1987 Buick Grand National

Description

Falling solidly in the "survivor" category, this remarkably well-maintained and super clean 1987 Buick Grand National hasn't been abused, raced, or otherwise mistreated. Instead, it shows just 46,087 original miles and has been maintained by three conscientious owners who always treated it as something of value. With the market for these cars growing each year, it's getting harder and harder to find one that hasn't been modified.

These cars were sinister when they were new, and even today seeing one of these blown Buicks prowling the streets fills a car guy with excitement. The blacked-out trim, the bulging hood, and the simple ducktail spoiler all give this car a look that demands respect. That's original paint, yet it looks a lot younger than its 25 years would suggest. The nose shows almost no signs of having been driven, and unlike cars that have been on the track, the lower rocker panels and quarters haven't been sandblasted by rocks thrown by sticky racing slicks. These cars seem to have better initial paint quality than most GM cars of the period, so there's very little orange peel and the paint still carries a great shine that indicates someone has been buffing and polishing it regularly.

This GN also carries two-tone bucket seats with embroidered headrests, transforming the formal Regal interior to something a bit more appropriate. The original seats remain in exemplary condition, with no major wear in the high-traffic areas like the driver's side bolster. Gauges are basic, although engineers managed to stick a bar-graph tachometer and boost gauge in the lower corner of the speedometer, both of which you'll enjoy watching as the potent V6 builds power. As a Buick, the GN was loaded with just about every comfort and convenience feature you could throw at a car, including A/C, power windows, power locks, a tilt wheel, and a center console. The headliner remains taut, a problem with cars of this vintage that this one has avoided, and the neatly preserved trunk still carries its original space-saver spare.

The 3.8 liter turbocharged V6 is legendary, and while it's possible to make giant horsepower with just a few bolt-on modifications, the car's three previous owners were able to resist the horsepower siren's call of a bigger turbo and revised computer programming. The original components remain intact, including all the turbocharger hardware and fuel system, two things that were often modified almost immediately. The engine bay is nicely preserved, and it's easy to tell that enthusiasts have owned this one, because even things like the hoses and clamps are still the original style. Underneath, it's just as clean, and the 4-speed automatic transmission still upshifts almost imperceptibly and downshifts with authority when the boost comes up. And while alloys were available on the GN, the brutal chrome steel wheels are often preferred by enthusiasts, with these wearing relatively recent General performance radials.

Documented with the original bill of sale, service manuals, and prior title paperwork, this Grand National is surprisingly affordable...for now. Call today!