The Buick GNX is a limited-production high-performance version of the second generation Buick Regal. Conceived by Dave Sharpe, Mike Doble and Chuck Jensen, the GNX was designed in partnership with McLaren Performance Technologies and American Specialty Cars. The GNX is powered by a 3.8L Buick V6 with a Garrett AiResearch T-3 turbocharger with a ceramic impeller making 300 horsepower; the car advertised to be "the Grand National to end all Grand Nationals". Dragstrip performance of the GNX was noted to be superior to the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 930. The cars were only produced for a single year: 1987. 547 were produced.
This casting has a removable hood. In 2011 the casting was retooled with the hood tooled shut; until 2015 both the opening hood and fixed hood versions were used interchangeably, with the opening hood version mainly used for more Premium versions. The removable hood version returned in 2019.
From the back of the 2008 card:
Born: 1982
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Designer: General Motors
Specialty: Named for the NASCAR racing series, this car combined Motown muscle power with a turbocharged engine. The removeable hood shows off our custom engine!