Vehicle Description
Over the past four decades, General Motors has proven itself a
modern day warrior. The company virtually OWNED the '50s and '60s,
and no matter how much corporate bean counters tried to quell its
spirit of performance, true gearheads ALWAYS kept the flame lit.
And I'm not talking about Corvettes or the incredible Cadillac
V-Series. I'm talking about cars that are fast, fun and highly
attainable. In the early 21st century, the guys at Pontiac worked
with GM's Holden division to send world-class muscle to American
shores. During the stuffy '70s the venerable Trans Am soldiered on
with big displacement motors and flashy good looks. In the
mid-'90s, Chevrolet's visionary Impala SS brought a new sense of
cool to the full-size segment. And in the '80s, it was this car:
Buick's bad-to-the-bone Grand National that proudly separated the
winners from the losers. All black, all business and so sinister
even your shut-in grandmother knows it means trouble, this
well-maintained coupe is a 1,629-mile survivor that's fully sorted
and ready to roll!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Capitalizing on the success of winning NASCAR's 1981 and '82
Manufacturer's Cups, Buick kicked off the Grand National legacy by
introducing a specially tweaked version of their 1982 Regal.
However, it wasn't long until GM's conservative luxury crew assumed
the full identity of renegade performance division by slathering
black paint over highly modified G-Bodies that featured unique and
menacing aesthetics. Sold new by O'Neil Buick of Warminster,
Pennsylvania, this coupe features glossy GM code 19U Black that
highlights crisp, original sheetmetal. The car's first owner,
logging 1,488 of its 1,629 miles, kicked off a legacy of keeping
that metal straight and solid. There's an electric sunroof that,
according to documents included with our sale, was commissioned by
O'Neil Buick and installed Horsham, Pennsylvania's Automotive
Concepts. And today, this Buick is a unique, high quality muscle
car that maintains all the nostalgic appeal of a vintage,
showroom-fresh offering.
ENGINE
Speaking of survivors, and GM's core strengths, if anyone ever
creates an ultimate engine survivors list Buick's stalwart, 231
cubic inch V6 will surely be at the top. Introduced as the
Fireball, and eventually renamed the 3800, its early '60s design
was sold to Kaiser, bought back by General Motors and, with the
help of turbos, superchargers and continuous improvements, would
remain one of the company's core powerplants until the turn of the
century! In 1986, the Grand National's turbocharged 3.8 liter,
which had already benefitted from sequential fuel injection and
distributorless ignition, saw significant mechanical changes that
included a new air-to-air intercooler, adjustments to its Garrett
turbo, improved upper and lower intake manifolds, and a redesigned
exhaust system. By 1987, those carefully calculated tweaks were
good for a newly impressive 245 horsepower and 355 lb./ft. of V8
slaying torque. And the car's drag strip scorching performance
would not only best GM's own Camaro and Corvette, but also catapult
it to the forefront of '80s performance! This low-mileage Buick
mill is 100% stock inside and out, featuring a fresh appearance
that's ready for lots warm weather and tons rich boost. And
naturally, the numbers-matching engine floats a correct 25526109
casting number in front of a matching 463594 partial VIN.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
With that kind of power on tap, it should come as no surprise that
the bottom of this Buick features a host of hot hardware. Behind
the raucous 6-cylinder, a VIN-stamped, "BRF" tagged 4-speed twists
power through big, 3.42 gears that offer a great combination of
starting line grip and high-speed cruising ability. Factory power
steering makes easy work of quick turns. Power-assisted stops are
provided by a familiar combination of discs and drums. And torque
meets the pavement through chromed factory wheels, which spin
215/65R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As around turbo-themed center
caps.
INTERIOR
Inside this awesome street bruiser you'll find a correct Gray and
Black interior that's virtually spotless. Typical Buick fashion
dictates more comfort than sport, but then, that's what GM's entry
luxury brand has always been about. And naturally, that means this
Grand National is loaded with all the features you'd expect
including power windows, power locks, climate control, Cruise
Control and a tilt steering wheel. In front of that wheel, Grand
National-specific Lear Siegler seats feature 6-way power adjustment
for the car's driver. Opposite those seats, factory gauges inhabit
a blocky dash that's free of warps and cracks. And beneath that
dash, a factory console frames an elegant factory shifter.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
An original finance application
An original Warranty Booklet
Paperwork from Automotive Concepts (The outfit that installed the
car's sunroof)
Service records from the early 1990s
Nobody scoffs at Buick's legendary Grand National. Between old
school NASCAR DNA and the ability to whip pretty much any street
challenger, the car gets big respect and much admiration. With just
1,629 miles on the clock, this incredible G-Body is an incredible
bargain. And you can pretty much bank on the fact that the car will
grow in value as it and its buyer base continues to mature. So,
what are you waiting for? Grab this beastly Buick and enjoy a super
clean Grand National WHILE it appreciates!
SUMMARY
Well-maintained survivor that's logged only 1,629 miles / Driven
1,488 miles by its first owner
Original turbocharged 3.8 liter V6 / 245 horsepower
Original Turbo-Hydramatic 200R4 4-speed automatic transmission
Original Gray and Black cloth interior / Factory air
conditioning
Original Black paint
Dealer-installed sunroof (installed Feb '88) / Sunroof
documentation included with the car's sale
Sale includes: An original finance application / An original
Warranty Booklet / Service records from the early 1990s
Correct 10-bolt rear axle / Correct 3.42 gears
Factory power steering
Factory power front disc and rear drum brakes
