T
TurboLuigi
Guest
In recent times Buick GNX prices have been on a steady rise after years of stagnation. This has made me think about what may soon also happen to the Callaway Corvettes, particularly the Twin Turbo cars (B2K RPO cars).
For those that don't remember, here's a quick run down: the 1987 Buick GNX (ASC/McLaren modified Grand National) was the last of the Grand Nationals. There were 547 produced. Each car was serialized, had unique badging, had their own RPO (T2L), and GNX unique parts would not be sold by GM (at the time) unless a matching GNX car number, VIN, and Intercooler Serial Number were provided by the dealer to prevent or minimize cloning or imitation. Does any of this sound familiar to the Callaways?
The GNX is fast... supposedly faster than an '87 Callaway Twin Turbo, off the line that is.... as tested by Road and Track back in 1987. Impressive for a 6 cylinder Buick family car of the era. However, from also owning a GNX (#254) I can tell you that those cars do not have top end power like the Callaways, not to mention the improved suspension and looks of the Corvette, particularly those with the added beauty of the Aerobody and extra power of the later year Twin Turbo's.
Still because they were "off the line" faster than the corvette, the Grand Nationals, T-Type Regals, and especially the GNX received and continue to receive a lot of press coverage and loyal following. When I bought my GNX in 2000, it seemed that their prices had hit bottom in the low-mid $30K's for a low mileage car (still above their sticker price of $29,290 in '87). Now you can't touch one for under $50K.
Here are 2 currently on e-bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4564735312&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4563866751&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
And here is their NADA valuation:
http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-11-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=11&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=15&mk=1031&yr=1987&md=&sy=19921&da=0&trimoption=&mileage=
By comparison I have seen the NADA valuation of the Callaways start to go up, particularly after the Barrett-Jackson auction of the Sledgehammer, Super Speedster, C12, and Race Car last year and all of the press coverage that has ensued there after:
from an 87 Coupe - http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-12-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=12&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=7&mk=1035&yr=1987&md=&sy=23349&da=0&trimoption=&mileage==
to a 91 Convertible - http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-12-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=12&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=7&mk=1035&yr=1991&md=&sy=56326&da=0&trimoption=&mileage==
....compared to a 91 ZR-1 (and BTW they were not even listed as a collectible by NADA but just as a used sports car) http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-11-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=11&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=15&mk=1035&yr=1991&md=&sy=2917&da=0&trimoption=&mileage=
Note* The NADA valuations do not take into consideration mileage, and the fact that the Callaway Cars will have different options such as the Aerobody, coil-overs, etc whereas the GNX's were all identically optioned by Buick. Also not that NADA has a disclaimer that the valuations do not include 100 point cars - in which case their prices could be substantially higher.
So I know that I am most likely preaching to the choir here but I see the prices are on their way up, particularly in well optioned later year cars.
Hang on to these babies and keep the attention momentum going!!!!!!
-Luigi
:cool
For those that don't remember, here's a quick run down: the 1987 Buick GNX (ASC/McLaren modified Grand National) was the last of the Grand Nationals. There were 547 produced. Each car was serialized, had unique badging, had their own RPO (T2L), and GNX unique parts would not be sold by GM (at the time) unless a matching GNX car number, VIN, and Intercooler Serial Number were provided by the dealer to prevent or minimize cloning or imitation. Does any of this sound familiar to the Callaways?
The GNX is fast... supposedly faster than an '87 Callaway Twin Turbo, off the line that is.... as tested by Road and Track back in 1987. Impressive for a 6 cylinder Buick family car of the era. However, from also owning a GNX (#254) I can tell you that those cars do not have top end power like the Callaways, not to mention the improved suspension and looks of the Corvette, particularly those with the added beauty of the Aerobody and extra power of the later year Twin Turbo's.
Still because they were "off the line" faster than the corvette, the Grand Nationals, T-Type Regals, and especially the GNX received and continue to receive a lot of press coverage and loyal following. When I bought my GNX in 2000, it seemed that their prices had hit bottom in the low-mid $30K's for a low mileage car (still above their sticker price of $29,290 in '87). Now you can't touch one for under $50K.
Here are 2 currently on e-bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4564735312&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4563866751&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
And here is their NADA valuation:
http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-11-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=11&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=15&mk=1031&yr=1987&md=&sy=19921&da=0&trimoption=&mileage=
By comparison I have seen the NADA valuation of the Callaways start to go up, particularly after the Barrett-Jackson auction of the Sledgehammer, Super Speedster, C12, and Race Car last year and all of the press coverage that has ensued there after:
from an 87 Coupe - http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-12-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=12&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=7&mk=1035&yr=1987&md=&sy=23349&da=0&trimoption=&mileage==
to a 91 Convertible - http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-12-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=12&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=7&mk=1035&yr=1991&md=&sy=56326&da=0&trimoption=&mileage==
....compared to a 91 ZR-1 (and BTW they were not even listed as a collectible by NADA but just as a used sports car) http://www.nadaguides.com/uv/viewresults.aspx?LI=1-11-1-2032-0-0-0&wSec=11&wPr=1&wPg=2032&ct=15&mk=1035&yr=1991&md=&sy=2917&da=0&trimoption=&mileage=
Note* The NADA valuations do not take into consideration mileage, and the fact that the Callaway Cars will have different options such as the Aerobody, coil-overs, etc whereas the GNX's were all identically optioned by Buick. Also not that NADA has a disclaimer that the valuations do not include 100 point cars - in which case their prices could be substantially higher.
So I know that I am most likely preaching to the choir here but I see the prices are on their way up, particularly in well optioned later year cars.
Hang on to these babies and keep the attention momentum going!!!!!!
-Luigi
:cool
