My just purchased '82 GN

[BoyWonder]

Technically, this thread belongs in Member's Rides section, but in the interest of comments and assistance in helping me restore it, I'll post my pictures here.

Any comments or suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.

First - bringing it back home to Atlanta from Montgomery where the poor tranny gave out.

 

[BoyWonder]

Some pictures of the exterior

 

[BoyWonder]

Interior

 

[charlief1]

Very nice. We do post stuff like this to get more traffic in the section so it's not that big a deal. My entire car rebuild is in here as well which might give you a few ideas. Search under my name for "finally got some time". After I get celared by the doc I'll see about getting back at it and posting an update.

 

[BoyWonder]

Exterior logos / emblems

 

[BoyWonder]

Dash / cluster area

 

[BoyWonder]

The mystery dash plaque
Notice it does not have the Grand National logo
Could it simply be a replacement piece?

 

[BoyWonder]

Check this out!
It is an 8 Track, and as crude as the bezel looks, I almost think it is factory.
Could it be?
Contrary to what the B4black site indicates that Cassette was standard?
I mean - think about it - who would actually take out what was supposed to be the standard unit, a cassette, and replace it with an 8 track?
Either way, I think I'll keep it just to show my kids how it was when dinosaurs roamed the earth!
There were even two 8 track tapes in the glove box. Hits by K-Tel - circa 1980 - Hahaha...

 

[BoyWonder]

Wheels
I actually have QTY 3 of the original style center caps that were in the trunk, not pictured, that have chrome outers and the black Buick Tri-Sheild inner which I understand is correct

 

[BoyWonder]

Console

 

[BoyWonder]

Very nice. We do post stuff like this to get more traffic in the section so it's not that big a deal. My entire car rebuild is in here as well which might give you a few ideas. Seacrh under my name for "finally got some time". After I get celared by the doc I'll see about getting back at it and posting an update.

Isn't it cool!?

It will be my winter project, then try to bring it to a couple of the meets in May or Oct.
Teach the kids something.

 

[BoyWonder]

After giving it a quick clean up, one of the first orders of business was to look for a special build sheet.
This special build sheet is about the only thing that documents that the car is a Grand National.

They did not to my knowledge have SPID tags in the trunk in 1982.
And there was no WE2 package that would designate the Grand National as of yet in 1982.

It was a special, limited quantity build, and still just a little dream on the part of Buick.

Tommy Riggs found his behind the headliner I beleive he told me - however the headliner was gone in my car so it was rear seat for now.

Alas, the only thing I found under the seat for now was this.

I'll go digging behind the door panels later.

Sort of a funny omen, since it was a former "spouse" that seperated me from my 87 GN.
Yeah - I'll pray for her all right. Sure. Every night.

 

[BoyWonder]

Anyway - I think it's just a cool car.
And has a "story" behind it.

To think there are far less than 200 left on the planet, and considering the following the Grand National has, I'm surpirsed they are not more highly sought after.

I feel lucky to have found this one, at what I thought was decent price. ($3500)
Considering - overall - it is pretty much rust free, body straight, and the interior doesn't look like they kept cougars in there.

There is one for sale on Dallas CL right now that looks very nice - but for $10,000 - which for me - is TR/GN territory.

 

[BoyWonder]

Still trying to decide if I go back with these block letters...they look a little crooked, but could be age showing.

I'm trying to figure out if they are original?
Like in the original prototype pictures?

Most of the 82's I've seen have the cloisone Grand National badging on the fenders.

Hmmm.. I lean towards Yes

 

[longball]

[quote="Still trying to decide if I go back with these block letters...Hmmm.. I lean towards Yes[/quote]

I think they look pretty cool - '82 in my area has the same lettering..........

 

[megawatt]

Great find! and I really like that interior, I guess it was only used in 82 & 84 someone can confirm or correct me. Since we in the same part of the country I will be excited to see it some time when your ready to show it.

 

[BoyWonder]

Great find! and I really like that interior, I guess it was only used in 82 & 84 someone can confirm or correct me. Since we in the same part of the country I will be excited to see it some time when your ready to show it.

Thanks!

Isn't that Lear Siegler leather with cloth so cool and high end looking?
But it's kind of wierd and maybe even uncomfortable to sit in them for a long time I found, although I'm used to the cloth AR9 in my regular TR's.

Actually on those seats.
The 82 has the "Power6" logo in outline stitching only.
The '84 has the "Power6" logo in the Red & Yellow.
And although I haven't examined the two more closely, I understand the bolsters may be different.

On the block lettering - you don't say?
So, the block lettering was obviously offered and applied - by either dealers or C&C
I wonder if Brian has seen that one since he is up that way?

 

[b4black]

The mystery dash plaque
Notice it does not have the Grand National logo
Could it simply be a replacement piece?

That is the correct trim piece. The three grey trim plates are unique to the '82 GN. The plate with "Regal" was sometimes replaced with one from a later GN, but Regal is correct for an '82. The bezel around the radio is the toghest to find (often lost when the radio is repalced by an aftermarket unit). The ETR cassette was standard and like all cassette players, not very reliable. I suspect it was replaced with the 8-track - mine had an 8-track as well.

Look for a build sheet behind the hood insultation. Start on the driver's side at about the half-way point.

Looks like it's in good condition. Thanks for shareing the pictures.

 

[PLAINWHITE T]

Looks like a solid and well kept piece....congrats on a great find and thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[b4black]

I doubt the block lettering is original. It's commonly added afterward, mimicing the prototype. Supposedly they embelms were not ready when C&C converted the cars. There were legal issues to work through with NASCAR. The embelms where to be installed by the dealer. There was a template to place them, but I have never seen one.

Look at my avatar. Notice the arrow goes behind the 6. All the logos on the '82 GN are this way, except the fender/decklid emblems.