"I remember taking it to work and wanting to change lanes and all you had to do was just stab the throttle and the thing would *choo-choo* and it would skid over. You didn't have to move the steering wheel, it would just shift lanes. It was wonderful." - Steve Pasteiner
Don't know who Steve Pasteiner is? Good, that's exactly why indy filmmaker Andrew Filippone Jr. has been hard at work on a solo documentary project titled Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary.
The film, still in production, tells the story of the Buick Grand National from the perspective of the designers, enthusiasts and automotive journalists who first reviewed the car. Somewhere between a history lesson and a memorial, Black Air looks to put a personal touch on one of the most improbable cars of our time.
Check the two-minute trailer "Misfit" after the jump and follow the film on Facebook for updates.
bodyblue says:
12:11 PM, 08/29/11
I will watch it when it comes out.....I still like GNXs and T-Types from back then. The Limited T-Type were the real sleepers.....wire wheel covers and landau roof blowing the doors off of Mustangs and Camaros....with a nice size trunk and back seat.
agnh says:
12:11 PM, 08/29/11
I hope they clear the air about the supposed 50 GNX's bought by the FBI. Urban myth...or real.
pjbaur says:
12:52 PM, 08/29/11
Big Ass Fan next to the Bad Ass car -- nice!
mboily says:
02:41 PM, 08/29/11
I loved my 88 T-TYPE with black velour Fisher interior, I remember from wild crazy night in the back row...lol
mboily says:
02:43 PM, 08/29/11
I loved my 88 T-TYPE with black velour Fisher interior, I remember some wild and crazy nights in the back row...lol
pickandflick says:
03:34 PM, 08/29/11
Note to InsideLine- those wheels look sweet. Please fix your LT Porsche wheels.
lsxformula says:
07:20 AM, 08/30/11
I'm definitely excited for this. I've always loved the GN's and hope to own one some day.
madmarv says:
08:49 AM, 08/30/11
With regard to Angh's post about the the 50 supposed GNX's being sold to the FBI, I can help clear the air on that. I used to sell Buicks back in the late 80's, and the dealership I worked for just outside of D.C. received 22 Grand Nationals, some fixed roofs, some t-tops, some sunroofs, that were leased ultimately to the FBI. A Buick stage 1 chip was put in each that removed the electronic governor. 22 of us employees were lucky enough to leave our dealership at the same time, and drive down the beltway, in the left lane, all in a row, and drop them off at a lot in the metro area where they would ultimately be picked up by the FBI. They were leased for about a year and then would trickle their way back to us (we would pick them as as they would come off lease) and we would then turn around and sell them on our used car lot. That day we got to drive all 22 of them down the beltway was one I'll never forget, with a funny experience or two along the way. I still love the GN's and the many memories I have associated with them.
lolxd says:
09:50 AM, 08/30/11
Buick Grand National = Long Term Porsche 911
I think IL should get a Grand National as a Long Term Vehicle.
isaacl says:
10:22 AM, 08/30/11
I need to see this! Also, that is an amazing story madmarv.....thanks for sharing that.
bodyblue says:
02:33 PM, 08/30/11
Ditto madmarv.....great story!
rob_z4m says:
03:01 PM, 08/30/11
bodyblue says:
12:11 PM, 08/29/11
I will watch it when it comes out.....I still like GNXs and T-Types from back then. The Limited T-Type were the real sleepers.....wire wheel covers and landau roof blowing the doors off of Mustangs and Camaros....with a nice size trunk and back seat.
-I purchased a new Mustang GT in 1985, never had any issues with these cars "blowing my doors off". After a trip to the SVO parts counter for a a H-pipe and a 3.73 real axle set up I walked away from more then my fair share of them. That was in Detroit and there were enough of them running around. I still recall the look of surprise from one guy with the window sticker wondering why the kid in the black mustang GT just dusted him...
Those cars are still a great looking cars.
throwback says:
03:28 PM, 08/30/11
rob_z4m, I also owned a Mustang GT, a '86 (first year for the port injected 5.0). I also installed 3.73 gears, I think mine came with a 3.08 rear end. I did have trouble with GNxs though (I think my buddy still has his from new) those cars were quick of the line, but they really excelled in the mid range.
rob_z4m says:
03:47 PM, 08/30/11
Throwback,
The 86 GT's went to a an injection set up and lost 20 or 25 horsepower compared to
the 85's, which were the very last of the carb engines. I don't recall running a GNX however I did run even with the Trans Am's that came with the turbo set up. I think those were only available in white.
The H pipe really opened up the 5.0 engine in the midrange.
Those were quick cars for that time however there was always faster things out there that always came in the most plain wrappers..
jdsgnx says:
04:25 PM, 08/30/11
This Article has been NEEDED for a long TIME!!!
Have been in Love with these cars since 1988!!!!
JD
zr1man says:
08:37 PM, 08/30/11
I'm sure the Grand National is fast and has an interesting story. But, the ZR1 is even faster. A ZR1 will blow the doors off the Grand National, and it handles better too.
Vettes Forever
firstwagon says:
02:37 AM, 08/31/11
+1 lolxd
How about a GNX for a long term used car?
litewerk says:
04:02 AM, 08/31/11
Considering what had traditionally been Buick's demographics, the Grand National and especially the GNX seemed rather like GM's equivalent to the legendary "hot-rod Lincoln." Have always thought they were cool.
bodyblue says:
05:04 AM, 08/31/11
The original 3.8 Turbos were terrible however.....no boost until the QuadraJunk opened its back barrels....talk about LAG!
rayzor says:
05:56 AM, 08/31/11
Had the opportunity to sat in one of these sweet ride. It had its engine tuned to deliver over 400hp!!! It was being used in Hawaii as a police car!!
lsxformula says:
07:16 AM, 08/31/11
So now we are comparing modded Mustangs to GN's, lol. Stock vs. stock the GN would dust any mid 80's 5.0. Mod for mod the GN is also going to come out on top. Obviously almost any car can be modded to beat a superior car in stock form.
ed341 says:
08:40 AM, 08/31/11
@zr1man
The ZR1 is really fast? I thought the biggest change was the neat window in the hood.
bimmerjay says:
09:05 AM, 08/31/11
@ed341,
The window on the hood and chrome wheels are there to show you how fast the ZR1 is.
econobiker says:
02:31 PM, 08/31/11
madmarv,
your story needs to be related in the documentary along with getting any other of the employees who participated in that convoy to comment. I too had read the car mags back then which reported on the rumor in their small news paragraphs yet we never saw anything come of it.
regards,
explorerx4 says:
03:18 PM, 08/31/11
Connecticut State Police used to have some Grand Nationals.
This link has a few post about it.
http://forums.aaca.org/f118/buick-gnx-gran-nationals-used-dea-152195.html
pikapp says:
07:18 PM, 10/ 1/11
I remember these cars comming into the dealership. Wow. Even before the intercoolers made it a REAL screamer. We had transplanted a 78 blowthru turbo setup into a 78 regal in 1982. Kinda fun, LOTS of vacume lines, a little disappointing. The original 82 Grand National had this engine. It felt like all the other stripes and decal hot rods of the day. Looked great, time it with a calendar. They only came two-tone silver, with fancy Lear seats that adjusted every way but comfortable.
The 84 and up port fuel injected, Computer Controlled Coil engines felt like rocket science, and they were! Stainless steel tube headers on a factory car? and there was this backround noise, a sort of buzz at idle, might have been injector snap or valve train noise that you can feel thru the car. Made you FEEL the power of high technology ready to unleash horsepower.
I can't wait for this video!