Minneapolis Street Sighting: Buick Grand National

Now, to bring back proper GM performance; in the introduction of the 1980s, performance was still on its edge. Ford had just reintroduced the 5.0 for the Mustang, and the Camaro and Firebird still had a V8 option; but there was a new--and growing-- trend: forced induction. GM implemented turbo technology in the late 1970s on a Pontiac V8 with just over three hundred cubes of displacement and from what I understand, this was a terrible decision at best; lousy power figures, and the reliability for a 2.2L Ecotec four cylinder did a great combination not make. However, not one to give up, GM tried their luck again, and this time with much success.
Launched in 1982, the two-tone Grand National would be the turning point for a new point in GM performance history; with the 3.8 V6 and a turbo, a new phenomenon was born almost overnight; people found ways to easily tune these cars to almost double their stock power numbers and still be streetable. Although the first of these legends had a rather tame 125 horses from a nonturbo 4.1 V8 (yes, that 4100 disaster), the addition of a turbo the following year made people take notice. By 1987, the stock GN was capable of 245 horses, and 355 horses, more power than contemporary V8s; as far as performance legends go, think of the turbo Buicks as America's Skyline GTS. Corny, I know, but they're both rear wheel drive, turbo-powered six cylinder two doors.
After doing a fair amount of research, I am truly stunned that I saw this car; in 1982, the Regal Sport Coupe was the option with two tone paint; crystal black with gunmetal gray midsection, and 2022 of these were produced. Rare enough, right? Just 50 of these Sport Coupes were adittionally equipped with the Grand National package that includes badging, special seats and steering wheels, the turbine wheels, of course, the turbo'd 3.8. The following year, these two-tone Regals would be dubbed the T-Type, and were a regular, less-rare production option. That means, in the dead of winter, in one of the least car friendly states, I saw a one of fifty vehicle-- probably a once in a lifetime event.
And what a beauty this thing was; I mean, I've seen this around from time to time, but never really had that chance to photograph it, and I do realize this pictures aren't the greatest. It doesn't exhibit in rust, and aside from the minor gripes about the leading edge of the hood, this rare best was impeccably clean, especially for a car that appears to be driven all year round.
Major, major kudos to the owner for keeping such an awesome car alive and well in this hellish state, and I applaud him for driving it-- but I can only hope it doesn't suffer from one of our idiot drivers. If there's one thing I would do, is fix the little area by the drivers' side headlight. Other than that minor niggle, this is a great car that deserves to be preserved, but also driven.