In 1982, GM-owned Buick introduced the Grand National. The last model became the Buick GNX before it let the Regal continue its success. The vehicle generates a sense of nostalgia among car enthusiasts as it was a bold and brilliant Buick invention. To this day, motor fans would do anything to get their hands on one.
During the 1980s the Grand National came to define muscle car power. What was the secret to its success? It defied all stereotypes necessary to produce a muscle car by opting for a V6 engine instead of the performance-favorite V8.
Before discussing the Grand National's price today, let's explore the history of this 1980s legend.
The History Of The Buick Grand National
In 1973, Buick produced a personal luxury car called the Regal. It had the same powertrain components and body as the Buick Century. By 1978 there was a second-generation version, but then in 1981 it got a facelift and suddenly became the most desired car to race in.
1981-82 were golden years for the Regal as it triumphed during NASCAR competitions. Following on from its success, the Grand National trim was introduced.
215 Buick Regal Grand Nationals were produced in 1982. Most people associate the car with the black sedans everyone recognizes today, yet all of them came in charcoal grey. Its 4.1-liter V6 engine was capable of 125hp with a substantial 205 ft-lb torque.
Yet when it came to 1984, the Grand National's color was about to change.
1984 Was A Game-Changer For The Buick Grand National
Following the exit of Lloyd Reuss as Buick general manager in 1984, his replacement Don Hackworth decided to provide the Grand National with a new color. Many options were considered, but the decision to make all models black gave them a sinister Darth Vader look. After all, this was a time when Star Wars was big. Hackworth authorized a cool but controversial commercial showing a Grand National rumbling menacingly through a city at night to Buick's version of the George Thorogood and the Destroyers song, 'Bad to the Bone.' The car company constructed just 2,000 copies of its 1984 Grand National and 2,102 for 1985.
Also in 1984, all Grand Nationals featured a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that now made 200hp and 300 ft-lb, with a computer-controlled fuel-injection and distributor-less ignition.
Future modifications made the Grand Nationals the fastest vehicles around. In 1986, an improved engine made 235hp and 330 ft-lb torque which went up to 245hp and 335 ft-lb in 1987.
In fact, in 1987 a total of 20,193 Grand Nationals were produced, representing a significant leap from the year before where 5,512 vehicles were manufactured by Buick. It is no wonder that the Grand National has become a rare find among car geeks as only 30,022 units were produced during the car's short lifespan.
Though 1987 was a successful year for the Grand National, it also turned out to be the last time that such an iconic model would continue to be manufactured by Buick.
Behold The Arrival Of The GNX
Ed Mertz became Buick general manager in 1986, and a year later GM's rear-wheel-drive mid-sizers ceased production in 1987. They were succeeded by brand new GM10 front-drive vehicles for 1988.
But thanks to then-chief engineer Dave Sharpe, advanced concepts manager Mike Doble, and project engineer Chuck Jensen, the GNX was starting to become a reality.
With help from AS/McLaren, Buick started to build GNXs to avoid halting production and worked hard to make the cars not just faster but better than its predecessor, the Grand National. The plan was to construct the quickest ever GM production sedan. Like the Grand National, the GNX came with a V6 engine.
The official rating of the GNX was 276hp and 360 ft-lb torque. Despite this, many industry experts put the output at 300hp and a smashing 420 ft-lb torque. There was no way any of the GNX's competitors could compete with this beast of a car.
Unfortunately, only 547 GNX units were manufactured. No wonder the vehicle costs so much. But Buick proved conventional wisdom wrong regarding V8 engines.
How Much Is The Buick Grand National Worth Today?
According to Hagerty, the highest value for a Grand National is $53,800. The website suggests that car enthusiasts can purchase one of these cars for $35,700 in excellent condition, $22,200 for one in good condition, and many fans can get one for $15,500.
There is no doubt that anybody who is lucky enough to get their hands on a Grand National has bought a vehicle that changed the face of automotive history in America for good. Those who have driven one in the past surely recognize how powerful its V6 engine is and that quality triumphs over quantity every single time when it comes to cars.