(July 19, 2012) Buick performance enthusiasts will get a sneak peak at a documentary film that shines the spotlight on the hottest car to roll out of Flint in the last 25 years when the first 20 minutes of "Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary" will be shown at the Buick Performance Group Nationals on Aug. 4. The film is scheduled to be released in early December.

Filmmaker Andrew Filippone Jr. has spent four years tracking down Buick GN and GNX owners, racers and collectors, as well as members of the media who road tested the cars, plus the key players responsible for engineering, styling and marketing at Buick and General Motors, according to Hemmings Daily Blog.

In the documentary, Filippone said he attempted to explore new territory delving into issues of culture, social class, inheritance, and privilege as it related to the turbocharged V-6 Buicks, and away from the usual focus on mechanics and performance. Yet, insiders say there’s no shortage of GNs and GNXs doing big smoky burnouts and intimidating drivers in the opposing lane.

They’re survivors,” Filippone said of the Grand National and GNX. “These cars were limited in so many ways – styling, pedigree, chassis, cubic inches – and yet they transcended all of that. In spite of all the obstacles, all of the unfortunate circumstances, they rose.”

Though tame by today’s factory performance standards, when new the GNX was a rocket, hitting 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and covering the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at 102 mph.

Go to the movie’s website and the Facebook page. The Buick Performance Group Nationals will take place August 3-4 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

Source: Hemmings Daily Blog