The Buick Grand National (GN) was perhaps the last of the old-school muscle cars, produced on the Regal’s rear-wheel-drive platform during its last half-dozen years on the market. The name was borrowed from the senior racing division at NASCAR, which had previously been known as the Grand National Series. These cars had a Darth Vader, sinister kind of look to them, mostly painted all black. The seller’s GN is a low-mileage example at just 39,000 on the odometer and is said to come with the rarely chosen power sunroof option. Spotted by Mitchel G., a BF’s reader, it’s located in Stow, Massachusetts and available here on Hemmings Classifieds for $17,500.
The Grand Nationals of 1982-87 only saw production numbers total about 30,000 units and are popular with collectors today. For its next-to-last-year, the GN were available in black with grey interiors using a turbo-charged 3.8-liter V-6 with sequential fuel injection, intercooling and an automatic transmission. The cars were rated at 235 horsepower 330 lb.-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm and could run in the 15-16 range in the quarter mile. Pretty hot by 1980s standards!
Buick had two Regal-based cars in the 1980s that offered more get-up than the standard mid-size. Somewhat similar mechanically, the T-Types was largely a performance option on the Regal, whereas the GN was a series of its own. 5,512 Grand National’s rolled off the assembly line in 1986, while T-Type production was much lower at 2,384. The easiest way to tell them apart is that the T-Type wasn’t black in color.
The seller’s Grand National is described to be in good condition, but not perfect. The photos show a few little dings here and there, and the paint may be a tad faded in places, but the car likely was seldom used, having averaged just over 1,000 miles per annum. Most people that bought these vehicles new may have envisioned their future rarity as most that turn up for sale are like this one or nicer, not all banged up and worn out. There is only one photo from inside the car and that’s the view through the steering wheel looking at the dash, so we don’t know how well the interior has held up.
This could be a good car to just clean up and drive it the way it is for a while. Likely not to be many of them at Cars & Coffee gatherings, so being original and not perfect has its selling points. Hagerty estimates these cars can go for more than $50,000 in perfect condition, but the average is closer to $20,00. So, if you’ve been “jonesing” for ones of these cars, get it and drive it like you stole it!
’86 was the last year you could get the touch control HVAC, and this can has it. If you look above the tilt wheel lever, you can see this car has the twilight sentinal, controlled by a thumb wheel, just right of the dash dimmer. Another rarity.
The flash rust under the hood, steering wheel spokes, and even the trip odo reset knob is a cause of concern on the storage. Humid days in the garage?
I’ve never thought of this is the last of the muscle cars. Ford built the Mustang on the old Fox chassis through 2004. Then of course there was the 2004-06 GTO, 2010 and up Camaro, and of course the Dodge Charger and Challenger. I guess you could say it was the last American built rear wheel drive midsize muscle car. That would be true.
Only one picture of the interior and it points to more serious potential problems. The question to me is was the rust from humidity or flooding and how has that affected the seats, dash, carpet, etc. What they aren’t showing causes concern.
A friend had similar looking rust on his car due to the dryer, which was located in the garage, wasn’t vented outside. It would be a mistake to write this car off, but an in person inspection would be advised.
Steve R
I agree, Steve, but the seller could have solved that mystery by sharing more pictures and details of its condition.
Would love for the seller to add more pictures of the interior and exterior!!!
High likelihood of this being another yankee rust bucket. Some unusual options, but need bottom side pics.
me too thinking rust bucket being a massachuettes car. doesn’t speak of chip for computer or machine to adjust.
ok shows daul exhaust but is it bigger than 2 1/4 inches or you lose all backpressure and burn valves.
Rear wheel drive, mid size body, only now with turbocharged V6 power instead of massive cubic inches, healthy cam and intake. They looked good and ran hard,,,, but all those weird turbo noises,,, the woosh mobile!
It’s like being part of a cult with these, at least it used to be.
I have 78000 mile 69 gs 500 convertible w/4spd had a gn and want another buick needs to build another specialty muscle car instead of the junk they have now AND I WAS RSISED ON AND HAVE BUICK BLOOD IN VEINS Give me something I want again