“A little chrome and a lot of power in basic black attire, that’s what the Buick Regal Grand National is all about” Buick sales literature.
- Many enthusiasts reported that a few simple modifications including a new computer chip could easily knock two seconds off the quarter mile time. This is very believable because this car became a drag strip darling.
- The Grand National Package cost $1,282. That increased the cost of the Basic Regal by about ten percent. This was very reasonable considering all the performance upgrades included.
- An estimated 425 of the 1984 Grand Nationals were produced with the T-Top option which makes these one of the rarest of the Grand Nationals.
Muscle Car Specifications
The 1984 Buick Grand National served two purposes: first it showcased Buick’s new turbo charged 3.8 liter V6 engine and second it brought performance minded and youthful buyers into the Buick showrooms. The Grand National excelled at both. Not only was the car distinctive in its all black layout but the new engine backed up the aggressive looks.
The new 3.8 liter turbo V6 produced 200 horsepower and 300 lbs-ft of torque. Those numbers may not seem that impressive today but in 1984 these were very good numbers. The 305ci small block used in the 1984 Camaro Z28 produced 190 horsepower and 240 lbs-ft of torque. The 350ci small block used in the 1984 Corvette produced 205 horsepower and 290 lbs-ft of torque. The Buick was not as fast as either the Camaro or the Corvette due to its greater weight. However, the difference was generally less than a second’s difference for both the 0-60 times and quarter mile runs. The Grand National could produce high fifteen second runs while the Corvette and Camaro were in the low fifteen second range. Not bad for a car with a real back seat.
The 1984 Grand National was more than a powerful engine stuffed in a mid-sized frame – it was an attitude. No one was going to mistake this car for anything other than what it was. This was not a sleeper. The color was black or paint cod “19” in GM speak. The bumpers were black, the trim was black. Basically everything that could be painted black was done so. And just in case anyone had any doubts, a spoiler was added to the trunk and aluminum wheels with black inserts were added to the package. Finally “Grand National” fender badges were added to complete the exterior package.
The interior was also dressed up to complete the package. The Grand National received a sports steering wheel, upgraded instrument package with a tachometer and a boost gauge on the dash. Lear seats were standard and were covered with sand gray cloth and charcoal leather inserts. Each bucket seat was further graced with an embroidered with a stylized “6” to represent the turbo V6 under the hood.
Production was limited to 2,000 examples in 1984. All were sold. The 1985 Grand National was very similar. Buick saw no need to mess with success.
Engine Specifications
| Type | Size | Carb | Horse Power | Tourqe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 231ci | Turbo-Charged | 200 hp @ 4400 rpm | 300 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm |
Performance Statistics
| 0 to 60 mph | Quarter Mile | Engine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 sec | 15.7 sec | 231ci/200hp | Estimate |
Finally, Muscle Cars Came Back
Just when you thought the classic muscle car was gone forever, Buick brings them back. Imagine a mid-sized car that could put the fear in Camaros and Corvettes alike. This was the car. Not only did it have the horse power but it had the “look.” That all black paint scheme just set it appear from the herd.
