Vehicle Description
Even 30 years after they went out of production, there's something
special about the Buick Grand National. Maybe it's the fact that
this otherwise plain-looking Buick was arguably the fastest
accelerating car on the market, or maybe it's because they have
just the right combination of performance and luxury, and with some
well-tuned upgrades, this 1986 Buick Grand National is a very
impressive car.
Most car guys know that when they see a black Buick, they need to
be careful. Sure, after all this time there are faster cars, but if
you're not paying attention, these cars will drop the hammer and
not look back. And with modifications so insanely easy to do, you
can build an incredibly fast and completely reliable car for not a
lot of cash. Wearing its original black paint and no visible
modifications, it's the right choice for the Buick fan who doesn't
want a low-mile garage queen, but a big, bad Buick he can actually
enjoy the way it was intended. It still looks intimidating with
every square inch of the bodywork drenched in black paint, but that
was entirely the point. It's brutal-looking. Owned by an
enthusiast, you know it hasn't been wrecked or abused and that
finish is nicer than most of these cars today, especially given
GM's paint issues in the '80s. It's not perfect, but you can drive
it without worries. So what you're getting is a super clean but
ready-to-enjoy Grand National that's exactly right for prowling the
streets.
The interior is pure 1980s Buick plush, with black and gray power
buckets and a console just to add a bit of sportiness. Yes the
seats need to be reupholstered, but given how popular these cars
have become, fresh seat covers should be easy to find. Auxiliary
boost and oil pressure gauges in the center console look like they
were installed by the factory and a second pair of gauges on the
A-pillar. A typical GM instrument panel with a cleverly-installed
tachometer down in the lower corner and a big T-handle shifter
manages the recently rebuilt 200R4 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission. Everything was standard on the top-of-the-line GN,
including A/C, power driver's seat, windows, and locks, and the
original Delco radio has been replaced by a modern AM/FM/CD head
unit. It also claims a nice sized trunk that's ready for a road
trip and includes the original space-saver spare.
The legendary powerplant is a 3.8 liter turbo V6 that's famous for
making torque at any speed. Once the boost comes up, these cars are
almost impossible to catch and thanks to decades of development,
good ones are virtually bulletproof today. This one was rebuilt and
upgraded by noted experts South East Turbo in Georgia in 2015. The
upgrades include a bigger turbo and oversized fuel injectors, a big
front-mount intercooler, Walbro 340 fuel pump, an upgraded
camshaft, and a Turbo Saver oiling system. Combined, they make big
power that's impossible to resist and will humiliate some of
today's fastest iron. The engine bay is quite tidy and it's pretty
obvious that the money was spent where it counts most. The
transmission was rebuilt at the same time and it got new brakes and
front end parts in 2016, so it's totally ready to rock. Sinister
black mesh Grand National wheels look great and wear recent
Continental performance radials.
These cars have always been formidable, but today collectors are
noticing that good ones are scarce. This one isn't a beauty queen,
but it certainly has the horsepower to deliver on the promises made
by the brutal look. Call today!