The year 1987 occupies a truly special status in the annals of U.S. muscle car lore, largely due to the final manufacturing year for the Buick legendary RWD G-body Regal coupe. It was a time which saw the culmination of a a surprising turbocharged revival, creating a distinct pecking order of that ranged from understated sleepers all the way to a all-out asphalt slayer. While these vehicles all shared the same basic architecture, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a distinct character, set performance metrics, and intended audience. Deciphering their subtle and not-so-subtle differences is essential to fully appreciating the genius behind Buick's final muscle car hurrah of the 1980s.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
On the foundational bottom of this performance pyramid sat the more surprisingly flexible often frequently overlooked variants: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged option as well as the Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the brand's comfort-focused trim, featuring cushy seating, generous brightwork accents, a a compliant suspension. However, in that final year, astute customers could discreetly option this luxurious comfortable coupe with the potent LC2 V6 intercooled powertrain, effectively birthing a predator in luxury clothing. This combination permitted for a stealthy high-performance drive sans the overtly menacing styling of its more famous darker siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified its its WE4 designation, was a more decidedly focused philosophy for stripped-down performance. Buick created the Turbo T as a a lighter lighter counterpart for the Grand National, achieving this by employing aluminum bumper supports by offering aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model stood in direct opposition to all-black Grand National, retaining most of the standard chrome trim it was being offered across a variety factory body colors. This variant was the enthusiast's purist's choice those individuals who prioritized raw performance and a more responsive feel over the iconic iconic style presence of the its better-known famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most most enthusiasts envision a 1980s Buick muscle vehicle, the image image which immediately springs to their head is undoubtedly the the Grand National. Designated as the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Production Option Option (RPO), the Grand National was fundamentally less a mechanically mechanically separate vehicle but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and trim package. It shared the exact same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 engine and 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was its its monochromatic Darth Vader exterior theme, which gave the car its enduring nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was meticulously carefully enforced throughout the whole vehicle. All of the the exterior molding, from the window window frames and the grille, was finished blacked-out. The vehicle sat on unique 15-inch steel chrome rims a a black center section, creating a very memorable look. Inside, the Grand Grand National featured a specific dual-color black and grey fabric upholstery, with the signature turbo "6" emblem embroidered on the front driver and passenger headrests. The model also came equipped with the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Touring Touring suspension, which provided the vehicle sharper road manners to match its impressive straight-line prowess.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was the ruler of the boulevard, the GNX was the pinnacle of all domestic performance vehicles of 1987. Developed as a ultimate farewell for the Regal platform, Buick shipped only 547 fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren a a radical re-engineering. click here The goal goal was clear: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all other Grand Nationals." The result was a a machine machine which was so quick it could was able to out-accelerate many of the day's most exotic supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The upgrades were both comprehensive highly very impactful. The engineers installed a larger more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller hybrid turbo, a more efficient intercooler, and a specially custom tuned engine control chip (ECU). The 200-4R was beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and critically, the entire rear suspension was re-engineered. It featured a unique longitudinal torque arm a a Panhard rod, which dramatically improved grip and virtually cured axle hop during brutal acceleration. Fully appreciating the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep examination of the modifications that this partnership invested in this extremely very rare model.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When directly analyzing these four four distinct variants, the differences their performance figures available options become even more clear. Officially, the LC2 LC2 engine found in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. In dramatic contrast, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive significant modifications, was officially pegged at 276 hp a massive a staggering staggering three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, although real-world dynamometer readings have since consistently proven these numbers to have been grossly underestimated, the true true output being well above 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the progression was equally just as clear. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were sleepers of the group, frequently sporting chrome accents and offered a a full palette of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was strictly black, creating an unmistakable intimidating aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this menacing persona a step further. It featured lightweight wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers on the front fenders, and a unique set of sixteen-inch black mesh cross-lace rims that distinguished the car apart immediately even from a standard a Grand National. Options like T-tops were commonly ordered on the Turbo T, Turbo T, but Grand National, but, no GNX was ever officially produced the T-top this option, in an effort to preserve maximum structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful case study of market segmentation and performance evolution. From the unexpectedly quick and comfortable Regal Limited to the lightweight Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a spectrum of forced-induction power to suit suit different tastes as well as priorities. The Grand National subsequently codified this performance power with an iconic iconic and intimidating style package, birthing a cultural automotive legend which persists to this day. At the very top of this hierarchy stood the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar that acted as a definitive final statement point, solidifying the G-body G-body platform's status within the pantheon of performance legends. Each model car was special special in its own right, but together they formed a legendary legendary lineup which defined domestic muscle for a a new era.