Page 112 - Experience Magazine Winter 2023

While tightening regulations and gasoline shortages
nearly spelled the end for high-performance cars
during the 1970s, the engineers at GM’s Buick
division bucked the trend and reinvented the genre
with turbocharged V6 power. A special 455-powered
Buick Century with T-Tops and bold “Free Spirit”
graphics sufficed for duty as the official pace car for
the 1975 Indianapolis 500, but much more was yet
to come in 1976, with Buick once again selected to
provide the pace car for the iconic race. This back-
to-back appearance at the Indy 500 was significant,
marking the first time a manufacturer paced the
legendary race for two consecutive years since 1913-
14. It was also historic, with the 1976 Buick Century
being the first pace car to possess V6 power. An
unqualified technical tour de force, the 1976 pace
car’s turbocharged 231ci V6 engine delivered 307
horsepower. Most importantly, this high-profile effort
served notice to the world that Buick would be a force
to be reckoned with in the brave new performance-car
world for years to come.
LOT #1327.1 - 1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL GNX - NO RESERVE
Following Indianapolis, turbo V6 development
continued and reached production by 1978 with GRAND NATIONAL
the handsome new G-body Regal. Its chiseled
bodylines were perfect for stock-car competition
and helped Buick take the NASCAR Manufacturer’s SINISTER AND SOPHISTICATED SPECIAL EDITION
Championship title for 1981 and again in 1982. In
celebration, the limited-run Grand National Edition
Regal – essentially a cosmetic package – was offered
in 1982. The Grand National nameplate returned of “The Regal to end all Regals” were ready by July
to the Regal line for 1984 with an all-black exterior, 1986, with production of these new super-Buicks
tuned underpinnings and a turbocharged V6 engine completed by ASC/McLaren, builders of 24-valve
with 200 horsepower on tap. Steady development Buick turbo V6 engines for IndyCar racing. Beginning
by Buick engineer Ron Yuille and the division’s as a fully optioned Grand National, each GNX was
Turbo Engine Group brought an intercooler for the comprehensively upgraded with a high-performance
3.8 turbo SFI power plant, raising output to 235 Garrett turbocharger, improved intercooler, revised
horsepower and 330 ft/lbs of torque for ’86, then to engine and transmission calibrations, and lower-
245 horsepower and 355 ft/lbs for ’87. So powered, restriction exhaust. Output jumped substantially to
the Grand National rose to infamy as America's a factory-claimed and quite possibly underrated 276
quickest production car for 1986-87. horsepower with 360 ft/lbs of torque.
While G-body car production was initially slated GNX performance was, and remains, electrifying,
to cease in mid-1987, Buick management extended including 0-to-60 mph acceleration in less than
Grand National production to the end of the 5 seconds. Bigger tires, special GNX alloy wheels,
1987 model year to meet fierce buyer demand. a rear-axle torque arm, Panhard bar and stiffer
A total of 20,740 Grand Nationals were built for underpinnings maximized the heightened power
1987, including 547 very special versions that of the GNX. Front-fender vents, special analog
would be known simply as the “GNX,” short for instruments and a gloss-black paint finish completed
“Grand National Experimental.” Two prototypes the package, which brought the car’s MSRP to nearly

112 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2023