Dropping a few cylinders and pressurizing that six was a gamble that paid off, turned these cars into a legend... I always thought real GNX's were myths, Thanks for the ride!
You're absolutely correct. It's a shame it didn't have more development time - I'd have loved to see where the could've taken it if Buick had stayed with a rear-drive platform.
The House Of Muscle The Buick Engineers were pushing for methanol injection also but was deamed dangerous if a car accident . if you look closley and get the right reflection of light, one of the idiot lights on the right side of the dash is marked ¨power injection´ it would light up if they went through adding it. The GNX also had a ceramic turbo which has less mass and therefore spool alot quicker. the turbo exhaust housing also had a chamber to protect the exhaust blades from exhaust debris..
The House Of Muscle I guess the closest gm got to a successor would be the supercharged commodores (yes I know the l67 was available in the states but not in a rwd car and yes it was ment as a successor to the vl turbos)
The GNX lead way for GM experiments like the Syclone and Typhoon, and while I have never and will probably never see a real GNX in my lifetime, the spirit of an amazing 80's machine absolutely lived on into the 90's with some gnarly small trucks. Maybe do a video on one of them!
If you are in the North East Region, Mid September every year at Cecil County Dragway in MD MAGNA (Mid Atlantic Grand National Association) holds an event where at least a hundred Buicks come out to show and race, including GNXs. If you look in my uploads I covered last years even and plan on doing the same this year.
I'm a Mopar guy first but the 87 Buick GNX is definitely the coolest and fastest car of the 1980's. The regular Buick Grand National and the Regal T-Type are sweet rides too. The 89 Turbo Trans Am with the Buick 3.8 Turbo was a sweet ride too
My 76' Regal 3.8L just broke the 100thousand mile mark😎. Every part of the engine is still original with the factory blue paint. I was born w/a 70' Buick GS in the driveway and my daily driver is my 76' Regal. Buick✌️Bro
+2 SLAP IS 2 BASS Love them 1976-'77 2dr Regals. Coolest cars ever. So glad that I'm a proud owner of a 1:8 scale blue full-function radio-controlled replica of our family car (1977 Buick Regal). Bought it back in 2008. And because I've rarely driven it, it still works like brand new. I just LOVE that GM colonnade platform and body-style of the 1976-'77 Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass; etc. 👍👍👍
I have a 1985 grand-national i have a Edelbrock 350 Rocket 400 turbo transmission positive rear end 1,954 horse power and mine's not Black mine's Grey Real Regal Power😏
Back in the day my dad & Brother -n-law worked for GM. and my brother ordered the Grand National and I had a chance to drive it a couple of times. And my god... a straight Beast!!! Remember it did have the nickname Corvett killer. 👍🏾👍🏾
People give ford so much heat for using the 3.5 ecoboost in their performance vehicles, but many forget, one of the most baddest ass American performance car of all time was powered by a turbo v6. Gotta love the GN!
Charlie B I own a 2016 F150 2.7 and the truck does 0 to 60 starting in 2nd as quick as 1st gear. Before you say I’m wrong. Like the GN, the 2.7 make more boost in second than first. There’s a video on my channel.
yeah but it would be a 4cyl fwd or awd bubble car. Better to just let it be. Unless they can do like Chrysler did with the challenger PLUS bring back the real 3.8 v6......not interested.
Using the Camaro chassis and a turbo high feature they could. But then why buy a Cadillac? Or a Camaro as the Buick would have better interior than the Camaro and be just as fast if not faster than the ctsv at a lower price and it would look better than both.
@BiGDBO I don't get it.... Cus your brother got one, now you don't want it?🤔 That means you are only into cars because the attention they bring you? That's ....it don't make sense. Car guys like cars because they are expressed emotions on wheels, a symphony of parts that make a cohesive machine. The feeling of pushing that machine to it's limits and then using there brain and muscles and hands....and hammers ( has small full body shiver😏) to build it stronger and faster and meaner than the blowjob down the street that has a pussy stock version of your now badassed , mean machine 😈
The best looking car built in the ‘80s in my opinion. I have a 67 Camaro and a 68 SS Camaro, but my 87 GN with 35,000 miles is my favorite car. I’m fortunate to be the 2nd owner and have every original document from the original sale. The price on the window sticker is just over $19K. This is a great show, thanks for posting. I just saw an 87 GNX at an auto museum collection in Melbourne, Florida that is billed as the lowest mileage example in the world. There are 13 miles on the ODO.
Decent video but once again with misinformation. I own both an '87 GN and GNX #264 so I actually know the correct info. The GNX did NOT get a "bigger turbo" as many videos claim. What it did get was a modified turbocharger with a ceramic internal impeller which would spool up faster, along with a better intercooler with a GNX label sticker on top, a special coated up-pipe from the intercooler that was supposed to dissipate heat better along with an added transmission cooler in front of the radiator, functional fender vents, a modified transmission to handle the extra power, a different computer chip in the ECM along with the suspension mods shown in the video. It also received different size rims (16s instead of 15s) and wheel well extensions to accommodate the larger tires. Then it received aluminum bumper fillers both front and rear and aluminum rear drums for weight savings. Externally it had the hood bulge "3.8 Liter SFI" badges removed along with the side fender badges deleted and only front and rear badges remained showing "GNX". Then inside it has the Stewart Warner Gauges and the specific number of your GNX on the dash and the ASC sticker inside the driver's door. That's it!
@DavidMG 8487, Good info. Lucky you. I ran into a wealthy fella in Texas who owned 3 GNXs (one daily driver and two in Showroom, one had a very small ding on driver side door). I wish I had taken pics :( but have good memories as he drove me around the block in his daily driver :) Question: Why did Buick only produce 547 GNXs?? Peace.
Info correct. Basically heat kills horsepower! Maclaren forced cooler air into the intake creating higher numbers and with that they needed to transfer that power to the ground by supporting suspension at the rear. Simple but modest changes that made huge results. GM PLEASE RESURRECT MY DREAM CAR!
