GNX. They were three little letters that were enough to warm the hearts of American performance car enthusiasts. They signified that Detroit had found its mojo and that the muscle car was back with a vengeance. This 1987 GNX is a recent museum find that has returned to active duty. Its condition is all you might expect, considering its history. However, its cause is aided by the odometer reading of 12,000 genuine miles. It is set to shake off the museum memories and terrorize the tarmac with a new owner behind the wheel. The seller has listed the Buick here on eBay in Brentwood, Tennessee. Bidding sits below the reserve at $35,100, although a week remains on the listing for that situation to change.

Vehicle styling is cyclical, and the 1980s was marked by hard lines and a lack of curves across most makes and models. This gave some cars the aerodynamic efficiency of a barn…traveling sideways. It was a trend that rapidly fell out of favor as stylists softened and rounded their latest offerings, but classics like the GNX carry the look exceptionally well. Its paint and trim combination is the secret to its success, dominated by menacing Black. It is only relieved by the occasional small badge and the outer section of the beautiful 16″ alloy wheels. The wheel arch flares and front fender vents enhance the impression that the GNX means business, and these cars had the muscle to remove any doubt. This Buick presents exceptionally well, and its overall condition is consistent with its history as a museum showpiece. The paint possesses a depth of color and shine that is almost eerie, while the panels are as straight as you could ever hope to find. The tinted glass is flawless, the plastic hasn’t suffered the typical deterioration, and the beautiful alloy wheels are stain-free.

If ever a car from the 1980s perfectly combined performance and comfort, the GNX would be a strong contender. Buyers received a long list of luxury appointments guaranteeing a pleasant motoring experience. Air conditioning was top of the list, while the driver’s seat, windows, locks, and trunk release all benefitted from power operation. Cruise control reduced driver fatigue on long journeys, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel helped the driver to tailor the driving position to their needs, and a range-topping AM/FM radio/cassette player relieved boredom. This GNX retains those features, and there are no aftermarket additions. The distinctive Gray and Black seatcovers are prone to becoming dirty and worn, while the headliner can sag. This car has avoided those problems, and there is no evidence of deterioration on the dash, pad, carpet, or console. The final piece of the puzzle is the dash plaque, confirming this as #268 out of a production run of 547 cars.

Everything to this point has been the entree, and now is when we must tackle the main course. The GNX was a joint undertaking between Buick and ASC/McLaren to produce the ultimate version of the Grand National. Buick knew the 1987 model year would be the last for the rear-wheel-drive Regal and wanted to take the performance variant out with a bang. If the Grand National was fast, the GNX took it to a higher level. The 3.8-liter V6 benefited from Buick-Bosch sequential-port fuel injection, a larger intercooler than the Grand National, and an improved Garrett AiResearch turbo. This tinkering resulted in an official power output of 276hp and 360 ft/lbs of torque. However, contemporary testing by motoring journalists demonstrated the actual figure was above 350hp. There’s no point in having that much power if it doesn’t hit the pavement successfully. The only available transmission was an upgraded 200-4R automatic with an external cooler, while the suspension benefited from improvements that helped force the tires into the road under hard acceleration. Buick quoted an official ¼-mile ET of 14.3 seconds, but those journalists who uncovered the true horsepower figure found a 12-second pass was consistently there for the taking with little effort. The seller claims this GNX has a genuine 11,956 miles on its odometer, which could be plausible given its ownership history. It was recently serviced to return it to a roadworthy state, although I would probably swap out the original tires for safety before venturing onto the open road. It runs and drives perfectly and is a turnkey proposition for a new owner seeking an exhilarating driving experience.

The overall condition of this 1987 Buick GNX is hard to fault, and its new owner will benefit from its sheltered life by slipping behind the wheel of a low-mileage classic that commands as much respect today as it did when it rolled off the showroom floor. That begs the question of what they might pay for the privilege. The existing bid figure falls well short of what I might expect, and I think we need to place a “1” in front of it (or even a “2”) to get anywhere near the ballpark. The GNX consistently achieves healthy six-figure sale prices, and prices beyond $200,000 are common. That could be a realistic figure if the odometer reading can be confirmed. Would you be willing to spend that amount of cash on this classic, or is it something that will remain a dream?