The model year 1987 holds a truly special place within the annals of American performance lore, largely thanks to the final final production run of the Buick legendary RWD G-body Regal. This was a time which saw the absolute apex of a a surprising performance revival, establishing a distinct distinct pecking order of which ranged the understated sleepers to a uncompromising asphalt destroyer. Although these vehicles all were based upon the same basic chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, and the mythical GNX each possessed a distinct personality, set of performance metrics, and intended audience. Understanding their subtle and not-so-subtle distinctions is key to fully appreciating the genius of Buick's final last performance stand of the 1980s.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
On the foundational bottom of this power pyramid sat the surprisingly flexible and often underappreciated variants: the Regal Limited with the turbocharged option and the purposeful Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the brand's luxury-oriented trim, replete with plush interiors, ample brightwork trim, and a more softer ride. However, for 1987, astute buyers were able to quietly option this comfortable vehicle the addition of the potent LC2 3.8L turbocharged engine, essentially birthing a true predator dressed in luxury attire. This combination allowed for a blisteringly fast experience without the overtly menacing visuals of its its blacked-out stablemates.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified its its WE4 RPO code RPO code, represented a more purpose-built approach for lightweight speed. The manufacturer created the WE4 package as a lighter lighter alternative to the heavier Grand National, attaining this goal through utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper reinforcements and alloy wheels. Aesthetically, this model was in direct opposition the all-black Grand National, keeping much of the factory chrome accents and being available across a spectrum factory body colors. This variant was essentially the enthusiast's purist's choice for those who prioritized unfiltered performance and a slightly more responsive chassis above the iconic unmistakable style presence of more famous better-known famous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many enthusiasts think of a '80s Buick performance vehicle, the image vision which instantly springs to mind is that of the menacing Grand National. Coded with the WE2 Regular Production Option Option, the '87 Grand National was fundamentally less a mechanically mechanically separate vehicle and more an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and trim upgrade. This model shared the exact identical same powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled V6 and 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. However, its unmistakable characteristic was its adherence to a monochromatic Darth Vader exterior scheme, which gave the car its famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing look was carefully enforced across the entire car. Every piece of the exterior molding, including the door frames and the front grille, was finished blacked-out. The vehicle rode on specific 15-inch steel chrome wheels a a black inset, creating a truly very distinctive appearance. Inside, the Grand National came with a two-tone black and gray fabric upholstery, the addition of the turbo "6" emblem stitched into the driver and passenger seat headrests. It also was standard the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Touring suspension, a feature that provided the vehicle sharper handling to complement its accelerative prowess.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was the king king of the boulevard, the Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor of all American American performance vehicles in 1987. Created as a final send-off for the Regal chassis, General Motors shipped just 547 fully loaded Grand Nationals click here to ASC/McLaren a a radical comprehensive re-engineering. The objective was simple simple: to create the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all Grand Nationals." The result was a machine machine that was so so fast it was able to out-accelerate most of the day's most exotic supercars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were both extensive highly highly effective. The engineers fitted a larger more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a more more efficient intercooler, a a specially custom programmed engine control control unit (ECU). The transmission was also recalibrated firmer firmer shifts, and critically, the entire rear suspension was completely redesigned. It included a longitudinal ladder arm and a Panhard rod, a system that dramatically increased grip and virtually cured axle hop under brutal launches. Fully understanding the complete complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep deep dive of the bespoke modifications which this partnership invested into this extremely extremely limited-production vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When comparing these four variants, the differences differences their specifications available features become all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 in the Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively understatedly rated at 245 hp and three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. By stark contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive significant upgrades, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a staggering whopping 360 pound-feet of torque, though real-world dynamometer tests have repeatedly proven these factory numbers to be wildly underestimated, the true actual power being well over 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the progression was equally equally defined. The Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the group, frequently wearing bright bumpers being offered a a variety of wide palette of exterior colors. The Grand National, of course, was exclusively exclusively black, projecting an unmistakable aura. The GNX, however, took this dark menacing theme a step further. It was fitted with lightweight wheel arch flares, working heat-extracting louvers on the front front fenders, and a unique set of 16-inch black mesh rims which set the car apart immediately from even a Grand National. Features like removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited Turbo T, Turbo T, and models, however, not a single GNX was ever produced the T-top this option, in an effort to maintain preserve maximum chassis stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful masterful case study in product tiering the art of brand development. From the unexpectedly quick luxurious luxurious Regal Limited Turbo and the lightweight agile Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a spectrum of turbocharged performance to suit varying preferences as well as priorities. The Grand National subsequently solidified this performance into an iconic unforgettable a menacing menacing visual identity, birthing a cultural cultural phenomenon that persists to this day. Crowning this hierarchy was the GNX, a limited-edition supercar which acted as a a definitive statement mark, cementing the Buick Regal's Regal's place within the pantheon of automotive legends. Each car was special in its own way, yet collectively they created a unforgettable hierarchy that redefined domestic muscle for a a generation.