I have a 87 Turbo T WE4 (basically a lightweight Grand National completely blacked out exterior) I purchased it on February 25th 1987 paid in cash at Garden Buick in Garden city/Hempstead ny. My mom who worked 2 jobs actually lent my almost 18K to purchase my dream car which was the Grand National. But my mom surprised me with this offer when I got my license so we spent 2 days going to every Buick dealer in Brooklyn (my home), Long Island, Jersey, Connecticut, and Baltimore MD. Everyplace told my to “hang up the idea of buying and turbo regal off the floor” they are backordered and basically everyone tried to get me into a regular N/A 87 regal but I wasn’t hearing it. So we left our phone number with everyone we met at all the dealers. I was ready to give up and buy a used one. But my mom talked me into waiting a month to see it anyone locates a GN and calls. Keep in mind this was my first car so waiting wasn’t exactly easy to a high school senior lol. So on Wednesday February 25th we got a call from Garden Buick asking me to come and look at this turbo regal that they custom ordered for a customer who had to back out of it at the last minute. She kept saying it was a WE4 and I had no idea what that meant. So we went to see it and there was my Grand National (from 10’ away it looked just like a GN). So I spent 3 minutes looking at it and said yea this is my car. So I paid cash for it. And drove it home. A few weeks later I found out that 1987 produced 26k Grand National cars but only 1,547 WE4 edition cars. So I was double excited to have chosen that car. And my mom had this thing about holding on to all the papers, receipts, welcome to Buick letters, original bill of sale, pre delivery inspection report, and every invoice from every oil change I ever had and service, and she saved the window sticker. She was like trust me you’ll thank me later. So fast forward to 2018 I still have the car. It’s absolutely flawless and beautiful. After I retired from fdny I moved down to Florida and every show I enter it in I have always gone home with a prize or trophy. And omg the cash offers are crazy. I swear once I was offered 75grand cash right here in Florida at the turkey rod run in Daytona and it’s mostly because of its documentation. I mean I literally have every time someone put pen to paper regarding my car I have a copy of it. And all my numbers match. 100% stock with the exception of the mandatory mods needed to survive today’s fuels and driving. Like Alky control alcohol injection kit, AEM wideband, oil pressure, boost, water temp gauges, Walbro 255 fuel pump, 60lb injectors with a TT chip, lobed out cam with roller rockers, earl brown timing cover with HV oil pump, fuel pump Hotwire, scanmaster, and my original transmission was rebuilt to stage one with a few mods to enjoy and a 3100 stall lock up converter. But I’ll never sell that car. Even tho that was a loan from mommy I treated it like a real car note and I paid my monthly payment to me mom before I paid my rent lol. By 1992 I finally paid her off completely. She never took a dollar of interest. Rip mom 1940-1997 we love and miss you 😘 thank you for trusting me. Btw your granddaughter looks exactly like you. So about 10 years ago I bought a used 87 Grand National with a rod knock but the body was really nice. So I went all out with the build. Forged internals, ported polished heads with Manley intake and exhaust valves all around, Percision ball bearings 6262 turbo, terry Houston down pipe with external dump, 120lb injectors, AEM gauges, Alky control system, full stock interior, Kirban support brackets, rebuilt G80 LSD rear with stock size gears, FMIC, scanmaster, full air conditioning, lobed cam with rollers, GM LS1 maf sensor with translator. This winter I’m selling the stock ecu with all the piggy back mods and chip and going XFI computer. And I have a full stage 2 transmission with a L1 transbrake that I enjoy the most in conjunction with my 2step rev limiter on a launch lol. Well those are my GN cars. I love both of them to death. Especially my WE4 39k original miles on that girl. But point of mr story was I have never sat in a GNX. All the events I’ve attended I never had the opportunity to sit in one. I would love to go for a ride in one.
Mom always knows best. Awesome story, I much enjoyed it. I have an 87 GN, that I've had since 95. Bought it with 44,000 miles and now has 48,800 on it. Traded my 92 Typhoon for it. Almost lost it in a very bad--vengeful--divorce. Car went through hell, along with me. Giving it to my son eventually. He enjoyed it as a little boy. I think his heart is invested in it. Money isn't everything.
They were really great cars for the day and honestly, either would make a wonderful daily. I'd just upgrade the brakes and maybe do a little suspension work.
@@TheHouseOfMuscle yeah for sure my dream car! I'm too broke to afford a T type but I managed to buy an 88 fiero with a 3800 supercharged v6 and it honestly fills the void for me not being able to get a GN. Musto I would love to see you in a 3800sc fiero and give us your opinion on it. Thanks.
Still have my numbers-matching '87 GN. With a few tweaks. Nearly 200,000 miles on her, and she can still run 0-60 in under 5 sec, run high 11s in the quarter-mile, hit nearly 170 MPH on the Texas Motor Speedway in a top-end run, yet still get ~24 MPG on the highway if I keep my foot out of the turbo. :D
We had an 82 Sport Coupe - turbo'd V6. 84 was the first year of the SFI Turbo. We traded the 82 on a new sweet '85 white T-Type. Day and night difference.
Wow, Seeing a GNX/Grand national video never ceases to amaze me. I get goosebumps Everytime I see that black paint and and those beautiful body lines. I'm 35 now and since I can remember the GNX/Grand national are my dream cars. I love them so much. I literally came so close to buying one and drove it. But by the time I came back with the money it was sold. I cried so badly. And now with financial problems. I'll probably never get a chance to own one. But these great videos you make always bring tears of joy to me. #GreatChannel, #GreatVideo, # TheGoatOfCars
Don't worry... People used them for sure, I had the grand national back in 87, I saw so many Xs with rollbars, twinTurbo's, tubbed out wheel wells out back... And gutted interiors... If we still have 200 in one piece I would be amazed. They have almost been destroyed.
Thank you for this! I knew about the Grand Nationals, but I wasn't aware of the limited production GNX. Back in 1983 or 1984, one of the car magazines did a shootout with several cars including the Grand National and the Corvette for the same year, (probably a Crossfire Injection engine). It was the post-L82 body style of the 1970s after the transition to the wider, flatter Vette. The Buick kicked the Corvette's a$$ that year in every area of testing except the skid pad. As I recall, the Vette was nearly .94 Gs, but the GN soundly beat out every other car tested, in every other category except the skid pad test, where it came in second. The Corvette guys were pissed, and work began on the Tuned Port Injection 350 and what would become the LT-1 V8.
