1987 Buick Grand National (Nyssa, MO)

1987 Buick Grand National

Even though it s been over 30 years since they went out of production there s still something special about the Buick Grand National. Maybe it s the fact that this otherwise plain-looking Buick was arguably the fastest accelerating car on the market at the time or maybe it s because they have just the right combination of performance and luxury but whatever the case this 1987 Buick Grand National is still something special.Most car guys know that when they see a black Buick they need to be careful. Sure after all this time there are faster cars but if you re not paying attention these cars will drop the hammer and not look back. And with modifications so insanely easy to do you can build an incredibly fast and completely reliable car for not a lot of cash as this 51 236-mile car proves. Wearing what is likely its original black paint and no visible modifications save for lightly tinted windows and T-tops (with recently replaced factory seals ) it s the right choice for the Buick fan who doesn t want a low-mile garage queen but a big bad Buick he can actually enjoy the way it was intended. It still looks intimidating and every square inch of the bodywork is drenched in black paint but that was entirely the point. It s brutal-looking. Owned by careful enthusiasts it s entire life it hasn t been wrecked or abused and although not perfect that finish is nicer than you ll find on most of these especially given all the factory paint issues GM had in the 80s. So what you re getting is a very clean but ready-to-enjoy Grand National that s exactly right for prowling the streets. The interior is pure 1980s Buick plush with black and gray buckets and a console just to add a bit of sportiness. Truthfully the two-tone cloth seats are quite comfortable and the Grand National just eats up miles of highway on long cruises without wearing you out. Auxilary boost and oil pressure gauges in the center console and A-pillar look like they were installed by the factory and there s a stock leather-wrapped steering wheel. A typical GM instrument panel with a cleverly-installed tachometer down in the lower corner and a big T-handle shifter manages the 200R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The seats are in great shape the carpets are protected by Grand National floor mats and unlike most GM cars of the period the headliner is still thoroughly stuck to the roof. A lot of goodies were standard on the top-of-the-line GN including A C (upgraded to cold R134a refrigerant ) cruise control and a decent AM FM cassette head unit in the dash. It also claims a nice sized trunk that s ready for a road trip and is finished with a carpeted mat and vinyl spare tire cover.