A Buick Grand National has been on my bucket list for a while, but I’ve yet to find the right one. Typically, they come in two forms: low-mileage survivors or total wrecks. I’d like to find something in the middle that’s in decent condition but not so nice that you feel guilty driving it. Could this ’85 GN found here on eBay fit the bill?
The interior is a little ratty, but not the worst we’ve seen. The GN-specific two-tone upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel are there. Some of the other bits are pretty grimy, but that’s not something a little junkyard hopping and eBay surfing couldn’t fix. The tacked-on boost gauge does have me a little nervous about what was done under the hood, though.
The K&N sticker is a dead giveaway that an amateur tuner may have worked their magic here. Expect to find things like modified blowoff valves and boost controllers. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a blown head gasket or two in there, either. People buy these cars for that turbocharged V6. That engine was hot back in the day, but for some reason people love to mess with a good thing. Hopefully, we get lucky here.
Well, here’s the deal breaker for me. This Grand National hails from Maryland, and they obviously use salt on their roads in the winter. When salt is sprinkled on steel, it causes oxidation. That’s a fancy word for rust, and it looks like this poor car has plenty. The seller is straightforward about the flaws and does not seem to be hiding anything, so that’s refreshing.
This Grand National may not be for me, but there are people with much higher rust tolerances out there. It is being auctioned off with no reserve, and it has some bids, so someone is going to drag it home. What do you think? Would you consider this a good starting point for a driver project?
When a seller is the person who modified a car like this, they would know exactly what those modifications were and list them in the ad. The problem is when a car changes hands several times the knowledge of the modifications that were previously done is forgotten. This car is a mess, not because of the engine modifications, but due to the rust and worn down condition. Potential buyers should make sure they don’t overpay and consider paying more for a car in better condition with a known history.
Steve R