I have a love for these cars! Back when I was 15 and looking for my first car I spent so much time looking for a 60's era muscle car but couldn't afford one. I ended up settling for a 78 cutlass. I didn't really care for it until I saw fast and furious 4 when they showed a Grand National! All of the sudden I thought these g bodies were the coolest thing since sliced bread! Thanks for show casing it!
Terrific episode. In Cleveland, back then, GN’s were a rare sight. GNX’s were the things, legends were made of. No one drove them. All collected dust in some rich guys Garage or warehouse. OCD more mature friend had/has one. Cherished and babied. Thanks!!
What about the Buick Regal T-Type? You guys missed it or simply choose to ignore? The GN was not the sleeper, it was the T-Type Regal with vinyl roof and bench seat.
Try the 87 turbo Regal LIMITED for a sleeper, with that landau top and cushy split bench seats. (I know, that is ONE of my turbo Regals , Silver paint with blue landau top and blue Limited interior .)
Driven by granny and could smoke the tires off the line and beat nearly every car in its days. Buddy had one, beige with matching interior. But with enough mods to pull high 12's. on street tires.
I graduated HS in 1987. It was the sickest beast in existence. My cousin had one, but I've never ridden in one. My dream car. He keeps saying that they didn't make sense. I think they made perfect sense, visually. The 85 Hurst/Olds and 442 looked just as good, maybe better. They just had no power. They would make perfect LS6 swap. My favorite Pro Stock car of all time was Warren Johnson's Hurst/Olds.
I've always loved the Grand Nationals when they first came out. My first car was a blue 79 Buick Regal exactly the one that I've seen on this show. Thanks for the video.
One of my top ten cars I always wanted to own. I was lucky enough, back in 87. To work for a local automotive alarm and stereo chain store that the owner had an 86 GN and used it as the company car. I would have to run between stores across town in that car. So I got some seat time back in the day. It was GLORIOUS!
Don't forget the Regal Turbo, especially the slick roof bench seat version that had an aluminum front bumper and was about 600lbs lighter than a sunroof bucket seat GN. Having had one it proved to be an amazing stealth fighter.
I have been a Grand National fan since 1986. The GNX is my dream of any muscle car out there. Some upgrades to the GN would have the car doing 12.5 in the quarter mile. But the GNX is a true collector. Love them both.
Mike..first a HUGE thank you for this car...I am child of the 80's..to me this is the most baddest ass muscle car I have ever seen..seen ONE GNX in my lifetime..about pooped in myself at a car show..and sitting next to it was a 50th anniversary Trans AM/Firebird with this motor? Big fan of yours..keep up the great work!
I'm an '80s child and also had fond memories of the GN and lusted over the GNX. I have a vague no recollection of writing a paper in my senior year of high school (87-88) about the GNX. I also remember the power came on as described in the video - the few times I saw someone get on it hard from a stop sign in a GN, they would break the tires loose once it got to the other side of the intersection. I was pretty impressed that it would break the tires loose from a roll. Most 80s cars could barely squeak the tires from a dead stop, let alone roll into a burnout.
My first car was an 84 Regal with the 305. Loved it! Lost my liscence for 6 months when i was 17. Legend had it in 87 was that the GNX speedo changed colour and reset to zero once you maxed out so could still know how fast you were going after 140kmph with a little math. Wonder if that true?
Also in the mid 80’s Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme offered the H/O and 442 options, while the Monte Carlo offered the SS. While non of these are like the GN or GNX it just shows that something was up with the G body engineers.
Sad to see you leave motor trend but god damn your episodes still have the same magic and has not changed . Love this Episode and looking forward for new episodes
Hey what's happening those are awesome cars now it's going to be difficult to find one especially in this pandemic so thanks for sharing your videos 👋👍🤔🙂♥️
I started watching the video for the enjoyment of viewing the cars. I ended up with a damn midlife crisis from the very beginning with the naming of all of the 80s cartoons TV shows and video games. Thanks guys I really appreciate the midlife crisis moment.
The House Of Muscle all jokes aside, I'm not going to complain. At least I'm alive to have a crisis. If I could just get my hands on one of these Classics that I love so much I'd be okay.
Well put, thanks for the video. Both these cars are definite bucket list material. I got to ride in a real GNX when I was about 12 and it ruined me for Mustangs and Camaros forever. Epic car.
Love your show Mike - been watching you since your /Drive days and the Big Muscle show. Got a little nervous when I heard you were no longer with MTOD, soooo glad to see you are still doing your thing! Love the east coast vibe too - I'm originally from South Jersey near Philly - Go Eagles!
Have always loved the GN. This also made me have some fond memories of the '80 Regal I had around 1990-ish. It wasn't fast by any means but was such a nice car. I think even to date, it had the coldest A/C of any car I've owned.
FWIW, the Regal "sport coupe" started in 1978, with a 3.8L turbo, but it was carb'd, and had the turbo on the top of the engine, and even had a knock sensor and timing computer. That same engine was an option in the 80-81 Monte Carlo, as well.
0-60 specs are off, a regular 86/87 Grand national 0-60 in the 5 second range. The horsepower numbers were under rated. Theres a lot more to the Grand nationals and turbo buick cars in general this episode missed...... but it was fairly entertaining. I'll give it a thumbs up.
Nice....I bought a new gn in 87 and I was a terror...I've had 5 since and now have a gnx clone...had Cotton's performance build it to around 600 hp and all I can say is not much can keep up with me....it's crazy fast. It don't take much to open them up... putting in tubular top n bottom control arms now....there just striking cars..I draw a crowd wherever I go..gm should come out w a new one and rain supreme again.
I'm on my second one and there really is nothing to be gained by the other cars fuckin with us. ZR1s, Hellcats,Demons, GT500s, Ford GTs and ZL1's have everything to lose and nothing to gain by racing a late 70's V6 engine block in a mid 80's G-body. That's not bold, that's fact!
