The model year 1987 holds a truly sacred place within the annals of American performance lore, largely due to the final final production run for the Buick venerable rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal. This was a time which saw the pinnacle of a a surprising turbocharged renaissance, establishing a distinct hierarchy of models which ranged the subtle sleepers to an uncompromising supercar slayer. While these vehicles all shared the same foundational chassis, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, and the mythical GNX each had a completely distinct character, set of of specifications, and intended buyer. Deciphering the nuanced sometimes not-so-subtle differences is essential to truly grasping the brilliance of Buick's final last muscle car hurrah of that decade.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
At the base of this power pyramid sat the more more versatile often frequently underappreciated variants: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbo engine and the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily the comfort-focused trim, featuring plush interiors, ample brightwork trim, a a more compliant ride. However, for that final year, savvy customers were able to quietly spec this plush coupe with the powerful LC2 V6 intercooled powertrain, essentially creating a true predator in luxury attire. This permitted for a stealthy high-performance drive without the aggressive overtly menacing visuals of more famous blacked-out stablemates.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, often known its internal WE4 RPO code RPO code, represented a more more focused philosophy to stripped-down speed. Buick created the Turbo package as a lighter counterpart for the heavier Grand National, achieving this goal through utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements and aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model stood in direct opposition to all-black Grand National, keeping most of the standard standard chrome trim and being available in a spectrum factory exterior hues. This variant was essentially the enthusiast's enthusiast's choice for individuals that prioritized unfiltered performance a a nimbler feel over the iconic iconic visual statement of the more famous better-known infamous monochromatic sibling.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most most enthusiasts think of a 1980s Buick muscle car, the image image that instantly comes to their head is undoubtedly that of the Grand National. Designated as the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Production Option, the Grand National was less of a mechanically distinct model but more of an all-encompassing styling and trim upgrade. This model shared the exact exact same potent LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 the 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. However, its unmistakable trait was adherence to a monochromatic Darth Vader paint theme, which earned it its famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing look was carefully applied across the entire whole vehicle. Every piece of the the exterior body trim, from the window door frames to the grille front grille, was blacked-out. The car sat upon unique 15-inch chrome-plated chrome wheels a a contrasting black-painted center section, lending a truly very memorable look. On the interior, the Grand National came with a specific two-tone black and gray cloth interior, the addition of the signature turbo six logo stitched into the front driver and passenger headrests. The model also came standard the the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Touring suspension, which provided it sharper handling to complement its impressive accelerative performance.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
If the Grand National was considered the king king of the street, the GNX Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor pinnacle of all American performance vehicles of 1987. Developed as a fitting ultimate send-off for the Regal chassis, Buick sent only 547 fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a radical radical re-engineering. The goal goal was simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine that was so fast it could was able to out-accelerate many of the day's most exotic supercars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both extensive and very impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a more efficient intercooler, a a specially custom tuned engine control management unit (ECU). The transmission 200-4R was also beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and most importantly, the rear suspension was redesigned. It featured a unique ladder arm a a Panhard rod, which drastically improved grip virtually virtually eliminated axle hop during hard launches. Fully appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep deep dive of the bespoke engineering which this partnership invested in this extremely extremely limited-production model.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When comparing these four four variants, the differences distinctions in performance figures available options become all the more more clear. From more info the factory, the LC2 engine found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at 245 horsepower with 355 lb-ft of torque. In dramatic comparison, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive upgrades, was officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a whopping three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, although real-world dyno readings have repeatedly proven these figures to have been grossly underestimated, the true actual power being far above 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy was equally equally defined. The Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the group, frequently wearing chrome accents and available a a variety of full range of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively strictly black, projecting an unmistakable aura. The GNX, however, took this menacing persona even further. This model was fitted with lightweight fender flares, functional heat-releasing vents on the front front fenders, and a unique style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace rims which distinguished the car apart immediately even from even a regular Grand National. Features such as T-tops were commonly ordered for the Turbo T, and Grand T, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was ever officially produced with this option, in order to maintain preserve maximum structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In final analysis, the 1987 Buick Regal range represents a brilliant case study in product tiering and performance development. From the the surprisingly fast luxurious luxurious Regal Limited to the lightweight agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a range of forced-induction power to suit fit different preferences and priorities. The Grand National subsequently solidified this power into an iconic iconic a menacing intimidating visual identity, birthing a cultural cultural phenomenon which persists even this very day. At the very top of it hierarchy was the GNX, a limited-edition supercar which acted as a final exclamation point, cementing the G-body G-body Regal's place in the halls of automotive performance legends. Each model car was special in its own right, yet together they formed a unforgettable hierarchy that defined domestic performance for a a new era.