DUST TO DRIVER

We rouse this '84 Buick Grand National from a 15-year nap.

- TOMMY LEE BYRD

The Buick Grand National has been a collector's item from day one, but there was a time when these cars could be seen on the road on a regular basis. Such is the case with this 1984 Buick Grand National, a car that was once a daily driver, then a weekend cruiser, and then was eventually parked sometime around the turn of the century. Although not quite as valuable as the 1986 and 1987 Grand Nationals, this early model has rarity on its side, as only 2,000 units were built in 1984. Known as "hot-air" cars, these non-intercooled Grand Nationals and Buick T-Type Regals can be a bit finicky to work on, but we decided to tackle the project of putting this Buick back on the road after 15-plus years of hibernation.

Luckily, this car was stored indoors for the entirety of its nap and cranked occasionally to keep the turbocharged V6 lubricated. However, years of dormancy will take a toll on any vehicle. What we didn't realize was the difficulty in diagnosing issues with this early computerized car. There are no scan tools available for the early Grand Nationals, so it can be tricky if you run into a hiccup. These cars are in a kind of no-man's land-too new for traditional mechanic troubleshooting, and too old for modern equipment.

The turbocharged 3.8-liter engine appeared to be in great shape, and the car was 100 percent complete. This makes for a great project when you don't have to chase down rare parts. When we pulled the car into the garage, we tackled fluids, filters, and hoses, and then addressed other areas of concern.