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1980s muscle prices the talk of the classic car community. We all know about the ridiculous prices being paid for ’60s and ’70s muscle cars, and there seems to be no end in sight—at least for the moment.
Well, certain ’80s muscle cars are now reaching stratospheric levels. We learned of a recent sale of a Buick
GNX, the specially modified Grand National built in 1987 by ASC McLaren. The reported number of these special GNs built is put at 547. They originally sold for about $29,000 or thereabouts. Most were put away and driven sparingly, or not at all.
We learned that serial number 547, reported to be three from the end of production, just changed hands privately for $150,000. No. 547 was reportedly sold by a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, man to someone in New Jersey, according to a Buick aficionado in the
know, Dennis Kirban, who knows more about these cars than just about anybody, says in his book Kirban’s Guide to 1986 and 1987 Buick Turbo Regals that GM kept GNX serial number 500. The GNX option added $10,995 to the regular price of a Grand National. Certainly, this car was the king of performance in the 1980s. This car in stock trim could run the quarter mile in 13.47 seconds at 104.38 mph. Zero to 60 was equally impressive, with times under 5.4 seconds, very good for nearly 20 years ago.
The Buick Turbo Cars from 1978-1987 are some of the finest looking and best running cars to come out of Michigan in many a year. The Grand Nationals from 1984 and up, have out ran just about everything at the
Dragstrip, in almost any class. Up until these Grand Nationals, big block power reigned supreme on the streets and the strip. The Grand Nationals have opened a few eyes to V6 Turbo Power.
The Buick Turbo cars from 1978 - 1987 are being collected by many enthusiasts. The reasons are many, but perhaps the main reason is the combination of luxury, awesome power and economy, all in one nice package. The 1984 - 1987 Grand Nationals represent the hallmark of these Buick Turbo Cars. The all-black exterior paint and the bulging hood reminds us of the muscle cars of the sixties and early seventies. The Turbo V6 engine, with all of its sophisticated components, makes us realize that technology, when applied in the right manner, can effectively substitute for cubic inches. (Introduction courtesy of the Facts and Figures Book)
There
were 90 of these cars purchased by the FBI for chase cars and they were,
supposedly, delivered without the high speed gas interrupter chip, the
chip that made them street legal. I never saw anything in print about
these cars, but my guess is that they exist, probably with the interrupter
chip reinstalled.
These
cars will only go up in value, so if you get a chance to add on to your
stable, my advice is to buy, store and keep! You maybe be able to retire
from the proceeds of one of these cars in 10 or 15 years if not sooner!
http://www.gnttype.org/
http://www.gnregistry.org/
http://gnregistry.netnet.net/members.phtml (Serial#'s)
Copyright 2007 KL Nichols
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