This 1987 Buick Grand National is a rare find, not because it’s a true GN but because it’s untouched – it went into the barn years ago and hasn’t been touched since, but it also hasn’t been modified or otherwise over-restored, which seems to be a growing phenomenon among Grand Nationals that head to auction shortly after being discovered. The seller claims the car was sitting for many years but after getting the tank drained and some fresh gas added, the engine purrs once more. The Buick obviously has plenty of cosmetic flaws and needs a full paint job – but couldn’t you just live with it for a while as a scruffy, driver-quality example? Find it here on eBay where bidding has reached $17,400 with no reserve.
The Buick is located in East Setauket, New York and still wears the dealer badge and plate frame from a showroom in Binghamton. Those are two very different parts of the state, with the former on Long Island and the latter way upstate where snow and salt are facts of life. There’s rust visible on the trunk lid and the paint is really in very rough shape. I’d be certain to ask questions about the undersides, as the listing doesn’t note any details about the condition of the chassis structure. Bidders don’t seem concerned, but given what we can see up top, it’s definitely a question worth asking. The seller notes the VIN indicates this is a true WE2 code car, which eliminates any doubt that this is a real-deal Grand National.
The interior is in average condition at best, and it looks like a panel with insulation behind it is hanging down from beneath the steering column. Is this just a case of a clip breaking in a high-traffic area, or did mice get in to raid the cavity of its delicious insulation? I’m sure mice have been in this Grand National to some extent, whether in this location or elsewhere. The seats are somewhat tired and the console has seen better days, but the door panels look decent enough. Mileage is listed as 75,000, and if that’s accurate, those were very hard miles. Grand Nationals were just a tired used car at one time, so it’s not entirely surprising to see one show up looking as tired as this one does – especially in a brutal climate like upstate New York.
Wow – that hood is trashed! I’m not criticizing; it’s just surprising to see what looks like a highly concentrated area of damage. As I said above, even though this is a project, it’s just refreshing to see a GN show up that can be (hopefully) bought for a fair price and then put back to roadgoing use without being a total frame-off job. Truth be told, the current bid price is already far higher than I was expecting, and it would have seemed crazy just a few years ago – but this is the world we now live in, where iconic cars from the 1980s are going to pull strong money for the foreseeable future. Would you take this tired Grand National on as a project? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tommy T. Tops for the find.
The dealer badge is from Huntington, NY, which is also on LI, not upstate. Carfax shows a 1 owner car purchased and driven on LI. Victim of a blue tarp in a humid garage
At least someone drove this one and enjoyed it.
I would hope the original owner earned a few speeding tickets during his or her ownership.
That thing is trashed and it’s already nearly $20k. I guess there’s money in certain Buicks with little more than a trim package-even if the trim is toast.
I agree Terry, it’s pretty trashed and not worth the money. But I’m wondering what you mean when you say it’s little more than a trim package?? Serious question. Thanks
Seems a little spendy for the condition (already) but I guess if someone’s willing to pay the money why not?
Last yr of the mighty turbo buick grand national 🏁
East Setauket and the North Shore of Long Island are prone to flooding. 7″ of rain in 2021 from Hurricane Ida. Buyer beware. Binghamton would have been better. Only a fool would drive a GN there during winter. And BF folks don’t buy from fools, right?
Maybe not but it seems like a lot of people are desperately trying to move their money into classic cars. I personally think it’s a combination of fear of inflation coupled with a desire to go back to a simpler time away from the political polarization we have right now.
Natural human tendencies but there will always be people who will take advantage of mass movements like that. So I imagine we’re going to be hearing a lot of horror stories from this era in about 3 or 4 years.
I agree Rick! When this market crashes it’s not going to be pretty
Well, not only a market correction. If this site has taught us anything, it’s that a lot of people are spending a lot of money buying cars that need complete restorations (or a complete Holy miracle). So some will end up dealing with down market and a basket case that they need to unload.
Goes back to the old saying,some people should never own a car
Located in:
East Setauket, New York
Where it floods. And snows.