The Buick Grand National Intended to Surpass the Corvette—and Ultimately Outperformed Ferrari

If you possessed a bit more wealth, the Ferrari Testarossa and the Lamborghini Countach stood as the iconic wedge-shaped automobiles of the era, matched with power that paralleled their futuristic appearances. However, except for a Porsche 911 Turbo or a Porsche 959 (an actual Group B homologation car that wouldn’t even be eligible for import until 2001), there existed a single vehicle that reigned supreme over all. A vehicle that defied expectations. And it wasn’t what you might presume.

Witness the Buick GNX, the ultimate iteration of Buick’s NASCAR-victorious, Darth-Vader-inspired Grand National. Originating from the unassuming Regal coupe and featuring solely six cylinders instead of the competition’s eight (or beyond!), it demonstrated that a legendary car could emerge from any source. Stick around, for The Drive has some enlightening to provide on Buick’s most exceptional muscle car.

The Grand National, akin to all fulfilling American automotive triumphs, had modest beginnings rooted in motor racing. In the year 1978, as the fuel crisis necessitated more streamlined platforms, the colossal 17-and-a-half-foot Buick Regal lost a foot of length and a duo of cylinders. With this more athletic foundation constructed on the G-body platform and a streamlined redesign in 1981, the Buick transformed into a formidable contender in NASCAR, with Richard Petty securing victory in the initial race of the season—the ’81 Daytona 500—in his Regal.

The Regal dominated the competition. 1981 and 1982 witnessed Darrell Waltrip guiding a Regal to consecutive victories in the Winston Cup Grand National Championship. Furthermore, the car swept the manufacturer’s championship, with a Regal on the victor’s podium in an astounding 47 out of 62 races.

In 1982, Buick took advantage of this success and unveiled the Grand National, christened after the Winston Cup Championship it had recently clinched. The original Grand National served as a Regal option package that could be requested on any trim level. GM would dispatch the vehicles in basic charcoal grey paint to Cars and Concepts, a custom shop in Michigan, where they would be hand-painted silver with red accents on the charcoal base and striped with red accents.

The seats were swapped with Lear Sigler vinyl ones featuring the Buick turbo 6 emblem stitched into the back; the trim was blacked out, firmer suspension became standard, and a fiberglass spoiler was attached to the trunk. As it was an option package rather than its standalone model at that time, only a few of the Regals were fitted with a turbocharged V6 from the Regal Sport package, whereas most were sold with the base model naturally aspirated V6.

TheThe choice package vanished in 1983, but by 1984, it resurfaced under a new name as a standalone model. This marked the genesis of the Grand National’s legendary status. Upon its return, the package embraced a more somber outlook, featuring black paint and trim accented by brushed turbine wheels at the corners. The pivotal change was the inclusion of a turbo V6 engine as standard, tuned to deliver a commendable 200 horsepower. Instead of a limited commemorative offering, the Grand National had transformed into a muscle car boasting one of the most powerful six-cylinders on the market.

The 1984 Grand National emerged as a formidable contender from the get-go, with quarter-mile times just a hair behind the newly unveiled C4 Corvette. The year 1986 saw the turbo V6 engine receiving an air-to-air intercooler, a cutting-edge technology at the time given that turbochargers were still in their infancy for mainstream use. With enhancements to the engine and the introduction of the intercooler, the G-body now churned out 235 horsepower, slashing a full second off its quarter-mile time. The all-black Buick had officially outpaced the Corvette, relying solely on its six cylinders for the feat.

All great things eventually reach their culmination, as did the Grand National in 1987 when GM retired the G-body platform from all its brands. The ultimate iteration of the Grand National received a power bump through increased boost levels and fine-tuned tuning, escalating the power output to almost 250 HP from the robust V6 engine. It marked the swan song of the platform, solidifying its status as a timeless automotive legend.

The GNX, short for Grand National eXperimental, remains an enduring symbol of American automotive ingenuity to this day. This powerhouse final-year Grand National underwent a transformation under ASC/McLaren, a renowned tuning house involved in collaborative projects with GM before their eventual dissolution. ASC/McLaren integrated a larger turbocharger with a ceramic turbine, overhauled the ECU to extract more horsepower from the ported 3.8L V6 engine, and stiffened the rear suspension further to enhance straight-line traction. The boost levels were ramped up to 16 PSI in first gear, with the aim, as per internal marketing, of creating a limited-production Grand National that would etch a memorable legacy in the realm of high-performance automobiles, coveted by car collectors and unforgettable to automotive enthusiasts.

Unquestionably, the GNX was astonishingly rapid, achieving a 0-60 sprint in just 4.7 seconds and a breathtaking mid-13 second quarter-mile time, a performance that put it in league with the greatest supercars of its era. In a contemporary context, a factory car hitting the 13-second mark is praiseworthy; in 1987, it placed the GNX among the elite supercar ranks.

Beyond its exceptional performance, the dark Lear Sigler interior accents and performance-focused gauge cluster outfitted by ASC/McLaren, coupled with the already menacing blacked-out Grand National aesthetics, presented a truly intimidating sight. Numerous reviewers from that era likened it to a vehicle imagined by Darth Vader, a sentiment that encapsulated its formidable allure.Become the coolest individual in your region by owning one of these machines; it exudes an air of absolute intimidation and authority that could infuse even the most nerdy driver with a feeling of unparalleled stylishness.

A total of 547 units were officially produced and distributed to high-performing Buick dealers and auto retailers—once they managed to get their hands on one—firmly establishing it in the collective consciousness as one of the finest American automobiles ever manufactured; Buick succeeded in concluding the Grand National endeavor with a legacy. Buick has reintroduced turbocharged Regals in subsequent years, but nothing has ever matched the unadulterated shock and awe strategy of the GNX or the menacing design of the Grand National, and with the waning influence of NASCAR in the following decades, it is doubtful that we would witness something quite like it again.

However, they still exist, and if you are driving down a desolate highway at night in a Testarossa or a 911, confidently believing you can outpace anything you may come across, watch out for a blacked-out coupe with a turbo hum and four headlights. One of these might just relieve you of your cash.

Understanding your car’s tendencies, idiosyncrasies, and character can be self-taught, but you are not operating within a vacuum. A miscalculated braking moment or fixating on that tree over yonder could result in a dented bumper or substantial medical expenses. Why risk it when you can safely learn to maneuver your Grand National from the experts at Skip Barber Race Car Driving School?

The Drive has collaborated with Skip Barber, the renowned racing institution, to ensure that when you ignite your Grand National’s engine for the first time, you won’t find yourself careening into a ditch.

You have inquiries, The Drive has responses!

A. GM constructed 547 GNXes, all in 1987.

A. Hagerty’s valuation tool estimates the average selling price of a well-preserved Grand National today at approximately $22,000.

A. They had the option of being fitted with either T-Tops or a standard solid roof.

A. General Motors electronically capped them at 124 mph, apprehensive that higher velocities could lead to extreme instability of the car due to a lack of downforce and under-rated tires.

Discover more intriguing facts about the Grand National!

Enjoy this throwback review from Motorweek’s iconic John Davis when the GNX was fresh on the scene!

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