The model year 1987 holds a truly hallowed status within the history of U.S. muscle car lore, primarily due to the concluding manufacturing run for the Buick venerable RWD G-body Regal. It was a time which witnessed the pinnacle of a a surprising turbocharged revival, establishing a distinct hierarchy of which spanned the subtle sleepers all the way to a uncompromising supercar destroyer. Although they all shared the same basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a completely distinct character, set of specifications, and intended buyer. Deciphering the nuanced and blatant differences remains key for truly appreciating the brilliance of Buick's final last muscle car hurrah of the 1980s.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
On the base of this performance pyramid sat the more more versatile and often overlooked models: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged engine as well as the purposeful Turbo T. The Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented trim, featuring plush interiors, ample chrome trim, and a more softer ride. Crucially, in that final year, savvy customers could discreetly spec this luxurious comfortable vehicle with the potent powerful LC2 3.8-liter 3.8L intercooled engine, effectively birthing a wolf dressed in luxury attire. This allowed for a stealthy high-performance drive without the aggressive overtly aggressive styling of more famous blacked-out siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, often identified its internal WE4 RPO code RPO code, represented a more purpose-built approach to lightweight performance. Buick designed the WE4 T as a a lighter more agile counterpart for the Grand National, attaining this goal through utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements and alloy wheels. Aesthetically, this model was in stark stark opposition to the Grand National, keeping most of the standard chrome trim it was being offered across a wide variety factory exterior colors. This was essentially the enthusiast's purist's selection those individuals that valued unfiltered performance and a nimbler feel over the iconic unmistakable visual presence of its better-known infamous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most most people think of a '80s Buick muscle car, the image which instantly comes to mind is the the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Production Option (RPO), the '87 Grand National was fundamentally not so much a mechanically mechanically distinct model but more of an iconic appearance and trim package. This model shared the exact same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 and 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. However, its defining characteristic was its adherence to a single-color Darth Vader paint scheme, which earned it its enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister aesthetic was meticulously carefully applied across the entire entire car. All of the the exterior exterior molding, including the window door surrounds and the grille, was finished finished in black. The car vehicle rode upon unique 15-inch steel chrome rims with a black inset, lending a truly memorable look. Inside, the Grand Grand National came with a specific dual-color black and grey cloth interior, the addition of the signature turbo six emblem stitched on the driver and passenger seat headrests. The model also came standard the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Touring suspension, which provided it sharper handling to match its impressive accelerative performance.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was the ruler of the street, the GNX was the emperor of American domestic muscle cars in 1987. Created as a final send-off to the Regal chassis, General Motors sent just five hundred forty-seven fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a radical radical transformation. The goal was simple: to create the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine vehicle which was incredibly quick it could could out-accelerate most of the era's most expensive sports cars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both extensive and very impactful. ASC/McLaren fitted a larger more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbo, a more efficient intercooler, a a specially programmed engine control chip (ECU). The transmission was recalibrated firmer firmer shifts, critically critically, the entire rear suspension was completely re-engineered. This new setup included a unique unique torque bar a a Panhard rod, which drastically improved grip virtually virtually cured wheel hop under brutal acceleration. Truly appreciating the complete complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a thorough dive of the engineering which this partnership poured into this extremely extremely rare vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When analyzing these four four distinct variants, the differences in specifications and features are made all the more more clear. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with 355 pound-feet of torque. By dramatic comparison, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive upgrades, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six horsepower and a staggering staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, although actual dynamometer readings have since repeatedly shown these factory figures to have been grossly underestimated, with true output being well above 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy hierarchy was equally clear. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were chameleons of the group, frequently wearing chrome bumpers being offered in a wide range of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable unmistakable presence. The GNX, however, elevated this dark persona even further. It was fitted with lightweight fender flares, functional heat-releasing louvers on the front front fenders, and a unique set of 16-inch 16-inch black mesh wheels that set it apart instantly even from a standard a regular Grand National. Features like T-tops were widely available for the Limited, and Grand National, but Grand National, however, not a single GNX was officially produced with this feature, in order to maintain preserve maximum chassis rigidity.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In concluding analysis, the 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a masterful case study in market segmentation the art of performance development. From the surprisingly surprisingly fast luxurious comfortable Regal Limited to the lightweight lightweight Turbo T, the brand offered a spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction power to suit fit different tastes and budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this power into an iconic a menacing intimidating style package, birthing a cultural automotive legend that persists to this very day. Crowning this all was the mighty GNX, a rare supercar that acted as a definitive definitive statement mark, cementing the Buick Regal's Regal's place within the halls of automotive automotive greatness. Each model car was distinct in its own way, but collectively they created a legendary legendary lineup which defined American performance for a a generation new era.