FAQ's

CAUTION- Information here is mixed with editorial content 

Q. Isn't a GNX the same as a Grand National?

A. Not exactly. Every GNX was a Grand National before the conversion, but not vice versa. The GNX is actually a very limited-edition Grand National. A somewhat similar relationship would be a Firebird to an SLP Firehawk, or a Corvette to a Callaway Corvette.

Q. I thought the GNX had twin-turbos, V8, booster rockets...?

A. There are lots of urban legends about these cars. All GNX's were powered by a single turbo 3.8 liter V6 and no one component made the difference. It was a series of small tweaks that added up. For example, the GNX turbo is good for a pound or two of boost over the stock Grand National- that's a 2 tenths improvement in the quarter mile.

Another piece to the puzzle is the improved traction. GMHTP magazine did a test of Kirban's reproduction GNX rear suspension and the test car picked up about 1 tenth second in 60 foot time- that's another 2 tenths in the quarter mile. It also adds stability which makes the GNX easier to control when launching. No wheel hop, no sliding out, just tire spin and then straight motion. The result is you can keep your foot on the gas more of the time.

Q. My friend's Grand National looks just like a GNX.

A. Well then your friend has good taste ;-) The GNX was designed to look mean and considerable effort went into the wider tires, fender flares, minimal badging, etc. which enhance the already-sinister Grand National. Personally, I think the stock Grand National wheels are ugly, so it's no surprise that people start there on their quest for the GNX look.

Q. What about GNX clones?

A. It is possible, however difficult, to construct a GNX clone that will pass scrutiny of people that know what to look for. Hopefully, someone would create a GNX clone because they like the appearance, and not to deceive potential buyers. Personally I think using GNX emblems is crossing the line between liking the appearance, and trying to pass it off as something it's not. If you are considering the purchase of a GNX, run the VIN/sequence combination by Rob Wilson or myself.

There was apparently a company which created "GNX-R's" from regular Grand Nationals. I have no information about them but if you do please contact me and I'll add it here.

One thing to add, it's easy to upgrade a regular Grand National or T-Type to outperform a stock GNX using aftermarket parts.

Q. I saw a white "GNX" on eBay...

A. All 547 GNX's were black and optioned identically, but there are some interesting variations.

The white die-cast "GNX" you've seen is a replica of Rick Hunt's T-type, which he styled to represent what a white GNX would look like. Since Rick was an ASC employee during that time, he had the ability to pull this off using high-quality fabrication. My understanding is all the mechanicals of a true GNX were installed in this car. Rick decided to call it "X-Ray" because the white/black trim almost resembles an x-ray version of a true GNX. "X-Ray" is the most creative and respectable clone I know of. (See LINKS for a Featured Vendor that sells the X-Ray die cast model)

Heinz Prechter (then president of ASC) had an ASC sunroof installed in his real GNX. This creates somewhat of a grey-area, but unless the sunroof is coded on the trunk option list, it is an aftermarket modification.

Q. I heard that law enforcement agencies got GNX's.

A. That just doesn't add up. Law enforcement agencies have budgets and generally can't afford expensive collector cars that (with dealer markup) can run 3-4 times what a regular cruiser costs. In fact, all the posts I've seen by people who own ex-law enforcement Buicks are actually turbo T-types (mechanically identical to Grand Nationals, less expensive, and perform the same).

Furthermore, the general public hardly knows what a Grand National is, and even less people understand there is a difference- they often use "GNX" interchangeably. Reporters aren't exempt from this misunderstanding, so that's probably how the urban legend got started. I doubt law enforcement ever purchased a GNX. That's not to say they didn't acquire any through confiscation though.

One exception is Hawaii, where the officers apparently receive a car allowance to purchase their cruiser which would also be their personal car. Some bought Grand Nationals, but again I doubt GNX's.

Q. Where do I find a GNX for sale?

A. I get this question a few times a week. I'm no expert on finding them, but I can give you some tips. For starters, expect to travel and transport the car. There's usually only a handful for sale at any given time and you're very lucky to find one close to you.

There are no secret spots, but I've seen them in the "for sale" sections on the sites I have linked: TurboBuick.com, GNTTYPE.ORG, etc.. There's also eBay, TraderOnline.com, Autotrader.com, and don't forget the national rags like Special Interest and Hemmings. You can try search engines like Google, but the leads are often cold. Can't hurt to post a "wanted" message on the BuickGNX.com message board too. People usually tell me it took a few weeks.