Missed a few other things about it like the 16X8 wheels/Gatorback tires. And his 0-60 times were way off! Other than that good video. And for those of you that commented about never will see one(GNX) or wanna see a sea of GN/GNX/89'Turbo T/A's just go to some of the Buick events across the country(GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Ky Oct 24-27 among many others) and you will see what these cars can really do with a few mods!:). Too bad this video didn't mention the "cult" following and how easy it was/is to do a few minor mods that would enable these cars to annihilate most every muscle car out there! :)
I have some crazy white Grand National decals on my toy box as a kid. My father worked at Buick in Flint. I don't know if they were from the pilot program at engineering or from old parts bins for the line. Dad would bring home all kinds of cool decals. I had turbo 6 emblems on my go-kart. The good old days.
The Buford episode!! /series. Its complete, HoM did My "Unicorn Car"! The GNX was just the icing on the cake IMHO...LC2 cars have gone up in price so much the last 8-10 years its nuts, I came pretty close back in 2010 to getting an '87 car that was in OK...One day... Thanks guys, LOVE the T/Regal cars, always will!
Back a few years ago (2008) I bought a Grand National as I couldnt come close to affording a GNX (I only paid 8,500 for the GN) threw some GNX rims on it and upgraded the stock turbo and inter cooler. I ended up getting about 330 hp 400 ft of torque. I got a hp boost but the torque stayed the same pretty much maybe a little gain....Point is I got better than GNX performance and looks for around 12k ....I should have held on to it based on the prices of GN's these days
Some time back in the early 80s a few engineers were on lunch break, talking about how they used to drive their fathers' hopped up Caprices, Skylarks, and 88s, which came with those big super-torquey engines. One of them casually drops that he and his team were investigating the performance possibilities of the 3.8 liter V6 with a turbo. Suddenly, all at once, they looked at each other, eyes widening, then slowly in unison they turned their gazes toward the ordinary non-descript Regal parked outside the window...
It's my understanding that Mclaren/ASC who was responsible for the GN-X are a completely different corporate entity from the Mclaren Group that is based in England and runs a Formula 1 team. The Mclaren that worked on the GN-X was a subsidiary of American Sunroof Corporation... ASC, also known as the company that made fancy T-Tops and convertibles for F-bodies in the 80's. It does have a connection to the F1 team, but only because both were founded by Bruce Mclaren. The Mclaren involved with the GN-X was founded by Bruce to build and run his Can-Am efforts in North America. After his death in 1970, the company split and the new Mclaren Racing Limited established itself in Formula 1 as perrenial contenders. The company left behind in Detroit did it's own thing. They both have a racing heritage, but the one involved in the GN had nothing to do with F1 racing.
Dropping a few cylinders and pressurizing that six was a gamble that paid off, turned these cars into a legend... I always thought real GNX's were myths, Thanks for the ride!
You're absolutely correct. It's a shame it didn't have more development time - I'd have loved to see where the could've taken it if Buick had stayed with a rear-drive platform.
The House Of Muscle The Buick Engineers were pushing for methanol injection also but was deamed dangerous if a car accident . if you look closley and get the right reflection of light, one of the idiot lights on the right side of the dash is marked ¨power injection´ it would light up if they went through adding it. The GNX also had a ceramic turbo which has less mass and therefore spool alot quicker. the turbo exhaust housing also had a chamber to protect the exhaust blades from exhaust debris..
The House Of Muscle I guess the closest gm got to a successor would be the supercharged commodores (yes I know the l67 was available in the states but not in a rwd car and yes it was ment as a successor to the vl turbos)
The GNX lead way for GM experiments like the Syclone and Typhoon, and while I have never and will probably never see a real GNX in my lifetime, the spirit of an amazing 80's machine absolutely lived on into the 90's with some gnarly small trucks. Maybe do a video on one of them!
If you are in the North East Region, Mid September every year at Cecil County Dragway in MD MAGNA (Mid Atlantic Grand National Association) holds an event where at least a hundred Buicks come out to show and race, including GNXs. If you look in my uploads I covered last years even and plan on doing the same this year.
There was also a turbo trans am ,89 if memory serves me, before the Syclone or Typhoon
4x4cRiSpY they had the 4.3 .. AWD and weighed about 200 lbs less
4x4cRiSpY and you forgot the 20'th anniversary Trans Am.. Basically a GTA with a turbo LC2 AKA the GNX engine...
Come to the woodward dreamcruise in MI you'll see a few
I'm a Mopar guy first but the 87 Buick GNX is definitely the coolest and fastest car of the 1980's. The regular Buick Grand National and the Regal T-Type are sweet rides too. The 89 Turbo Trans Am with the Buick 3.8 Turbo was a sweet ride too
My 76' Regal 3.8L just broke the 100thousand mile mark😎. Every part of the engine is still original with the factory blue paint. I was born w/a 70' Buick GS in the driveway and my daily driver is my 76' Regal. Buick✌️Bro
+2 SLAP IS 2 BASS
Love them 1976-'77 2dr Regals. Coolest cars ever.
So glad that I'm a proud owner of a 1:8 scale blue full-function radio-controlled replica of our family car (1977 Buick Regal). Bought it back in 2008. And because I've rarely driven it, it still works like brand new.
I just LOVE that GM colonnade platform and body-style of the 1976-'77 Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass; etc. 👍👍👍
I daily drive a 80 regal ls swapped . Ran the original 4.3 v8 to the ground and restored it and now its sits in my living room , freshly painted
I have a 1985 grand-national i have a Edelbrock 350 Rocket 400 turbo transmission positive rear end 1,954 horse power and mine's not Black mine's Grey Real Regal Power😏
Tremain Smith 1985 lol
I would like to own a 2008 buick lacrosse super 5.3 300 hp stock.
Back in the day my dad & Brother -n-law worked for GM. and my brother ordered the Grand National and I had a chance to drive it a couple of times. And my god... a straight Beast!!! Remember it did have the nickname Corvett killer. 👍🏾👍🏾
People give ford so much heat for using the 3.5 ecoboost in their performance vehicles, but many forget, one of the most baddest ass American performance car of all time was powered by a turbo v6. Gotta love the GN!
Very true statement right there.
it's a ford who cares
Charlie B I own a 2016 F150 2.7 and the truck does 0 to 60 starting in 2nd as quick as 1st gear. Before you say I’m wrong. Like the GN, the 2.7 make more boost in second than first. There’s a video on my channel.
@Charlie B Then there's the fact that they are big piles of depreciating junk.......
Ford is a joke. Only reason people pay attention is Carroll Shelby.
