1987 Buick GNX

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HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Try again.

I am the OP and you are taking it out of context.

"Coincidentally, a few minutes later I saw a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo going the opposite way. Kind of interesting to see nice cars out and about, especially since there were snow flurries that day."

That GNX wasn't "out and about" because it was sitting in a lot without a license plate. The Lamborghini Gallardo was "out and about" and being driven when there were snow flurries.

Nice cars... Plural
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
that generation of cars is what me and my friends drove back in the high school. Cutlass, Regal, Monte Carlo. We all had the basic models...except one guy had an 85 442, another had an 88 Monte SS, I had an 81 and 87 Cutlass....But damn, those Turbo Buicks were what I always wanted.

My 87 Cutlass had the 307 w/ 4 barrel carb, and a massive 160HP!!! I did get 25MPG thanks to rear end gearing, but man was that thing a dog by today's standards (I think my beater ecotec Saturn is faster). Prior to that I had an 81 Cutlass with that wonderful 3.8L. It looked sweet in black with T-tops and sweet chrome wheels, but what a DOG. my first car...I remember it got 14MPG cause I had to drive it so hard to make it remotely fun to drive. The funny thing was, the guy I bought it from had the nerve to put glass pack mufflers on it...on a V6.

Good times!
 
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justfrank

Member
Feb 18, 2012
104
0
0
I haven't heard much about the Buick 3.8, but I am sure it was slow pushing around a tank like that. Maybe you just had a lemon.

In the late 70s, I use to work at a gas station and remember seeing many of those early V6s. None were quick in any car then, besides the turbo Regals. Oil in air cleaners wasn't uncommon either, with good working PCV systems too.

I also once had a '79 Regal (also was free) with a Pontiac 301 eng. Had 23K miles when I got it. Also slow but for a V8 powered car got decent mileage, was dependable and lasted many years. The only reason I liked it was because I installed the best (to date) sound system in it that I've ever heard. I eventually gave it to my son when he turned 16 and he later gave it to another kid. They even tryed to blow it up in a field but couldn't so it ended up in a demo derby to its final demise with about 175K miles.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
I don't understand why anyone would want a brick that is fast in a straight line, so why this is impressive to anyone is beyond me.

Was, not is. Was.

Was impressive in 1987.

Is not that impressive compared to today's cars, but that's an unfair comparison.

What car can hold it's own with cars 25 years newer?

Brick? Almost everything on the road was a brick in 1987 as far as I remember. Fast in a straight line was pretty much all you could get.

60's American cars certainly couldn't have matched the GNx in the twisty bits, let alone in the stoplight drags. And they certainly weren't any more aerodynamic.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Exactly. You want details on the Porsche I saw that was being driven on the roads?

You implied it, I'm sorry if your OP wasn't clear enough to get the point you were making across.

Was, not is. Was.

Was impressive in 1987.

Is not that impressive compared to today's cars, but that's an unfair comparison.

What car can hold it's own with cars 25 years newer?

Brick? Almost everything on the road was a brick in 1987 as far as I remember. Fast in a straight line was pretty much all you could get.

60's American cars certainly couldn't have matched the GNx in the twisty bits, let alone in the stoplight drags. And they certainly weren't any more aerodynamic.

So in 1987 you'd say "Oooh that car is fast in a straight line, and looks like a brick" I'm not sure why someone would want a car like that, that's my point, the tense is irrelevant.

You're wrong about that, see the Lancia Delta Integrale shown above as a prime example.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
You implied it, I'm sorry if your OP wasn't clear enough to get the point you were making across.

Yeah I'm sorry too, for bringing out the negative in you. For that, I apologize to the rest of the forum.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
You implied it, I'm sorry if your OP wasn't clear enough to get the point you were making across.



So in 1987 you'd say "Oooh that car is fast in a straight line, and looks like a brick" I'm not sure why someone would want a car like that, that's my point, the tense is irrelevant.

You're wrong about that, see the Lancia Delta Integrale shown above as a prime example.

No, I wasn't a dork in 1987. No one would ever say that about any car.

That Lancia is a brick, and I love it. Oh wait...
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
No, I wasn't a dork in 1987. No one would ever say that about any car.

That Lancia is a brick, and I love it. Oh wait...

Yeah it's not that aesthetically pleasing, but it's incredibly fast and won a lot of rallies.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Yeah I'm sorry too, for bringing out the negative in you. For that, I apologize to the rest of the forum.

OK.

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Last edited by a moderator:

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
126
Unfortunately, that was horrible time for people who wanted any type of oomph from their cars. Most cars were still using large 70's designs, but engines were getting less and less powerful due to their compression ratios being cut.

I haven't heard much about the Buick 3.8, but I am sure it was slow pushing around a tank like that. Maybe you just had a lemon.

Yeah why is that anyway? Why were they cutting compression ratios down? Isn't a higher compression ratio more efficient?
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
Yeah why is that anyway? Why were they cutting compression ratios down? Isn't a higher compression ratio more efficient?

Yes, but lower compression uses less fuel. It was a quick fix until either the energy crises were over (1973 and 1979) or auto companies could design engines that sipped less gas. I think the federal government also used the opportunity to start mandates on fuel economy and emissions, which probably prolonged the amount of time it took to get engines making decent power again.

Fuel injection changed a good bit on the efficiency standpoint as well. I remember when I was a kid my dad showing me how you could actually see the fuel guage on his 454 Suburban dropping when taking off, loading down with race car and all. Those quadrajets could get things moving, but man did they drink the gas!
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
The GN/GNX body type is well-loved by many even to this day. I am sure a GNX passing by would turn most heads.

Sadly, many GNX's on the road (at least here in S. Florida) are clones or just emblem replacements.

There was a lot more to them then just more power.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
Yeah it's not that aesthetically pleasing, but it's incredibly fast and won a lot of rallies.

i actually like the stylings of that hatch. i couldnt care less how many rallies its won.

style and aesthetic beauty are personal choices, just because you dont see any in a particular car doesnt mean the car itself wasnt integral to a decade. in the 80s i had a 76 nova, 74 dodge coronet, 70 maverick and a 80 datsun 210. each car looked great to me, all for different reasons. most people would call all of them ugly, but who cares. i had friends with the "bricks" youre complaining about, and they were great looking cars at that time. friend of mine had a GN and broke his 2-piece rims while doing a burn out in front of the school, one of the funniest things i recall back then.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
i actually like the stylings of that hatch. i couldnt care less how many rallies its won.

style and aesthetic beauty are personal choices, just because you dont see any in a particular car doesnt mean the car itself wasnt integral to a decade. in the 80s i had a 76 nova, 74 dodge coronet, 70 maverick and a 80 datsun 210. each car looked great to me, all for different reasons. most people would call all of them ugly, but who cares. i had friends with the "bricks" youre complaining about, and they were great looking cars at that time. friend of mine had a GN and broke his 2-piece rims while doing a burn out in front of the school, one of the funniest things i recall back then.

How did he break the wheels?

.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
How did he break the wheels?

.

pretty sure they were cheapo wheels to start with, but he was in the middle of a huge burn out, was going to make it a turn around and take off. as soon as he was about 20 degrees into the spin they snapped, one after the other. when the smoke cleared, the hubs were broke clean right under the rim section where they bolted in.
 
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