The 1987 Buick GNX was a limited-run, all-black evolution of the Grand National, with a published rating of 276 horsepower—not a verified 400 hp. Buick and General Motors say 547 were built, each individually numbered. Its appeal lies in the contrast: a discreet Regal-based Buick with turbocharged hardware and performance that made it a legend.
What was the Buick GNX?
GNX stands for Grand National Experimental. Buick introduced it for the 1987 model year as a more specialized version of the Grand National, which was itself a performance model based on the Regal. General Motors describes the GNX as a modified Grand National developed with help from ASC Inc. and McLaren Engines.
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It was not simply a different badge on an ordinary Regal. GM lists a Garrett AiResearch T-3 turbocharger, dual mufflers and a Turbo-Hydramatic 200-4R transmission among the GNX’s changes. Buick’s heritage account highlights its black paint, GNX badges and 16-inch black mesh aluminum wheels.
Was the GNX really a 400-hp car?
The available published figure is 276 horsepower. Hagerty’s 2025 valuation report describes the GNX engine as a 276-hp blueprinted turbo V-6. That is a reported rating, not a claim that every car produced exactly that amount on a dynamometer.
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The 400-hp figure in the headline is not verified by the manufacturer sources or the valuation report cited here. Those sources do not establish a 400-hp factory rating or a particular higher measured output. Without a documented period test or named dyno result, it is more accurate to describe the GNX by its published 276-hp rating than to repeat 400 hp as fact. Hagerty’s 2025 Buick Regal valuation report provides the 276-hp figure.
How was the GNX different from the Grand National and Regal?
| Model | Relationship | What the sources establish |
|---|---|---|
| Regal | The broader Buick model line | The Grand National was a performance version of the Regal. |
| Grand National | The GNX’s starting point | The GNX was a modified, evolved Grand National; the sources cited here do not establish a reliable Grand National production total. |
| GNX | 1987 limited-edition evolution | Distinctive black styling and specified turbo, exhaust and transmission changes; 547 built. |
The model’s identity came from combining the Grand National’s performance focus with GNX-specific development and trim. The black finish and mesh wheels kept the look restrained rather than announcing the car’s changes with a radically different body.
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Why is the GNX considered a classic?
Its production was exceptionally limited
Buick and GM agree that 547 GNXs were built. Buick says each car received its own number, from #001 to #547, on a dash plaque. The small production run gives the GNX a clear place apart from the broader Grand National and Regal lineages.
It blended performance with Buick comfort
GM President Mark Reuss, who says he worked on the GNX early in his career, recalled its combination of speed and everyday equipment. His comments are a modern recollection, not a 1987 road-test report: “When you drive one, even now, it’s frighteningly fast from 0-60,” Reuss says. “But it isn’t bad at all, ride and handling-wise – it still rides like a Buick. You can drive it all day on the highway. It’s very nice to drive… all the comforts, like air conditioning, T-tops, concert sound, power seats, power antenna if you remember those… it was a fully loaded Buick. But brutal. In the best way.” GM published Reuss’s recollection in 2025.
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What the production number does—and does not—tell you
The 547-car figure is supported by Buick and GM. It does not establish what a GNX is worth today: values depend on condition and date, and no current valuation is established here. For historical identification, Buick’s heritage article covers the lineage, numbering and styling; GM’s account details the development and hardware.
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