If only buick would bring the grand national back 😢
yeah but it would be a 4cyl fwd or awd bubble car. Better to just let it be. Unless they can do like Chrysler did with the challenger PLUS bring back the real 3.8 v6......not interested.
I thought they were going too?
Using the Camaro chassis and a turbo high feature they could. But then why buy a Cadillac? Or a Camaro as the Buick would have better interior than the Camaro and be just as fast if not faster than the ctsv at a lower price and it would look better than both.
@BiGDBO I don't get it....
Cus your brother got one, now you don't want it?🤔 That means you are only into cars because the attention they bring you? That's ....it don't make sense.
Car guys like cars because they are expressed emotions on wheels, a symphony of parts that make a cohesive machine. The feeling of pushing that machine to it's limits and then using there brain and muscles and hands....and hammers ( has small full body shiver😏) to build it stronger and faster and meaner than the blowjob down the street that has a pussy stock version of your now badassed , mean machine 😈
They kinda have test drive a new Regal RS!
Finally a new episode. Mike, you´ve been missed dearly! Love the show!
Thank you man!
The House Of Muscle Mike, How do I send you info on my car?
The best looking car built in the ‘80s in my opinion. I have a 67 Camaro and a 68 SS Camaro, but my 87 GN with 35,000 miles is my favorite car. I’m fortunate to be the 2nd owner and have every original document from the original sale. The price on the window sticker is just over $19K. This is a great show, thanks for posting. I just saw an 87 GNX at an auto museum collection in Melbourne, Florida that is billed as the lowest mileage example in the world. There are 13 miles on the ODO.
Decent video but once again with misinformation. I own both an '87 GN and GNX #264 so I actually know the correct info. The GNX did NOT get a "bigger turbo" as many videos claim. What it did get was a modified turbocharger with a ceramic internal impeller which would spool up faster, along with a better intercooler with a GNX label sticker on top, a special coated up-pipe from the intercooler that was supposed to dissipate heat better along with an added transmission cooler in front of the radiator, functional fender vents, a modified transmission to handle the extra power, a different computer chip in the ECM along with the suspension mods shown in the video. It also received different size rims (16s instead of 15s) and wheel well extensions to accommodate the larger tires. Then it received aluminum bumper fillers both front and rear and aluminum rear drums for weight savings. Externally it had the hood bulge "3.8 Liter SFI" badges removed along with the side fender badges deleted and only front and rear badges remained showing "GNX". Then inside it has the Stewart Warner Gauges and the specific number of your GNX on the dash and the ASC sticker inside the driver's door. That's it!
DavidMG 8487 Awesome information! You're a lucky guy to have both! Still my dream car.. GNX definitely in my near future!
@DavidMG 8487, Good info. Lucky you. I ran into a wealthy fella in Texas who owned 3 GNXs (one daily driver and two in Showroom, one had a very small ding on driver side door). I wish I had taken pics :( but have good memories as he drove me around the block in his daily driver :) Question: Why did Buick only produce 547 GNXs?? Peace.
Plus a bigger intercooler
Info correct. Basically heat kills horsepower! Maclaren forced cooler air into the intake creating higher numbers and with that they needed to transfer that power to the ground by supporting suspension at the rear. Simple but modest changes that made huge results. GM PLEASE RESURRECT MY DREAM CAR!
As a previous owner and specialist at Dynotech, I can confirm what this man says is true ☝🏻
welcome back mike. we missed you brother.
Thanks Bruno!
The House Of Muscle I missed your New York style!
Thank you
The 80's were awesome! Love those Buicks.
I have a 87 Turbo T WE4 (basically a lightweight Grand National completely blacked out exterior) I purchased it on February 25th 1987 paid in cash at Garden Buick in Garden city/Hempstead ny. My mom who worked 2 jobs actually lent my almost 18K to purchase my dream car which was the Grand National. But my mom surprised me with this offer when I got my license so we spent 2 days going to every Buick dealer in Brooklyn (my home), Long Island, Jersey, Connecticut, and Baltimore MD. Everyplace told my to “hang up the idea of buying and turbo regal off the floor” they are backordered and basically everyone tried to get me into a regular N/A 87 regal but I wasn’t hearing it.
So we left our phone number with everyone we met at all the dealers. I was ready to give up and buy a used one. But my mom talked me into waiting a month to see it anyone locates a GN and calls. Keep in mind this was my first car so waiting wasn’t exactly easy to a high school senior lol.
So on Wednesday February 25th we got a call from Garden Buick asking me to come and look at this turbo regal that they custom ordered for a customer who had to back out of it at the last minute. She kept saying it was a WE4 and I had no idea what that meant. So we went to see it and there was my Grand National (from 10’ away it looked just like a GN). So I spent 3 minutes looking at it and said yea this is my car. So I paid cash for it. And drove it home. A few weeks later I found out that 1987 produced 26k Grand National cars but only 1,547 WE4 edition cars. So I was double excited to have chosen that car. And my mom had this thing about holding on to all the papers, receipts, welcome to Buick letters, original bill of sale, pre delivery inspection report, and every invoice from every oil change I ever had and service, and she saved the window sticker. She was like trust me you’ll thank me later. So fast forward to 2018 I still have the car. It’s absolutely flawless and beautiful. After I retired from fdny I moved down to Florida and every show I enter it in I have always gone home with a prize or trophy. And omg the cash offers are crazy. I swear once I was offered 75grand cash right here in Florida at the turkey rod run in Daytona and it’s mostly because of its documentation. I mean I literally have every time someone put pen to paper regarding my car I have a copy of it. And all my numbers match. 100% stock with the exception of the mandatory mods needed to survive today’s fuels and driving. Like Alky control alcohol injection kit, AEM wideband, oil pressure, boost, water temp gauges, Walbro 255 fuel pump, 60lb injectors with a TT chip, lobed out cam with roller rockers, earl brown timing cover with HV oil pump, fuel pump Hotwire, scanmaster, and my original transmission was rebuilt to stage one with a few mods to enjoy and a 3100 stall lock up converter. But I’ll never sell that car. Even tho that was a loan from mommy I treated it like a real car note and I paid my monthly payment to me mom before I paid my rent lol. By 1992 I finally paid her off completely. She never took a dollar of interest.
