, the legend of the Grand National lineage is stronger than ever. The impact of the GNX has led to many G-body vehicles of the same era receiving similar popularity, including the Cutlass Supreme and Monte Carlo SS, many of which find their way onto drag strips with highly upgraded components.

Buick Grand National's Humble Beginnings In Motorsports

In the 1980s, Buick primarily sold family cars with modest power ratings. They, among many other manufacturers, were looking for a viable replacement for the large V-8 plants that ruled the road before the rising emissions standards. In a bid to rejuvenate the brand, the American automaker began experimenting with the naturally aspirated V-6. A pace car was developed by Buick in the late 1970s featuring a turbocharged V-6 making over 300 horses, which served as a working example of V-6 potential.

Though the first examples of the revised engine type in the Grand National weren't turbocharged and didn't boast class-defining power, they did provide Buick with the perfect canvas to build a better V-6. That engine was the Buick 231, and it would go on to receive high-performance treatment in the coming years to power the most notorious sleeper of the 1980s.

Redefining American Muscle Cars

The rising emission standard effectively brought an end to the age of big-engine American muscle cars. This time in automotive history is filled with emission-choked engines and slow sports cars. But Buick had the right attitude toward this revolution, which was to redesign the smaller engine and utilize aftermarket enhancements in the factory model.

Buick unveiled their mighty V-6 on the racetrack, winning a few Nascar races with the turbocharged V-6. After years of refining the power plant as well as its housing, Buick outfitted the 1982 Regal with the Grand National Package, named after the series of races its predecessor dominated. With the help of Cars & Concepts in Michigan, the naturally aspirated V-6-powered Regal Grand National was unveiled. Though only putting out 125 horsepower, the 1982 Grand National would be the first in a legendary line-up.

The Formative Years Saw Massive Design Enhancements

In the years following the release of the 1982 Regal Grand National, Buick sought to improve on the V-6 recipe. Buick no doubt saw endless opportunity, as the top dogs of American performance were scrambling to rework their outdated speed recipes. The 1984 Grand National introduced the turbocharged and intercooled iteration of the punchy Buick 231 V-6, which challenged the paradigm and put the Grand National on everyone's radar. The turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 made 200 horsepower, only five fewer than the Corvette of the same era.

The 1985 model made few changes to the powertrain, showcasing Buick's confidence in their creation. Changes in this model year were primarily cosmetic, with the GN ditching its chrome accents in favor of a stealthy, blacked-out aesthetic. Other than the blacked-out cosmetics, the Buick Regal Grand National was fairly modest in design and flair, maintaining a consistent appearance with minimal deviation from its original layout.

Buick Class Collides With Corvette-Killing Power

The 1986 Buick Regal Grand National saw the nameplate hit its stride, with the peppy V-6 tuned to put out 235 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The enhanced air-to-air intercooler, along with fine engine tuning, earned the 1986 Grand National the title of fastest American production car at the time. The 1986 GN dominated Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, and Firebird, boldly stating Buick's intentions with the Grand National name.

1987 GNX Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Though the Buick Regal Grand National was a runaway hit, with nearly all examples selling, Buick decided to call it quits with the GN, but not before one last hoorah. The 1987 model year would be the last for the sleeper coupe, but before that, Buick sent about 547 Grand Nationals with special interior packages to McLaren and ASC, engineers who previously worked with Buick on racing engines, to receive a few last-minute adjustments.

1987 Buick GNX Notable Modifications

• Garrett AiResearch 15 PSI Turbocharger
• Sequential fuel injection
• More efficient air-to-air intercooler
• Better head porting
• ECU upgrade

The expert engineers at ASC and McLaren outfitted the 1987 GNX with a bigger turbocharger and intercooler, updated ECU, better suspension, and bigger exhaust. Buick undersold the GNX, likely due to its Corvette-topping performance. Upon release, the GNX was only advertised as producing 250 horsepower, though real-world road tests would prove this to be untrue.

The 1987 GNX's Actual Performance Output

Though underrated by Buick, the GNX reportedly produced 300-horsepower, even more in some tests, and 380 + pound-feet of torque. The limited production, paired with dealer mark-ups made the GNX among the most rare models, also affecting the reliability of independent testing, as few were able to confirm these figures.

1987 Buick GNX Performance

(Source: Car And Driver: Tested 1987 Issue)

Regardless, the single-turbo 3.8-liter V-6 was tearing up tracks and drag strips whenever it made an appearance, only furthering the mystique, and appeal, of the "Darth Vader" coupe.

The Cultural Impact Of The 1987 GNX

When the 1987 GNX debuted, it blew all its domestic competition out of the water, including Corvette, Mustang, Firebird, and Camaro. It also took the foreign speed community by storm, as it boasted better performance than the coveted Ferrari F40 and Porsche 930. The only car able to beat the 1987 GNX was the Lamborghini Countach.

The undeniable GNX was single-handedly redefining American and international speed standards, showcasing the real potential in turbocharged V-6s. This opened the door for future models to add a performance-oriented trim to their offerings, as well as challenged current sports car manufacturers to up their game.

Buick GNX Influence On Sleeper Performance

The Buick GNX ceased production after the 1987 model year, though its influence rippled through time. The trend of cramming high-performance components and a souped-up engine into an economical or "sleeper" model, became a booming business in the following years. Models including the Impala SS, Lotus Carlton, and various Mercedes-AMG models capitalized on the sleeper sedan wave, producing brand-defining models of their own.

Buick GNX Market And Price Range

The rarity and quality play a huge role in the current price range of the GNX, as the production of all model years was limited, even more so for the McLaren-built GNX. Independent sellers and auction houses are known to occasionally put a GNX up for sale, although prices are way higher than the original MSRP of $27,000. Due partially to the mass market appeal of the sleeper coupe, the GNX is known to sell for upwards of $100,000 or more, depending on the condition and mileage. Even at more than triple its original asking price, the GNX and Grand National have a thriving fan base that is more than happy to shell out six figures to own one.

Things To Watch Out For When Buying

When buying or owning a classic car, it is always wise to treat it as such. That said, the more power you deliver to a chassis and its components, the more likely it is to damage it. This is partly why the speed is governed at 125 MPH on the GNX from the factory, as anything more could compromise the structural integrity. The urge to floor the gas pedal seems to be the most common problem with current and past GNX owners. Nowadays, putting too much stress on the outdated mechanics of the GNX can prove to be damaging to the 35-year-old coupe.

Aside from wear and tear, the Buick GNX is notably sturdy and reliable, as long as you respect the construction. The GNX was produced to aid in Buick's brand revival, as well as showcase what the future held for high performance in the 80s and 90s. As far as critics and enthusiasts are concerned, it succeeded

2023-11-24T22:45:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd