Bad to the Bones: Buick Grand National & Buick GNX 

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. 👍🏾👍🏾

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

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!

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!

ASC McLaren & McLaren Automotive are two completely different companies. ASC Stands for American Sunroof Corporation. They were contracted by car manufactures to install things like sunroofs, body kits, and in this case turbo charger kits.

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.

If only buick would bring the grand national back 😢

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!

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.

The 80's were awesome! Love those Buicks.

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 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.

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.

Finally a new episode. Mike, you´ve been missed dearly! Love the show!

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 .

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.

How did I miss this Gem of a video

Should have interviewd Ken Duttwieler or the Conleys....They took this car to a level never before seen,

Mike this is one of the best shows!! You come across crystal clear the way you explain the cars. Keep them coming bud! ✌️

welcome back mike. we missed you brother.

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.

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!

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.

Love my 87 gn would never sell it too precious of a car time capsule

We have an 87 with a tick over 28,000 miles. DRIVE YOUR HERO CARS PEOPLE!!

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!

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!

Awesome!! Always my favorite car! I wanted one so bad! Glad to see you checked it off your list!! Bam!!

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

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.

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.

Great episode with an awesome intro!! 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

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!!

Stitching on the seat looks like a Jiffy Lube emblem 😃. Great vid, House of Muscle.

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 RU-vid. Was still waiting for a new episode on MTOD. Sharing with buddies.

Good to see a new episode Mike! And about time someone featured a GN and GNX! Great choice!

Missed you man! Glad to watch the show again. One of my favorite shows to sneak at work.

Killer work guys, keep 'em coming!

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.

Man, am I glad to see you're still out there making good content. Subscribed and looking forward to seeing what you do next!

I’ve been watching this video for years ! Love it

Yes!!! Why I bought my 79 turbo regal. These cars are the best sleepers. Love that boost meter!!

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...

This came up in my recommended. I enjoyed watching you on drive and Mt. And now am subscribed. Keep up the good work Mike!

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.

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 👋👍🤔🙂♥️

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!

Glad to see this show back!

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.

Thanks for the rad show

Great video Mike. Thanks for doing it . I enjoyed it very much.

Love that intro! Great to finally learn the hardware differences between GN and GNX. That was fun; keep em coming, Mike!

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.

Both cars are so clean! Love them.

What's this? A GNX not in a plastic bubble in a guy's living room?

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!

Holy crap I used to love this series when it was on MTOD . Glad I stumbled on to it here!

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.

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 have been waiting for this video forever!!! I love my Buick so much I started to make videos about it lol

This video made me a subscriber, excellent video.

Used to cruise with Pete back in the 80s/90s on Long Island. He was a Mustang guy back then!

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?

Ocean Parkway baby! Used to race against these cars on Deer Park Ave - RT 231 all the time. Freaking fast!

Welcome back!

Whoa! I wondered if Mike left MTOD/TEN, but I guess this is proof positive. Love the show!

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

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.

Man I was waiting on mtod for I felt like forever lol then I saw your Instagram pic so I looked it up here and found it glad I did and glad even though you aren’t there that you still are making episodes

My 2nd favorite car in the world! ❤ These cars were the Hellcats of the 80's!

A GNX that's actually driven? Talk about rare!!

My dad has a 1980 Buick regal sport coupe turbo, and that is what started the turbo v6 trend. 1980 was the first year the regal had 4 headlights. The sport coupe turbo was a carbureted turbo 3.8 the first Grand National had a 4.1 v6 with no turbo. But when GN got the 3.8 turbo it became Fuel injected and the GNX added a intercooler

I remember these cars, i went with my father to look at them & tried talking him into buying one...lol he brought a white Buick regal, i could have died. Just knowing what their worth now.Wow!

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.

I had an IROC with the 5.7 and got smoked by one of these in the early 90's. With no internet at the time I just assumed it was a Regal.

Checking in from Hong Kong, whattup Pete!

How could this be disliked? Wow!

Man i would absolutely love to have both a Gran National and a GNX

Just pressed subscribe and good to see you're back on Mike!

Those mufflers did come off of a 442. My 86 442 had those same mufflers on it when I got it.

tHoM delivers as usual, thanks guys!

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.

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!

Best car ever my dad has an 87 Grand National

Love this! My home town! Long Island !

Great episode. Thanks. Oh, and I subscribed to the channel.

I hit the like button before even watching the video, and I almost never do that. I wish you success and hope your channel continues to take off. If anyone else is interested. Donut Media did a short video focusing on the history on the Grand National. I think it goes well with THoM's video of Mike actually driving the car and giving his first hand experience.

Great video. As a Big Buick guy I would like to own one of these.

He Is Back

I have seen the GN motor show up in a few odd cars...in the early 90's car article a replica ac cobra powered by gn and at ATCO dragway one showed up in a early 80's powder blue stationwagon. MAN what a sleeper...no power bulge hood custom driveshaft huge turbo and a mimi tubbing of the rear wheels

Ow yes. This brings memories of the Mustang vs turbo GN. "Wars" of the early nineties that culminated in fully streetable and air conditioned 8 seconds monsters (mostly Buicks) by the end of the decade. Rode in an ac one actually in Sarasota, a high 9s turbo 4.1 Buick T_type in `02..

these were all over long island in the 80's and are stashed in many a garage today

I wanted one of these so bad..

Thank you!!! I love the grand Nash!!!!

The crushed mufflers are really something. I have never seen something as shoddy anywhere else.