Buick Regal Grand National and GNX Information

The Buick Regal Grand National debuted in 1982 with a naturally aspirated 4.1 liter V6 engine rated at 125 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 205 pound feet of torque at 2000 rpm. They were NOT black! So they may not be easily recognized today. The Grand National was only intended to have 100 units - but 215 were actually produced. However, less than 50 were actually based on the Buick Regal Sport Coupe package - which had the turbocharged 3.8 liter V6 rated at 175 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 275 pound feet of torque at 2600 rpm.

There was no Grand National in 1983. The Buick Regal Sport Coupe was renamed T-Type. 3732 were produced and they were rated at 190 horsepower at 1600 rpm and 280 pound feet of torque at 2400 rpm.

The "black" Grand National we all remember debuted in 1984 and the turbocharged 3.8 liter V6 became standard - and now included sequential fuel injection. It had 200 horsepower at 4400 rpm and 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 rpm. 2000 Grand Nationals were built this year. Quarter mile performance was listed at 15.9 seconds at a stock boost of 10psi - but enthusiasts turned up that boost and made much better times quite easily - breaking into the 13's.

Everything basically stayed the same until 1986 when the engine was modified with intercooling. There were 7896 Grand Nationals built this year.

By 1987 the Grand National had 245 horsepower and 355 pound feet of torque. There was no T-Type package this year. But 27,590 Grand Nationals were made. Naturally, demand was very high. This year a lightweight WE4 option was offered - 1547 were produced. You might occasionally see a Grand National with a vinyl landau roof. That would be the "Turbo Limited" - the only Grand National more rare than it was the GNX. There were 1035 made.

Speaking of the GNX - the "Grand National Experimental" - that rare package cost $29,900. There were only 547 made. They supposably had only 245 horsepower 360 pound feet of torque - but that was an underrated figure. What was different? The GNX had a special Garrett T-3 turbocharger and a much larger intercooler, dual exhaust with improved flow, reprogrammed computer and transmission, a custom torque converter, a transmission cooler and high performance differential setup for increased traction. There were also a few minor exterior upgrades. The quarter mile came in 13.2 seconds for the mighty GNX - at 104 miles per hour. It only took 4.3 seconds to reach 60. And THAT was right off the showroom floor...

- GNX
- 547 Produced
- 276hp at 4400 RPM
- 360 pound feet of torque at 3000 RPM

- Grand National (WE2)
- 20,193 Produced
- 245hp at 4400 RPM
- 355 pound feet of torque at 2000 RPM

- Turbo T (WE4)
- 1,547 Produced
- 245hp at 4400 RPM
- 355 pound feet of torque at 2000 RPM

- Regal Limited w/ Turbo
- 1,035 Produced
- 245hp at 4400 RPM
- 355 pound feet of torque at 2000 RPM

- Base Regal w/ Turbo
- 4,268 Produced
- 245hp at 4400 RPM
- 355 pound feet of torque at 2000 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 27,590

- Grand National
- 5,512 Produced
- 235hp at 4000 RPM
- 330 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- T-Type
- 1,921 Produced
- 235hp at 4000 RPM
- 330 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- WH1
- 463 Produced
- 235hp at 4000 RPM
- 330 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- LeSabre Grand National
- 112 Produced
- 140hp at 3600 RPM (Non-turbo 3.8L FWD)
- 240 pound feet of torque at 1600 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 7,896

- Grand National
- 2,102 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- T-Type
- 1,575 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- WH1
- 525 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 4,204

- Grand National
- 2,000 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- T-Type
- 2,238 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- WH1
- 1,163 Produced
- 200hp at 4400 RPM
- 300 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

Total Turbo Cars: 5,204

- T-Type
- 3,732 Produced
- 190hp at 1600 RPM
- 280 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 3,732

- Grand National
- 215 Produced (Just 16 of which were believed to be turbocharged. i.e. Same engine as Sport Coupe.)
- 125hp at 4000 RPM
- 205 pound feet of torque at 2000 RPM

- Sport Coupe
- 2,022 Produced
- 175hp at 4000 RPM
- 275 pound feet of torque at 2600 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 2,022

- Sport Coupe
- 2,891 Produced
- 170hp at 4000 RPM
- 265 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 2,891

- Sport Coupe

- 6,276 Produced
- 175hp at 4000 RPM
- 265 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 6,276

- Sport Coupe

- 21,389 Produced
- 170hp at 4000 RPM
- 245 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 21,389

- Sport Coupe (2BBL)

- 2,697 Produced
- 150hp at 3800 RPM
- 245 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM

- Sport Coupe (4BBL)
- 27,811 Produced
- 165hp at 4000 RPM
- 265 pound feet of torque at 2800 RPM

- Total Turbo Cars: 30,507

- Total Regal Grand Nationals produced from 1982 through 1987: 30,022
- Total Turbo T's produced: 1,547 (1987 only)
- Total Regal T-Types produced: 22,806
- Total Turbocharged Regal Sport Coupes produced from 1978 to 1979: 59,896

- Rarest Grand National: 1982 (only 215 produced)
- Rarest Turbocharged Grand National: 1984 (only 2000 produced)
- Rarest Turbocharged Regal (non GNX): 1987 Regal Limited (only 1,035 produced)
- Second Rarest Turbocharged Regal: 1987 Turbo-T (only 1,547 produced)
- Rarest Regal Sport Coupe: 1982 (only 2,022 produced)

- Fastest stock Turbocharged Regal: 1987 GNX
- Fastest stock Turbocharged non-GNX Regal: 1987 Turbo-T
- Fastest Grand National: 1987

The Regal GNX was one of the fastest production cars built in the 1980s, with only 547 McLaren modified GNX models ever built. A larger turbo, intercooler and external body/wheel modifications separated it from the Regal GN models. The Buick Regal GNX could easily reach 13 second ¼ mile times and drive home on the highway with the air conditioning on while maintaining 23 mpg.

Wheelbase: 108.1 in (274.57 cm)
Weight: 3,545.00 lbs (1607.98 kg)
Engine: 231 subic inches, over-head valve V6, 276 horsepower
Base price: $29,290

Buick is said to be working on new versions of the Grand National and GNX. The 3.6 liter twin turbo engine used in the Cadillac ATS-V is the most likely candidate for the Grand National while rumors support a turbo V8 for the GNX... Discuss all of this in our Buick Grand National forum.