10 things to know about the 1987 buick gnx

#8 A Unique Exterior, Too

It’s easy to confuse the GNX with its Grand National and T-Type siblings, especially regarding the paint color. So, let’s get this out of the way. GNXs and 1984 and later Grand Nationals only came in black from the factory. Early Grand Nationals were available in a black and charcoal two-tone treatment, and the Regal T-Type could be ordered in numerous solid colors. 

Other GNX-only distinguishing features include front fender air vents to extract heat from the engine compartment, composite wheel-well flares to accommodate the more robust wheels and tires, 16-inch black-mesh wheels, and “GNX” (not Grand National) badging on the grille, trunk, and wheel hubs.

#2: Fastest Production Car In The World

The 3.8-liter V-6 underneath the GNX’s hood was no ordinary engine. Sure, it started out as one, but a Garrett turbocharger with an intercooler made all the difference. In addition, the setup featured beefier turbo components, a reworked transmission, a less-restrictive dual exhaust, and a reprogrammed engine control module (ECM).

It resulted in a potent powertrain with 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. But, GM downplayed the engine’s actual output. Independent testing revealed that this turbo V-6 really kicked out 300 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. That meant the GNX could hit 60 mph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds, according to Car and Driver. To put that in perspective, this was faster than the Corvettes, Ferraris, Porsches, and even the Lamborghini Countach. For a brief period, the fastest production in the world was the Buick GNX.

Why was the GNX necessary?

Buick was dealing with an image issue in the early 1980s. Besides internal competition from Oldsmobile and Pontiac, the division ended tied to an aging target audience. Electra, LeSabre and Skylark were simply unable to attract young drivers. The first Grand National arrived in 1982 as an appearance package trying to use the emotional appeal of the Gran Sport models of yore.

The original model, named Buick Regal, was much more conservative than the Grand National (source: WheelsAge)

Things would only pick up, though, in 1984. The GN, as people informally referred to it, became a model of its own. It received all-black exterior and a turbocharged V6 engine good for 245 hp of power and 355 lb-ft of torque. As Hemmings remembers, Buick produced almost 10,000 units in the following three years and saw demand rise to sell over 20,000 by 1987.

Although Buick had reached its goal, everyone knew there was room for even more. Chief engineer Dave Sharpe wanted the model to leave on a high note and got GM management’s approval. The “super Grand National” would have a limited run of 500 units developed with McLaren Performance Technologies ASC. Now, even considering that this was no ordinary car, people’s reception was a wonderful surprise.

In the cabin, the most important distinction

#5 G-Body Lemonade from Lemons

The standard operating procedure for General Motors (even today) is to sell vehicle variations of a single platform. It was especially prevalent in the 20th century when there were even more GM divisions (Pontiac and Oldsmobile). Given this approach, each platform underpinned different cars. So, the G-body platform served not only the Regal but also the Chevy Malibu and Monte Carlo, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Cutlass Cruiser, and the Pontiac Grand Prix and Bonneville. In other words, this chassis tried to be all things to many GM vehicles.

To counteract the drawbacks of this at-best adequate platform, Buick made improvements to the GNX suspension a priority (along with engine upgrades). These steps included a beefier rear axle, additional chassis support, and extra bracing behind the rear seat. Not only did this help with handling, but the GNX was well-planted at the back which enabled full power launches.

And the Buick GNX was a luxury muscle car that could outrun supercars

1987 Buick GNX side | GM

But Buick saved the best for last and gave the Grand National one last hurrah: the 1987 GNX. And performance-wise, the wait was worth it.

ASC and McLaren’s engineering division further tweaked the 3.8-liter V6, giving it upgraded internals, a new turbocharger, a retuned ECU and fuel-injection system, and a sportier exhaust. ASC also stiffened the chassis, strengthened the rear suspension, and upgraded the transmission, Car and Driver reports. And the Buick GNX also gained new aluminum wheels, a transmission oil cooler, and fender flares with functional cooling louvers.

As a result, the 1987 Buick GNX has 276 hp and 360 lb-ft and goes 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, The Drive reports. That’s faster than a Lamborghini Countach. And a ¼-mile time of 13.1 seconds put it in ‘80s supercar territory. Even by modern muscle car standards, the GNX is impressively quick.

The Buick Grand National shook off the doldrums with turbocharged grunt

1986 Buick Grand National | Bring a Trailer

Today, Buick focuses purely on luxury vehicles. But back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, it, Oldsmobile, and Mercury had significant performance credentials, Hagerty explains. However, as the ‘80s rolled in, in the eyes of enthusiasts, Buick had lost its edge, Car and Driver reports.

