The model year 1987 holds a truly hallowed status within the history of American performance lore, primarily due to the final manufacturing year for the Buick venerable RWD G-platform Regal. This was a year which saw the culmination of a a surprising turbocharged renaissance, establishing a clear pecking order of models that ranged the subtle performers to an all-out asphalt slayer. Although these vehicles all were based upon the same basic chassis, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a unique character, set of specifications, a unique intended buyer. Understanding the nuanced and blatant differences is essential for fully grasping the genius genius of Buick's final last muscle car hurrah of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
At the bottom of this performance pyramid were the surprisingly versatile and often overlooked variants: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbo option and the Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's comfort-focused package, replete with plush seating, ample brightwork trim, a a softer ride. Crucially, in 1987, savvy buyers could discreetly option this comfortable coupe the addition of the potent LC2 3.8-liter 3.8L intercooled engine, essentially birthing a true wolf in sheep's clothing. This combination allowed for a blisteringly fast drive sans the overtly menacing styling of its its darker siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known by internal WE4 designation, was a more more purpose-built philosophy to stripped-down performance. Buick created the WE4 T as a lighter lighter counterpart for the Grand National, attaining this goal by utilizing aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum rims. Aesthetically, it stood in stark stark opposition to all-black Grand National, keeping most of the factory chrome trim it was being offered across a wide spectrum of body hues. This variant was the enthusiast's selection for individuals that prioritized raw performance and a more responsive chassis over the unmistakable visual statement of the its more infamous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most most people envision a 1980s 1980s Buick performance car, the image which instantly springs to their head is undoubtedly the the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Option Option, the Grand National was less of a mechanically separate model but rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and suspension package. It shared the exact identical same potent LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 engine the 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. However, its defining trait was its its single-color Darth Vader exterior theme, which gave it its famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This menacing aesthetic was meticulously carefully enforced across the whole car. All of the exterior exterior trim, including the window frames and the grille grille, was finished finished in black. The car car sat upon unique fifteen-inch steel steel rims a a black-painted inset, creating a truly memorable appearance. Inside, the National came with a specific dual-color black and gray fabric upholstery, with the signature turbo six logo stitched into the front driver and passenger seat headrests. It also came standard with the stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring Touring suspension, which gave it sharper road manners to match its impressive accelerative prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
If the Grand National was the king king of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor of all all American muscle vehicles in 1987. Created as a fitting final farewell to the G-body chassis, Buick sent only five hundred forty-seven fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a radical transformation. The goal goal was simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to end all Grand Nationals." The outcome was a a machine vehicle which was so quick it could could beat many of the day's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both extensive and very effective. The engineers installed a larger more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbo, a more higher-capacity efficient intercooler, a a custom programmed engine control control unit (ECU). The 200-4R was also beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and critically, the entire rear axle setup was redesigned. It included a unique longitudinal torque bar and a transverse Panhard rod, which dramatically increased grip and completely eliminated wheel hop during hard acceleration. Fully appreciating the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a thorough examination into the engineering which ASC/McLaren poured into this extremely extremely limited-production vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When comparing these four distinct models, the distinctions their specifications available options become all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp and three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. In dramatic comparison, the GNX, with its extensive upgrades, was officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six horsepower a massive a staggering whopping three-hundred and sixty pound-feet of torque, although real-world dyno tests have since consistently shown these factory figures to be grossly underestimated, the true true output being far over 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy was equally equally clear. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons read more of the bunch, frequently wearing chrome bumpers and available a a full range of exterior paints. The Grand National, of course, was strictly black, creating an unmistakable aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark dark persona even further. It was fitted with lightweight wheel arch flares, functional heat-releasing louvers on the front fenders, and a style of sixteen-inch black mesh mesh rims which set the car apart instantly even from a standard a regular Grand National. Features such as T-tops were widely available for the Limited Turbo T, and Grand T, and models, however, no GNX was officially built with this option, in order to maintain preserve optimal chassis stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In final analysis, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup represents a masterful case study in market segmentation and performance evolution. From the surprisingly unexpectedly fast and luxurious Regal Limited to the lightweight agile Turbo T-Type, the brand offered a spectrum spectrum of forced-induction performance to suit fit varying tastes as well as priorities. The Grand Grand National subsequently solidified this performance with an unforgettable and menacing style identity, birthing a cultural cultural legend that persists even this very day. At the very top of it all stood the GNX, a limited-edition rare masterpiece which served as a a definitive exclamation mark, solidifying the G-body platform's place in the pantheon of automotive legends. Each car was distinct in its own way, yet together they formed a legendary hierarchy that defined domestic performance for a a generation generation.