The year 1987 occupies a sacred status within the history of American performance lore, primarily thanks to the final production run of Buick's venerable rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. It was a time that witnessed the absolute pinnacle of a performance renaissance, creating a clear pecking order of which spanned the understated sleepers to an all-out asphalt slayer. While these vehicles all were based upon the same basic chassis, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each had a distinct character, set of specifications, a unique target buyer. Deciphering the subtle sometimes not-so-subtle distinctions is essential to truly appreciating the brilliance of Buick's final final muscle car hurrah of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the bottom of this performance ladder were the more surprisingly versatile and frequently overlooked models: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbo option and the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's comfort-focused package, replete with plush interiors, generous brightwork accents, a a more softer suspension. Crucially, for 1987, savvy customers could discreetly option this luxurious plush vehicle the addition of the potent LC2 3.8-liter V6 intercooled engine, effectively birthing a true wolf dressed in sheep's attire. This combination permitted for a a stealthy blisteringly fast experience without the aggressive overtly aggressive styling of its darker siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, often identified its its WE4 RPO code designation, represented a decidedly purpose-built approach to lightweight performance. Buick created the WE4 package as a lighter lighter alternative for the heavier Grand National, achieving this through employing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum wheels. Aesthetically, this model was in direct opposition to all-black Grand National, retaining most of the standard chrome trim it was being offered across a wide spectrum factory body hues. This was essentially the enthusiast's selection for those that valued unfiltered acceleration a a slightly more responsive feel over the unmistakable style presence of the more famous better-known famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many people think of a 1980s '80s Buick performance vehicle, the image image which immediately springs to mind is the the menacing Grand National. Coded with the WE2 Regular Regular Production Option Option (RPO), the Grand National was fundamentally not so much of a mechanically distinct model and rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing appearance and suspension package. It utilized the exact same potent LC2 3.8L intercooled V6 engine the 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. However, its defining trait was its single-color Darth Vader exterior scheme, which earned the car its enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This menacing aesthetic was meticulously meticulously applied throughout the whole vehicle. All of the the exterior body trim, including the door frames to the grille front grille, was finished finished in black. The vehicle rode upon unique fifteen-inch steel chrome wheels with a black-painted center section, creating a truly truly memorable check here appearance. On the interior, the Grand National came with a dual-color black and grey fabric upholstery, the addition of the signature turbo "6" emblem embroidered on the driver and passenger headrests. The model also was equipped the the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Touring suspension, a feature that gave it sharper handling in order to complement its impressive straight-line performance.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was considered the king of the street, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the emperor of all American domestic muscle cars of 1987. Created as a a fitting final farewell to the Regal chassis, Buick shipped only 547 fully loaded Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a radical comprehensive re-engineering. The goal goal was clear: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The result was a machine machine that was so incredibly fast it was able to beat most of the day's most exotic supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both extensive highly highly effective. ASC/McLaren fitted a larger more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller hybrid turbocharger, a higher-capacity efficient intercooler, and a specially tuned engine control management unit (ECU). The transmission transmission was beefed-up for firmer gear changes, critically most importantly, the rear suspension was re-engineered. It included a unique unique torque bar and a transverse Panhard rod, which dramatically increased traction and virtually cured axle hop under brutal launches. Fully appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep deep dive of the modifications which ASC/McLaren poured in this extremely extremely rare vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly analyzing these four models, the distinctions in performance figures and features become all the more more clear. Officially, the LC2 in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with three-hundred and fifty-five pound-feet of torque. In dramatic comparison, the GNX GNX, with its extensive significant upgrades, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a whopping three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, although actual dynamometer tests have consistently proven these factory figures to have been wildly conservative, the true actual output being well over three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the progression was just as clear. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were chameleons of the bunch, often wearing bright accents and offered in a variety of full range of paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable intimidating presence. The GNX, however, elevated this dark theme even further. This model featured composite wheel arch flares, functional heat-extracting vents on the front front fenders, a set of a unique style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace wheels which set the car apart immediately even from even a Grand National. Features like removable roof panels were widely ordered on the Limited Turbo T, and Grand National, and Grand National, however, not a single GNX was officially produced with this option, in order to maintain maintain maximum chassis stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a brilliant case study of market segmentation the art of brand development. From the the surprisingly surprisingly fast and comfortable Regal Limited Turbo to the agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a spectrum spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction performance to suit fit different preferences as well as budgets. The Grand Grand National then solidified this performance with an iconic unforgettable a menacing menacing visual identity, birthing a automotive phenomenon which endures to this very day. At the very top of it all stood the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar which acted as a final statement mark, cementing the G-body Regal's place in the pantheon pantheon of automotive automotive greatness. Each car was distinct in its own way, yet together they formed a unforgettable lineup which defined American muscle for a generation.