Okay, I am willing to raise my hand and freely admit it. I have strictly limited levels of self-control. It is not something that I am ashamed of, but it means that if I owned a car like this 1987 Buick Regal GNX, it would spend more time on the road than in my garage. That hasn’t been the case with this classic because, during the thirty-four years since it rolled off the production line, it has accrued a paltry 426 genuine miles on its odometer. Therefore, it is no surprise that it presents in as-new condition. It is a stunning time capsule, and it has generated enormous interest since the owner listed it for sale here on eBay. The GNX is located in Peabody, Massachusetts, and while the bidding has reached an incredible $225,000, this figure remains short of the reserve. If you consider this classic an automotive “must-have,” you could choose to hit the BIN button at $249,999.

The 1987 model year marked the end of the line for the rear-wheel-drive Buick Regal. The company decided to take the car out in style by producing the GNX. From a cosmetic perspective, it is a symphony of evil finished in stunning Black. It makes a striking visual impact with only a few badges and alloy wheels to contrast this finish. With such a low odometer reading, it should be no surprise to find that this GNX presents perfectly. The depth of color and shine of the paint makes you feel like you could almost walk into it. The panels are laser straight, and the gaps are impressively tight. There is no evidence of rust, and the owner mentions no issues in his listing. The plastic trim is excellent, with no evidence of deterioration or UV damage. The unique black mesh alloy wheels present superbly, with no signs of staining or oxidization. The tinted glass is flawless, and this GNX would not look out of place on a showroom floor today.

After the misery of the 1970s, American vehicle manufacturers had begun to show success in their quest to extract improved performance from their model offerings. While some chose to tweak and tune their existing V8s, Buick decided to follow the forced-induction path. After all, what worked in the cauldron of Formula One and IndyCar competition had to be transferable to production models. Therefore, the company took its 3.8-liter V6 engine and heavily breathed on it. With electronic engine management, fuel injection, a turbocharger, and an intercooler, this motor went from producing 110hp in standard tune to an “official” 276hp in turbocharged form. Even then, many experienced motoring journalists and other experts believe that this figure was grossly underestimated. They think that the truth rests somewhere around or just beyond 300hp. With this monster bolted to a four-speed 200-4R automatic transmission, the GNX could storm the ¼ mile in an incredible 13.5 seconds. Contemporary motoring journalists even managed to achieve ETs in the mid-12-second bracket without modifying the vehicles. That made this classic of humble origins capable of thrashing offerings from Ferrari and Porsche at the time. The bonus was that the GNX cost potential buyers significantly less than their more exotic European competition. While this classic has only recently emerged from a long hibernation, it has been correctly maintained throughout its life. It remains 100% original and unmolested, right down to the original Goodyear Gatorback tires. It appears that this classic is roadworthy and ready to go and should offer a scintillating performance experience to its next owner.

If I am surprised by anything with this GNX, it’s that the owner chose to remove all of the protective plastic from the interior. It is common to see vehicles of this type with most of the plastic intact. However, it does allow us the perfect opportunity to assess its overall condition. It’s no shock to find that it presents in as-new condition. The distinctive Gray and Black cloth upholstery on the seats can be prone to wear and staining, but these have avoided that fate. The door trims and remaining upholstered surfaces are spotless, as is the carpet. There are no signs of any UV damage on the dash or plastic components, while the leather-wrapped wheel is free from wear and deterioration. For potential buyers, this GNX offers comfort to perfectly complement its stunning performance. The original owner ordered it with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power driver seat, a tilt wheel, cruise control, and a premium AM/FM radio and cassette player.

It is often said that what goes up must come down. Sometimes that is the case in the classic car world, but there are notable exceptions to that rule. C2 Corvette Fuelies are an exception, while the 1987 Buick GNX is another. This GNX would have to be one of the lowest mileage examples in existence today. Even without the three-digit odometer reading, it is a desirable car. However, vehicles like this also pose an interesting question. What will be its ultimate fate? Part of its inherent value rests in that odometer reading, meaning that every mile accrued is likely to impact its potential value negatively. That makes me wonder whether this classic will return to our roads or whether its fate is to spend its days as a museum or display piece. The BIN on this classic does not make it cheap, but nor is it unprecedented. The bidding history suggests that plenty of people like what they see, and I suspect this one will be going to a new home very soon. Would you be willing to pay that sort of money for a car like this?