Make: | Buick |
Model: | Grand National |
Type: | Coupe |
Doors: | 2 |
Year: | 1987 |
Mileage: | 47,462 |
VIN: | 1G4GJ1176HP447427 |
Color: | Black |
Engine: | 3.8 V6 Turbo |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Interior color: | Gray |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Local pick-up only |
If you want a perfect, low-mile Grand National, they're out there but you'll pay a huge premium. However, if you're interested in owning and driving the nastiest piece of GM iron from the '80s with a whole bunch of upgrades, this 1987 Buick Grand National should fit the bill just fine.Although a few gray and white Grand Nationals were built, if you want the full badass treatment, you went with basic black. These are some of the most sinister cars ever to come out of a GM factory and they make no bones about the horsepower living within. This one was repainted just recently and looks at least as good as new, a situation surely helped by the fact that it has just 47,462 miles on it. The new black paint is glossy, the body panels are crisp and sharply defined so you know there's no shabby bodywork hiding underneath, and all the familiar Grand National styling cues are intact, including the hood bulge to clear the turbo and subtle spoiler on the deck lid. This one has been driven but it has also been properly maintained and never used as a daily driver, and as a hobby car almost from the very beginning, things like the urethane bumper covers, chin spoiler and weather seals are all in excellent condition. And if you're a fan of these cars, you'll probably want one without the T-tops, which proved to be a little too flexible with all that horsepower churning through the chassis, making this one with its solid roof feel more substantial on the road.The two-tone gray and black interior was standard-issue for the Grand National, offering comfortable bucket seats with custom embroidered headrests, a center console, and a lot of options like A/C, power windows and seats, cruise control, and a tilt column. Black carpets worked well with the gray interior and the three-spoke leather-wrapped wheel sets the tone for what is to follow. The factory gauges do an adequate job of monitoring the engine, but with a built blown V6 under the hood today, it's probably a good idea to include things like the Auto Meter monster tach with a shift light and aftermarket oil pressure and temperature gauges on the console. There's also a boost controller tucked into the dash and switches for the line lock and exhaust cutouts hidden in the console. Nice! Everything else appears stock, including the AM/FM/cassette stereo which should bring back memories for anyone who drove a GM car in the late-80s. The Grand National is also a full-sized coupe, so you get a spacious trunk with the original space-saver spare still in place. The heart of the beast is a 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 that's legendary for its Corvette-threatening performance. Of course, upgrades are only a phone call away and this one was rebuilt only 436 miles ago, and it was designed for upgrades. There's an upgraded turbo, larger inlet and outlet tubes to keep it fed, and a custom SD chip to make it all work like the factory designed it. When you turn the key, this one barks to life easily and idles, well, like a Buick should. It still exhales through a custom exhaust system that sounds amazing if you open the cut-outs and the 200R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission still snaps through the gears with authority. Moser axles and 3.42 gears get you into the boost quickly so the GN always feels ready to strike, and even though it's a Buick, the suspension is buttoned-down enough to make even twisting roads fun thanks to Bilstein shocks and a Hotchkis rear sway bar. This one wears shiny Torque Thrust wheels that look great and are fitted with big 215/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear performance radials.These cars are huge fun and the right ones can be both affordable and a smart investment. Call today!