The year 1987 occupies a hallowed place within the annals of U.S. performance history, largely due to the concluding production year for the Buick venerable rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. It was a year which witnessed the absolute culmination of a a surprising turbocharged renaissance, establishing a clear hierarchy of which ranged the understated performers all the way to a all-out asphalt destroyer. While they all shared the same foundational chassis, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the iconic Grand National, and the GNX each had a unique personality, set performance metrics, a unique target audience. Deciphering the subtle and not-so-subtle distinctions remains essential to truly grasping the brilliance of Buick's final muscle car stand of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational base of this power ladder were the surprisingly flexible often often underappreciated variants: the Buick Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged option as well as the Turbo T. The Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the brand's luxury-oriented trim, featuring cushy seating, generous chrome accents, and a softer ride. Crucially, for that final year, savvy customers could quietly option this luxurious comfortable vehicle the addition of the potent potent LC2 V6 turbocharged engine, effectively creating a wolf in luxury clothing. This combination allowed for a a high-performance experience without the obviously aggressive visuals of its its darker siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known its its WE4 RPO code designation, was a decidedly focused approach to lightweight speed. The manufacturer designed the Turbo T as a a lighter alternative to the heavier Grand National, attaining this by employing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering alloy wheels. Visually, this model stood in stark contrast to the Grand National, retaining most of the standard factory brightwork accents and being offered in a variety of body colors. This was the enthusiast's enthusiast's choice for those who valued raw performance and a slightly more responsive feel above the unmistakable visual presence of its more famous all-black counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many people think of a 1980s Buick performance vehicle, the image that instantly comes to their head is undoubtedly the the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Option, the '87 Grand National was not so much of a mechanically separate model but rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and trim upgrade. This model utilized the identical same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 the 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. However, its defining characteristic was its single-color Darth Vader exterior theme, which gave it its famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing look was meticulously carefully enforced throughout the entire vehicle. All of the exterior molding, from the window door surrounds to the grille front grille, was finished in black. The car car rode upon specific 15-inch steel chrome wheels with a contrasting black-painted center section, lending a truly truly memorable look. Inside, the Grand National came with a specific dual-color black and grey fabric interior, with the signature turbo "6" logo stitched on the front front headrests. It also was equipped with the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Touring Touring suspension package, which gave it better road manners to complement its impressive accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was the king of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the emperor emperor of all American domestic muscle cars in 1987. Developed as a a fitting final send-off for the Regal platform, Buick sent only five hundred forty-seven fully optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren a a comprehensive transformation. The goal objective was simple: to create the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all Grand Nationals." The resulting result was a vehicle which was so so quick it could could out-accelerate most of the world's era's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The modifications were both extensive and very impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett hybrid turbo, a more efficient intercooler, and a specially tuned engine control unit (ECU). The transmission was beefed-up for quicker shifts, and most importantly, the entire rear axle setup was re-engineered. It included a unique ladder arm and a Panhard rod, a system that drastically improved traction virtually virtually eliminated wheel hop during brutal acceleration. Truly understanding the complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep examination of the bespoke modifications which ASC/McLaren poured into this extremely extremely rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly comparing these four variants, the distinctions in performance figures and options become even more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 engine found in the Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower with three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. In stark contrast, the GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive upgrades, was officially pegged at 276 horsepower a massive a staggering whopping 360 pound-feet of torque, although actual dyno readings have since repeatedly shown these factory numbers to be wildly underestimated, with actual power being well over three-hundred horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy was equally defined. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the bunch, often sporting bright accents being offered in a full range of exterior colors. The Grand National, of course, was strictly black, projecting an intimidating presence. The GNX, in turn, took this dark persona even further. This model featured lightweight wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers in the front front fenders, a set of a unique set of sixteen-inch black mesh mesh rims that set the car apart instantly from even a regular Grand National. Features such as removable roof panels were commonly ordered for the Limited, and Grand T, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was ever produced with this option, in order to maintain preserve maximum structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the final assessment, the 1987 Buick Regal range represents a masterful masterful case study in market tiering the art of click here brand development. From the the unexpectedly fast luxurious luxurious Regal Limited Turbo and the agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a range of forced-induction power to suit fit different tastes as well as priorities. The Grand Grand National subsequently codified this power into an iconic iconic a menacing intimidating visual package, creating a cultural phenomenon which endures even this day. Crowning it all was the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar that acted as a a definitive definitive exclamation mark, cementing the G-body G-body platform's place in the pantheon of automotive automotive greatness. Each model car was special special in its own way, but together they formed a legendary legendary hierarchy which defined domestic performance for a generation new era.