The model year 1987 holds a hallowed status in the annals of American performance history, primarily thanks to the final concluding production year of the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. It was a year that saw the absolute pinnacle of a a turbocharged revival, creating a clear hierarchy of which ranged the subtle performers to a all-out supercar slayer. Although these vehicles all shared a common basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each had a completely distinct character, set of performance metrics, a unique target buyer. Understanding the nuanced and not-so-subtle differences is essential for fully appreciating the genius genius behind Buick's final performance stand of that decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
At the bottom of this power ladder sat the surprisingly flexible and frequently underappreciated variants: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbo option as well as the Turbo T. The Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the brand's comfort-focused trim, featuring plush seating, generous chrome accents, and a compliant ride. Crucially, in that final year, astute customers were able to quietly spec this luxurious comfortable vehicle the addition of the potent powerful LC2 3.8-liter V6 intercooled engine, effectively birthing a wolf dressed in sheep's attire. This permitted for a a high-performance experience sans the aggressive obviously aggressive styling of more famous darker stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, often known its internal WE4 RPO code designation, was a more focused approach for stripped-down speed. The manufacturer created the Turbo T as a a lighter lighter alternative to the heavier Grand National, attaining this by employing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model stood in stark direct opposition the the Grand National, keeping much of the standard factory brightwork trim it was being available across a spectrum of body colors. This was essentially the enthusiast's enthusiast's choice those individuals who prioritized unfiltered performance and a slightly more responsive feel above the unmistakable style statement of more famous more famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many enthusiasts think of a '80s Buick muscle car, the image image that instantly springs to mind is the the Grand National. Designated as the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Production Option (RPO), the Grand National was not so much of a mechanically separate vehicle and rather of an all-encompassing styling and trim package. This model shared the exact same powerful LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 engine and 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable characteristic was its adherence to a monochromatic Darth Vader exterior theme, a look that gave it the enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This menacing aesthetic was meticulously carefully applied across the entire whole car. Every piece of the the exterior body molding, including the door surrounds and the grille, was finished in black. The car sat on unique fifteen-inch chrome-plated chrome rims a a contrasting black center section, lending a truly truly distinctive look. Inside, the National featured a specific dual-color black and grey fabric upholstery, the addition of the signature turbo six emblem stitched into the front driver and passenger headrests. It also was standard the the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring Touring suspension package, which gave the vehicle sharper road manners to complement its impressive straight-line prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
If the Grand National was the king king of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the emperor emperor of American domestic performance cars in 1987. Developed as a ultimate farewell for the G-body platform, General Motors sent only 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren a a radical radical re-engineering. The goal objective was clear: to create the "Grand National|Grand National} to end all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine which was so incredibly fast it could could beat many of the era's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The modifications were comprehensive highly very effective. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett ceramic-impeller turbo, a more higher-capacity efficient intercooler, a a specially specially programmed engine control chip (ECU). The transmission 200-4R was beefed-up for firmer shifts, critically critically, the rear axle setup was completely re-engineered. This new setup featured a unique unique ladder bar and a transverse Panhard rod, which dramatically increased grip virtually virtually cured wheel hop under brutal acceleration. Truly understanding the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep deep dive of the bespoke modifications that ASC/McLaren poured into this extremely rare vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When analyzing these four four distinct models, the differences distinctions their performance figures available options are made even more apparent. Officially, the LC2 LC2 engine in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and read more forty-five hp with three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. By stark contrast, the GNX, with its significant upgrades, was officially officially pegged at 276 horsepower a massive a staggering staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, though actual dynamometer tests have since consistently shown these factory numbers to be wildly underestimated, with actual power being well above 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy hierarchy was equally defined. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were the sleepers of the bunch, often sporting bright accents and available in a variety of wide palette of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was strictly black, projecting an unmistakable presence. The GNX, in turn, took this dark theme even further. This model featured composite wheel arch flares, working heat-releasing vents in the front front fenders, a set of a set of 16-inch 16-inch black mesh cross-lace rims that distinguished the car apart instantly even from a standard a Grand National. Options like removable roof panels were widely ordered for the Limited Limited, and Grand T, and models, however, not a single GNX was ever officially produced with this feature, in order to maintain optimal chassis rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a brilliant case study in product segmentation and performance development. From the surprisingly unexpectedly quick and luxurious Regal Limited Turbo and the agile Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a spectrum of forced-induction performance to fit varying preferences as well as budgets. The Grand National then codified this performance into an unforgettable and menacing style package, creating a automotive phenomenon that endures even this day. At the very top of it all stood the GNX, a rare supercar that acted as a definitive definitive statement point, solidifying the Buick Regal's Regal's place in the pantheon of automotive performance greatness. Each car was special special in its own right, yet together they formed a legendary unforgettable hierarchy which defined American performance for a generation new era.