Well, this is only my second race story but here it goes. My car is a 6spd Performance totally stock with 1250 mi on it now (6 months old). I was on my way home last night and I was travelling along and came to the last stoplight before the road turned twisty (and more 'country' like) - this, of course, is my favorite part of the road. Well, the light turns red and some minivan pulls up behind me and then a black GN pulls up next to me. I look over and say 'doh!' as I know that I will lose BAD as the car was obviously modded (guages on the cowl, different wheels, etc). Being a long time drag strip attendee, I realize that his car will probably turn mid 12's with no problem and I realize that if I can just stay ahead for the first 1/8 mile, then we hit the twisties... Well, the light turns and I launch fine (not perfect, but fine) and I hear a TON of screeching. I quickly got out in front as he lit up the tires wayyyyy to much (he goofed). I got out enough so he really didn't catch much getting to the twisties and I'm sure he let off a little as he doesn't have good brakes. Well, I basically waved good-bye and absolutely obliterated him. I do know that he tried to keep up and, in fact, he even went into the other lanes to try.. too bad for him...

Anyway, his car was definitely faster than mine (way faster I'm sure), but it was still a fun race and the Z won (actually, I won the drag race part with my driving, but the Z won the twisty part).

I wanted to write this as this is a perfect example of a real-world race that ANYTHING can happen (I could definitely lose to a stock RSX if I spun the tires or bogged bad). Just lots of fun!

 

Those GN's are sweet. There is one around town that is lightly modded and is pushing right under 400 to the wheels. Yes, I said lightly modded! As for the twisties, ya, it doesnt do so great in the twisties but its a handful in a straight line.

 

Good run..although as for a twisties argument.. not many people run thru twisties.. its more like a good judgement/bad judgement call on that one. Know your limits.

 

OK, I give up, what's a GN?

I feel like such a tool for not knowing, please be gentle.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Buick Regal Grand National (1986-1989 I believe), came with a 3.8L Turbocharged V6 with an underrated 240hp (more like 300). They REALLY wake up with mods are are a very popular drag cars.

 

Very well said. They respond very well to breathing mods. They were only available in an auto transmission also making lethal for straight line acceleration. Consider yourself lucky that you were ahead of him at anytime during the race. Good run.

 

actually more like '84 to '87. but only the '86/'87s are the beasts. thats when they introduced the intercooler with the turbo and up'd the boost. then of course there is the GNX. a friends dad in HS had one with like 100 miles on the odo.....


Doc

 

in this country your right, world wide, twisties are THE place to race. Usually you go up 2x, once one car goes out in front, next the other car goes out in front, whoever sits on the others bumper, while they are behind and pulls away when they start from the front wins. Pretty simple and obvious.

 

Yeah, the GN's were built from 84-87 with the GNX being the pinnacle. They are powered by the 3.8L Buick V6 with a turbo (they actually began the turbo thing on that engine in the late 70's). In the 84 GN, the car was rated around 215hp and had no intercooler. In 86&87 they added the intercooler and the power rating went up to 235&245 with the GNX being 275. All of these power ratings were way below actual (kind of like the SRT4) and the cars did 14.0 bone stock out of the box. With mild mods, they shot into the low 13's, high 12's and heavily modded are in the 10's & 11's. They ALL came with the 200R4 transmission (auto) and the 3.42 posi rear end (well, many early ones didn't have the posi).

I highly recommend NOT racing these cars unless you have some twisties coming up :-)

You can tell the 86&87 from the earlier cars as they have a different wheel and they have the word 'Intercooled' under the GN symbol on the fenders.

I only raced this guy because I felt that if he screwed the launch, then I had him to the corners and then would take off... which is exactly what happened! Luckily for me!

 

Thanks guys.

I've heard of the Regal, but never heard of the Regal Grand National. Any particular reason why they discontinued it?

Now I'm going to have to track down a pic to see what these things look like.

Dave

 

1986 GN


1987 GNX

 

There are many 9 sec. street driven GNs....those cars are flat out SICK!

 

From what I remember, it's kind of the same story as the Typhoons and Syclones. They were not very warranty friendly and, at the time, were not the most popular vehicles being produced. So, they got the axe when it came time to cut costs and try ti hike up profits.

My dad is currently building a MEAN street legal 87GN and my uncle is completely rebuilding a 91 Cyclone. Both are hoping to break into the 8s by the time they're done.

 

my bro had a 87 GN with 27K. Bad *** car. 1/4 mile car only. Put it in a turn and the door handles touch the ground! His car was sweet, he regrets selling it, although they had major problems with the rear main seal leaking all the time. His car with a chip, testpipe and intake ran high 12s. GNXs, wow, i hate all american cars, but the GNX back in 87, if you got one, you are one lucky SOB!

 

And some of the latest ones didn't have posi. I have a '87 that didn't come with posi.

Because Buick switched the Regal over to wrong wheel drive in '88.

The look a little like a mid '80s Monte SS. Here's one:
http://www.turboconnection.com/showcase/87gn/index.html

More info:
http://gnttype.org

They actually handle pretty well considering what they are - a GM intermediate sedan. Stock they stay somewhat flat in the corners.

And their suspensions can be modded so they can handle significantly better.

But the point of these cars isn't about handling. It's about maintaining comfort and luxury in a package that produces a mountain of torque.