Last Grand National - Assembly Video filmed by General Motors

This is an inside look at the assembly of the last Grand National, as shot from GM's own film crew. As the very last Grand National built, this car marked the end of General Motor's mid-size rear-wheel-drive G Platform. It also marked the closing of GM's Pontiac, MI, assembly plant, which had been responsible for producing millions of cars since it first opened in 1927. This Grand National was the final car to leave the assembly line and it features unprecedented levels of photo and video documentation. It also captures the emotional line workers who autographed their names on the engine and throughout the undercarriage as they installed their part for the final time. As the Buick progressed down the assembly line, the workers decorated it with signs reading, "Built by the Best" and "The End," and both signs are included in the sale. Designating it is the final Grand National, Buick applied an additional badge to the car's header panel, just above the passenger side headlight assembly. The car was prominently displayed by Buick at the 2003 Buick Centennial in Flint, MI, and starred in the 2012 film "BLACK AIR: The Buick Grand National Documentary." The car has been perfectly preserved in its climate-controlled "bedroom" in Louisiana. It still wears the original Window Sticker that says, "The Last Grand National," and all the factory-installed interior plastic is still in place. The car is also signed by Lloyd and Mark Reuss, the former and current presidents of General Motors.
We also documented the assembly in a home video. That video is also available on this channel.

[@ct87gn25]

This is a "required" video to watch if you own, or just a fan of Turbo Buicks. So cool that Matt is in this video as a kid, and now has posted this for all to enjoy. Thanks Matt.

[@NASH_87]

I own an 87 Grand National and a 83 Regal thanks to the men and women in this video.

[@BringerOfDearth]

I'd give a kidney, part of my liver and anything else I can spare for a 1987 Buick GNX. 👍 Seeing this Buick Grand National video means a lot. I'm a *_huge_* GM fan...for decades. Reminds me of "The Last Truck" documentary for my GMC Envoy SLT and Saab 9-7x Aero.

[@fbodmother]

My first job at GM was in the iron duke engine plant-under the same roof but across from the indoor rail dock separating these 2 operations. During my interview, a plant tour was scheduled. As soon as I saw the car assembly area, I asked to view that area. My guide complied as he agreed it was much more interesting. I will never forget walking the assembly plant area the day after this footage was captured. So sad and so eerie.

[@royc7683]

Very interesting to watch since I own an ‘87 GN. But watching the LAST ONE, kinda sad. But I enjoyed watching it. Thx Matt.

[@iNeverHadMercy]

Forever Legendary…..this upload and the Grand National 😢🫡

[@Jcuda4406]

I have been looking for this for a long time. I used to work at this plant and I helped get this car to start. This moment in time has been a high point in my mechanic career. Thanks GM for making it and you Matt Colvin for posting it. P.S. It was a sad day when the plant closed we made some great cars and had many good friends there as well.

[@drywallsupply5554]

What was the reason it wouldn't start?

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

Yeah. what was msising in the assembly process that it wouldnt start?

[@andrewandres148]

I know what its like to watch the last machine go down the line. Yet with me it was a vending machine maker in St Paul in 2006... When the last machine went down the line it was just a cab with a yellow door, I started the signatures on that door before it was hung.... I got the idea after seeing pictures of this car in Kirban's book years ago with all the signatures all over, especially on the turbo shield... I say I know what its like, yet my vending machine was not the G body legond which is this GN....

[@grabasandwich]

I saw the other super shaky terrible video of the person recording next to this camera. Some comments said it was a pinched crank position sensor wire on the power steering bracket which was apparently a known issue. Wonder if they used a butt splice connector to fix it 😂

[@Jayvisionary]

Shout out to whomever filmed this

[@ruqwknf115]

Thank you Matt for sharing this piece of Turbo Buick history. Having owned, worked on and raced four "86 -"87 Turbo Buicks and many of my friends Turbo Buicks over the years, I can really appreciate all of the assembly line worker's attention to detail, dedication and hard work. Truly, the best of the best. I'm hanging on to my current "87 GN I've named "LEGEND". This one's definitely a keeper. 67k original miles, and runs high 10's in the 1/4. It's a basic, keep it simple stock engine bolt on combo with alky + 35 years of learning, wrenching and racing these incredible machines. I wonder if the Buick engineers and those assembly line workers had any idea how quick these cars could/would be with modern 21st century technology? Many ET records were set by many racers around the country with a fully built LC2 engine. In today's Turbo Buick racing world, those 1/4 mile records are in the high 8's at 150 - 153 mph range with the production 109 block. Definitely not the quickest or fastest by today's standards, but phenomenal when you realize those engine blocks were cast in the "85 - "87 timeframe. Those engineers definitely gave us a killer platform that dominated the streets for decades. Not too mention putting fuel injected, turbocharged and intercooled dreams and goals into thousands of racer's engine bays to this day. In the world of street racing and drag racing, this car made that old saying come true. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Thank you to all of the Buick workers and engineers and thanks again Matt for sharing this piece of history. I only hope whoever gets the last GN takes as good care of it as you guy's have. Long Live Turbo Buicks!

[@HSTvids357]

Thanks for sharing a special, although sad piece of history.