Rip mom 1940-1997 we love and miss you 😘 thank you for trusting me. Btw your granddaughter looks exactly like you.
So about 10 years ago I bought a used 87 Grand National with a rod knock but the body was really nice. So I went all out with the build. Forged internals, ported polished heads with Manley intake and exhaust valves all around, Percision ball bearings 6262 turbo, terry Houston down pipe with external dump, 120lb injectors, AEM gauges, Alky control system, full stock interior, Kirban support brackets, rebuilt G80 LSD rear with stock size gears, FMIC, scanmaster, full air conditioning, lobed cam with rollers, GM LS1 maf sensor with translator. This winter I’m selling the stock ecu with all the piggy back mods and chip and going XFI computer. And I have a full stage 2 transmission with a L1 transbrake that I enjoy the most in conjunction with my 2step rev limiter on a launch lol.
Well those are my GN cars. I love both of them to death. Especially my WE4 39k original miles on that girl.
But point of mr story was I have never sat in a GNX. All the events I’ve attended I never had the opportunity to sit in one. I would love to go for a ride in one.
DJ Tech12zz I wish I had a mom like that you’re a very lucky man may she Rest In Peace.
Mom always knows best. Awesome story, I much enjoyed it. I have an 87 GN, that I've had since 95. Bought it with 44,000 miles and now has 48,800 on it. Traded my 92 Typhoon for it. Almost lost it in a very bad--vengeful--divorce. Car went through hell, along with me. Giving it to my son eventually. He enjoyed it as a little boy. I think his heart is invested in it. Money isn't everything.
God, this had to be one of the most entertaining THOM episodes in ages. Mike, it really looks like you were having fun with this one.
They were really great cars for the day and honestly, either would make a wonderful daily. I'd just upgrade the brakes and maybe do a little suspension work.
@@TheHouseOfMuscle yeah for sure my dream car!
I'm too broke to afford a T type but I managed to buy an 88 fiero with a 3800 supercharged v6 and it honestly fills the void for me not being able to get a GN.
Musto I would love to see you in a 3800sc fiero and give us your opinion on it. Thanks.
Still have my numbers-matching '87 GN. With a few tweaks. Nearly 200,000 miles on her, and she can still run 0-60 in under 5 sec, run high 11s in the quarter-mile, hit nearly 170 MPH on the Texas Motor Speedway in a top-end run, yet still get ~24 MPG on the highway if I keep my foot out of the turbo. :D
That's awesome where are you located?
We had an 82 Sport Coupe - turbo'd V6. 84 was the first year of the SFI Turbo. We traded the 82 on a new sweet '85 white T-Type. Day and night difference.
Mike this is one of the best shows!! You come across crystal clear the way you explain the cars. Keep them coming bud! ✌️
Thanks man. Appreciate it.
Back then i work at a buick dealership and we had one for dealer prep. It was so fast even with every tech we had cramed in it . So fun .
How did I miss this Gem of a video
Wow, Seeing a GNX/Grand national video never ceases to amaze me. I get goosebumps Everytime I see that black paint and and those beautiful body lines. I'm 35 now and since I can remember the GNX/Grand national are my dream cars. I love them so much. I literally came so close to buying one and drove it. But by the time I came back with the money it was sold. I cried so badly. And now with financial problems. I'll probably never get a chance to own one. But these great videos you make always bring tears of joy to me. #GreatChannel, #GreatVideo, # TheGoatOfCars
What's this? A GNX not in a plastic bubble in a guy's living room?
They're no good if you don't use them. People forget that car WANT to be driven. Keep them sealed up and they'll just rot away...
Exactly.
Weird..
Damn straight. Breaks my heart to see cars just sitting ...... drive them damn it ! You only live once .
Don't worry... People used them for sure, I had the grand national back in 87, I saw so many Xs with rollbars, twinTurbo's, tubbed out wheel wells out back... And gutted interiors... If we still have 200 in one piece I would be amazed. They have almost been destroyed.
Thank you for this! I knew about the Grand Nationals, but I wasn't aware of the limited production GNX. Back in 1983 or 1984, one of the car magazines did a shootout with several cars including the Grand National and the Corvette for the same year, (probably a Crossfire Injection engine). It was the post-L82 body style of the 1970s after the transition to the wider, flatter Vette. The Buick kicked the Corvette's a$$ that year in every area of testing except the skid pad. As I recall, the Vette was nearly .94 Gs, but the GN soundly beat out every other car tested, in every other category except the skid pad test, where it came in second. The Corvette guys were pissed, and work began on the Tuned Port Injection 350 and what would become the LT-1 V8.
I have a love for these cars! Back when I was 15 and looking for my first car I spent so much time looking for a 60's era muscle car but couldn't afford one. I ended up settling for a 78 cutlass. I didn't really care for it until I saw fast and furious 4 when they showed a Grand National! All of the sudden I thought these g bodies were the coolest thing since sliced bread! Thanks for show casing it!
Terrific episode. In Cleveland, back then, GN’s were a rare sight. GNX’s were the things, legends were made of. No one drove them. All collected dust in some rich guys Garage or warehouse.
OCD more mature friend had/has one. Cherished and babied. Thanks!!
What about the Buick Regal T-Type? You guys missed it or simply choose to ignore? The GN was not the sleeper, it was the T-Type Regal with vinyl roof and bench seat.
Try the 87 turbo Regal LIMITED for a sleeper, with that landau top and cushy split bench seats. (I know, that is ONE of my turbo Regals , Silver paint with blue landau top and blue Limited interior .)
Driven by granny and could smoke the tires off the line and beat nearly every car in its days. Buddy had one, beige with matching interior. But with enough mods to pull high 12's. on street tires.
My ‘87 turbo regal still fucks with these new cars.
With the t-tops.
@BiGDBO I would be very happy with any t type tbh
I graduated HS in 1987. It was the sickest beast in existence. My cousin had one, but I've never ridden in one. My dream car. He keeps saying that they didn't make sense. I think they made perfect sense, visually. The 85 Hurst/Olds and 442 looked just as good, maybe better. They just had no power. They would make perfect LS6 swap. My favorite Pro Stock car of all time was Warren Johnson's Hurst/Olds.
