The year 1987 holds a special status within the annals of American muscle car history, primarily due to the concluding production run of the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal coupe. This was a year that witnessed the apex of a turbocharged renaissance, establishing a distinct clear hierarchy of which ranged from subtle sleepers to a uncompromising asphalt slayer. While they all were based upon the same foundational architecture, the Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T-Type, the iconic Grand National, and the mythical GNX each had a completely unique personality, set of specifications, a unique intended buyer. Understanding the nuanced and not-so-subtle distinctions remains key to truly appreciating the genius brilliance behind Buick's final last muscle car stand of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the bottom of this power pyramid were the more surprisingly flexible and frequently underappreciated models: the Buick Regal Limited equipped with the turbo engine and the Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily the comfort-focused trim, replete with cushy interiors, generous chrome accents, a a more compliant ride. Crucially, in 1987, savvy customers could quietly option this plush coupe with the potent powerful LC2 3.8-liter 3.8L intercooled powertrain, effectively birthing a true wolf dressed in luxury clothing. This combination allowed for a blisteringly fast drive without the aggressive obviously aggressive styling of its blacked-out siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, often known its internal WE4 RPO code designation, represented a decidedly focused approach for stripped-down speed. Buick created the WE4 package as a more agile counterpart to the heavier Grand National, attaining this through utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper supports and aluminum rims. Visually, it was in direct contrast the the Grand National, retaining much of the standard standard brightwork trim it was being available across a variety of exterior colors. This variant was the purist's choice those those who valued raw performance and a slightly more responsive chassis above the iconic style presence of the more famous more infamous all-black sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many enthusiasts envision a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle car, the image vision that immediately springs to mind is the the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Production Option Option, the '87 Grand National was not so much of a mechanically separate vehicle but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and suspension package. It utilized the exact identical same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 engine and 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was its its single-color Darth Vader paint theme, a look that earned it the famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing aesthetic was meticulously meticulously applied throughout the entire entire vehicle. All of the the body trim, including the window surrounds and the grille front grille, was finished blacked-out. The car vehicle rode upon unique 15-inch chrome-plated steel wheels with a black inset, lending a truly distinctive look. On the interior, the Grand National featured a specific two-tone black and grey cloth upholstery, the addition of the turbo six emblem stitched into the front headrests. It also was standard the the firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring Touring suspension package, a feature that gave it better road manners in order to match its impressive straight-line prowess.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was considered the king king of the boulevard, the GNX was the pinnacle of American domestic muscle cars in 1987. Created as a fitting ultimate send-off for the Regal platform, General Motors shipped just 547 fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a radical comprehensive re-engineering. The goal was simple simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The result was a a machine which was incredibly fast it could could out-accelerate many of the era's most exotic supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both comprehensive highly highly impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett hybrid turbocharger, a more efficient intercooler, and a custom tuned engine management chip (ECU). The transmission transmission was beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and most importantly, the entire rear suspension was completely re-engineered. It included a unique ladder arm a a Panhard rod, which dramatically improved traction virtually completely cured axle hop during brutal launches. Fully appreciating the complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a thorough dive of the engineering which this partnership poured in this extremely very rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When analyzing these four four distinct variants, the distinctions their specifications and options become even more clear. From the factory, the LC2 found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower and three-hundred and fifty-five pound-feet of torque. In stark comparison, the GNX, with its extensive modifications, was officially officially rated at 276 horsepower and a whopping 360 pound-feet of torque, although actual dynamometer readings have since consistently proven these figures to be wildly conservative, the true true power being far above 300 horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy progression was equally equally defined. The Turbo T the Limited were sleepers of the group, often sporting bright bumpers and available a a full palette of colors. The Grand National, naturally, was strictly black, creating an intimidating presence. The GNX, however, took this dark theme a step further. It was fitted with composite wheel arch flares, functional heat-releasing louvers on the front fenders, and a style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace wheels that set the car apart instantly from a standard a regular Grand National. Features like T-tops were widely available on the Limited Limited, and Grand National, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was ever produced the T-top this option, in order to maintain maximum structural rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a masterful brilliant case study in product segmentation and brand development. From the unexpectedly fast and comfortable Regal Limited to the lightweight lightweight Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction performance to fit varying preferences and priorities. The Grand Grand National subsequently codified this performance performance into an iconic unforgettable a menacing menacing style package, birthing a cultural automotive legend that endures to this very day. Crowning this all stood the GNX, a rare masterpiece that acted as a a definitive final exclamation mark, solidifying the G-body Buick Regal's platform's status within the pantheon of automotive automotive legends. Each model was special in its own way, but collectively they formed a legendary hierarchy which defined domestic muscle for a a generation generation.