So, it decided to stir things up by entering NASCAR, where it won the manufacturer’s trophy in 1981 and 1982, Hagerty reports. And it celebrated by releasing the 1982 Regal Grand National. But that was just the beginning of the Buick Grand National’s story.

The 1982 Buick Grand National has naturally-aspirated V6s. And the following year, Buick gave the Regal a turbocharged powertrain, creating the Regal Turbo-T, Hagerty reports. But the Grand National most remember arrived in 1984 with an all-black paint job and even more performance. Performance that only grew over the years.

Each 1984-and-later Buick Grand National has a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 with a four-speed automatic, MotorTrend reports. At first, the V6 made 200 hp and 300 lb-ft. But in 1986, thanks to a new air-to-air intercooler and several internal tweaks, output jumped to 235 hp, The Drive explains.

And by the end of production in 1987, the Grand National offered 245 hp and 355 lb-ft, Automobile reports. By that point, it went 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and could outrun a C4 Corvette in the ¼-mile, MT and The Drive report.

#7 Not Just A Regal Interior

To help justify the GNX’s substantial premium over a regular Grand National, Buick also had to provide cabin upgrades. To start, the run-of-the-mill GM instrument cluster was swapped out for a complete Stewart-Warner gauge package. This enhancement featured a 160 mph speedometer, an 8,000 rpm tachometer, and individual gauges for turbo boost, oil pressure, and water temperature.

While the black and grey seats were a carryover for the Grand National, every GNX was fitted with a numbered commemorative plaque on the dashboard. Interestingly, unlike the lesser Grand Nationals, the GNX was unavailable with a sunroof or T-tops (Buick was concerned with structural integrity).

GNX and Grand National Restoration Parts

Unsurprisingly, the 547 original GNXs are rare and desirable today — a mint condition GNX recently sold for $200,000. Whether you’re lucky enough to own one of the originals or you’re looking to build an affordable clone/tribute car, the Classic Industries Regal catalog can help you find the parts and accessories you need.

Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions

The OER tail lamp parts pictured above are some of the latest items we offer for the Buick Regal and GNX. They’re manufactured to replicate the original GM parts down to every last detail, and they fit as original too. These new OER components include the following items:

• Buick Regal Tail Lamp Lens (LH & RH)
• Buick Regal Back Up Lamp Lens (LH & RH)
• Buick Regal Tail Lamp Bezel (Black or Black/Chrome, LH & RH)
• Buick Regal Tail Lamp Housing (LH & RH)

Of course, Classic Industries offers much more than just tail lamp parts — you’ll also find body panels, glass, emblems, trim, interior upholstery, and many other parts. Click the button below for your free Buick Regal, T-Type, Grand National, and GNX restoration parts catalog:

#3 It’s Not a Buick, It’s a McLaren. Sort of.

Before McLaren started building its own supercars in the 1990s, it was the go-to company for performance and racing know-how. Its expertise traces back to the early 1960s when Bruce McLaren founded a Formula 1 group that would race to victory later in the decade. Recognizing that Buick’s internal team could only take an amped-up version of the Grand National so far, management brought in McLaren and American Speciality Cars (ASC) to help.

Buick had stated its goal was to build the fast GM production car and “to create a limited-production Buick Grand National that achieves a memorable place in the history of high-performance automobiles, one that car collectors will want to own and that automotive writers will never forget.” McLaren and ASC got to work on not only improving the GM V-6 but reworking the suspension as well.

The Buick GNX Is Pricey

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The Buick GNX has held on to its value far better than most cars produced that year. Of course, any used car will have a range in prices. It often depends on things like mileage on the car as well as how well taken care of it is.

The 1987 Buick GNX usually sells for between $80,000 and $150,000. However, as an example of an outlier, one recently sold for $205,000, according to motorbiscuit.com. For the sake of comparison, the Buick Grand National from the same year sells for about $40,000 in good shape. The low mileage Grand Nations go for about $50,000 or more. This shows how sought-after the GNX has become after all these years.

As mentioned before, this is a rare car to find being sold. People who own them tend to hold on to the GNX. This is one of the reasons why this option from Buick fetches such a high price.

