Introduction to the Buick Grand National
As the voice of Mecum and the on-air color commentator for MotorTrend’s Mecum auction broadcasts, John Kraman (aka “the professor”) has seen thousands of rare cars cross the auction block and is one of the most highly respected experts in the muscle car collector field. We asked John about how the Buick Grand National fits into the overall scheme of muscle car collecting, and he had this to say: “Certainly the Buick Grand National variants are the USA performance rock stars of the ’80s. As you well know, the drag racing potential and subsequent aftermarket support was the way of many of them.”
Current Market Trends
“Today, these modified cars have minimal collector value, but unmodified examples in good condition or better are highly sought-after. A similar dynamic exists with the Fox Mustangs of the same era. Mecum does very well with investment-grade GNs and GNXs, as a serious performance-oriented collection must include an example to represent state-of-the-art in the ’80s. The rugged turbocharged/intercooled 3.8-liter V-6 still resonates today as the current trend of smaller-displacement boosted engines is becoming commonplace. Was the GN an influencer of this trend? I believe it was.”
How Much Does a Grand National Cost?
Though Buick had made midsize G-body turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 Regals since 1979, it is the intercooled versions of 1986 and 1987 that collectors and racers crave the most and that retain the greatest value. In its final year of production, the Buick Regal Grand National had a base MSRP of $15,136. By comparison, the combined average selling price of 1986/1987 Grand Nationals and Turbo-T/T-Type Regals at Mecum over the past year stands at $47,700 (hammer price plus all fees) with a sample size of 28 cars. This represents about a threefold increase in value for them since inception. Now let’s look at five Grand Nationals for sale at Mecum’s upcoming auction, as well as one 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am, then we’ll give you the full history of how these magnificent cars came to be!
Featured Grand Nationals at Auction
1986 Buick Regal Grand National
The first Buick GN across the block will be this well-loved 1986 model with 38,000 miles showing on the odometer. Though not of collector-grade value due to its not-born-with wheels and grille, this tidy example has been well cared for and that’s saying a lot as some parts (door pulls, window mechanisms, and interior trim) have a notoriously short life. Buick wisely chose velour cloth over leather, giving seating surfaces a robust life expectancy. Under the hood, this unit appears to have most of its factory parts—a big plus—but the low quality of the consignor’s photos for this lot makes it impossible to value it much higher than the mid-$20K range. The only question that remains is whether the reserve is set at a realistic level.
1987 Buick Regal Grand National
The next GN on our Indy Mecum list shows a relatively high 53,618 miles on its odometer but photos reveal almost no telltale signs of typical wear (broken or missing door-pull pieces, key fob rash around the ignition switch, non-stock engine pieces). This is a one-owner, garage-kept car with original paint and it simply looks a lot newer than its mileage suggests. Despite its higher mileage, aftermarket mudflaps, and lack of T-tops, this GN’s thorough complement of factory parts ought to make it the second-most valuable of the Indy GNs. Look for its hammer price to fall solidly in the mid-$30K range.
No-Reserve 1987 Buick Regal Grand National
This example shows signs of an attempt to bring it back from the edge; its non-stock lace BBS-style wheels, replacement door-pull inserts, aftermarket lower-valence ram-air, hardware-store come-along engine torque strap, aftermarket gauges, vintage dash-mounted Modern Muscle Car Scanmaster, and aftermarket air inlet tube hint at a hard life spent as a late-night street denizen. With its 46,223 miles on the clock and no reserve, this one should be well within striking distance for bidders of more modest means!
No-Reserve 1987 Buick Regal Grand National
As we prepared this story, a fifth and final Buick Regal Grand National was added to Mecum Indy, and it’s a no-reserve offering. With 12,068 miles showing, it is by far the lowest-mileage of the quintet. However, with no good photos of the interior, engine compartment, or trunk, the consignor has obscured its potential value. For this reason, we can’t hazard a guess of its worth relative to the others, but there is the tantalizingly rare sunroof option that could catapult this one to the top. Furthermore, it will be auctioned on a Wednesday, which is not great for the consignor but might be a windfall for a bidder, provided the small details (that we can’t see) pan out. What we can say is that the consignor lists an upgraded fuel pump, injectors, chip, and upgraded ball-bearing turbo in the listing, which may lower the car’s value relative to one in like-new condition.
The Grand National’s Surprising Influence
You might be surprised to discover that the Buick Regal Grand National had a significant influence on one of today’s most prized performers, the 2018 Dodge Demon. Long before Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis had full control of the SRT division, he owned and raced a Buick Grand National at the peak of their popularity. The simple act of pre-cooling the induction before a drag pass yielded a significant performance improvement. Kuniskis knew more power awaited the Hellcat owner if the manifold could be pre-cooled, leading to the birth of the Demon’s Power Chiller technology.
Conclusion
The legacy of the Buick Grand National lives on as an automotive icon that not only shaped the muscle car era of the 1980s, but also influenced modern performance vehicles. As collectors continue to seek out these remarkable cars, their value and commemoration in the automotive world remain steadfast.
3.8-Liter Buick “LC2” Turbo V-6 Production
| Model | Production | HP |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Buick Regal T-Type | 7,896 | 235 hp |
| 1986 Buick Regal Grand National | 5,512 | 235 hp |
| 1987 Buick Regal Turbo T (includes WE4) | 8,541 | 245 hp |
| 1987 Buick Regal Grand National | 20,193 | 245 hp |
| 1987 Buick Regal GNX | 547 | 276 hp |
| 1989 Pontiac Trans Am 20th Anniversary Edition | 1,555 | 250 hp |
| Total Intercooled Turbo Buick Turbo V-6 (LC2) production: | 35,703 |
How To Watch Mecum Auctions Indianapolis 2024
- Watch live coverage on MotorTrend or stream on MAX / May 15–18 from 12-6 p.m. ET
- Live coverage will simulcast on Discovery / May 18 from 12-2 p.m. ET
About the Contributor
Johnny Hunkins, a renowned automotive journalist, has been deeply immersed in the world of muscle cars, including the legendary Buick Grand National. His extensive knowledge and insights bring this automotive classic to life for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
