What got you into Turbo Buicks??

[Saladin45]

My brother was talking to me one night about cars.

And he mentioned the Buick Grand National.

And immediately told me to look it up online.

From that first picture, and that first video of a car making its pass. I was hooked on the Darkside!

 

[hrhoward]

Back when I was a junior in high school, '85-'86, I had my heart set on buying a Monte Carlo SS. Loved the styling. After graduation I was saving up to buy a used one. Even looked at a few. Freshmen year of college a buddy of mine had his dad's '86 T-type for the weekend. Of course I didn't think much of the V-6. That is until he let me drive it. After that, didn't even know what a Monte was.

As soon as that first year of college was over, I went looking for a Buick, seriously looking. Everything was just out of reach. About gave up until I took the back-way out of the subdivision where I grew up, something I rarely did. Saw an '86 T-type in a front yard. Literally slammed on the brakes in my '79 Impala station-wagon, threw it in reverse and went up to the door. The next day, and 10K later, I drove it the .75 miles home.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Summer of 1985 and I was fresh out of high school working as a service writer for the local Buick dealership. We took delivery of a silver T Type that had been ordered for a doctor in a neighboring community. I remember the car was stripped with an AM radio and manual windows and locks. All of the Service Techs took the car for a ride along with me. We even went and laid rubber in the local Chevy Dealer parking lot. Needless to say, I was hooked. Finally, after getting a better job, I bought my 87 silver T in October of 1989. Fast forward to 1993, I meet Kip Asplund who has an '86 Silver T. After some talking we come to the conclusion that his car is the one we "broke in" when I worked at the Buick Dealer. Small world huh?
I also take credit for ruining the rest of my family as we have 6 turbo cars between us.

 

[klrv6]

I rebuilt a salvaged GN when I was 15. I had access to free parts from GM including a full frame for it. I switched the frame and shot the thing before I could even drive. I was very impressed with how it could cook the tires and you never really heard the engine. I had always wanted one since then.

 

[Carr]

I was about 8 at a car show with my dad and he was walking with me and telling me the history of that type of car and we walked by and we saw a GN and my dad stopped and said "this is the reason I traded my Porsche 928 for a 911 turbo. because from a zero to 100 run the GN would beat the 928, so I had to get a 911 turbo to beat the GN." Flash forward to my junior year in high when I had enough money saved up for a muscle car, me and my dad went searching for any muscle car that was fit for the money I had saved. We looked at Monte SS, 69 trans am, 68 chevelle, 69-02 camaro, 67-72 mustangs and even a javelin with no luck finding a car in good condition that I liked for the price. Then during one summer on day me and my dad drove by a chevy dealer with a 87 GN in the used section. We quickly pulled over to test drive it since they were open. The car was a blast to drive, even through it was rough in body and motor. And my dad said he'll put some money in on it since it's a GN. We made an offer and of course it was well over priced for the condition. and my dad pointed out every problem with the car, since he used to be in the business. But we decided F them, and start looking for just an Grand National, and by mid senior year of high school we found an 86 GN that was straight and ran well and by the end of high school I was forever known for having the fastest street car in the high school and tech school. smoked a lot of mustangs. And I still have the same GN with me today.

 

[GNBRETT]

Seeing a GNX at a dealership priced at $60k. Yes, they did sell at that price at certain dealerships. Twice what it was worth or not? Either way, I was hooked. I could see myself upgrading to a V8 someday. But I can't see myself wanting to own a different car.

 

[Nojug]

My parents bought a White T-type new in 86' I always remembered mom wearing out everything on the street and loved it, so did she, I never realized how fast it was until one day we were all at the track watching my dad race he had a 71' Boss 351 Mustang. Mom decided she wanted to race dad and it was on, I thought for sure it would be a no contest but at my suprise mom won w/ a 13.76@102 to dads 13.80@109 at that point I was hooked, my parents sold the T-type in 93' to buy a boat I was pissed but told my dad that was what I wanted when I turned 16.

In 97' I just turned 15 and saw a 87GN in the paper w/ 40k miles bought it and the rest is history.

BTW T-type was stock except for Kenny Bell chip and Intake probably like 1990.