The model year 1987 occupies a truly sacred status in the annals of U.S. muscle car lore, largely thanks to the final final production run of the Buick venerable rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. It was a time which saw the absolute apex of a a surprising turbocharged revival, creating a distinct clear pecking order of that ranged from subtle performers all the way to an uncompromising asphalt destroyer. While these vehicles all were based upon a common basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, and the mythical GNX each had a distinct character, set of performance metrics, and intended buyer. Deciphering their subtle sometimes blatant distinctions remains key for truly appreciating the genius behind Buick's final muscle car stand of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational bottom of this performance ladder sat the more versatile and often overlooked models: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged engine and the Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the brand's comfort-focused trim, featuring cushy interiors, generous brightwork trim, a a compliant ride. However, for 1987, astute buyers were able to discreetly spec this luxurious comfortable vehicle with the potent LC2 3.8L intercooled powertrain, effectively birthing a predator in sheep's attire. This combination permitted for a stealthy high-performance drive sans the aggressive overtly aggressive styling of more famous darker stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified its its WE4 RPO code, represented a decidedly focused philosophy for lightweight performance. The manufacturer designed the Turbo package as a lighter lighter alternative to the heavier Grand National, attaining this by utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model stood in stark stark opposition the the Grand National, retaining most of the standard brightwork accents and being offered across a wide spectrum factory exterior hues. This variant was the enthusiast's purist's selection those those who valued raw acceleration and a nimbler feel over the iconic unmistakable visual presence of the more famous better-known infamous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most most people think of a 1980s 1980s Buick performance vehicle, the vision that immediately comes to their head is undoubtedly the the Grand National. Coded as the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Option Option (RPO), the '87 Grand National was fundamentally less of a mechanically separate vehicle and rather an all-encompassing iconic appearance and trim upgrade. This model shared the identical same powerful LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 the 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. However, its unmistakable characteristic was its its monochromatic all-black exterior theme, which gave it the enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was meticulously applied throughout the entire entire car. All of the the exterior exterior molding, including the door surrounds and the grille grille, was blacked-out. The car sat on unique fifteen-inch steel chrome rims with a contrasting black-painted inset, creating a truly very distinctive look. Inside, the Grand National came with a specific dual-color black and gray cloth interior, with the signature turbo six emblem embroidered into the front front seat headrests. It also was equipped the the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring Touring suspension package, which gave the vehicle sharper handling in order to complement its accelerative performance.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was considered the king of the boulevard, the Grand National Experimental was the emperor emperor of all American domestic muscle cars of 1987. Created as a final farewell for the G-body platform, Buick shipped just 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a radical comprehensive transformation. The objective was clear: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to end all Grand Nationals." The result was a vehicle which was so quick it could could beat most of the day's most expensive sports cars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were extensive and highly impactful. The engineers fitted a more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller hybrid turbocharger, a more more efficient intercooler, a a specially custom programmed engine control unit (ECU). The 200-4R was also recalibrated for quicker here gear changes, critically most importantly, the entire rear axle setup was completely redesigned. This new setup featured a longitudinal ladder arm a a Panhard rod, which drastically improved grip and virtually cured wheel hop during brutal acceleration. Truly appreciating the complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a thorough examination into the bespoke engineering that this partnership invested into this extremely extremely rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly analyzing these four models, the differences differences in specifications and features become all the more more clear. Officially, the LC2 engine found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with 355 pound-feet of torque. In dramatic contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive extensive modifications, was officially officially rated at two-hundred and seventy-six hp a massive a staggering staggering 360 lb-ft of torque, though actual dyno readings have since repeatedly shown these figures to have been grossly underestimated, with actual output being well above three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy progression was equally defined. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the bunch, often wearing bright accents being offered in a wide palette of paints. The Grand National, of course, was exclusively strictly black, projecting an intimidating aura. The GNX, however, elevated this menacing theme a step further. It featured lightweight wheel arch flares, functional heat-releasing louvers on the front fenders, and a style of 16-inch black cross-lace rims which set the car apart instantly even from a standard a Grand National. Options such as removable roof panels were commonly available on the Limited Limited, Turbo T, but models, however, no GNX was ever built the T-top this option, in order to maintain maximum structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the final assessment, the 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a masterful brilliant case study of market segmentation and brand evolution. From the surprisingly surprisingly fast luxurious comfortable Regal Limited Turbo to the lightweight lightweight Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a spectrum of forced-induction performance to suit fit different tastes as well as budgets. The Grand National then codified this performance performance with an iconic unforgettable a menacing menacing style identity, birthing a cultural cultural legend that persists even this day. At the very top of it all was the GNX, a limited-edition limited-edition masterpiece which acted as a a definitive statement point, solidifying the G-body Regal's status in the halls of automotive performance greatness. Each model was special in its own right, yet collectively they created a legendary hierarchy that redefined domestic performance for a a generation new era.