It’s every automotive enthusiast’s dream to stumble onto a
barn find, like a paleontologist unearthing a priceless specimen preserved from the ravages of time. Back in the day, some lucky individuals found untouched classics in actual barns that had been forgotten for years or decades. Finding cars in a literal barn is rare these days — they’re more like “garage finds,” but the sense of excitement is still the same. So, imagine the excitement William Avila felt when he opened up a garage one day to reveal not one, but two 1987
Buick Grand Nationals — both with under 1000 miles, sequentially numbered. They’re essentially twins!
Assessing the Barn Find Grand Nationals
Photos courtesy of William Avila and GM EFI Magazine
Unfortunately, these two Grand Nationals weren’t perfectly preserved, as Avila
explained to
GM EFI Magazine. “[The owner] took us to a old house and raised the garage door and to our amazement lo and behold there were not one, but two 1987 Buick Grand Nationals sitting there. Dust covered, leaves surrounding them and the look of two rear ends and faded
rear bumper fillers stared back at us.”
The pair of 1987 Regal Grand Nationals - Photo Courtesy of William Avila and GM EFI Magazine
Needless to say, they were going to need work, and lots of it! The first Regal GN had 592 miles and a near-perfect interior, save for a saggy
headliner. The second Regal GN racked up 807 miles, with the
rear seat serving as a bed for a cat at one time. The bodies were straight and rust-free but still suffered from weathering and the debilitating effects of simply sitting unprotected for 30-plus years. There’s no doubt that many of the soft components, like
weatherstrip, had hardened up and lost their ability to seal. And any of the fluids that remained certainly needed to be flushed.
It’s situations like these where Classic Industries shines. We have the most complete and comprehensive
restoration parts inventory for the Buick Regal, which means we can help people like William restore their Regals, Grand Nationals, and GNXs to original condition.
Click the button below to request a free Buick Regal parts catalog today!