1985 Buick Regal Grand National vs. Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS vs. Oldsmobile 442 Article
"Modern Muscle", Car and Driver, July 1985
Grab your Frankie Valli cassettes and we'll see you at the beach.
Monte Carlo SS, Buick Grand National, Olds 442

 

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, Car & Driver Test
PRICE AS TESTED: $21,655 (base price: $19,095)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 122 cu in, 1999 cc
Power: 160 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 146 lb-ft @ 4450 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

Curb weight: 2982 lb

PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 7.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.6 sec @ 89 mph

 

It IS amazing how technology has advanced that is 4 sure
at 15.6 tell them to bring it...my 84 has beat that by 2 one hundredths...LOL That mustang is 192lbs lighter than my 84 ..lol curb weight on mine is 3174 lbs . I should probably take it down to the truck stop and have it weighed to so how much it actually weighs.

 

Hi `Barb,
Grandpa`Space just picked up a 2012 Focus SE with a 5 speed with low miles 4 a super price. That's why I know how they run He said I could use it, but it's down at his property in Indian River Co. I hope to drive it soon. They have good reviews.

Member `John, Turbo Monte has a Focus ST Turbo it they are fast for what they are...1/4 mile in 14.7 sec @ 96 MPH (He has his mod'ed & I'm sure his is much faster.

I'm amazed at the power & handling of this compacts 4>Sure!
They sure don't compare to your Monte > They are a completely different animal
RANK IN SEGMENT

 

I like to have room for me in my car. Not sure I could deal with something smaller. But yes, those cars do get up and go

 

Its funny that when I looked for a car back in 1987, I wanted a Brand National,Olds 442 or a Monte SS! the Buicks cost too much, the Olds were hard to find and cost too much so I got an '84 Monte SS H.O. in the anniversary blue color! loved it for 5 months til it was stolen,stripped and gutted!! ughh! bought a '87 Monte SS after that, not as cool, no H.O. but whoever had it painted it a midnight blue with silver stripe package,a color combo not offered so it was original as no one had one like it!!!

 

Stolen, stripped and gutted?? OMG I am not sure I would recover from the grief!! So sorry for your loss But you have an awesome Monte now too!!
I really like the 87 Grand National too but YES they are SOOO expensive!!!

 

Great article/post Barbara! It was a nice trip down memory lane. I graduated High School in '84 and all three of those were on my wish list! I settled for a Marroon Vega GT as my first car.

A drag racing shop I drive by a lot called Virginia Speed always has a couple black '85 Grand Nationals sittin out front. I would love to have one. I am a chevy guy at heart but I do love those Buicks!

One day I want to ad a 4th gen Monte to my stable also.

 

I graduated in 83 and I love all those cars.
My first car was a 76 black Grand Prix. Wish I still had her!
Those Grand Nationals are sweet.

 

Could This 1986 Buick Grand National Pull $15,750?





Buick dealers here once sold Opels, while today most Buicks ARE Opels. In between then and now, they sold cars like this Nice Price or Crack Pipe Grand National, and you'll need to decide if this one's selling price is equally grand.

It's also a Buick from back when Buicks were Buicks, if you know what I mean, jelly bean.


This 1986 Buick Grand National hails from the marque's Intercooled era, and has one of the most technologically advanced engines produced by GM in the '80s. Bonafides include the aforementioned intercooler, cooling the pressurized intake load and boosting horsepower to a respectable 235-bhp.

That was aided by sequential port injection and a distributor-less electronic ignition. These are all features that are pretty standard fare on a modern turbo-equipped car, but back in the '80s, it was like they were from Mars, or maybe Japan. Oh, and for those of you who are from Mars, or maybe Japan, or anywhere else not the U.S., this is about as 'Murica, Eff-yeah! a car as they come.



All those American ponies are fed through a 4-speed 200R4 automatic to a live axle out in the back. These cars were some of GM's last RWD body-on-frame mid-sizers and have become coveted over the years for those factors and their outstanding performance.

This black beauty may be especially desirable as it sports not just an exceptionally clean looking GN package, but T-tops to boot. I mean, you can store the glass T-top panels in the boot, er, trunk, when you want some fresh air tousling your trucker cap, or to provide greater ventilation on the way home from Taco Bell night.
A set of new Cooper Cobras are mounted on the handsome chrome with black accent steel wheels, and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of the car's claimed 134,000 mile life anywhere in the paint or trim.


The interior is equally clean, featuring a set of stock-looking thrones and some aftermarket gauges adding to the limited instrumentation the factory provided. The '87 GNX had a more comprehensive gauge package, but this model's funky tiny thermometer tach is cool in its own weird way.

There's also an aftermarket and modern stereo so you won't be confined to listening to the '80s when driving it. If that's more your thing, the original radio/cassette player is included in the deal.
Befitting its looks, the ad also claims that the car runs and drives excellent, and that everything works, even the R134-converted AC. In fact, fast and ready to enjoy is the ad's closer and that seems to be an appropriate place to then consider this cool Buick's price tag.



The seller is asking $15,750 for the car, which seems to be about middle ground for these cars. It's been a while since I've seen one this clean for this kind of money, which makes it interesting, and worthy of your opinion on whether you think it's a deal or not.
What's your take on this T-topped Grand National and its $15,750 price? Does that get your turbo spooling? Or, does that make you think this Buick is less than grand?
You decide!