87 GN or Old Muscle??

[turbo39151]

I can speak from experience on this one. I have ridden in a mint 1970 SS Chevelle with the 454. The car was an animal. It had lots of torque and looked awesome too. Ironically, the owner was a friend of mine that also had a GN. The GN is hands-down a much more impressive car from a power standpoint. If you want to be pinned to the seat, go and take a ride... If you want to embarrass Mustangs and Vipers, go take a ride...

You've heard what they say about Grand Nationals: "Once you go Black..."

BTW, If you can afford a 1970 SS with the big block, I'm sure you can fine a few Turbo Buicks to fill your garage...

happy hunting.

 

[Phoneguy]

I have owned 5 big block Chevelles, a Small Block Nova and a 64 Corvette...
The GN is by FAR the better performer.

Bryan

 

["Turbo-T"]

You could listen to Bill Ragland's testamony versus his 66 Chevy II that had the 350 hp L79....Grand National and GNX feature

 

[87GN_ponykillr]

See Joe... what did I tell you? :biggrin: -Adam

 

[QuickBuick87]

I too have owned big block and small block muscle cars over the years and it's kinda like comparing apples and oranges. Take a ride in a big block 'anything' from the muscle car era and you would think it 'feels' real fast because of all the noise and because they 'feel' fast. BUT, take that big block car and line up to a 'mildly' modded TR and it will get it's azz handed to it. There is NO comparing the two. That's why my GN is here to stay. I'll be that 90 year old 'grandpa' the kids will be pointing too in another 50 years driving that 'antique' GN..........

Ken

 

[wallyp]

Look here, interesting article lots of old muscle cars vs a viper and TR.

Showdown! Old And New Musclecars Duke It Out - Popular Mechanics

 

[turbo39151]

Look here, interesting article lots of old muscle cars vs a viper and TR.

Showdown! Old And New Musclecars Duke It Out - Popular Mechanics

If you read the article, you will notice they allowed the other Buick to run in somewhat modified form and then simply wrote it off as stating it's what guys of that era would have done... I wonder they didn't TType was stock and not mildly modded-like guys of that era would have done... It may have taken 1st place from the Viper.

 

[Dwayne]

You would be money ahead in the long run if you go with old muscle.

 

[UNGN]

You would be money ahead in the long run if you go with old muscle.

... If he had bought it 20 years ago. Mopar prices still seem to be smoking crack.

340 Darts and Duster used to be looked down at as "kids cars" or "jr. muscle" back in the day, and $3500 would buy 90% of them... because that is what they were worth.

If he wants a musclecar that will run incredibly easy 12's and have A/C, PW, PDB, he's be money ahead buying a low mileage GN vs. the Mopar rust bucket he would get for the same money.

People that paid $400K for hardtop Hemicuda's a few years ago aren't "money ahead" in 2009.

 

[GullsGN]

Also, you will pass at least twice as many gas stations with the GN. And for 500 bucks or so you add alky, and switch to 87 pump gas. Oh, ya, and don't forget to turn the boost up to 20+, :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Steve

 

["Turbo-T"]

I too have owned big block and small block muscle cars over the years and it's kinda like comparing apples and oranges. Take a ride in a big block 'anything' from the muscle car era and you would think it 'feels' real fast because of all the noise and because they 'feel' fast. BUT, take that big block car and line up to a 'mildly' modded TR and it will get it's azz handed to it. There is NO comparing the two. That's why my GN is here to stay. I'll be that 90 year old 'grandpa' the kids will be pointing too in another 50 years driving that 'antique' GN..........

Funny you mention this.

When I first got my TR I had a big block Chevelle. Off the line the Chevelle would get up and go. Even mid to upper accleration seemed better than the TR. Of course at the time the TR was only running 15 lbs of boost. But at the time I was asking myself "what were you thinking? Where's all the hype on these turbo Buicks?"

Now the TR gets up and goes a little better now that the boost is up some. The advantage is the Chevelle had a 3000 stall and a 3 speed auto backed by a 4.10 rear....it would go to about 105 and top out. The TR can go in excess of 125 mph. Ask how I know.

 

[Dennis Kirban]

kirbans 2 cents worth

On the top speed in a turbo regal they don't feel real stable at those speeds. Granted they accelerate quickly, but confidence at 120 mph and above is taking a risk.

As far as the original muscle car era mid 1960s time frame until emissions, insurance, and 5 mph bumpers stepped in ideally, you would have a car representative of both time periods.

You have far more choices in the mid 1960s muscle car era than you do picking something American made in the mid 1980s time frame. Certianily no 1986-1987 Corvette is as highly sought after as the Turbo Regal is. A point that does not sit well with the Corvette crowd I am sure.

The 5.0 Mustang was probably the only other significant game in town of any American performance. Mustang wins in shear numbers produced but the Turbo Regal notably any black version still gets you a thumbs up when it is spotted on the road.

No matter what you favor, I would have no trouble making room for a Hemi cuda or a ram air IV GTO or a 409 Chevy in my garage. Old school or new school don't matter its what you enjoy that matters.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

I started in the late 1970s selling original Mopars and GTOs and still produce parts for GTOs for major companies.

 

[Little6pack]

Buy BOTH

 

[wile87]

still waiting to really enjoy driving mine since it was stolen, hopefully spring will bring a smile to my face again. buy a gn!

 

["Turbo-T"]

If nothing else you could always buy an old classic iron car...like maybe an old Skylark and retrofit it with an LC2 engine. Then you get you a license plate that reads "just a 6" and no one would suspect anything.

 

[QuickBuick87]

kirbans 2 cents worth

On the top speed in a turbo regal they don't feel real stable at those speeds. Granted they accelerate quickly, but confidence at 120 mph and above is taking a risk.

kirbanperformance.com


When I first purchased my 87 'T' I did the usual mods, chip, reg, dump, K&N, pump and 20lbs boost using 105 unleaded "Turbo Blue". I wanted to see what the 'top end' was soooo, driving home from work one night (around 11pm) I hit my favorite stretch of highway and went for it. I hit 145mph pretty quick and I can tell you at that speed, the TR feels like a 74 Ford F100 with worn tires at 80mph(don't ask):biggrin: . In other words, don't do it. Course that was 16 years ago and would NEVER try that again in a TR. Had to pry my hands from the steering wheel when I got home.....

Ken

 

[Turbowife]

Go with the Turbo! Trust me, girls love em. They had much rather hear that whistle than a loud a** engine that you can't even carry on a conversation. These cars are getting harder to find and parts even harder. You can't build these cars out of a catalog like the 60-70's Camaros, Chevelles, Mopars and you see what they are or were bringing. I think these cars will end up making them look like chumb change. IMO
As you can tell, they won this chick over.