History is littered with them. By “them, ” I mean people who have bought a new car and hidden it away in the hope that it will become a future classic that will reap a huge reward when it goes to market. Some of these have been a success, while others have been a dismal failure. The 1987 Buick GNX falls into the former category because spotless, low-mileage examples can command stratospheric prices. When it comes to low mileage, they don’t get much lower than this one. Its odometer reads 8.7 miles, and those are genuine! The owner has decided to part with the Buick, so he has listed it for sale here at Barrett-Jackson. It is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is scheduled to go on the blocks from June 17th – 19th. Adding to the intrigue, the GNX is being offered for sale with No Reserve.

When Buick embarked on the development and production of the GNX, they had intended to produce a mere 200 cars. However, buyer demand was so great that they relented, and eventually, 547 vehicles were built. This still makes the GNX a rare vehicle, and it managed to achieve this success despite being lumbered with an extraordinary sale price. A buyer could wander into a Buick dealership in 1987 and drive away in a Grand National for around $18,295. If they wanted to opt for the GNX, it would lighten their wallet to the tune of $29,290. What buyers got for their money was a car with looks that could kill. It was a symphony of evil in Black, sort of like Darth Vader, but with wheels. To accommodate the 16″ wheels, Buick fitted some none-too-subtle fender flares. Apart from a couple of small badges and the outer sections of the wheels, everywhere you looked, you saw nothing but black. This gave the car a brutal and purposeful appearance, and it is one that our feature carries very effectively. The paint shines beautifully, and both it and the panels appear to be flawless. There is no evidence of corrosion, while the alloy wheels have no oxidization or physical damage. The tinted glass is as perfect as the rest of the vehicle, and this is easy to understand when you consider the vehicle’s history. The original owner purchased the Buick, and he immediately placed it into climate-controlled storage. It has remained in that environment until recently, which explains why it is so well preserved.

Apart from its overall desirability, here is the secret behind why this GNX has generated so much interest since it popped out of the woodwork. While I can’t confirm it, this may be the only example in existence today with a single-figure odometer reading.

When it appeared, the 1987 Grand National proved to be a revelation, and it effectively demonstrated that the buying public could still get their hands on muscle cars. The GNX took the already potent Grand National drivetrain and stretched the boundaries even further. The Grand National already featured a 3.8-liter V6 with fuel injection, a turbocharger, and an intercooler. The GNX upgraded everything, including a Garrett T3 turbocharger with a ceramic impeller, a ceramic-coated turbo shield and inlet pipe, a larger dual exhaust, a reprogrammed engine management system, and an intercooler that was physically the same size as the Grand National’s but featured more cooling fins. With 15psi of boost on board, Buick claimed a power output figure of 276hp, up from 245 in the Grand National. All of that power needed to get to the road, and it did so via a 4-speed automatic transmission and a Posi rear end. Motoring journalists took one look at the power figures being quoted by Buick, and they laughed themselves hoarse. The belief has always been that the actual figure is north of 300hp, but how far north has always been a matter of speculation. However, pointing a GNX at a ¼ mile brought immediate results. The journey would take an astounding 12.7 seconds, making the GNX faster than a Porsche 930 or a Ferrari F40. If the buyer intends to return this GNX to active duty, they may have some work ahead of them. The last time that it moved under its own power was when it was driven into the storage facility, and that was in 1987. There’s no doubt that many of the rubber components like belts and hoses will have perished, while the brakes and other hydraulic systems will require attention. Getting the GNX roadworthy has the potential to cost a dime or two.

With most of the protective plastic covering still in place from the factory, it is no surprise that the interior trim is faultless. The seats are upholstered in Black and Gray cloth, and this remains crisp and sharp. The carpet will be in a similar state, while none of the plastic trim shows signs of deterioration. Wherever the GNX was parked, it seems that it had virtually no exposure to harsh UV rays. They can exact a heavy toll on Buick plastic, but this is all in excellent condition. The interior also comes nicely equipped. The buyer will find themselves with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power driver’s seat, cruise control, remote exterior mirrors, a tilt wheel, and a premium AM/FM radio and cassette player.

This 1987 Buick GNX is an extraordinary car, and we may never see another like it. We’ve seen a few with low odometer readings here at Barn Finds, but I think I’m safe in saying that this is the first one we’ve seen with an odometer reading in single-digit territory. It is a car that leaves me torn. On the one hand, it is a privilege to see and write about a beautifully preserved classic like this. It is a dream come true. However, while I respect that it has been preserved, I wish that it had seen some action on our roads during its life. Buick designed the GNX to be driven, preferably hard. They didn’t spend all of that money on research and development just to see the car sitting in a museum somewhere. I fear that this will be the fate of this GNX. A significant part of its intrinsic value, and we’re talking about a six-figure sum here, is tied to that odometer reading. Every mile accumulated will devalue the car, and that’s why I believe that the short drive that this GNX made in 1987 could be the last that it will ever make. I’d love to think that I’ll be wrong about that, but I’m pretty confident. What do you think?