Buick is one of the strangest manufacturers to participate in NASCAR due in part to holding long winless streaks, then it successes during the 1980s and the road model to have spawned from it.
The Grand National and GNX remain revered to this day due to it breaking Buick’s grandma grocery getter persona, with these two offerings being among the fastest showroom models in the world.
It took seven seasons after a total of 180 races for Buick to win in NASCAR, even Jaguar had taken victory in 1954.
After Buck Baker took the win at Charlotte in 1954, it was Herb Thomas at Raleigh three months later delivering the second victory, but the third didn’t occur until the 1981 Daytona 500 in hands of ‘The King’ Richard Petty.
This began a golden period for Buick as NASCAR changed its regulations to reflect the road-going models on the track leading to an aerodynamic battle between the manufacturers.
Buick became a front-running contender alongside its General Motors stablemate Pontiac and won three NASCAR Cup titles during the early-1980s before Ford fought back.
And here is how Buick changed the game.
Building on its success on track through Darrell Waltrip, Buick launched the first Regal Grand National in 1982 and 215 were built for the model year.
General Motors started developing a V6 turbo in 1973 using Buick’s test lab to test the capability of the relatively new technology in terms of fuel economy and performance.
Named the ‘Explorer Project’, it was a secret program with the end goal being to introduce turbocharging to the showroom.
By 1975, it was all systems go and a turbo set at 21 psi was used in the Indy Pace Car driven by Dan Gurney, which required tyres after four flat-out laps.
Fast forward seven years and Buick was preparing to release the Grand National to the US marketplace using a fresh version of George Thorogood and the Destroyers song ‘Bad to the Bone’ to advertise it.
The Grand National was not turbocharged in its first incarnation starting in 1982 with a small production run. The 1983 model year introduced the T-Type featuring some power gains before the introduction of turbocharging.
The turbocharger wasn’t the only development in the 1984 Grand National as computer-controlled sequential fuel injection and distributor-less ignition further enhanced its reputation.
Buick had developed one of the fastest models not only in the US marketplace, but available in the world.
Demand outweighed supply as the intercooler developed by Buick increased power output as did an aluminium intake manifold leading to 235bhp in 1986 hitting 60mph at 4.9s. Actually, Car and Driver Magazine tested a Grand National and it produced 290bhp!
What followed was an even faster version in 1987 as a last hurrah named the Grand National Experimental, which has gone down as the ultimate Buick.
Combining with ASC and McLaren to develop the GNX, the Buick was improved by improved engine controls, free-flowing heads, low restriction exhaust in addition to upgrades to the Garrett AiResearch turbocharger. This lifted horsepower to 276, the body was stiffened, rear suspension re-designed, wheel package uprated, transmission oil cooler added, composite flares and Stewart-Warner analog gauges.
To finish off the exterior were front guard air intakes, GNX badges and a serial-number plaque situated on the passenger side of the dashboard.
Just 547 were built and sold at $29,290, but one reportedly sold for $45,000 more than the sticker price.
It closed a chapter on Buick’s history when it definitely kicked its drab tag and surprised many. In fact, the brand survived General Motors’ bankruptcy and sells mostly in China where its model range is reminiscent of Holden’s last in 2020.