A Michigan woman’s dream car turned into an emotional birthday surprise and an unexpected project when her husband brought home a 1987 Buick GNX—one of the most coveted American performance cars of the 1980s. The gift came with tears of joy, but also a long checklist of repairs required to bring the rare Grand National–based machine back to its original form.
Tyler Hoover, known for acquiring unusual and often troubled cars, purchased the GNX for $100,000 after spotting an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. The price was roughly half of what clean, low-mileage examples typically command, and far below the $300,000 sometimes achieved by top-condition cars. The discount, however, reflected the GNX’s far-from-stock condition after years of modifications and wear. Still, Hoover secured the car and surprised his wife, April, who had long hoped to own one.
The GNX, number 244 of the 547 produced for the 1987 model year, carries significant historical weight. Built with input from McLaren Performance Technologies and ASC, the car was engineered to outperform many exotic sports cars of its time. Its turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 delivered 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque, enough to make it the fastest American production car of the era with quarter-mile times in the mid-13-second range.
Today, the car shows 49,000 miles and a long list of issues. A methanol-injection kit, paint damage, torn weatherstripping, and leaks from both the oil system and exhaust manifold mark the start of what April hopes will be a full return to factory spec. Many of its original components—including the turbocharger—remain boxed in the trunk, and several dashboard lights are misbehaving. Old tires, a failed air-conditioning system, and cosmetic concerns add to the workload.
Mechanic David Long, known as The Car Wizard, now faces the task of undoing modifications and repairing aging components. Early assessments revealed a cracked exhaust section and the need to remove the meth injection system and reduce boost. April has already reinstalled the factory headlights and plans to return other details, such as yellow brake calipers, to original finishes.
The estimated repair bill of roughly $3,800 offers a manageable starting point, and April intends to handle some of the work herself using the lift in the couple’s garage—assuming she can get it working. Meanwhile, the shop also holds her Mercedes-Benz SL, itself a car with a dramatic past tied to a cartel seizure.
For April, the GNX remains the ultimate dream car, even with its challenges. The road to restoration may be long, but the rare Buick is finally in the hands of someone determined to see it return to the condition it had when it first left the assembly line.