The $205,000 1987 Buick GNX is the most expensive Grand National ever sold on Bring a Trailer

1987 Buick GNX front 3/4 | Bring a Trailer

In short, the Buick GNX has a secure spot in performance-car history, especially after it was nicknamed ‘Darth Vader’s car.’ Still, the idea of paying $205,000 for one might strike some as odd or excessive. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what one Bring a Trailer bidder recently did.

On May 14th, 2021, one BaT bidder paid $205,000 for a 1987 Buick GNX. That’s not quite a record-breaking amount for a Grand National, but it’s close. The last GNX ever made sold for $220,000 in a 2017 Mecum auction, Hagerty reports. However, this GNX is the most expensive one sold on BaT; the previous record-holder ‘only’ sold for $200,000 in 2019.

1987 Buick GNX front interior | Bring a Trailer

But what exactly prompted such a high auction price? For one, it’s an iconic 1980s performance car, making it Radwood royalty. And because the classic car market is currently dictated by those with an appreciation for the ‘80s and ‘90s, cars from this era are rising in value.

Secondly, the Buick GNX is a rare car. Production was originally limited to 500 examples but later increased to 547. Plus, it’s a one-year-only model that’s demonstrably improved over the already fast Grand National.

Thirdly, this 1987 Buick GNX only has 262 miles on the clock. It still has the factory plastic wrap on the seats. True, ultra-low-mileage cars can sometimes be headaches. But in terms of market value, low mileage usually means more money. Though interestingly, the previous record-holder only had eight miles on its odometer.

Buick GNX Specs — 3.8 Liter V6 Engine

The GNX was officially advertised at 276 horsepower and 360 ft-lbs of torque, but these numbers were soon found to be understated. Third-party testing revealed that the GNX’s turbo V6 actually produced more than 300 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque at 3,900rpm. This allowed the GNX to outrun contemporary models from Ferrari and Porsche, and made it one of the world’s fastest production cars at the time. Specifically, the 3.8 V6 received the following upgrades:

• • New Garrett Hybrid turbo featuring a super-lightweight ceramic impeller
• • Maximum boost set to 15 psi
• • Special dynamic turbine shaft seals to reduce drag on the shaft
• • Redesigned turbine housing included contamination trap to keep solid particles from damaging the turbo internals
• • More efficient Garrett air-to-air intercooler with higher fin count for additional cooling capacity
• • Specially coated intercooler-to-engine pipe for a cooler and denser charge of air
• • Functional vents installed on the front fenders to pull heat away from the engine compartment
• • Beefed up TH200-4R transmission
• • Special front-mounted auxiliary oil cooler
• • Special turbocharger heat shield with exclusive “GNX” stamped design
• • Recalibrated Engine Control Module (ECM) specifically for the GNX.
• • Better flowing dual exhaust with low restriction mufflers, also designed to clear the new suspension components

Buick GNX Specs — Suspension

To cope with the additional power and maintain traction, the GNX received a few important suspension upgrades:

• • Aluminum rear axle housing cover. A GNX-embossed, beefed-up housing that not only provides additional rear axle rigidity, but a solid mount for the Longitudinal Torque Ladder Bar listed next. It’s very noticeable from behind.
• • Longitudinal Torque Ladder Bar. This extremely beefy bar reaches forward and mounts to specially reinforced bracing just behind the rear seat. The result is a component that is very effective in planting the rear tires and applying full power to the ground during a launch. Also included is a panhard rod and track rod to keep the axle located in place when cornering.

Buick GNX Specs — Interior Modifications

• • The GNX has all the interior features of a fully loaded Grand National, except for T-tops or a sunroof/moonroof (to increase structural integrity), although some customers may have opted to have a sunroof or T-tops retrofitted.
• • The standard Buick slide-rule speedometer and warning lights were replaced with a full complement of Stewart-Warner gauges, that included a 160 MPH speedometer, 8,000 RPM tachometer, turbo boost gauge, oil pressure gauge, fuel level gauge, and water temperature gauges.
• • The seats were standard-issue Grand National type, but the interior was accented with special GNX emblems and finished off with a special numbered plaque mounted on the passenger side of the dash.

“Fastest showroom trim musclecar ever”

Everyone raved about the new car. People loved its stealthy appearance while the press could not find words to properly praise its performance. While European models performed better at a track, the car was hard to beat at a straight line: those figures were comparable to Ferrari F40’s and Porsche 911 Turbo’s. As you can imagine, such frenzy quickly translated into sales demand.

