The year 1987 holds a truly special status in the history of American performance lore, primarily due to the final production year of Buick's venerable RWD G-body Regal coupe. It was a time which saw the culmination of a turbocharged renaissance, creating a distinct distinct hierarchy of models which ranged from understated performers all the way to a uncompromising asphalt destroyer. Although these vehicles all shared a common basic chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each had a distinct personality, set performance metrics, a unique intended audience. Deciphering the nuanced and not-so-subtle differences is essential to fully appreciating the brilliance behind Buick's final last performance stand of that decade.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
At the foundational base of this power pyramid sat the more versatile and frequently overlooked models: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged option as well as the purposeful Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's comfort-focused trim, replete with cushy seating, generous chrome accents, and a more compliant suspension. However, for 1987, savvy buyers could discreetly spec this comfortable coupe the addition of the powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled powertrain, essentially creating a wolf in sheep's clothing. This combination allowed for a stealthy high-performance experience sans the aggressive overtly aggressive visuals of more famous blacked-out stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, often identified by internal WE4 RPO code designation, was a more decidedly purpose-built philosophy to stripped-down performance. Buick created the WE4 T as a a lighter more agile counterpart to the Grand National, achieving this goal through utilizing aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering alloy rims. Aesthetically, this model was in direct contrast the the Grand National, retaining most of the standard chrome accents it was being available in a variety of exterior colors. This variant was essentially the enthusiast's enthusiast's selection for individuals that valued unfiltered acceleration a a more responsive feel over the iconic iconic style statement of more famous more famous all-black sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most many people envision a '80s Buick performance car, the image vision which immediately comes to their head is undoubtedly that of the menacing Grand National. Coded with the WE2 Regular Production Production Option Option, the '87 Grand National was fundamentally less a mechanically mechanically distinct vehicle and more of an iconic appearance and trim upgrade. It utilized the exact exact same powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled V6 the 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was its monochromatic all-black paint theme, a look that earned the car the famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister aesthetic was carefully enforced across the entire entire car. All of the exterior molding, from the door frames and the grille front grille, was finished in black. The car rode upon unique 15-inch steel chrome wheels with a contrasting black center section, creating a truly distinctive look. Inside, the Grand National featured a specific two-tone black and gray cloth interior, with the signature turbo six emblem stitched into the front driver and passenger seat headrests. It also came equipped with the stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, which provided the vehicle better handling in order to match its impressive accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was considered the ruler of the boulevard, the GNX GNX was nothing less than the emperor of all American American muscle cars of 1987. Created as a final farewell to the Regal chassis, Buick shipped just five hundred forty-seven fully optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren for a radical transformation. The goal objective was clear: to create the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to end all Grand Nationals." The result was a vehicle that was so incredibly quick it could was able to beat many of the era's most exotic supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both comprehensive and very impactful. The engineers installed a more efficient Garrett hybrid turbo, a more more effective intercooler, and a specially custom programmed engine control management chip (ECU). The transmission transmission was recalibrated firmer quicker gear changes, and most importantly, the entire rear suspension was completely re-engineered. It featured a unique longitudinal torque arm a a transverse Panhard rod, a system that drastically improved traction and completely cured axle hop under hard launches. Truly appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep deep dive into the bespoke engineering that ASC/McLaren invested into this extremely very rare vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When comparing these four four models, the differences differences their specifications available options are made even more clear. Officially, the LC2 engine in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. In stark comparison, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive upgrades, was officially officially rated at two-hundred and seventy-six hp a massive a staggering staggering 360 lb-ft of torque, though real-world dyno readings have consistently more info shown these factory numbers to be wildly conservative, with actual output being far above 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy hierarchy was just as clear. The Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the group, often wearing bright bumpers being available in a variety of full range of exterior paints. The Grand National, of course, was exclusively exclusively black, projecting an unmistakable unmistakable presence. The GNX, in turn, took this menacing theme a step further. It was fitted with lightweight wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers in the front fenders, and a unique style of 16-inch sixteen-inch black mesh cross-lace rims that distinguished the car apart instantly from even a regular Grand National. Features like T-tops were widely ordered for the Limited Turbo T, and Grand T, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was officially produced the T-top this option, in order to preserve optimal structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful case study in product segmentation the art of brand evolution. From the surprisingly unexpectedly fast luxurious comfortable Regal Limited and the agile Turbo T, the brand offered a spectrum spectrum of turbocharged power to suit varying preferences as well as budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this power into an iconic a menacing menacing style package, birthing a cultural phenomenon which endures even this very day. Crowning this all stood the GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar that served as a a final statement point, cementing the G-body G-body Regal's status in the pantheon pantheon of automotive automotive legends. Each car was special in its own way, yet together they formed a legendary lineup that redefined domestic performance for a new era.