I've always loved the Grand Nationals when they first came out. My first car was a blue 79 Buick Regal exactly the one that I've seen on this show. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Pete for supplying the GNX !that's on our bucket list. My wife and I at least wanna own a grand national.
My first car in High School. Got a Grand National for my 16th Birthday. WHAT A TIME!
Glad I searched UA-cam. Was still waiting for a new episode on MTOD. Sharing with buddies.
Thanks man! and make sure to tell them to subscribe!
I must admit, I still love building model cars. Since I was in Elementary, this is my favorite car of all time. Especially in 1987.
One of my top ten cars I always wanted to own. I was lucky enough, back in 87. To work for a local automotive alarm and stereo chain store that the owner had an 86 GN and used it as the company car. I would have to run between stores across town in that car. So I got some seat time back in the day. It was GLORIOUS!
Stitching on the seat looks like a Jiffy Lube emblem 😃. Great vid, House of Muscle.
Don't forget the Regal Turbo, especially the slick roof bench seat version that had an aluminum front bumper and was about 600lbs lighter than a sunroof bucket seat GN. Having had one it proved to be an amazing stealth fighter.
Oh absolutely. A nice T-Type in light blue with a cush seat? We'll take that all day long!
I wouldn't mind an 87 Limited Turbo. Landau Top, Pillow Top Bench seats, column shift! Hell yeah. Ultimate grandma sleeper.
Silver with the blue crush!!!!
We have an 87 with a tick over 28,000 miles. DRIVE YOUR HERO CARS PEOPLE!!
Exactly.
I’ve been watching this video for years ! Love it
Whoa! I wondered if Mike left MTOD/TEN, but I guess this is proof positive. Love the show!
Yup. We are no longer with MTOD and every new episode you see will premier right here and will always be free!
Mike if you are ever in MD Cecil County area, I have a pretty sick group of Buick I know you will have a blast checking out!
Great job, Mike. Did the right thing to springboard off MOTD for S1, but even better holding onto the show as your own for S2.
It's not easy but we're trying. And thank you!
Anytime. Is first-run syndication an option as well? I hope there are others willing to pick it up other than Discovery/Extreme Ventures.
Should have interviewd Ken Duttwieler or the Conleys....They took this car to a level never before seen,
Good to see a new episode Mike! And about time someone featured a GN and GNX! Great choice!
Thank you! We're working on getting more up shortly so make sure to subscribe for updates!
Awesome!! Always my favorite car! I wanted one so bad! Glad to see you checked it off your list!! Bam!!
Holy crap I used to love this series when it was on MTOD . Glad I stumbled on to it here!
Thanks Allen. Just make sure to subscribe so we can keep you updated!
Yes!!! Why I bought my 79 turbo regal. These cars are the best sleepers. Love that boost meter!!
I have been waiting for this video forever!!! I love my Buick so much I started to make videos about it lol
Yea you did lol ! Your vids are great by the way.
Thank You!
VenomGT87 why didn’t he say anything about the Brakes? I’m using the dodge version of the hydraulic booster master cylinder ;) and I like it
I don't think it was within the intent of the video.
VenomGT87 but he did point out different parts that makes it different from the “ granny version “
Great episode with an awesome intro!! Thanks!
I have been a Grand National fan since 1986. The GNX is my dream of any muscle car out there. Some upgrades to the GN would have the car doing 12.5 in the quarter mile. But the GNX is a true collector. Love them both.
Mike..first a HUGE thank you for this car...I am child of the 80's..to me this is the most baddest ass muscle car I have ever seen..seen ONE GNX in my lifetime..about pooped in myself at a car show..and sitting next to it was a 50th anniversary Trans AM/Firebird with this motor? Big fan of yours..keep up the great work!
Thanks man!
I'm an '80s child and also had fond memories of the GN and lusted over the GNX. I have a vague no recollection of writing a paper in my senior year of high school (87-88) about the GNX.
I also remember the power came on as described in the video - the few times I saw someone get on it hard from a stop sign in a GN, they would break the tires loose once it got to the other side of the intersection. I was pretty impressed that it would break the tires loose from a roll. Most 80s cars could barely squeak the tires from a dead stop, let alone roll into a burnout.
Glad to see this show back!
My first car was an 84 Regal with the 305. Loved it! Lost my liscence for 6 months when i was 17. Legend had it in 87 was that the GNX speedo changed colour and reset to zero once you maxed out so could still know how fast you were going after 140kmph with a little math. Wonder if that true?
Also in the mid 80’s Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme offered the H/O and 442 options, while the Monte Carlo offered the SS. While non of these are like the GN or GNX it just shows that something was up with the G body engineers.
They were heros without capes. G-Bodys 4 life.
Sad to see you leave motor trend but god damn your episodes still have the same magic and has not changed . Love this Episode and looking forward for new episodes
Thank you Michael
Missed you man! Glad to watch the show again. One of my favorite shows to sneak at work.
Very cool - and we'll keep 'em coming so you don't have to work as hard.
Both cars are so clean! Love them.
How could this be disliked? Wow!
Hey what's happening those are awesome cars now it's going to be difficult to find one especially in this pandemic so thanks for sharing your videos 👋👍🤔🙂♥️
Killer work guys, keep 'em coming!
A GNX that's actually driven? Talk about rare!!
Those mufflers did come off of a 442. My 86 442 had those same mufflers on it when I got it.
Obviously these guys didn’t see the documentary “Black Air”
..'black air' what a great documentary!
Awesome documentary, just finished watching it.
I started watching the video for the enjoyment of viewing the cars. I ended up with a damn midlife crisis from the very beginning with the naming of all of the 80s cartoons TV shows and video games. Thanks guys I really appreciate the midlife crisis moment.
Welcome to my life!
The House Of Muscle all jokes aside, I'm not going to complain. At least I'm alive to have a crisis. If I could just get my hands on one of these Classics that I love so much I'd be okay.
Love that intro! Great to finally learn the hardware differences between GN and GNX. That was fun; keep em coming, Mike!
Thanks Bud!
Well put, thanks for the video. Both these cars are definite bucket list material. I got to ride in a real GNX when I was about 12 and it ruined me for Mustangs and Camaros forever. Epic car.
I'm not an 80's fan but I love these.
Love this car my brother had two of these, sold them both now I can't find one, smh.