Even the Chevrolet Corvette had a slower 0-60 mph time than the Buick GNX (source: WheelsAge)

There were so many buyers interested in the car that dealers began to gouge prices – at some point, even ASC (who manufactured it) did the same. Buick sent the 500 cars to its top 500 dealers of the time, among a total of around 2,700. Later, it released the Select 60 program to award the best of those with a second unit, but only 47 made it – hence the limited production of 547 units.

It is easy to see that such a special car was a perfect sendoff to the Regal lineup. The problem is that it became so coveted that, even in 1987, many bought them for collections or to resell at a profit in the future. One of the units mentioned paragraphs ago has only covered nine miles. If you had one, would you do the same or would you take Buick’s ultimate performance icon to the track?

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Special news feature about the 1987 Buick GNX with footage of the ASC/McLaren plant

#6 An Eye-Popping Price To Match Performance

In GM’s hierarchy, Buick has always been positioned in that low-premium position. Below Cadillac, but above Chevy. This was no different in the 1980s. However, the GNX was a rule-breaker even when it came to cost. For instance, the base Regal Grand National was priced at $16,617 (about $40,600 today). Add in all the options, and the total rises to about $18,300 (roughly $44,800 in 2021 money). In comparison, a 2022 Camaro SS costs about $40,000.

But, pricing for the GNX goes off the scale. With a sticker of $29,290 (about $71,700 today), the GNX has a price tag equivalent that exceeds today’s top-tier Camaro, the ZL1 (with a $66,000 sticker).

#4 Lots of Buick Regals, Not Many GNXs

Buick entered the 1980s with the idea that performance sells. Perhaps this thought was a leftover from the muscle car era of the previous decade, or Buick felt left out from what internal rivals Pontiac and Chevrolet were doing. But much of the motivation came from the brand’s 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory. So, Buick embraced this success by adding the T-Type variant to many cars in its lineup, including the Regal. 

These efforts eventually morphed into the 1982 Regal Grand National launch, which called attention to Buick’s NASCAR success. So, for much of the 80s, buyers could choose from a Regal Turbo, Regal T-Type, or a Regal Grand National. All offered respectable turbocharged performance and other upgrades. But, to commemorate the last year of the Regal on GM’s G-body chassis, Buick created the GNX for the 1987 model year.

But to put it all in perspective, Buick built 20,193 Grand Nationals that year. But, only 547 GNXs were made. That’s what makes the GNX so rare.

Buick Hit It Out Of The Park

Via: Facebook

Although Buick has cornered so many aspects of the car market, they are not known by many for producing fast cars. This is especially true today where most people think of their SUVs and sedans. They have the reputation of producing family cars. However, this is one piece of proof that a company can be many things and that it can evolve.

The Buick GNX is a simple car. It can be seen as classically elegant, but overall, there is not a great deal to the outward appearance. If you’re not a fan of that ’80s look of two-door vehicles, you may not like this one or the Grand National, and the same is true for the Buick Regal as it’s very similar to the GNX.

Despite the look, this is a special ride from an iconic carmaker. People love it for many reasons and it’s easy to see why it can fetch over $200,000. It may be hard to find a 1987 Buick GNX for sale, but this ride is for sure worth the wait. Oh, and fun fact, GNX stands for Grand National Experimental.

#1: The Buick GNX Is Different from the Buick Grand National

It’s easy to confuse Buick’s GNX with the Grand National. They are both based on the Regal personal luxury car model. Plus, the GNX moniker (short for Grand National Experimental or Experiment) seems like an abbreviation for Grand National, but there are distinct differences. 

The simplest way to understand this is that GNX is a modified version of the Grand National built solely for the 1987 model year. The less powerful (but still more robust than a stock Regal) Grand National was made from 1982-1987. We’ll skip the line-by-line distinctions. But basically, the GNX is the rarest of the upgraded Buick Regals from the 1980s. Read on to learn more unique aspects of the GNX.

What is a Buick GNX?

The Grand National’s 3.8-liter V6 had its intercooler and Garrett T-3 turbocharger upgraded. The exhaust system got dual pipes of larger diameter. The rear suspension had a revision to maximize tire grip. Wheels had similar appearance but used specific Goodyear tires. Even the automatic transmission had tweaks to make faster shifts. The brakes, on the other hand, were carried over.

Moving to design, the only naming reference was the car’s logo in forged aluminum. The “Grand National Experimental” also had wider wheel arches to accommodate the new tires, and functional fender vents. In the cabin, there is another logo and a whole new Stewart-Warner instrument cluster. The latter featured a turbo boost gauge which is quite useful during drag-strip accelerations.

