The model year 1987 occupies a sacred status in the history of U.S. muscle car history, primarily due to the concluding production year for Buick's venerable rear-wheel-drive G-body Regal coupe. This was a time which saw the absolute apex of a performance revival, creating a distinct pecking order of models that spanned the subtle sleepers to a all-out supercar destroyer. While they all were based upon a common basic chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, and the GNX each possessed a completely unique personality, set of specifications, a unique intended audience. Deciphering the nuanced and not-so-subtle differences is key for truly grasping the genius genius of Buick's final last performance stand of that decade.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
On the bottom of this performance ladder sat the surprisingly flexible and often overlooked models: the Buick Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged option and the Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the luxury-oriented trim, featuring cushy interiors, ample chrome accents, a a softer ride. Crucially, in that final year, astute customers could quietly option this luxurious comfortable vehicle with the potent powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled engine, essentially creating a predator in luxury clothing. This permitted for a high-performance drive sans the overtly menacing styling of its its darker siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified by internal WE4 designation, was a more decidedly purpose-built approach for lightweight speed. Buick designed the Turbo package as a a more agile alternative for the Grand National, attaining this through employing lightweight aluminum bumper supports and alloy rims. Aesthetically, it was in direct contrast the the Grand National, keeping most of the standard standard brightwork accents and being offered across a variety factory body hues. This variant was the purist's choice those individuals who valued unfiltered acceleration a a slightly more responsive feel above the unmistakable style presence of its more famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most people think of a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle car, the image which instantly springs to mind is undoubtedly the the menacing Grand National. Designated as the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Option, the Grand National was not so much a mechanically mechanically distinct vehicle and more an all-encompassing iconic appearance and trim package. This model shared the exact identical same powerful LC2 intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R automatic transmission found in the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was its its single-color all-black paint scheme, a look that gave it the famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was meticulously meticulously applied throughout the entire vehicle. All of the the exterior body trim, from the window window surrounds to the grille, was blacked-out. The vehicle rode upon unique fifteen-inch chrome-plated steel rims with a contrasting black center section, creating a truly very memorable look. Inside, the Grand Grand National came with a dual-color black and grey cloth interior, the addition of the turbo "6" emblem embroidered into the front front seat headrests. The model also was standard the the stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, which gave it better handling in order to complement its impressive accelerative prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was the king king of the street, the Grand National Experimental was the pinnacle of all American muscle cars in 1987. Developed as a fitting final send-off for the Regal chassis, Buick sent only 547 fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a radical radical transformation. The goal objective was simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine machine that was so fast it could could beat many of the era's most expensive sports cars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both comprehensive and highly impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a larger more efficient Garrett hybrid turbo, a more effective intercooler, and a specially programmed engine control control chip (ECU). The transmission 200-4R was beefed-up for quicker gear changes, critically most importantly, the rear axle setup was redesigned. This new setup featured a unique ladder bar and a Panhard rod, a system that dramatically improved traction and virtually eliminated wheel hop under brutal launches. Fully appreciating the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep dive into the bespoke modifications which this partnership invested into this extremely rare vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When directly comparing these four four models, the differences differences their performance figures available options become all the more more clear. Officially, the LC2 LC2 in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp and 355 pound-feet of torque. In stark contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive modifications, was officially officially rated at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a staggering three-hundred and sixty pound-feet of torque, although real-world dynamometer readings have since consistently proven these factory figures to be wildly underestimated, with true output being far above 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy was equally just as defined. The Turbo T the Limited were the sleepers of the bunch, frequently sporting chrome accents and available a a variety of wide palette of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively strictly black, creating an unmistakable unmistakable presence. The GNX, however, elevated this menacing theme even further. This model featured composite wheel arch flares, working heat-releasing vents on the front fenders, a set of a set of 16-inch sixteen-inch black cross-lace wheels which set the car apart instantly even from a standard a regular Grand National. Features like removable roof panels were commonly ordered on the Limited Limited, Turbo National, but models, but, not a single GNX was officially built the T-top this feature, in order to preserve optimal chassis rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In concluding analysis, the 1987 Buick Regal more info range represents a masterful brilliant case study in market tiering the art of brand evolution. From the surprisingly unexpectedly quick luxurious luxurious Regal Limited to the lightweight agile Turbo T-Type, Buick provided a spectrum range of turbocharged turbocharged performance to suit different tastes and budgets. The Grand Grand National then solidified this performance performance with an iconic iconic and intimidating visual package, creating a automotive legend that persists to this day. Crowning this hierarchy stood the GNX, a limited-edition limited-edition masterpiece which served as a a final statement point, cementing the G-body G-body platform's place within the pantheon of automotive greatness. Each car was distinct in its own way, but together they created a legendary unforgettable lineup which redefined domestic performance for a generation new era.