10 Buicks That Put Performance First

• Micah Wright
• February 2016
• Isn't it just amazing what you can find & learn on the MCF (lol) ?

Source: Buick

For most of you, the word “Buick” doesn’t immediately conjure up images of performance-oriented neck-snapping power as the luxury brand has become far more synonymous with SUV safety and fuddy-duddy fashion sense than anything else.
But believe it or not, performance has long been a huge part of Buick’s DNA. Even since its earliest days, the tri-shield badge ushered forth insanely quick cars that were revolutionary for their time. From stripped-down convertible race cars to iconic muscle cars, Buick engines have long pushed the pioneers of motorsports that much faster toward victory.

Hell, it was Buick’s racing prowess and engineering that helped solidify the brand’s reputation for durability and unique craftsmanship back in the day. So now, over a century later, Buick’s legacy of performance still lives on, even though refinement is the name of game and has been for a while.
But thanks to the archivists over at GM, here are 10 incredible cars that have helped “establish and advance Buick’s performance heritage.”

1. 1909 Buick Race Car

Source: Buick

Way back in 1909 – two years before the first Indianapolis 500, and just six after the Wright brothers’ first flight – a 2.5-mile-long oval at Indy was founded with the Prest-O-Lite Trophy as the ultimate prize. The 250-mile-long race was won by Bob Burman, who happened to be driving a Buick that averaged more than 53 miles per hour, a break-neck pace for back then. Interestingly enough, of the nine cars that finished the race, three of them were Buicks.

2. 1910 Buick 60 Special “Bug”



Source: Buick

Ah, yes, the 60 Special “Bug.” Built by the Buick racing team, this steampunk spin on racing has a style all of its own, including that revolutionary nosecone, which coincidentally was later revealed to be a feature that was designed more for aesthetics than aerodynamics. Beneath its bonnet rested a monolithic, 10.2-liter (622 cubic inch) four-cylinder engine that propelled the Bug to 110 miles per hour, making it look and perform lightyears faster than the previous vehicle on today’s cheat sheet. Buick apparently built two 60 Special race cars that year, one for the aforementioned Prest-O-Lite Trophy winner Bob Burman, and a second for another driver of that era, whose last name you might recognize: Louis Chevrolet.

3. 1938 Buick Century



Source: Buick

Tired of *****-footing around, Buick introduced straight-eight engines in 1931 with an American “more is more” mentality. A grand cause at the time, it was not until years later when the 1938 Century model was released that a new performance benchmark was set for what real power looked like. Dubbed the “Dynaflash 8,” this 5.2-liter (320 cubic inch) inline monster featured redesigned domed pistons that gave the Century a whopping 11 horsepower bump over the outgoing engine. This may not sound like a lot by today’s standards, but back then it made it possible to pass the “century mark” at 103 miles per hour, thus making the Century one of the fastest cars of its day and a legend among auto enthusiasts.

4. 1954 Buick Wildcat II Concept



Source: Buick

Though the prototype does appear pretty funky, what’s a concept car without a little edginess? Nicknamed the “Nailhead” for its V8 engine’s unique valve arrangement, this menacing motor was introduced in 1953 in order to power the Wildcat II concept vehicle the following year. By utilizing a quartet of “sidedraft carburetors,” engineers were able to squeeze out about 10% more power from the engine, giving the Wildcat II the power it deserved.

5. 1963 Buick Special

Source: Buick

In 1961, Buick came out with an innovative, lightweight all-aluminum V8 that was designed to power its new midsize “Special” model line. Featuring a meager 3.5-liter engine, this undersized engine punched well above its weight class and to this day is still revered as one of the most potent engines of its time. Peak performance was found in the 1963 Special, which featured 200 horsepower that represented a horsepower-to-liter ratio of 0.57:1. Versions of this aluminum engine were used in Indy race cars as well, firmly establishing its pedigree.

6. 1970 Buick GSX



Source: Buick

Sometime in the midst of the muscle car wars, something must have really pissed Buick off because the GSX ate Dodges and Fords like boxes of Raisinettes. Back then, torque was what made you a competitor in the muscle car race, so the automaker decided that 510 pound-feet of grunt should be enough to smack the other two automakers around. It did readily, with its 455 Stage I V8 engine. In a 1970 road test, Motor Trend went from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 5.5 seconds, and spanned the quarter-mile in a mere 13.4 seconds. This combination of raw power and signature luxury that was uniquely Buick caused many people to refer to the GSX as the “velvet hammer.”

7. 1976 Buick Century Indianapolis 500 Pace Car



Source: Buick

Buick’s 1976 pace car is by no means a winner in the aesthetics department, but when it comes to engineering ingenuity, it was a pretty badass car for its time. Back then, turbocharging a car was still a relatively rare practice, but growing bored with what was already old news, Buick’s engineers took the recently revived and far more efficient 3.8-liter V6 engine that was usurping larger V8 engines and slapped a turbo on it. What they got in return was a mean-spirited pace car that ran on 22 PSI of boost pressure and featured a 306 horsepower.

8. 1984 Buick/March IndyCar

S

ource: Buick

A few years after Buick first began fiddling around with turbochargers, driver Scott Brayton drove his Buick-powered turbo March race car to a 204 mile per hour one-lap speed and a 203 miles per hour four-lap average, setting new world records for a race car using a production-spec engine block. Years later, in the mid-1990s, a much more potent version of the Buick turbo V6 gave Eddie Cheever the chance to achieve the fastest race lap ever recorded at the Brickyard, with a 236.103 miles per hour speed landing him a top spot during the 1996 Indy 500. This is a record that still stands 20 years later.