[@walkthnyt2000]

I wonder how many of these line workers could afford one of these Grand Nationals. They were almost 20k back then. 😊

[@markshaver3138]

Loved seeing the silver monte carlo ss being built at 5:15 too!!

[@michaelhynes1717]

Great video. Guy around corner from me owns 5th from the last grand national built. I have owned many turbo Buicks also and my dad had a gnx.

[@arcadiagreen150]

America used to be a country of greatness.

[@John-qt9bi]

Cool video! Amazing how nice everyone was knowing they were losing their jobs right before Christmas.

[@joshuaecht]

This is incredible, a story of persistence and kindness at many levels. I'm proud to be a GM fan! I love C4 Vettes and Grand Nationals. And it's so cool to see Matt lower that engine into its cradle! I'm sure he understood the significance of the GNs even as a 4-year old in '87--I am the same age but found out what GNs were in '92 when I read Motor Trend and Car & Driver (I was 8 then).

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

Im still fascinated by the fact that at 22:45, it took 30 seconds for the A/C lines to be vacuumed and filled with refrigerant.

[@grabasandwich]

My dad's friend bought a new '85 Monte SS and went to the plant in Oshawa to pick it up. It never saw snow or even rain. He babied it. The paint faded a bit due to a defect but he left it alone. I think it had around 140k (km) When he decided 10 or 15 years ago to donate it to the local kidney foundation!? I'd always wanted it since the first time I saw it. I think it's passed through a few hands since. Probably just flippers. Oh well it's just a bunch of steel and parts.

[@AG-ci7rl]

It must have been the poor lighting ability of the camera back then. It makes it look like the production lines barely had a lighting.

[@ZeeCayPeeA]

crazy this car sold for 500k at auction

[@irieite100]

Not sure I'd want to own that car after seeing how it was assembled. Did you see the guy aligning the hood with a hammer? 😮

[@csxjim]

They still do that at assembly plants. Well up until 3 years ago when I was last in one on a qc concern. But im sure they still do

[@Ricken2022]

He was hitting the lock assembly..not a big deal.

[@edwardbanta4114]

Best car still talking about…… all these years……👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍nice ☝️☝️☝️

[@86tr]

Thank you men and women. I own a 86 regal Ttype that you built

[@GLFGNX]

Hate to see your family is selling car, Hope it goes to a good new home! Owner of 87 GN and GNX #206

[@chriswright2250]

When GM WAS KING

[@turbosammy6085]

This Video is AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY!!! Congratulations to the person who purchased this GREAT AMERICAN MUSCLE BUICK GRAND NATIONAL YESTERDAY!!!!😎👍

[@oliverrojas3185]

Only 24 seconds into the video and this moment is very telling. What we have here is the last G-Body in a performance guise, and it represents the end of not just the car itself, but the end of a generation of United States citiizens that grew up in an era when Gerneral Motors market share was 48 percent of all cars driven on the road. It represenets an end to the relationship when Fisher Body and GM colloborated together to produce vehicles with the Carrige Decal on the rocker panels. Finally, because of the decision to stop building G-Bodies and replace them with GM-10s, it represent the closure of an automobile factory and in turn families livilihoods being in despair. As most know, this happened in the late 80s. Who is to blame?

[@genefogarty5395]

Meanwhile they were making T-types since '83. I see GN/GNX cars at shows all the time, I'm usually the only '83 there. And the same with my '79 turbo Regal and '86 T-type wagon. Unbelievable how much "collectors" will pay for these. I drive mine, paintings sit still, cars are for driving.

[@YGSpider]

I've always wondered about the GM film that was mentioned in black air

[@deanmosley2900]

This car is up for auction on Jan 29-2022 Live at Barrett Jackson auction in Arizona on History network. Coverage starts at 6mp eastern.

[@clarkgriswold5903]

Too bad the volume was so low but I enjoyed the VID anyway.

[@gearheaddave9639]

sold for 550k at barrett jackson Scottsdale 2022!

[@barryh2084]

They show a Monte Carlo body. A Pontiac shirt signing and this is supposed to be about a Buick.. hmm

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

Do you not understand why different cars are made on the same assembly line?

[@phillipyau4234]

❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😮hi this Buick G.N will make the Corvette look like a sitting duck 🦆

[@marcocanchola3662]

This car auctioned at Barrett Jackson sold for $550k 🤣🤣

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

They really skipped how long and how many hands it took to figure out why it wouldnt start.

[@jakeballard7999]

21:56 What is the name of that special tool she used to install the fender badge Badge

[@Daniellopez-tx5xq]

I have the written story to this last grand national built in the turbo buick facts and figures book from Steven L Dove i purchased this book from Poston enterprises back in the late 90s I found this book advertised in the last pages of HOT ROD magazine I still own this book today I love those G bodies my father and I owned a couple of G bodies but I never own a turbo regal this is one of my dream cars including the gnx

[@joelakers410]

does the grand natural regal end in mid 87?????.

[@genefogarty5395]

The rarest was the T-type Riv.

[@jakeballard7999]

24:57 The car wouldn't start

[@juansaladzar]

Dood wtf these aren’t even using instructions brah 🤨

[@pontiacy88]

Just sold at Barratt-Jackson for $500k 1/29/22