The model year 1987 occupies a truly special status within the history of American performance history, largely due to the final concluding production year for the Buick venerable rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal coupe. This was a time which witnessed the absolute culmination of a performance revival, establishing a distinct distinct hierarchy of models that spanned from understated sleepers all the way to an uncompromising supercar slayer. Although these vehicles all shared the same basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the iconic Grand National, as well as the GNX each possessed a completely unique personality, set performance metrics, and intended audience. Deciphering the subtle and not-so-subtle distinctions remains key to fully grasping the genius brilliance of Buick's final last muscle car stand of that 1980s.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
At the foundational bottom of this performance ladder were the more more flexible often often underappreciated models: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbo option and the Turbo T. The Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's luxury-oriented package, replete with cushy interiors, generous chrome trim, and a compliant suspension. Crucially, for 1987, savvy buyers could quietly spec this luxurious plush vehicle with the potent potent LC2 3.8-liter V6 turbocharged engine, effectively birthing a true wolf in sheep's clothing. This combination allowed for a blisteringly fast drive sans the aggressive obviously menacing styling of its its darker siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified its internal WE4 designation, represented a more more purpose-built approach for stripped-down performance. The manufacturer created the WE4 package as a a lighter more agile counterpart to the heavier Grand National, attaining this goal through employing aluminum bumper reinforcements and alloy wheels. Visually, it was in stark stark opposition the the Grand National, retaining much of the standard chrome trim it was being available across a wide variety factory body hues. This was the enthusiast's purist's choice for individuals who valued raw performance a a slightly more responsive feel over the iconic iconic visual statement of more famous better-known infamous all-black sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most enthusiasts envision a '80s Buick performance car, the vision that instantly comes to their head is undoubtedly that of the Grand National. Coded with the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Production Option Option (RPO), the Grand National was fundamentally not so much a mechanically mechanically distinct model but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and trim package. This model shared the exact identical same powerful LC2 intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. However, its defining trait was its adherence to a monochromatic Darth Vader paint theme, a look that gave it the enduring nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister aesthetic was meticulously carefully enforced across the entire car. Every piece of the exterior trim, from the window door frames to the grille front grille, was finished blacked-out. The car car sat upon specific 15-inch steel chrome rims a a contrasting black-painted center section, creating a truly truly distinctive appearance. Inside, the Grand National came with a specific two-tone black and grey cloth upholstery, with the signature turbo six logo embroidered into the front front headrests. It also came equipped with the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Touring suspension, which provided it sharper road manners to match its impressive accelerative prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was the king of the street, the Grand National Experimental was the emperor emperor of all all domestic performance vehicles in 1987. Created as a fitting final send-off to the Regal chassis, General Motors shipped only five hundred forty-seven fully-optioned loaded Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a radical comprehensive transformation. The objective was simple: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a a vehicle which was so so fast it could beat most of the world's era's most expensive sports cars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The modifications were extensive highly very impactful. ASC/McLaren fitted a larger larger Garrett hybrid turbo, a more efficient intercooler, and a specially custom programmed engine control unit (ECU). The 200-4R was beefed-up for quicker shifts, and critically, the rear suspension was re-engineered. It featured a longitudinal ladder arm a a Panhard rod, which dramatically increased grip and completely cured wheel hop under hard launches. Truly appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep thorough examination into the modifications which ASC/McLaren poured into this extremely very rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When analyzing these four four distinct variants, the differences distinctions in specifications and options are made even more clear. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 found in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was understatedly rated at 245 horsepower and three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. By stark contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive significant upgrades, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six horsepower and a staggering staggering 360 lb-ft of torque, although actual dynamometer readings have repeatedly shown these figures to be grossly underestimated, with actual power being far above three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy hierarchy was equally equally defined. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were the sleepers of the bunch, often wearing bright bumpers and offered in a variety of wide palette of exterior colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable unmistakable aura. The GNX, however, elevated this dark menacing theme a step further. It featured composite wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers on the front fenders, and a set of sixteen-inch black mesh mesh rims which distinguished the car apart immediately even from a standard a regular Grand National. Options such as T-tops were widely ordered for the Turbo T, Turbo T, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was officially built the T-top this feature, in an effort to maintain optimal chassis stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In concluding analysis, the 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a brilliant case study in product tiering and brand development. From the the surprisingly quick and luxurious Regal Limited and the agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a spectrum spectrum of turbocharged power to suit fit varying tastes and budgets. The Grand National subsequently solidified this performance into an iconic unforgettable and menacing style identity, creating a cultural cultural legend which persists even this very day. At the very top of this hierarchy stood the GNX, a limited-edition masterpiece that acted as a definitive definitive exclamation point, solidifying the G-body platform's status in the pantheon of automotive legends. Each car was distinct in its own way, but collectively they formed a legendary hierarchy that defined American performance for a a new era.