GM’s Mark Reuss, the Big Game, and the Legacy of the Buick GNX

The Buick GNX stole the spotlight at the big game, reviving its 1987 legacy. GM’s Mark Reuss reflects on its history, performance, and lasting impact on muscle cars.

One of the most unexpected highlights of this year’s big game was the buzz around a surprise halftime show guest—not a celebrity, but a 38-year-old automotive legend: the Buick GNX.

Originally produced in 1987 with just 547 units, the GNX was a souped-up version of the Buick Grand National, itself a high-performance take on the Regal.

Built with help from ASC Inc. and McLaren Engines, the GNX—short for Grand National Experimental—featured a Garrett AiResearch T-3 turbocharger, dual mufflers, and a turbo Hydromatic 200-4R transmission.

Buick enhanced its sinister all-black look with 16-inch black mesh alloy wheels and a dash plaque for each model, marking its exclusivity. GNX #001 remains part of the GM Heritage collection.

At launch, the GNX carried a $29,290 price tag—steep compared to the $18,295 Grand National—but today, it commands well into six figures. In an era dominated by fuel-efficient compacts, the GNX stood out as an unapologetic muscle car, capable of outrunning Corvettes and Ferraris.

Mark Reuss, now GM’s president, has a personal connection to the GNX. His father, former GM president Lloyd Reuss, helped bring the Grand National to life, paving the way for the GNX.

As a young engineer, Mark worked on the GNX project, fine-tuning performance at Firebird International Raceway alongside technician James “Gabe” Poplawski. Their late-night tweaks even included a risky high-performance calibration dubbed “the grenade chip” for its potential to push the engine to its limits.

Reuss still cherishes a relic from that era—a worn Grand National seat salvaged from the development car, a reminder of the GNX’s legacy.

Decades later, the GNX remains an icon. “It’s still frighteningly fast from 0-60,” Reuss says. “But it isn’t bad ride-wise—it’s still a Buick. All the comforts, but brutal. In the best way.”

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