Vehicle Description
Stock look with substantial upgrades underneath. $9600 worth of
fresh short block, upgraded fuel system, exhaust cut-outs, and
more. Very fast yet docile enough to drive every day. The Grand
National is still a legitimate threat on the street and lots of fun
to drive!No matter what you drive, you're smart to eye these nasty
black Buicks with caution. They can look stock on the outside, like
this 1987 Buick Grand National, but underneath they can pack a
punch capable of knocking off some of today's most ferocious
machines. This particular Grand National keeps its stock look,
which means no-nonsense blacked-out trim and deep black paint,
which was the only choice in 1987. It was repainted a few years ago
and the finish work is quite good, and this black GN makes its
original siblings look a little dusty in comparison. It does not
appear to have ever been wrecked or rusty and wears the black paint
with pride-no waves, no ripples, and no questionable work hiding
underneath. All the stock details are still in place, from the
blacked-out grille and bumpers to the modest hood bulge advertising
the 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 underneath, to the small ducktail
spoiler that gives the boxy Regal shape a more aggressive attitude.
This is also a desirable solid roof car-no T-tops-which is
preferred by true enthusiasts because it's both lighter and
stiffer. Correct emblems were reinstalled after the paint had
cured, giving this car a very authentic look that doesn't give away
any secrets about what's living underneath. The interior remains
largely stock, although the driver gets a few upgrades to help
monitor the potent powerplant up front. Factory buckets are still
comfortable and tie the black and gray interior together nicely. A
center console was standard equipment and you'll note that this GN
is pretty well loaded up, including A/C (needs a recharge), power
windows and locks, a tilt steering column, and more. The factory
gauges covered the basics, including a little bar-graph tach and
boost gauge tucked in almost as an afterthought, so with the
upgrades comes proper instrumentation-boost and exhaust temperature
gauges on the A-pillar, a real tach down under the dash, and oil
pressure and temperature gauges on the center console. It's all
designed to put the driver on top of things when stuff starts to
happen in a hurry. You'll also note the custom gauge panel
discreetly tucked into the former ashtray, including a line lock,
electric fan control, and switch for the exhaust cut-out.
Embroidered Grand National mats keep things tidy and the headliner
has been replaced so no issues with sagging or crumbling foam. The
trunk is correctly outfitted with a felt mat and includes the
original space-saver spare and jack assembly.We have extensive
receipts on the build, including one for a Stage 1 short block that
amounts to nearly $10,000 by itself. Then there are the upgraded
heads, the heavy-duty fuel system, the custom engine management
program, and a few other details that make this Grand National
considerably more ferocious than its stock siblings. The great
thing about these cars is that they're capable of monster power
without taking a hit to drivability-the wonders of EFI-and with
decades of experience it's not hard to create something that does
everything well. It looks rather stock under the hood with a few
polished components, but the way this car runs will convince you
that the upgrades were money well spent. It starts easily, idles
better than stock (they were always kind of wonky when cold), and
definitely pulls like a freight train on the road. The 2004R
4-speed automatic clicks off snappy shifts and there's a modestly
upgraded torque converter inside to help build boost a little
faster. The stock 3.42 gears remain out back, so it's a nice
compromise between acceleration and easy cruising. You'll also find
a custom exhaust system with the aforementioned electronic cut-out
taking the place of the factory catalytic converter and twin
mufflers that give the V6 a somewhat more aggressive voice. The
suspension is stock, so it rides more like the luxury car it used
to be, and there are no signs of rot or rust in the critical
areas-it's quite clean. Factory chrome steel wheels are in
excellent shape and carry 215/65/15 Uniroyal radials with lots of
life left in them.Documentation includes the original owner's
manual and extensive build receipts adding up to tens of thousands
of dollars.These cars are skyrocketing in popularity and pulling
values up as well. This is a great opportunity to own a clean Grand
National with all the upgrades already done, all wrapped in one of
the cleanest packages we've seen. A cool car no matter what era
you're from and still one of the most potent street predators you
can own. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes
personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.
