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Buick Grand National Time Capsule #2499396
05/23/18 11:09 AM
05/23/18 11:09 AM

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Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499401
05/23/18 11:17 AM
05/23/18 11:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
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St. Charles, MO
wingman Offline
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Wow that's cool how untouched it is. Strange how someone would buy a car like that and then not drive it.

Cool cars were pretty slim pickings in the 80s, but that was one of the few for sure...


1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee 383 A4
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 440 FC7 (sold)
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499402
05/23/18 11:20 AM
05/23/18 11:20 AM
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Slantytown
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Since people thought they were going to be the last muscle car ever the majority of Grand Nationals and GNXs are low mileage "time capsules". I remember working auto parts with a Buick fanboy and he told me he didn't feel they'd ever gain value because there were so many low mileage ones stored away.


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Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: DUFFMAN] #2499430
05/23/18 12:17 PM
05/23/18 12:17 PM
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
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iagree I know of quite a few GNX's that were squirreled away in anticipation that they would go through the roof one day, it did happen for a little bit but like said above, most of them are like that. eyes


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Rhinodart] #2499436
05/23/18 12:26 PM
05/23/18 12:26 PM
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Crook County, ILL
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I bet there are more than a few parked under car covers in garages next to '78 Corvette Pace Cars! That's another car where there seems to be no end to the number that turn up with low miles, or in some cases almost no miles, because someone bought it to store away new as an "investment".

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499445
05/23/18 12:46 PM
05/23/18 12:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,774
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger Offline
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One GNX was traded in during Cash for Clunkers, if I remember correctly.


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Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Mastershake340] #2499446
05/23/18 12:47 PM
05/23/18 12:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,774
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger Offline
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Originally Posted By Mastershake340
I bet there are more than a few parked under car covers in garages next to '78 Corvette Pace Cars! That's another car where there seems to be no end to the number that turn up with low miles, or in some cases almost no miles, because someone bought it to store away new as an "investment".


Time capsule-type GNX's have done very well price-wise, unlike the 78 pace car, the "last" convertible El Dorado, etc.


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Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499450
05/23/18 12:58 PM
05/23/18 12:58 PM
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Porter67 Offline
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After the crap years of the mid-late 70-s and early 80-s they were so much fun, about the first car you could race and win with the ac on.

The couple I had bought new I dumped before they had 35k miles because they did have issues like many cars, dumping cranks out the bottom, eating trans and rears and many seen dealer repaints.

The first few years there was only simple bolt on mods then came the heads,blocks, turbos, ex systems, chips.

It was a fun time and a great car to own.

Im not shocked this one is where its at price wise as it would still be a fun car today if one drove it.

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499455
05/23/18 01:19 PM
05/23/18 01:19 PM
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Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
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Too bad it's not a GNX. Gotta figure that would add 20-30k to the price?

They were fast cars for the day, but not compared to years earlier or current times.
I think on a good day a GNX might get into the high 13's (?) but a Smaller turbo GN was relegated to 14's.

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499464
05/23/18 01:35 PM
05/23/18 01:35 PM
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jersey
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jersey
Can’t be to many low mileage survivors around. There were a ton of those cars back in the “ mustang vs grand national” days.


526 cubes of angry wedge, pushbutton shifted, 9 passenger killer!
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Spaceman Spiff] #2499473
05/23/18 01:45 PM
05/23/18 01:45 PM
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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I remember the last time I raced my 69 383 GTS I had the GN out of the hole by a bunch, then in the traps I heard this "wooshing" noise and that black streak flying by me. I ran a 14.91 and he a 13.96. Made up a whole second in the traps! eek


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499475
05/23/18 01:47 PM
05/23/18 01:47 PM
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Brantford Ontario
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I think a GNX in the wrapper is an easy six figure car today.

Dave

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Rhinodart] #2499492
05/23/18 02:06 PM
05/23/18 02:06 PM
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He must of pooched it on launch as actually they were harder to beat with our older stuff in the 1/8 then the 1/4.

His time you posted was about .5 off most any decent run.

I bought my first 86 after a friend who worked at the buick prep shop would come by and we would beat on the new 85-s that were ok. He came by with a new 86 and told me to get my 340 cuda out and it ran semi well and even from a 40-50 roll the gn would spin and hook, so I went and bought one.

My 86 5.0 lx would run close but after a ford motorsport lower gear t5 and 3:70 rear gears id run dead even with the gn-s.

