So why did Buick kill the GN?

[kman10587]

Why did Buick ever kill off the GN? I mean, if I remember correctly, it was a pretty hot car, and it sold well. I've heard rumors that they killed it because it was beating the Corvette from that time period pretty badly...is this true? Or did GM kill off the Grand National in the same fashion as they did the Fiero - just as it was getting really good?

[-Josh-]

That's just typical GM, anytime something starts to do good they have to kill it off.

[gn1220]

Look at the '88 Regals. They were front wheel drive. The real reason is that GM killed the rear drive platform so away too went the GN. Personally I'm glad they didn't try to push a front drive GN on us.

[kman10587]

Actually, the Regal wasn't FWD until '89. But yeah, I see your point about GM turning front-wheel-drive.

[gn1220]

1988 for the Regal. The rear drive Regal died after the '87 model year but the Monte and Cutlass lived on in rear drive form through the '88 model year, making '89 the first front drive Cutlass. And Monte too I think. I'll check.

[kman10587]

EDIT: My apologies, you are absolutely correct, at least according to Intellichoice. http://www.intellichoice.com/reports..._nmb/100004744

[gn1220]

No apoligies needed. I'm just trying to share what little knowledge I do have.

[kman10587]

Yeah, it was the platform that stayed RWD for another year, not the Regal.

[TurboGN86]

if i read the kirbans book right they did try to push some front wheel drive turbo buicks but there wernt as successful as the GN an not many were made.

[CESchmitz]

No "Urban Legends" here, just the facts on part of why the GN "went south:"

Corvette "Division" had some real (and well earned) heartache with the GN starting in '86. That turned to outright anger (jealousy, whatever) by the end of the '87 run (the GN being named the "Fastest Production Car In the World" didn't help that one bit).

The GN Chief Engineer (and I have forgotten his name - I'm getting to be an old senile fart) was "transferred" to Corvette after the '87 rolled-out (as their "Chief Engineer") - the ZR1 followed not too long thereafter....

The GN engine was tried out in the Reatta. Being front wheel drive, the suspension system couldn't handle the torque (big surprise) and that was scrubbed before any production cars were made. The only re-emergence of the GN (actually, McClaren) engine was in ‘89 with the TTA. Pontiac did a fairly good job in cleaning up some loose ends in the GN adaptation of the McClaren design and it was a tad quicker in the stock configuration.

Best Regards to All,

Chuck

1987 GN – Stock Innards

[Hypsi87]

Originally Posted by CESchmitz

No "Urban Legends" here, just the facts on part of why the GN "went south:"

Corvette "Division" had some real (and well earned) heartache with the GN starting in '86. That turned to outright anger (jealousy, whatever) by the end of the '87 run (the GN being named the "Fastest Production Car In the World" didn't help that one bit).

The GN Chief Engineer (and I have forgotten his name - I'm getting to be an old senile fart) was "transferred" to Corvette after the '87 rolled-out (as their "Chief Engineer") - the ZR1 followed not too long thereafter....

The GN engine was tried out in the Reatta. Being front wheel drive, the suspension system couldn't handle the torque (big surprise) and that was scrubbed before any production cars were made. The only re-emergence of the GN (actually, McClaren) engine was in ‘89 with the TTA. Pontiac did a fairly good job in cleaning up some loose ends in the GN adaptation of the McClaren design and it was a tad quicker in the stock configuration.

Best Regards to All,

Chuck

1987 GN – Stock Innards

Mcclaren had nothing to do with the TTA, it was PAS engineering that GM hired to adapet the turbo Buick engine to the GTA.