The Last 1987 Buick GNX

The Last 1987 Buick GNX

Showing just 68 miles, the last-built Buick GNX heads to auction Kurt Ernst on Jan 5th, 2017

To give the popular Buick Grand National a fitting end-of-production send-off, the GM division planned a production run of 500 "super Grand Nationals," ultimately named the Buick GNX. When demand for the GNX far outstripped supply, constructor ASC/McLaren agreed to build 47 more, upping the total production run to 547 units. GM was supposed to get the first and last examples, but when the quantity was upped the very last car, GNX 547, inadvertently ended up in private hands. On January 13, this two-owner 1987 Buick GNX, showing just 68 miles on the odometer, is set to cross the block as part of the Colts Neck Collection at Mecum's Kissimmee, Florida auction.

GM's Advanced Concepts Group had a simple, but ambitious, goal for the Buick GNX: build GM's quickest production sedan, ever. Starting with the already-quick Buick Grand National, the GNX received a Garrett T-3 turbocharger with a ceramic impeller; a ceramic-coated inlet pipe; an intercooler with more fins per row; a larger diameter dual exhaust; and a recalibrated ECU that permitted 15 PSI of boost. The transmission was strengthened, fender vents were added to further reduce under-hood temps, and the suspension was beefed up to maximize grip and minimize wheel hop. Fender flares covered wider wheels in front and Corvette-sized wheels in rear, though oddly enough the GNX carried disc brakes in the front only.

The engine changes raised output to 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque, and many believe that GM's estimates were on the conservative side. Period road tests showed the GNX was capable of sprinting from 0-60 MPH in under five seconds, getting through the quarter-mile in as little as 13.4 seconds on stock Goodyear Eagle Gatorback tires. That was a significant improvement over the Grand National's numbers, but it came at a much higher price; while the Grand National sold for $18,295, the sticker on the GNX "suggested" a price of $29,290.

Many dealers requested markups that raised the price significantly, and buyers, perhaps anticipating the GNX's collectability, proved eager to pay the fee. Unwilling to pay double the sticker price, GNX 547's original owner waited patiently for the buzz about the car to settle down, and when North Side Buick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, advertised their last GNX allocation for sale, an offer (above sticker price, of course) was made and a deal was struck. The car's new owner knew only that it was the last example allocated to this specific dealership, but not that it was the very last example produced by ASC/McLaren.

Shortly after taking delivery, the buyer received a call from North Side Buick. General Motors, it seemed, wanted the last car built for its collection, and GNX 547 was now positively identified as the last Buick GNX. To sweeten the deal, GM offered up GNX 500 (once set to be the last example), a refund of any money paid above sticker price, and a free Buick Reatta. Happy with his new car (and perhaps sensing the potential for future pay back), the owner's answer was a polite, but firm, "No."

As time went by, he became more and more certain that he'd never sell the car, but everything has its price. One day, a buyer shopping for a different GNX ended up in conversation with the owner of GNX 547, and when the "At what price would you sell the car?" question was dropped, a crazy number was thrown down. It proved not crazy enough, and GNX 547, still unregistered, changed hands and entered the Colts Neck Collection.

In 2015, another low-mileage GNX (GNX 385) crossed the auction stage in Palm Beach, where the 362-mile example sold for a record-setting price of $165,000, including fees. Framed by this transaction, Mecum predicts a selling price between $175,000 and $250,00 when GNX 547 crosses the auction stage in Florida.

The Kissimmee sale takes place from January 6-15 at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

Source: Hemmings.com