When was the last time that Buick built anything that could be called a performance car? If you said 1987, as far as we’re concerned, you would be correct. Sure, most people feel that the muscle car era ended in the early 1970s, but don’t tell that to this 1987 Buick GNX. In1987, the Buick Grand National GNX, came with a 3.8-liter V-6 turbo performance-tuned by McLaren/ASC. It was an awesome near-300 horsepower engine that could turn your tires into asphalt crayons at will. With a 0-60 mph of 4.7 second, it’s still a car to be reckoned with.

Since Buick only built 547 GNXs, they have been classified as collector cars since their inception. In reality, there are probably fewer miles per car in the GNX world than any other collectable. That’s because when they were new, owners parked them and considered them as investments rather than enjoying them. For one lucky person, that strategy paid off last weekend at the Barrett-Jackson Auction, when a near-new GNX set a new record at Barrett-Jackson, selling for 50-percent more than the previous record, and roughly $100,000 more than average.

The GNX that sold had just 362 miles on it and was bone stock from bumper to bumper. The owner not only retained all of the window stickers, but they even kept the plastic wraps for the seats. Just like with any collectable, even occasional driving can affect the resale. Before the auction, Classic car insurer Hagerty estimated the average GNX is worth about $69,000, with a concourse-level car possibly garnering $103,000 — that is, at least until this one sold.

After some spirited bidding, this GNX sold for $163,000 including premium. Traditionally, this was a level where classic ‘60’s muscle cars live, not a mid-80s GM product. Whether that price sets a new high-water mark or becomes the exception, we’ll have to wait and see.