Love my 87 gn would never sell it too precious of a car time capsule
Love your show Mike - been watching you since your /Drive days and the Big Muscle show. Got a little nervous when I heard you were no longer with MTOD, soooo glad to see you are still doing your thing! Love the east coast vibe too - I'm originally from South Jersey near Philly - Go Eagles!
Thank you Sir. And really appreciate the support!
Have always loved the GN. This also made me have some fond memories of the '80 Regal I had around 1990-ish. It wasn't fast by any means but was such a nice car. I think even to date, it had the coldest A/C of any car I've owned.
Thanks for the rad show
Man, am I glad to see you're still out there making good content. Subscribed and looking forward to seeing what you do next!
Appreciate it Kevin - thank you.
FWIW, the Regal "sport coupe" started in 1978, with a 3.8L turbo, but it was carb'd, and had the turbo on the top of the engine, and even had a knock sensor and timing computer. That same engine was an option in the 80-81 Monte Carlo, as well.
This is the one car that proved how good the G-Body platform is. I love the GNs. I'd even be happy with the Regal T-type but these are great cars.
0-60 specs are off, a regular 86/87 Grand national 0-60 in the 5 second range. The horsepower numbers were under rated. Theres a lot more to the Grand nationals and turbo buick cars in general this episode missed...... but it was fairly entertaining. I'll give it a thumbs up.
Ocean Parkway baby! Used to race against these cars on Deer Park Ave - RT 231 all the time. Freaking fast!
This video made me a subscriber, excellent video.
My 2nd favorite car in the world! ❤ These cars were the Hellcats of the 80's!
Nice....I bought a new gn in 87 and I was a terror...I've had 5 since and now have a gnx clone...had Cotton's performance build it to around 600 hp and all I can say is not much can keep up with me....it's crazy fast.
It don't take much to open them up... putting in tubular top n bottom control arms now....there just striking cars..I draw a crowd wherever I go..gm should come out w a new one and rain supreme again.
I'm on my second one and there really is nothing to be gained by the other cars fuckin with us. ZR1s, Hellcats,Demons, GT500s, Ford GTs and ZL1's have everything to lose and nothing to gain by racing a late 70's V6 engine block in a mid 80's G-body. That's not bold, that's fact!
Mike, thanks for leaving motor trend!
these were all over long island in the 80's and are stashed in many a garage today
This came up in my recommended. I enjoyed watching you on drive and Mt. And now am subscribed. Keep up the good work Mike!
Really appreciate it! Thank you Theodore!
Missed a few other things about it like the 16X8 wheels/Gatorback tires. And his 0-60 times were way off! Other than that good video. And for those of you that commented about never will see one(GNX) or wanna see a sea of GN/GNX/89'Turbo T/A's just go to some of the Buick events across the country(GS Nationals in Bowling Green, Ky Oct 24-27 among many others) and you will see what these cars can really do with a few mods!:). Too bad this video didn't mention the "cult" following and how easy it was/is to do a few minor mods that would enable these cars to annihilate most every muscle car out there! :)
I have some crazy white Grand National decals on my toy box as a kid. My father worked at Buick in Flint. I don't know if they were from the pilot program at engineering or from old parts bins for the line. Dad would bring home all kinds of cool decals. I had turbo 6 emblems on my go-kart. The good old days.
Must've had some great stories
The Buford episode!! /series. Its complete, HoM did My "Unicorn Car"! The GNX was just the icing on the cake IMHO...LC2 cars have gone up in price so much the last 8-10 years its nuts, I came pretty close back in 2010 to getting an '87 car that was in OK...One day...
Thanks guys, LOVE the T/Regal cars, always will!
Used to cruise with Pete back in the 80s/90s on Long Island. He was a Mustang guy back then!
You're telling me you were here on Long Island and I didn't know it? come on!
NY for life!!
Great video Mike. Thanks for doing it . I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks!
Back a few years ago (2008) I bought a Grand National as I couldnt come close to affording a GNX (I only paid 8,500 for the GN) threw some GNX rims on it and upgraded the stock turbo and inter cooler. I ended up getting about 330 hp 400 ft of torque. I got a hp boost but the torque stayed the same pretty much maybe a little gain....Point is I got better than GNX performance and looks for around 12k ....I should have held on to it based on the prices of GN's these days
I remember reading some where towards the cars end people were begging dealers to order this car. Dealers didn't know what to do with this car.
my buddy in high schools dad had an 87 grand national. It was awesome it was the car that made me only have turbocharged vehicles
I wanted one of these so bad..
Great video. As a Big Buick guy I would like to own one of these.
This car deserves a respectable comeback as the later Toyota Supra has gotten.
the 80s where dope
Best car ever my dad has an 87 Grand National
Man i would absolutely love to have both a Gran National and a GNX
Some time back in the early 80s a few engineers were on lunch break, talking about how they used to drive their fathers' hopped up Caprices, Skylarks, and 88s, which came with those big super-torquey engines. One of them casually drops that he and his team were investigating the performance possibilities of the 3.8 liter V6 with a turbo.
Suddenly, all at once, they looked at each other, eyes widening, then slowly in unison they turned their gazes toward the ordinary non-descript Regal parked outside the window...
My first car in Need For Speed payback :)
I seen a gnx a couple towns away from where I live. He just has it parked in his backyard still has the interior and original wheels.
Always wanted at least the grand national, unfortunately I'll never be able to afford a GNX
tHoM delivers as usual, thanks guys!
You got it!
It's my understanding that Mclaren/ASC who was responsible for the GN-X are a completely different corporate entity from the Mclaren Group that is based in England and runs a Formula 1 team. The Mclaren that worked on the GN-X was a subsidiary of American Sunroof Corporation... ASC, also known as the company that made fancy T-Tops and convertibles for F-bodies in the 80's. It does have a connection to the F1 team, but only because both were founded by Bruce Mclaren. The Mclaren involved with the GN-X was founded by Bruce to build and run his Can-Am efforts in North America. After his death in 1970, the company split and the new Mclaren Racing Limited established itself in Formula 1 as perrenial contenders. The company left behind in Detroit did it's own thing. They both have a racing heritage, but the one involved in the GN had nothing to do with F1 racing.