The 1987 Buick Grand National is one of those cars that needs no introduction. With its sinister all-black finish, turbocharged V6, and reputation for embarrassing Corvettes and Camaros at stoplights, it’s become one of the most sought-after performance cars of the 1980s. This particular example, now listed here on eBay, offers a solid foundation for someone looking to bring one of these legends back to life.
According to the seller, this Grand National shows 95,000 miles and comes with a clean title. Importantly, the body is described as rust-free, which is a major plus for any GN project. The car currently wears its trademark black paint, but it will need to be refinished to really shine again. The interior is mostly complete, though the front seats and upper door panels are due for a refresh. Fortunately, reproduction parts and upholstery kits are widely available, making this a straightforward fix for anyone who wants to bring the cabin back to its factory glory.
Under the hood is the heart of what made the Grand National a legend: the turbocharged 3.8-liter V6. In stock form, these engines pumped out 245 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque, which was enough to make them the quickest American cars you could buy in 1987. This car’s motor has already been rebuilt, saving the next owner a huge step in the restoration process. That said, the seller notes that the car will need a new brake motor before it’s road-ready. For a car that was notorious for its power-to-weight advantage, making sure the braking system is up to par should be high on the to-do list.
Cosmetically, the Grand National still looks the part, even if the paint is tired. With its blacked-out trim, sharp body lines, and menacing stance, the GN has aged better than many of its contemporaries. This is not a basket-case project, but rather a running, largely complete car that requires a thoughtful restoration. The bones are there, and the most expensive piece—the engine, has already been handled.
As with any Grand National, the appeal lies in the mix of rarity, history, and performance. Buick built fewer than 21,000 of them in 1987, the final year of production, and their status has only grown over time. Values continue to rise, especially for rust-free cars with clean titles like this one.
Would you restore this Grand National to showroom stock, or would you lean into the aftermarket and build a street bruiser?
What is a brand title ?
“A branded title is a car title that indicates the vehicle has suffered serious damage. The damage is often so serious that it could affect the reliability, safety, and value of the vehicle permanently.”
CarFax quote
Thx Nevada 👍 🤝
Always liked the T Types and Grand Nationals. Buick certainly had a huge hit on their hands. Nice thing is, even though they’re rare, many of them seem to have survived since their more special than a run of the mill Regal.
That’s because so many were stolen people were afraid to drive them and parked them in the garage. I had one friend whose GN was stolen 4 times, twice from the driveway in front of his house, once each at his wife’s job and the grocery store. He sold it because his high school car got the garage.
This one looks to have had a rough life.
Agreed Mark. Very sad condition, but the back seats condition is mind blowing…
I’ll second the observation about the theft rate, my brother had an 86 T and 2 87 GNs. His first GN was stolen while he was 600 miles from home. The insurance covered it and he bought his final one. Apparently the thieves were amateurs because it was found in the same city it was stolen in and had been completely cheesed out in only 6 months time!
From the appearance of this car can we say ” ridden hard and put away wet.” Probably the most abused one I’ve ever seen. Engine’s done (receipts would be nice), what about the transmission? In this shape, have to see the seldom available underside pics. Lots of $$$$ none of them mine.
What heck is a brake motor??? Could that be perhaps break rotor???
What heck is a brake motor??? Could that be perhaps brake rotor??? The buy it now price is $23,000. I will have to pass!!!
I agree to what the heck is a brake motor. As my dogs say RUFF life hard pass on that price.
The Brake (electric) Motor powers the Hydroboost and is run in conjunction with the Power Steering pump to ensure there is “assist” power to the master cylinder under low vacuum, zero vacuum or boost in the intake manifold, so the driver can stop the car with normal pressure on the brake pedal. The electric motor assist is there if/when the engine stalls.