Of all of the cars that have worn the Tri-Shield emblem, only three really need no introduction. In order, they are the 1970 GSX, the 1984-87 Grand National, and the 1987 only GNX. All three showcase what happens when Buick, the stodgy, more old-school luxury than anything brand of General Motors, gets a wild hair in a funny location and throws caution to the wind, and all three are breathtaking performers for their time period. The GSX may have looked like a colorful Skylark with a wing and a chin spoiler, but 510 ft/lbs of torque from the 455ci V8 would put any of Detroit’s hot rods on red alert. The GNX was a contract job with ASC/McLaren as a final farewell to the G-body…or it was a huge 276hp middle finger to GM management as a whole, it’s difficult to tell for sure. And the Grand National was the car that inspired the bad behavior in Buick in the 1980s. All black, all business, and in the hands of tuners like Kenny Duttweiler and others, all conquering…many a victim fell hook, line and sinker to the trolling of “it’s just a V6”.
Regular Car Reviews managed to find a nice 1986 version to take around for a drive, and from start to finish, you can tell the Buick V6 charm has taken hold. So much so, in fact, that the end of the video has a plea: Will someone let him drive one of the 547 Buick GNXs? And we will echo this: someone, please let this guy behind the wheel of a GNX. After crawling through Toyota Echos and Honda Fits, Mr. Regular could use a good scare behind the wheel.
This is the only GM product I would ever consider owning!
For the dark side is strong in this one – hhhhhhhhhrrrrrrr!
Worked at a Chevy Buick dealership in Avon CT from 81-87. The hot air cars ran like a healthy 350 in the Regal, but once the intercooled cars came out, you looked at Corvettes and just laughed.
Hell – you looked at everything and laughed, and went looking for Turbo Porsches, just to see what would happen…….
I have an irresistible compulsion to build a turbo LSX Grand National clone. I might even pain it in a metallic yellow GSX stage 1 paint job. Sick!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him so happy.