9. 1987 Buick GNX



Source: Buick

In the throws of the high-performance 1980s automotive resurgence, Buick said screw the V8 and stuck with a turbo V6 program that worked. This option was most prominently noted in the Buick Grand National, and when it was finally retired in 1987, a limited-edition GNX version was added to the fray. This was basically a Grand National on steroids and with its larger turbocharger, higher output 276 horsepower engine and all-black attire, it made for one menacing sight if you were unfortunate enough to find one in your rearview mirror. Only 547 GNX Buicks were built, and are now considered highly collectible.

10. 2012 Regal GS



Micah Wright/Autos Cheat Sheet

The Regal GS has to be the most unassuming sleeper you will ever encounter, building upon decades of turbocharging heritage with one of the most sophisticated and power-dense engines in its segment. Featuring a 2.0-liter engine that churns out 259 horsepower and more torque than a Subaru WRX, this little sleeper is an amazing machine in almost every way. With actively adaptive dampers, an Interactive Drive Control system, and an all-wheel drive system that is absolutely fantastic, the Regal GS made collector car insurer Hagerty’s list of the 10 most collectible Buick models of all time and our list as one of the best cars we drove in 2015.

 

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2016 Buick Regal shown

• MSRP

$27,990

Listed MSRP is for a 2016 Buick Regal 4dr Sdn FWD base trim with no options. Includes destination fee. Does not include sales tax.

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• Finance

$558/mo*

This number is based on a 36-month, 15000-mile-per-year lease. Lease calculation assumes money factor of 0.00181 and residual of 40%. Assumes ZIP code of 90210 and entered credit score of 800 or higher. Does not include sales tax. Option to purchase at lease end for an amount may be determined at lease signing. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 45,000 miles. Lessee pays for maintenance, repair and excess wear. Lease payments will vary depending on options, vehicle availability, dealer participation, lender participation and terms, and credit score, all of which may vary from the assumptions above. The payment listed is not a guarantee or offer, only an estimate. Promotional interest rate and residual used for monthly lease payment calculation valid starting on 1/16/2016.

Cash Due at Signing


$558 total cash due at signing includes $558 total cash down, $0 security deposit. Tax, title, tags, and dealership fees not included. $695 lease acquisition fee is rolled into monthly payments. Unless waived as part of offer, first month's payment is included in due at signing amount.

*AccuPayment estimates payments under various scenarios for budgeting and informational purposes only. AccuPayment does not state credit or lease terms that are available from a creditor or lessor, and AccuPayment is not an offer or promotion of a credit or lease transaction.

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The Regal earns its keep as the athletic offering in the lineup while retaining the comfort and civility expected of a Buick. A 259-hp 2.0-liter turbo four drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic. A “mild” hybrid is offered and pairs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor. The sportier GS trim is where it’s at: all-wheel drive is optional, adjustable dampers improve upon an already well-sorted suspension, and a six-speed manual is available with front-wheel-drive models.Instrumented Test – 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD / GS AWDView Features and Specs

19/27 mpg

EPA

6.2 sec

0-60

259 hp

HP

149 mph

Top Speed

Tested: 2014 Buick Regal GS AWD
Test Location: Chelsea Proving Grounds (Chelsea, MI) - December 2013

 

Lacrosse super should be on the list. Can certainly keep up if not beat the regal.

 

"It has been said it has been done"


Buick #11;

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• LaCrosse
  
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• The Quickest Sedans of 2008: $30,000 to $40,000 - Feature Page 4

• Dec 2007
• By JARED HOLSTEIN
• Multiple Photographers

• 100 SHARES
• TWEET

FEATURE
Base price: $32,100
0-to-60-mph time: 5.7 sec
Quarter-mile time: 14.2 @ 101 mph
It’s been 20 years since the words “Buick” and “sport” have inhabited the same sentence and not referred to Tiger Woods. Buick performance purists, all 17 Members Only–jacketed habituĂ©s, whose passion was birthed of turbocharged fury, might pooh-pooh the LaCrosse Super. It’s no GNX, and 20 years later, it is almost a second slower to 60 mph. It is, however, unexpectedly competent and quite reasonably priced. Our Jared Gall called it “easily the best-driving Buick in recent history” and said if not for the omnipresent torque steer, it might drive better than many Lexuses, a claim he made while scanning the heavens for swine on the wing.

The LaCrosse Super wasn’t designed to be a sports sedan, with all the comparisons that invites, and is instead billed as a “luxury touring sedan.” It does, after all, share its chassis and engine with Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS, as well as thePontiac Grand Prix GXP, and front-wheel drive does none of these cars any favors. It is interesting to note that the Buick stops in less distance, holds onto the skidpad longer, and is quicker and faster than any of its platform-mates, with shocking high-speed stability, especially considering its roots and the badge on its nose.

The four-holer Super is stuffed with the 5.3-liter LS4 V-8 mated to a could-have-another-cog-or-three four-speed automatic transmission. The 300 horsepower and the 323 pound-feet of torque will whisk upsold octogenarians to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, if the torque steer at launch doesn’t snap their calcium-depleted wrists. The quickest Buick in years is also the fastest Buick in history, promising prompt tee-time arrival with a 156-mph top speed.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
BASE PRICE: $32,100
ENGINE TYPE: pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 325 cu in, 5327
Power (SAE net): 300 bhp @ 5600 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 323 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 4-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 110.5 in
Length: 200.4 in
Width: 72.9 in
Height: 58.7 in
Curb weight: 3791 lb

 

The Lacrosse Super is Awesome.
I once had a 89 Lesabre T-type. loved that car.