The quickest off-the-shelf American production car in 1987 wasn’t a Corvette, a Camaro or a Trans Am, but a Buick Grand National. Dave McCray, 63, of Lima purchased this 1987 Buick Grand National new.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
LIMA – Some days you never forget.
For Dave McCray, one of those days came 36 years ago when he broke a family tradition by purchasing a 1987 Buick Grand National.
At that time his father, Tom, and grandfather, Leon, owned an Oldsmobile dealership in Spencerville. Dave was the first in the family to buy something other than an Oldsmobile.
“I bought the Grand National new. I literally bought it as it was being taken off the trailer truck at Swaney’s dealership in Wapak,” the 63-year-old Lima man said.
He remembers his Dad’s reaction when he first saw the Buick.
“My wife, Lynn, and I drove it to my sister’s house when my Mom and Dad showed up. My Dad took one look at it and approved. He said ‘that’s a hot one.’ ”
And hot it was.
The Buick Grand National could hit 60 mph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds and run a quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds at 98 mph. To put that in perspective, Car and Driver magazine noted it was faster in 1986 than the Corvettes, Ferraris, Porsches and Fords of the day.
The Grand National was produced from 1982-1987, during a decade that saw the demise of many muscle cars due to rising gasoline prices and performance-choking emissions equipment.
McCray said he only drives the car about 1,000 miles a year.
“I take it to a few car shows. That’s about it.”
When he does get behind the wheel, he’s reminded of the words of his father.
“That’s a hot one.”
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