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Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham
Headed to the 2021 Las Vegas Auction, each with No Reserve, are these two low-mileage 1987 Buicks: a Grand National (left) with just 27 miles and a GNX (right) with just under 9 miles.
Headed to the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction with No Reserve are two extraordinarily low-mileage turbo Buicks that were superstars during a time when V8s were running out of steam.
The 1980s marked a transition decade for performance cars. There was a not-unreasonable belief running through the automotive industry that the V8 engine was on the road to extinction due to a combination of higher gas prices, government fuel economy standards and emissions regulations. As it turned out, of course, that proved to not be the case, as the V8 staged a satisfying comeback in later years.
The odometer on this Grand National reads just 27 miles.
But as automakers scrambled to generate decent performance from smaller V6 and 4-cylinder engines, turbochargers became mainstream. And nobody did turbochargers with more style and performance than Buick.
The division had taken the lead at General Motors on the turbo front, making a big statement about what was to come with the turbocharged V6 1976 Buick Century Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. Starting in 1978, a 3.8-liter (231ci) carbureted V6 paired with a turbocharger became a production option on the Regal and LeSabre. Performance advanced quickly, and 1984 saw the introduction of Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) and the all-black Regal Grand National model. In 1987, just as the rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal was going out of production, performance hit a peak.
Interior of the Grand National headed to auction.
Family to the Regal line, this 1987 Buick Grand National offered with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas Auction, June 17-19, is a perfect time-capsule from that era. With just 27 miles on the odometer, it still has its protective plastic on the seats, steering wheel and footwells, along with the Window Sticker still attached to the passenger-side glass.
The Grand National cut a distinctive profile on North American roads in the 1980s. The black paint and blacked-out trim, beefy 15-inch Goodyear Eagle GT tires on special chrome-plated steel wheels, hood bulge with “3.8 SFI Turbo” emblems and Grand National/Intercooled fender badge let everyone know this was a serious car. With 245 horsepower and 355 ft/lbs of torque, the Grand National was more powerful than its domestic V8 competitors such as the Corvette, Camaro Z/28 and Mustang GT, as well as turbocharged rivals like the Dodge Daytona Shelby Z. Grand Nationals came standard with the
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By: Barrett-Jackson
Title: SHOWROOM FRESH: These ultra-low mileage 1987 Buicks look like they just rolled off the assembly line
Sourced From: www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/ultra-low-mileage-1987-buick-grand-national-and-gnx-for-sale-no-reserve-2021-las-vegas-auction/
Published Date: Thu, 20 May 2021 22:46:54 +0000
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