The 3.8L turbocharged V6 engine that powered the Grand National and GNX was a unique creation in an era still recovering from the muscle car collapse. Unlike most performance cars of the time, it didn’t rely on a big V8. Instead, Buick engineered a torquey, boost-happy V6 that could blow the doors off cars with twice the displacement (1987 GNX #51 produced of 547 built - lead photo).

In the haze of underwhelming American cars of the 1980s, Buick—a brand long associated with elderly buyers and soft luxury—did something unthinkable. It unleashed a pair of performance monsters that tore through quarter miles and took down Corvettes, Mustangs, and even European sports cars. These were the Buick Grand National and the ultra-rare, legendary GNX (1987 GNX in lead photo).

The Buick Regal, introduced in 1973 (1978 Regal shown above), emerged during one of the most tumultuous eras in American automotive history. Stretching across the tail end of the muscle car era into the smog-choked malaise years, the first few generations of the Regal prioritized style, comfort, and luxury over outright performance. From 1973 through 1987, the Buick Regal became a case study in how government regulations, economic shifts, and changing consumer tastes could transform a car from a potential performer into a cruiser fit more for Sunday drives than drag strips.

"Then came 1987... together, Buick and ASC McLaren created the 276-horsepower GNX. The Grand National Experimental. The Grand National to end all Grand Nationals, its final form." After the recent Superbowl halftime show where hip-hop musician Kendrick Lamar used a Buick GNX replica — it wasn't a real GNX, although Lamar does own one — as a centerpiece for his performance in front of 127 million viewers, interest in these classic Buicks has risen yet again. YouTube channel Throttle House recently published a retrospective review of the GNX that serves as a brief introduction to its history and features.

The Buick Regal is a legendary nameplate in the world of American muscle cars and luxury coupes. From its introduction in 1973 to its final models in 1987, the Regal underwent numerous changes but remained a beloved symbol of performance, refinement, and innovation. Whether you're restoring a 1973 Buick Regal, modifying a 1980 Regal Turbo, or enhancing your 1987 Regal Grand National, the Classic Industries 1973-1987 Buick Regal Parts and Accessories Catalog is a must-have resource. This catalog offers a wide selection of parts that cater to all generations of the Regal, from OEM-style replacements to performance upgrades and custom accessories.

The 1987 Buick Grand National is a car that needs no introduction among enthusiasts. The GN's turbocharged and intercooled 3.8L V6 engine produced 245 horsepower, a figure that was extremely impressive at the time (and greater than that of the Corvette's 5.7L V8). Its "experimental" sibling the GNX pushed the limit even further, outrunning Ferraris and Porsches to become one of the world's fastest production cars. This year at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, world-renowned custom builder Ringbrothers showed off their approach to building the ultimate Buick Grand National resto-mod.

What do you get when you squeeze two more cylinders, nearly double the displacement, and a second turbo into the engine bay of a 1987 Buick Grand National? In the case of Roadster Shop's custom '87 GN,  you get six and a half times the original power output. Yes, you read that right. The original 3.8L turbocharged V6 in this car produced 245hp, which made it very quick compared to most other cars of its era. The car seen here produces more than 6.5 times as much power with its 1,600hp 7.0L twin-turbo V8.

Interest in classic cars is often tied to the vehicles we owned (or aspired to own) when we were in our teenage years, so it should come as no surprise that cars from the 1980s are steadily increasing in popularity. The 1978-87 Buick Regal, Buick Grand National, and legendary Buick GNX are great examples of this trend. These G-body vehicles have always had a cult following in the lowrider and drag racing communities, but we're glad to see them developing an even broader appeal. The Regal has always been an excellent platform for affordable restoration and customization.

In case you've missed the big news, Classic Industries recently announced eight all-new catalogs for Buick and Oldsmobile models, and we're excited to offer a wide array of classic car restoration parts for these models in the near future. Our catalogs will be coming soon for many of these vehicles, but the first one of these lines has already been released.

The Buick Grand National was an unconventional car, to say the least. Rather than sticking with the traditional American muscle car formula of squeezing a large-displacement V8 under the hood, GM engineers tried something different: a V6 with a turbocharger. This configuration was a major risk, since turbochargers were still in their infancy when Buick launched the first turbocharged Regal model in 1978. But, after working through a steep learning curve, the configuration produced some astonishing results.