HELP!!! Real GN???

[SS PUNISHER]

I need yaws help!
I found what I believe to be a grand national roller and need to know if its the real deal
Its also bill of sale only and that's added to the concern of whether its real or not. It has the hood, spoiler, seats, console, 8.5 rear, black trim but I found chrome under the front bumper paint.... It doesn't have the front air dam but looks like one used to be there. Idk what else to look for??? I got the vin# too but idk what to look for on it.

I didn't know where to put this post so I put it here since I need to pull the trigger on this deal asap!!!

If anyone can help id be very grateful and thanks in advance!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

This is for '87 GNs.
1 = Manufacturing Country (USA)
G = Manfacturer (GM)
4 = Division (1=Chevy, 2=Pontiac, 3=Oldsmobile, 4=Buick, 5=GMC, 6=Cadillac)
G = Series (G body)
J = Sales/Option level (Regal ... K was supposed to be GN, but wasn't used)
1 = Body Code (2 Door Coupe)
1 = Restraint System (manual belts)
7 = Engine Code (LC2 3.8L SFI Turbo
X - Check Digit
H = Model year (H = 1987)
P = Plant Code (Pontiac Michigan)
400001 = Serial number

It doesn't really ID if the car is a GN, but at least if it had the turbo engine.
All '86-'87 cold air turbo cars had an engine code of 7.
Check here for more info:
http://www.gnttype.org/general/vin.html

[SS PUNISHER]

Thanks Joe, I did already check the vin and it is a 87 turbo car! It has th 3.8 sfi on the hood, shouldn't it say intercooled??? How about the trim finish? What would it look like under the paint? There was a spot peeling on the windsheild and it looked like plain aluminum or whatever it is trim.... that with the chrome under the front bumper paint might lead me to believe it a clone.....

[UNGN]

The fender badges said intercooled, the hood said 3.8 SFI.

Check the RPO tag in the truck.

WE2 for a real GN.

[astroracer]

You can't rely on the trim. It was painted aluminum to begin with so that is not a good indicator. I wouldn't put any faith in the bumper either as it could have been replaced by a painted chromed bumper if any accidents are in the cars history...

[SS PUNISHER]

Pretty much what I was thinkin on the trim and bumper....
Is the RPO the only sure fire way to know? I'm sure that could be copied or reproduced but I doubt they would go that far since it has a painted chrome bumper. Lol but then again who knows when the bumper could have been replaced. I just don't want to get this thing and brag about having a GN and not really have one....

[andrewb70]

Weren't the non GN T-Types even more rare? Yes, I basically have nothing to contribute...LOL

Andrew

[astroracer]

Try the GN registry site.
http://www.gnregistry.org/
They may be able to throw some light....

[SS PUNISHER]

Weren't the non GN T-Types even more rare? Yes, I basically have nothing to contribute...LOL

Andrew
Either way I'm gonna get it....

[andrewb70]

Either way I'm gonna get it....

Sounds like I can move this thread out of the ER...

Andrew

[UNGN]

Someone could reproduce an RPO tag, but it doesn't sould like they were trying very hard to fake a GN. If the Vin has a 7 engine digit, and the RPO sticker has a WE2 and the Vin on both are the same, 99.99% of the time its a real GN.

The non GN turbo regals are rarer, lighter and faster than the GN's, but GN's will always be worth more, because they are a GN and Non GN's aren't.

What Year is it? The Bodies from '84 to '87 are pretty close, but all have subtle difference in trim.

[SS PUNISHER]

Its a 87 acording to the vin, dude told me it was a 85. He said he got that from the vin also, I'm not correcting him there though. Gonna look for RPO in the a.m.,
I'm freaking excited!!! Didn't think I'd ever own a GN.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Keep in mind the turbo engine could be purchased in ANY Regal in 1987...even a Limited, in full grandma trim.

[UNGN]

Some of the more desireable parts weren't put on '87 GN's from the factory. A T-type would have aluminum bumper supports while an '87 GN would have heavier steel supports. An '86 GN has the lighter AL supports.

Positraction was an option, so you need to check the RPO lable for G80.

Aluminum Rear brake drums were only available on non positraction cars (except for the 547 GNX's)

If you are building a car to have and to love, it's probably better to start with non GN.

If you are building it with the intention of selling it, a GN offers a better ROI.

