Vehicle Description
Black-on-black and about as dialed-in as they come, this remarkably
well-maintained and super clean 1987 Buick Grand National hasn't
been abused, raced, or otherwise mistreated. Instead, this
beautiful example shows just 43,778 original miles and has been in
the long-term care of two enthusiast from the South who always
treated it as something of great value. With the market for these
cars growing each year, it's getting harder and harder to find one
that hasn't been modified, raced, or wrecked. If you're looking for
a clean Grand Natty that sticks to the original GM script, then
your search may very well be over.
These cars were sinister when they were new, and even today seeing
one of these blown Buicks prowling the streets still fills any car
guy or gal with excitement. The legend has probably outgrown the
actual car at this point, but the blacked-out trim, the bulging
hood, and the simple ducktail spoiler all give this car a look that
demands respect out on the streets. As far as we can discern,
that's original paint, and the car has never been hit or damaged,
yet it looks a lot younger than its 30+ years would suggest. The
nose and headlight housings show almost no signs of having been
driven the miles represented on the clock, and unlike cars that
have been on the track, the lower rocker panels and quarters
haven't been sandblasted by rocks thrown up by sticky racing
slicks. These cars seem to have better initial paint quality than
most GM cars of the period, so there's less orange peel than what's
found on its cousin models, although there are a few minor demerits
if you look really close. However, the car still shows incredibly
well, the bumper fillers are all solid and not cracked up (a common
problem in these cars), and a professional cut-and-buff would
probably make it look 20 years younger. These cars produce a ton of
torque that can really wear down the rigidity of a T-top car, so a
slick hardtop like this is the one you really want, with doors that
open and close easily, a trunk that fits right, and excellent hood
gaps.
This GN also carries two-tone bucket seats with those iconic
embroidered headrests, transforming the formal Regal interior to
something a bit more appropriate for this car's reputation. The
original seats remain in fantastic condition, with no major wear in
the high-traffic areas like the driver's side bolsters and arm rest
areas. Gauges are all factory correct and therefore rather basic,
although engineers managed to stick a bar-graph tachometer and
boost gauge in the lower corner of the speedometer, both of which
you'll enjoy watching as the potent V6 builds power. As a Buick,
the GN was loaded with just about every comfort and convenience
feature you could throw at a car in 1987, including factory A/C,
power windows, power locks, a tilt wheel, and the original
AM/FM/Cassette player that remarkably still works. The headliner
remains taut, a problem with cars of this vintage that this one has
avoided, the door panels show almost zero wear, and the plush
carpets below are protected with correct Grand National floor mats.
The back seat probably hasn't carried anything outside of a
shopping bag or two in all these years, and the neatly preserved
trunk still carries its original space-saver spare.
The 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 is legendary, and while it's possible
to make giant horsepower with just a few bolt-on modifications, the
car's previous owners were able to resist the horsepower siren's
call of a million performance goodies, adding only a bigger Garrett
turbo for a more powerful boost. The original components remain
intact, the engine bay is nicely preserved, and it's easy to tell
that enthusiasts have owned this one, because even the A/C system
has correct details throughout. Underneath, it's just as clean, and
the smooth 4-speed automatic transmission still upshifts almost
imperceptibly and downshifts with authority when the boost comes
up. This one also wears a set of optional chrome wheels with black
accents that look great, plus a set of 215/65/15 Goodyear
performance radials.
Great to drive, handsome to look at, and with low ownership and
mileage, this Grand National remains surprisingly affordable...for
now. Call today!
