The Buick Regal Grand National is one of those cars that really doesn’t need much introduction, as their distinct trim and turbocharged engines have made them heroes from a decade where many autos are forgotten, at least when it comes to performance. This final-year example has some custom touches on the outside, but it’s not until the hood gets raised that spectators truly realize that this is no ordinary Grand National, or if you happen to pull up alongside and get a dose of that side-exit exhaust rumble.
There’s no explanation provided as to why the original powerplant was removed, but in the engine compartment now is a 572 cubic-inch big block. It’s been bored to 576 and includes such goodies as a Dart intake with a Holley Demon carburetor on top, a Jesel camshaft, and rockers, plus an electric fuel and water pump. The seller says there’s too much to list, but the combo is putting out 700 horsepower and it’s paired with a Turbo 400 that’s built to handle all the power. This one’s stated to be running great, with the video provided seeming to confirm that the Grand National is ready for action. Oh yeah, and there’s also nitrous included as well!
The exterior appears to be at a nice driver status. It’s not quite perfect, but the owner mentions that the Buick has only been driven a total of 27,000 miles and says the Buick has never been involved in any accidents. The 3.8 Turbo tags have been left intact on the hood, but the factory wheels have been replaced with bigs and littles, wearing Mickey Thompson tires. Some additional mods that can’t be seen as easily are down under, such as Global West suspension components and Hotchkis subframe connectors.
A few aftermarket items have also been added to the interior, but the condition in here seems to still be quite decent overall and reflects how I’d hope things would still look on any car with this kind of low mileage. If you’re liking the big block power and the other custom touches, this 1987 Buick Regal Grand National is in Mission Viejo, California, and can be found here on eBay, where the current bid of $24,600 isn’t high enough yet to make the reserve disappear. What are your thoughts on the modifications here, and what’s a fair price to pay for this one?
I 383 stroked a roller cam motor for my 94 Impalla SS that smogged in San Diego! I suppose this will too.
Awsome build that will cause gnashing of teeth among our Buick brothers.
This car will never pass smog in its current configuration. All OE emissions equipment must be present and functional, if an engine swap has been performed, it must be a newer engine and have all of its OE emissions equipment present and functional. It would need to be inspected by a CARB facility, pass both visual and tail pipe before it could be registered.
I’d venture a guess that your Impala SS hadn’t been switched over to a carb.
Steve R
You are correct, sir. But I was holding a tight one thinking I had dumped $14K on a Cali. Outlaw Mill.
JBA Speed did their magic and had a friend in the ‘Smog Business.”
9T4SS, I understand where you are coming from. It’s getting tough to smog older cars nowadays if everything isn’t right. I recently had to junk a perfectly fine, dead reliable 94 Mercury Mystique V6, 5spd that my dad bought new because it wouldn’t pass because the check engine light was on and the fix would have been $1,500. I had it smogged through a friend of a friend once, but that was no longer an option.
I also used to work at a place that sold performance parts, we heard first hand some of our customers horror stories.
Steve R
Likely someone didn’t know how to make the turbo V6 fast, so they went with a BBC instead.
No replacement for…….
How about a 455 Buick big block w turbocharging in a GN 😲 🏁 😎
Well A hard pass for me the whole point of the GN is the v6 turbo… wrecked an American Icon!!
Just what I was going to say. The whole point of the turbocharged V6 was to make the horsepower of a V8 with better mileage, within the constraints of eighties technology. Ironic, but the original setup would be worth more in the collector’s market. Now it’s just some boy racer’s ride.
Why would you ruin such a beautiful automobile?
Maybe the only GN I’ve ever seen with roll down glass. Purpose built car.
I have one
That car is more interesting with the original legendary V 6 turbo…It is surely faster and quicker with the big block, but not as interesting…sorry.
Not necessarily, I smoked Chevelle 454 SSs with my stock V6
I would like to see this and the previously mentioned ’67 Chevy II
https://barnfinds.com/540-v8-super-nova-1967-chevrolet-chevy-ii/
go at it in the 1/4 mile! Any thoughts???
This use to be a Grand National. That turbo 6 was what made those GNs special and now all this is a black Regal with a big block.
Complete waste of a good car. Do that kind of stuff to a Monte SS.
What a waste, I worked for Buick when these came out and they were like nothing else out there. Then someone thinks, “why dont I put a big block in it????” Now its just another car, and not a GN anymore.
Are they sure this is a true GN? VIN was checked? I’m trying to figure out why someone would be nuts enough to butcher such an iconic car, ya know, at least hopefully the original engine blew up or somesuch, so at least there would be a modicum of reason to do something like this, or perhaps it’s just a Regal Sport done up like a GN. One can only hope.
The VIN is in the ad, Google can be used to decide it in about 30 seconds.
These cars were stolen left and right when they were new. I had one friend that had his GN stolen 4 times, once from his wife’s work, once when he was grocery shopping, twice from in front of his house. He then gave up and sold it.
The engines were often the first thing taken, then the rear end. Why should someone be criticized for not reinstall an original turbo engine and all its expensive components when they were heading towards the bottom depreciation curve and a performance chevy engine could have been sourced for significantly less? No one knows it’s history, when the swap was done and what changes it’s gone through since then.
I’ve seen several turned into actual race cars, which this isn’t, there is a good chance they suffered that fate. This car should be valued based on what it is today. It still exists, if it’s not to someone’s liking then can wait for an unmodified example and buy that one.
Steve R
Made it to 24.6K, Reserve Not Met.
Mine had crank windows, fixed antenna, no cruise control, optional aluminum bumper braces, but it did have concert sound, power trunk release and the posi rear. Sort of a factory “lightweight” so to speak. . My first personalized tag was WE2, and most people didn’t understand that. Later I changed it to TURBO 6, that was understood! It was hard to believe many fellow GN owners didn’t get the WE2 tag… sadly I sold (traded it) the car years ago but still have the tags!
An engine like that and an 85 MPH speedometer?
Are you kidding???