Q. What do I look for when buying a GNX? How much should I pay?

A. Once you've located one, read through this site again and make sure it's really a GNX. Pay close attention to the enhanced parts and run the VIN as mentioned above. Once you're comfortable it's the real thing, approach it like any other car purchase. GNTTYPE.ORG has a Turbo Regal buyers guide online and Kirban Performance sells a book on buying used Turbo Buicks.

Most GNX's are in very good condition because they were collector cars from the start and very few people modify them. Everyone has their own expectations, but I would recommend looking for one with more than 5000 miles, because it's a good compromise between condition and price. A dent or scratch here and there is worth the $10K savings to someone who plans on driving it. Sometimes you can find a "high" mile one, like 50K miles, that will be more affordable.

Another thing to consider, all electromechanical devices that sit unused, will deteriorate. For example, open valve springs may lose their resilience when the motor hasn't moved in years. Original tires and rubber are suspect at best. Power antenna, coil pack, fuel pump, MAF, brake booster... all parts I have seen fail in low mile GNX's that were not used regularly. My point is that you can drop "new car money" for a perfect-looking GNX, and it's still a 18 year old car with potential problems. Funny how leaving something alone is not always the best way to preserve it.

So, you may pay big dollars for a 400 mile "all-original" GNX and then end up replacing a bunch of parts anyway. That's why I advise against the extrememly low miles ones. Unless of course you are planning to just stare at it in your garage.

Q. Who are you?

A. I'm just an owner who gathers information for other owners and enthusiasts to enjoy and use. Despite the "dot com", this site generates no revenue, yet somehow consumes lots of time ;-) I know there are people (and you know who you are) that lurk here and have details to contribute. YOUR input can make this a better site, so if you see things missing or incorrect, please drop me a line.

Q. Can I call you?

A. While I love to talk about the GNX, I really don't have the time to chat. Email works best for me because I can reply when I have the time.

Q. Why don't you have a GNX Registry?

A. Because I can't think of any benefit to GNX owners for me to do so. Rob Wilson already maintains a non-viewable GNX Registry and another group has a viewable Turbo Buick Registry. Unlike the other turbo buicks, GNX's are numbered and the authenticity is traceable from factory records.

In my experience though, GNX owners prefer anonymity and don't participate in viewable listings. The main reason is probably security and I'd prefer not to sponsor catalog shopping for a thief who's seeking a local GNX. I can tell you from experience if a thief wants yours, he will try very hard to take it, rather than search for another one.

Another issue is privacy. I've seem where buyers have trouble finding them for sale, they "shotgun" email to all listed owners they can find.

Q. Where can I get a GNX motor/turbo/intercooler....for my Nissan, Honda, Chevy, etc...?

A. I don't know any specific source, but follow my links to TurboBuick.com, GNTTYPE.ORG, etc. and their for sale sections may have what you need. You can also post a WANTED ad on those pages or the BuickGNX.com message board.

Q. Where can I get a repro of the factory ASC sticker ?

A. I know of no way to get an actual ASC repro sticker for the cars, however here's a possibility. The GMP 1/18 scale GNX model you often see on eBay comes with a mock sticker. You can enlarge it, substitute your VIN via manual cut and paste, and re-copy and laminate it. I'm sure that is some kind of copywrite issue, so do it at your own risk. One difference I know of, is I believe the orignal sticker had the dealership name where the Buick shield is on that GMP repro sticker.

I have seen them for sale on eBay, but I don't know what the quality is like.

Q. Does maintenance on a GNX cost a fortune ?

A. Yes and no. Relative to other cars of it's rarity and age, it is pretty cheap for normal maintenance because most of the parts are shared with thousands of Grand Nationals, T-types and even regular regals. You'll have no trouble finding plugs, filters, and other basics. An exception to this are the discontinued parts. New cranks, cams, blocks, fuel tanks, MAF sensors, etc. are just about impossible to locate as NOS. There are often good aftermarket substitutes available though.

On the other hand, the parts that are specific to the GNX like the wheels, fender flares, etc. will cost alot to replace, if you can even find them. That's why I tell everyone to remove the original turbo. Still though, the prices are usually not in the supercar range like Ferrari, Viper, etc.

So, just try to be careful and hopefully it doesn't come to that.