[SS PUNISHER]

J47 code, bummer. I guess its probably actualy more rare car but I kinda wanted it for the name ya know. If I get it, it will just be a regal that used to have a turbo motor... idk though, I guess its better this way. Would be kinda silly puttin a sbc in a real gn anyway

[astroracer]

Even if WAS a GN it would not have the original drivetrain so it wouldn't be as valuable. If you get it, have fun with it....
Mark

[SS PUNISHER]

id still like to get, it has a lot of goodies there that I want. 8.5 rear, no g80 though, t tops, has grand national seats that are in good shape, has rear spoiler and buldge hood, didn't look into the suspension codes but it has a rear sway bar, nice carpet, and its a regal which I really like a lot better than the monte. We'll see how negotiations go I guess...

THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYONES INPUT!!!

[SS PUNISHER]

Even if WAS a GN it would not have the original drivetrain so it wouldn't be as valuable. If you get it, have fun with it....
Mark
That's the plan!

[nekkidhillbilly]

Weren't the non GN T-Types even more rare? Yes, I basically have nothing to contribute...LOL

Andrew

about the same really just basically came in colors besides black

[nekkidhillbilly]

Keep in mind the turbo engine could be purchased in ANY Regal in 1987...even a Limited, in full grandma trim.

i thought it was only option on the t type or the gn/gnx cars even in 87

t type is the non gn turbo cars

[SS PUNISHER]

Just found this out....

Turbo regal production #s for 87
GNX=547
Grand National=20,193
Turbo T=1547
Regal Limited w/turbo=1035
Base Regal w/turbo=4268. (What I'm lookin at)

Total Turbo Cars=27590

[andrewb70]

Just found this out....

Turbo regal production #s for 87
GNX=547
Grand National=20,193
Turbo T=1547
Regal Limited w/turbo=1035
Base Regal w/turbo=4268. (What I'm lookin at)

Total Turbo Cars=27590

I actually had no idea that you could get a base Regal in 87 with the turbo engine. Talk about the ultimate sleeper!

Andrew

[SS PUNISHER]

i thought it was only option on the t type or the gn/gnx cars even in 87

t type is the non gn turbo cars

No T-Type in 87.....
I had always thought the same thing though

[UNGN]

It was basically a T-type without a Badge that said T-type. The Turbo T was a special Black T-type with the code option WE4.

You still got a bulged hood and split airdam that everyone knew meant intercooled turbo... so it wasn't a 14" Hubcapped flat hood regal.

The Regal limiteds are the sleepers, with Leather couch interiors, chrome trim and padded roofs.

[SS PUNISHER]

Look like I won't be getting it after all....
Guy wasn't willing to budge on price even after I told him it was just a base regal. He is just gonna play dumb and sell it like its a real GN.... lame....

[xxxturbo6]

I can't believe I just seen this thread now...... LOL Anyways here are some more facts but seeing as you won't be getting it I guess this will just be for the record....

The 1984-87 "Grand National" was just a Option that came with solid black paint, two tone black/gray interior, chrome steel rims...... The engine was the same for all grand nationals, t-types, turbo t's..... So was the rest of the drivetrain.....

The 1982-85 were "Hot Air" cars that had NO intercooler and the turbo was placed at the rear of the engine instead of the front like the 1986-87 intercooled versions...

All T-types & Turbo T's were equipped with the exact same drivetrain as the GN's but the Turbo-T & T-Types had aluminum wheels and sometimes bumper supports so they were a little bit faster due to weight only! Some T-types & turbo-t's had heavy split bench seats with power and leather which added back to the weight so some were lighter/faster and some weren't it all depended on the options at the time...

If there is anything anyone wants to know about these car's I have all the books and literature at my disposal...

Fun cars for sure!

[SS PUNISHER]

Well... a friend of mine has been buildin a t type clone and got burnt out on it so I'm probably gonna end up with it. :)

Its been torn down and painted and is mostly assembled, I just gotta finish it...

Looks a lot like yours Scott, infact just like yours but with smaller wheels (gta) :)

[xxxturbo6]

Well... a friend of mine has been buildin a t type clone and got burnt out on it so I'm probably gonna end up with it. :)

Its been torn down and painted and is mostly assembled, I just gotta finish it...

Looks a lot like yours Scott, infact just like yours but with smaller wheels (gta) :) Cool, If you need any help feel free to give us a call....

.