The model year 1987 occupies a sacred place within the annals of U.S. muscle car history, primarily thanks to the final manufacturing run for the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. This was a year that witnessed the pinnacle of a a surprising performance renaissance, establishing a distinct clear hierarchy of which spanned from subtle performers to an all-out asphalt destroyer. While these vehicles all shared a common basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a unique character, set performance metrics, and intended buyer. Understanding the subtle and blatant differences is essential for truly appreciating the genius behind Buick's last muscle car stand of that 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational bottom of this power pyramid sat the more surprisingly flexible and often overlooked variants: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbocharged option and the Turbo T-Type. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily the comfort-focused trim, replete with plush seating, ample brightwork accents, a a softer ride. Crucially, in that final year, astute buyers were able to quietly option this comfortable coupe the addition of the potent powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled powertrain, essentially creating a true predator dressed in luxury clothing. This allowed for a stealthy blisteringly fast experience sans the aggressive overtly menacing visuals of more famous darker siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, often identified by internal WE4 RPO code RPO code, represented a more more purpose-built philosophy to lightweight speed. The manufacturer created the WE4 T as a lighter lighter counterpart to the Grand National, attaining this goal through utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper supports by offering alloy wheels. Aesthetically, it stood in stark direct contrast to all-black Grand National, retaining most of the standard chrome trim it was being offered across a wide spectrum factory body hues. This was the enthusiast's purist's choice for those who valued unfiltered performance a a slightly more responsive feel above the iconic unmistakable style presence of its more famous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most many people think of a '80s Buick muscle vehicle, the vision that immediately comes to their head is undoubtedly the the Grand National. Designated as the WE2 Regular Regular Production Option Option (RPO), the '87 Grand National was fundamentally not so much of a mechanically distinct vehicle but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing appearance and suspension upgrade. It shared the exact same powerful LC2 intercooled V6 engine the 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable trait was its single-color Darth Vader exterior theme, which earned the car the enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing aesthetic was meticulously meticulously applied throughout the entire vehicle. Every piece of the the exterior exterior trim, including the door frames to the grille, was finished finished in black. The vehicle rode on specific fifteen-inch steel steel wheels a a contrasting black center section, creating a truly memorable appearance. Inside, the National came with a two-tone black and gray fabric interior, the addition of the turbo "6" logo stitched on the front seat headrests. The model also was equipped with the stiffer F41 Gran Touring Touring suspension, which provided the vehicle sharper road manners to complement its impressive accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
While the Grand National was considered the ruler of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor emperor of all all domestic performance vehicles in 1987. Developed as a fitting ultimate send-off for the Regal chassis, Buick sent only 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a comprehensive re-engineering. The objective was clear: to create the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine that was so quick it could could beat most of the world's day's most expensive sports cars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The modifications were extensive and very impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett ceramic-impeller turbo, a more effective intercooler, and a custom programmed engine control unit (ECU). The 200-4R was beefed-up firmer quicker shifts, critically critically, the rear axle setup was redesigned. This new setup featured a unique ladder bar and a transverse Panhard rod, a system that dramatically improved traction virtually completely cured axle hop under brutal launches. Fully understanding the complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep thorough examination into the bespoke engineering which this partnership poured in this extremely extremely limited-production model.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When directly comparing these four four distinct models, the differences in specifications available features become all the more more apparent. Officially, the LC2 LC2 engine in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was understatedly rated at 245 hp with 355 lb-ft of torque. By dramatic contrast, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive modifications, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a staggering whopping 360 pound-feet of torque, though actual dynamometer readings have consistently shown these numbers to be wildly conservative, with true output being well over 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy was equally just as defined. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were sleepers of the group, often wearing chrome bumpers being offered in a variety of wide range of exterior colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable aura. The GNX, however, elevated this dark dark theme even further. This model was fitted with composite wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers on the front fenders, a set of a set of 16-inch 16-inch black mesh rims which set the car apart instantly even from even a regular Grand National. Options like removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited, and Grand T, but Grand National, however, not a single GNX was ever officially produced the T-top this option, in an effort to maintain optimal structural stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In concluding analysis, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a brilliant case study in market segmentation the art of brand development. From the the surprisingly unexpectedly quick luxurious luxurious Regal Limited to the agile Turbo T, Buick offered a spectrum of turbocharged turbocharged power to suit suit varying tastes as well as priorities. The Grand Grand National subsequently solidified this performance into an iconic iconic a menacing intimidating style identity, creating a cultural cultural phenomenon which persists even this very day. At the very top of this all stood the GNX, a limited-edition limited-edition supercar that acted as a definitive exclamation point, cementing the G-body Buick Regal's Regal's status in check here the halls of automotive legends. Each model was special special in its own way, but collectively they formed a legendary hierarchy which defined American muscle for a new era.