The original Buick Grand National was already aggressive, but nothing compared to the GNX (source: WheelsAge)

GM and ASC accomplished the tricky task of making the GNX exclusive without becoming a different car. The new official figures of 276 hp and 360 lb-ft ignored the curb weight of 3,545 lb and made it dash to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and finish the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at 113 mph. If you think that press and people’s reception was good, multiply that by a thousand.

The functional front fender vents came in matte black to contrast with the glossy body paint (source: WheelsAge)

This Is A Powerful Car

Via: Facebook

According to classicindustries.com, the GNX was first said to have a max horsepower of 276 and 360 ft-lb of torque. However, this was found to be false. In many cases, this would mean the car in question was less powerful than stated. Luckily, this was not what happened with the GNX

Various third-party tests revealed that this 3.8-liter V6 actually had a max horsepower of more than 300. It also had a torque of 400 ft-lbs at 3,900 rpm. This made the 1987 Buick GNX faster than some cars from companies like Ferrari and Porsche. It became one of the world’s fasted production cars of its time.

When it comes to speed, the Buick GNX can go from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.4 seconds. Much like with the max horsepower, the time it took to reach 60 mph was originally thought to be slower. Buick reported that it took this ride 4.3 seconds. It is important to remember that companies sometimes do this in order to cover the worst possible outcomes with customers.

The Buick GNX has a top speed of 124 mph.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Buick GNX worth?

The suggested retail price of US$ 29,290 back in 1987 would translate to roughly US$ 75,000 today. Those auctioned units are listed on eBay at US$ 200,000 and on Bring a Trailer at US$ 180,000.

How many of the Grand National GNX were made?

547 units. The #001 is a prototype owned by General Motors. Buick sent one unit to each of its top 500 Buick dealers and a second one to 47 of them as part of the Select 60 program.

Why is the Buick GNX so expensive?

First of all, it was a special performance car. Secondly, Buick had little tradition in that, yet managed to make something worthy of competing with Ferrari and Porsche. Last, but not least, many units of this limited production Buick are in excellent conditions.

What engine did the Buick GNX use?

A 3.8-liter V6. It uses a Garrett T-3 turbocharger with ceramic impeller and an intercooler and makes official power and torque of 276 hp and 360 lb-ft. It is often said, however, that those figures were underrated: the real ones are claimed to be 300 hp and 420 lb-ft.

What are the car’s stock wheel specs?

Front and rear wheels measured 8″ across and had a 16″ diameter. They used Goodyear Eagle Gatorback tires measuring 245/50 R16 up front and 255/50 R16 out back.

How fast was the Buick GNX?

It went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds. Those figures made it respectable among cars like Ferrari F40, Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette.

Who designed the high performance Buick?

Buick’s chief engineer Dave Sharpe gets credit for persuading GM to approve the GNX’s creation. The company recruited ASC/McLaren to co-develop the car. ASC alone was the responsible for receiving units of the Regal Grand National and transforming them into GNX cars.

What is the difference between a Buick Grand National and a GNX?

The Grand National was a typical performance-oriented version, in this case based on the Buick Regal. The GNX was a farewell edition which received several upgrades compared to the regular Grand National.

Is the Buick GNX a muscle car?

No. The muscle car recipe calls for streamlined coupé body and naturally-aspirated V8 engines. This one is more like a personal luxury car, derived from a two-door sedan. Besides, it uses a turbocharged V6.

About the Author

Danillo Almeida

Editor-in-chief

Danillo Almeida has explored his passion for cars in two distinct ways. The first one is his graduation course in Mechanical Engineering, which will hopefully lead to a job position in the field. The other one is expressing his knowledge and opinions on the matter through writing. Almeida has already contributed to blogs, stores, and websites in general writing automotive content in many formats.

Was it worth it?

1987 Buick GNX engine bay | Bring a Trailer

In terms of average market price, this $205,000 1987 Buick GNX is a notable outlier. Other GNXs have sold for less than half that price on BaT. And a pristine 1987 Grand National typically sells for less than $60K, Hagerty reports.

With classic cars, the ‘worth it?’ question is as much emotional and financial. Seeing as the previous record-holder had even fewer miles, in raw monetary terms, this one was arguably a bit overpriced. But the GNX is likely the winning bidder’s dream car. Since they could afford the best, they bought the best.

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