Of course the weekend 12 second cars that were the norm then would get the gn-s but really they were few of them and alot of clapped out late 60-s early 70-s muscle cars and alot of mis matched cam/gears/vert cars and the buicks would take big advantage of that, as would the 5 speed stangs and 5 speed 85/86 vettes.

We would at times put over 200 miles a night just out playing, cruising,racing in a group of about 50 of us hanging out in the jiffy lube parking lots.

My car payments were 3x my house payments in the mid 80-s. But it was fun.



Originally Posted By Rhinodart
I remember the last time I raced my 69 383 GTS I had the GN out of the hole by a bunch, then in the traps I heard this "wooshing" noise and that black streak flying by me. I ran a 14.91 and he a 13.96. Made up a whole second in the traps! eek

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Porter67] #2499495
05/23/18 02:15 PM
05/23/18 02:15 PM
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
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I spun like crazy on the E70-14 bias ply's I had on the back, plus mine is a 4-speed console car, so I was happy with my time, this was in 1989. drive


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: ] #2499499
05/23/18 02:26 PM
05/23/18 02:26 PM
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Posts: 21,346
It's a dry heat
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I know of a GNX with less than a mile on the Odometer. current owner ( at least I think he still has it ) gave strict orders when it arrived.
do not drive it outside of off the transport to the customer pickup area.
he picked it up with enclosed trailer and it has not seen light of day since

Ive not seen or heard anything from the guy in several years. But have my doubts he sold the car. at least not yet

Also, a friend of mine has a Turbo T type. with I think less than 15k miles on it.
he actually drives that one a good bit from time to time. Stock block and heads and I think its high 10 second car with only a few add on parts

Those cars are wicked fast for what they are

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: not_a_charger] #2499502
05/23/18 02:40 PM
05/23/18 02:40 PM
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usa
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Mopar1970440 Offline
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usa



Originally Posted By not_a_charger
One GNX was traded in during Cash for Clunkers, if I remember correctly.



that would have been a crazy move on the individual and the dealership to run it under cash for clunkers.. but the dealership could have just done a regualar trade in and give them the 3500-4500 the customer was expecting, and the dealership could turn around and sold it for major profit.

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Mopar1970440] #2499519
05/23/18 03:10 PM
05/23/18 03:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,774
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
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It was on the list of cars turned in as a 1987 Buick ASC, I believe. McClaren/ASC was involved with the GNX. I used to have the list of cars that were turned in, but have lost it over the years.


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DBAP
Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Mopar1970440] #2499528
05/23/18 03:39 PM
05/23/18 03:39 PM
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Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
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Originally Posted By Mopar1970440



Originally Posted By not_a_charger
One GNX was traded in during Cash for Clunkers, if I remember correctly.



that would have been a crazy move on the individual and the dealership to run it under cash for clunkers.. but the dealership could have just done a regualar trade in and give them the 3500-4500 the customer was expecting, and the dealership could turn around and sold it for major profit.


Not to go off topic, but I THINK there was strict rules that threatened severe penalties for any dealership that didn't follow through with the insane C4C---not that it didn't happen and it was probably near impossible to catch a dealer doing it.
Good god C4C was one of the dumbest acts in modern times.

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: not_a_charger] #2499540
05/23/18 04:16 PM
05/23/18 04:16 PM
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Connecticut
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Originally Posted By not_a_charger

Time capsule-type GNX's have done very well price-wise, unlike the 78 pace car, the "last" convertible El Dorado, etc.


Agreed, and although some have brought some money due to the nostalgic factor, IMHO, they are still ugly 80s cars with hideously dated interiors. They may have been the best of the eighties but that is not saying much wink


1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

Re: Buick Grand National Time Capsule [Re: Pacnorthcuda] #2499542
05/23/18 04:17 PM
05/23/18 04:17 PM
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Eagle, Idaho
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I have seen GN's at car shows for sale in the 10-15k range and they don't sell very fast. Our emission laws make post 1981 vehicles much harder to modify and that likely makes them not as desirable for those that want to race them.

Same thing with older 5.0 mustangs and Z-28's. Guys modify them to race them and then it fails the emissions test and they cancel your registration until you put the stock parts back on. My uncle picked up a used 90's 5.0 for a song after a kid put a Paxton blower on it and it wouldn't pass the smog test.

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