The year 1987 occupies a special place within the history of U.S. performance lore, primarily thanks to the final production year of the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. It was a time that witnessed the culmination of a a performance revival, creating a distinct distinct pecking order of which spanned the understated performers all the way to a all-out supercar slayer. While these vehicles all were based upon the same basic architecture, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, and the GNX each possessed a completely unique personality, set of of specifications, and target audience. Understanding their subtle and not-so-subtle differences remains key for fully appreciating the genius of Buick's final muscle car stand of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational bottom of this power pyramid were the surprisingly versatile often often overlooked variants: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged option and the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's luxury-oriented package, featuring plush interiors, ample brightwork trim, and a more softer suspension. However, for that final year, savvy customers were able to discreetly spec this plush coupe with the potent LC2 V6 turbocharged engine, essentially creating a wolf in luxury attire. This allowed for a a blisteringly fast experience sans the obviously menacing styling of its more famous blacked-out stablemates.
Conversely, the Turbo T, often known by its WE4 RPO code designation, represented a more focused philosophy to lightweight performance. Buick created the WE4 T as a a more agile counterpart to the Grand National, attaining this by employing lightweight aluminum bumper supports by offering alloy rims. Aesthetically, it was in stark contrast to the Grand National, retaining most of the standard factory chrome accents and being available across a variety of body hues. This was the enthusiast's enthusiast's selection those individuals that valued unfiltered performance and a nimbler feel above the iconic unmistakable style statement of its better-known infamous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most many people envision a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle car, the vision that instantly springs to mind is the the menacing Grand National. Coded as the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Production Option, the '87 Grand National was not so much of a mechanically separate model and more an all-encompassing iconic styling and suspension upgrade. It utilized the exact exact same potent LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 engine and 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. However, its defining characteristic was its its single-color Darth Vader exterior theme, a look that gave the car the enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister aesthetic was carefully enforced throughout the entire entire vehicle. All of the the exterior trim, including the window frames to the grille, was finished in black. The car rode on unique fifteen-inch steel chrome rims a a black inset, lending a truly distinctive appearance. On the interior, the Grand Grand National came with a specific dual-color black and grey fabric upholstery, the addition of the turbo "6" logo embroidered on the front driver and passenger seat headrests. It also was standard with the firmer F41 Gran Touring suspension, a feature that gave it sharper road manners to complement its 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 American muscle vehicles of 1987. Developed as a a ultimate send-off to the G-body platform, Buick shipped just 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren a a radical comprehensive transformation. The goal goal was simple clear: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The result was a vehicle that was incredibly quick it could beat most of the world's day's most exotic supercars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both comprehensive and highly impactful. ASC/McLaren fitted a more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a more effective intercooler, a a specially custom tuned engine control management unit (ECU). The transmission was beefed-up for quicker shifts, critically critically, the rear suspension was re-engineered. It featured a longitudinal torque arm and a transverse Panhard rod, a system that website drastically improved traction and virtually eliminated axle hop during brutal acceleration. Truly appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep thorough examination of the modifications that this partnership poured in this extremely very rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly comparing these four four models, the differences differences in specifications available features are made all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 engine in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with 355 lb-ft of torque. In stark contrast, the GNX, thanks to its extensive significant modifications, was officially officially pegged at 276 horsepower and a staggering three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, though actual dyno readings have since consistently shown these factory figures to have been wildly conservative, with actual power being well over 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy progression was just as defined. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the bunch, often wearing chrome bumpers and offered a a full range of exterior colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable intimidating presence. The GNX, however, elevated this menacing theme a step further. It was fitted with composite wheel arch flares, working heat-releasing louvers on the front front fenders, a set of a style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace rims that distinguished the car apart immediately even from even a regular Grand National. Options such as T-tops were commonly ordered for the Turbo T, Turbo National, but models, but, not a single GNX was ever ever produced with this feature, in order to maintain maintain optimal structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal range represents a masterful brilliant case study of product segmentation and brand evolution. From the surprisingly unexpectedly quick and comfortable Regal Limited Turbo and the agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a spectrum spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction performance to suit suit different tastes as well as budgets. The Grand National subsequently solidified this performance into an iconic iconic a menacing menacing visual identity, creating a cultural legend that endures to this day. Crowning this hierarchy was the mighty GNX, a limited-edition masterpiece which acted as a definitive final exclamation point, cementing the G-body platform's status in the pantheon of automotive performance greatness. Each car was special distinct in its own way, yet collectively they formed a legendary legendary hierarchy that redefined domestic muscle for a new era.