Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Looks can deceive: 6.6L Duramax-powered Buick GNX clone]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/looks-can-deceive-6-6l-duramax-powered-buick-gnx-clone/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/looks-can-deceive-6-6l-duramax-powered-buick-gnx-clone/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/looks-can-deceive-6-6l-duramax-powered-buick-gnx-clone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The car you see here is not a GNX. Hell, it's not even a Buick. You'd be forgiven if you thought it was, though, and it does sport a turbocharger underhood. David Morad was so enamored with the 6.6L LB7 Duramax diesel in his truck that he wanted to put it into something lighter and more fun. He decided to build a Grand National around the engine, and started buying up whatever applicable Buick body parts he could find -- right down to legit GNX dash plates. Next, he bought an '82 Buick Regal diesel that was to be the subject of the transformation. Unfortunately, that car literally self-immolated as he drove it home, sending Morad straight back to square one.

He subsequently found and bought an '81 Olds diesel and got to work. The car was cut in half so that a Regal rear end could be welded on, and then a laundry list of major modifications followed. To retain the stock Buick exterior appearance while incorporating the new powertrain, everything under the skin is is either extensively modified or custom fabricated in order to allow for the deception. Sure, it looks like a GNX, but this is really a scratch-built machine. Wilwood brakes lurk behind some absolutely wicked deep-dish Budnik wheels (dig those steamrollers in back), which nicely compliment the menacing black bodywork. Diesel Power magazine covers all the build's specifics in detail, and it's well worth a read.

If you're gonna masquerade as a GNX, you'd better bring some punch to the costume party, and Morad's car does. As of Diesel Power's publication, it ran an 8.25-second eighth of a mile, which they figure works out to somewhere in the 12s for the quarter. He'll be gunning for the 11s next, and additional performance upgrades are in store. Best of all? This is Morad's daily driver! He reports that it gets around 28 mpg in regular use and in the mid-30s on the highway. Not a bad combination: the looks of a GNX, the grunt of a big turbodiesel, and the fuel economy of cars that are a lot more boring. This thing had to cost a fortune to make, but Morad's clearly getting his money's worth on the fun scale.

[Source: Diesel Power via Next Autos]

Looks can deceive: 6.6L Duramax-powered Buick GNX clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6.6buickclonecustomdieselduramaxgm lb7GmLb7gnxgrand nationalGrandNationaloldsmobileSun, 24 Aug 2008 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay find of the week: Mazda FD RX-7 equipped with Grand National turbo'd V6]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/19/ebay-find-of-the-week-mazda-fd-rx-7-equipped-with-grand-nationa/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/19/ebay-find-of-the-week-mazda-fd-rx-7-equipped-with-grand-nationa/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/19/ebay-find-of-the-week-mazda-fd-rx-7-equipped-with-grand-nationa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Here's another example of liking the individual hardware pieces, but being repulsed by the idea of the ultimate combination. RX7s are cool. Grand Nationals are cool. But a vehicular mash-up of a 1993 RX-7 powered by a Buick GN's V6 seems a little weird. Weird to think that it even gets past regulatory agencies, as it's an older, totally alien engine in a newer car, which might make it interesting to register in a state with California emissions. The swap is well done, though, even if we'd question the handling a heavier and much more powerful engine in the snout brings with it. It's fast, but does it understeer like a pig and snap the tail out? The seller seems to have focused on posting low elapsed times in the quarter mile, so think about that when you conjure what the dynamics may be. Follow the jump for more.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Gallery: GN powered RX-7

Continue reading eBay find of the week: Mazda FD RX-7 equipped with Grand National turbo'd V6

eBay find of the week: Mazda FD RX-7 equipped with Grand National turbo'd V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7buickebaygngrand nationalGrandNationalmazdarxrx-7rx7turbov6Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:32:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Buick GNX #359 - 9.9 miles on the odo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/29/ebay-find-of-the-day-1987-buick-gnx-359-9-9-miles-on-the-odo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/29/ebay-find-of-the-day-1987-buick-gnx-359-9-9-miles-on-the-odo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/29/ebay-find-of-the-day-1987-buick-gnx-359-9-9-miles-on-the-odo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image for 55-pic photo gallery

The Buick GNX is iconic -- one of the great modern GM performance cars. The ultimate Grand National, it was limited to 547 units and received a host of changes at the hands of ASC McLaren over the "regular" car. These included substantial upgrades underhood, most notably to the turbocharger and intercooler, and when it bowed, the GNX was advertised as having 275 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. Another set of numbers, namely the car's sub-5-second 0-60 time, was evidence that the factory power rating was clearly on the low side.

A Texas car dealer has acquired Buick Grand National GNX #359 and has listed it for sale on eBay. #359's significance is that it has under 10 miles on the odometer and has never been titled despite the fact that it's 20 years old. All manner of original documentation is included, as well as the original battery, which was removed and stored. It also looks great in and out -- like something out of a museum -- and frankly, we ache for this most evil of G-Bodies. Apparently, we're not alone, as four bidders have pushed the car up over $85,000 USD. The reserve hasn't been met yet, though, and the seller has a "Buy it Now" on the car, too. If you click on that and agree to part with $109,980 USD, it's yours. Sure, you could get something like a 911Carrera S for the same money, but it wouldn't get half the looks, and we gather that the Buick's just as fun (and about as fast, too).

For more, check out this thread on TurboBuick.com, which focuses specifically on this particular car.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: eBay]

Gallery: 1987 Buick GNX #359

eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Buick GNX #359 - 9.9 miles on the odo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayGNXGNX #359GNX 359Gnx#359Gnx359grand nationalGrandNationalSun, 29 Apr 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: The Buick Grand National is "Bad to the Bone"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/video-the-buick-grand-national-is-bad-to-the-bone/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/video-the-buick-grand-national-is-bad-to-the-bone/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/video-the-buick-grand-national-is-bad-to-the-bone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Long before anyone would have thought we'd be debating the merits of US vs. Chinese-market Buicks, the division wasn't averse to producing exciting cars, as evidenced by some of the great designs they had dating back to the 50s, the muscle they put on the streets in the 70s, and the badassedness of the Grand National and GNX in the 80s. If you want to make a case for the blown Regal GS of the 90s, be our guest, but we think you get the point we're driving at.

History gave us plenty of nice Buicks, and the all-black Grand Nationals of the mid-80s make us feel all warm and fuzzy. Call us crazy, but those cars still look plenty stylish today despite their decidedly 80s looks. The TV spot you see above is for either the '84 or '85 car, both of which had 200 horsepower. (In '86 it jumped to 235, and in '87 it was 245. The supreme '87 GNX dished 276.) The General even got George Thorogood to tailor his "Bad to the Bone" lyrics to fit the Grand National ("200 horsepower, No time for chrome.")

At the end of the spot, George asks, "Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?"

Well yeah, George, if they ever got back around to making something this exciting.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: The Buick Grand National is "Bad to the Bone" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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