The year 1987 occupies a truly sacred status in the annals of U.S. muscle car lore, primarily due to the final final manufacturing run of Buick's legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. It was a time which witnessed the absolute culmination of a a performance revival, creating a distinct distinct pecking order of which ranged the understated sleepers all the way to an uncompromising asphalt slayer. While these vehicles all shared the same basic architecture, the Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each possessed a unique personality, set performance metrics, and target audience. Understanding their subtle and blatant distinctions remains key to fully appreciating the genius brilliance of Buick's final last muscle car hurrah of that decade.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
At the bottom of this power ladder were the more more flexible often frequently underappreciated models: the Buick Regal Limited equipped with the turbo option and the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was primarily traditionally the luxury-oriented trim, featuring plush seating, ample chrome trim, and a more softer ride. However, for that final year, savvy customers could discreetly option this comfortable vehicle with the potent potent LC2 3.8-liter V6 intercooled engine, effectively creating a true predator dressed in sheep's attire. This permitted for a a blisteringly fast drive sans the obviously menacing visuals of its more famous darker stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T package, sometimes identified by its WE4 designation, represented a more decidedly purpose-built philosophy to stripped-down performance. Buick designed the WE4 T as a more agile alternative for the Grand National, attaining this by utilizing lightweight aluminum bumper supports by offering alloy wheels. Aesthetically, it stood in stark stark opposition to all-black Grand National, retaining most of the factory brightwork trim and being available in a wide spectrum of exterior colors. This was essentially the enthusiast's choice those individuals that valued raw performance a a slightly more responsive chassis over the iconic iconic style statement of the its more infamous all-black sibling.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most many people envision a 1980s '80s Buick performance car, the vision which immediately springs to their head is the the menacing Grand National. Coded with the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Production Option, the Grand National was less of a mechanically separate vehicle and rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing appearance and trim upgrade. This model shared the exact identical same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 the 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable characteristic was its single-color all-black paint theme, a look that earned the car the enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This menacing aesthetic was carefully enforced throughout the entire entire car. All of the the exterior exterior trim, from the window door frames and the grille front grille, was finished in black. The vehicle rode upon unique 15-inch chrome-plated chrome wheels a a contrasting black-painted inset, creating a very memorable appearance. On the interior, the National featured a dual-color black and grey cloth interior, with the turbo "6" logo embroidered on the front headrests. It also was standard the the firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, which provided it better road manners to complement its impressive straight-line prowess.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
While the Grand National was considered the king ruler of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the emperor of American American muscle cars of 1987. Developed as a fitting ultimate send-off for the Regal chassis, Buick shipped just five hundred forty-seven fully-optioned loaded Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren a a radical radical transformation. The goal objective was simple simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all Grand Nationals." The result was a a machine vehicle that was so so quick it could out-accelerate many of the world's era's most exotic sports cars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The upgrades were extensive and highly effective. The engineers installed a larger larger Garrett hybrid turbo, a more more effective intercooler, and a custom tuned engine control management chip (ECU). The 200-4R was beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and most importantly, the rear suspension was completely re-engineered. This new setup included a unique torque arm a a Panhard rod, which drastically increased traction and virtually eliminated wheel hop under hard acceleration. Truly appreciating the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep dive into the bespoke engineering which ASC/McLaren poured in this extremely very limited-production vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When comparing these four variants, the differences differences their specifications and options are made all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 engine in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. In dramatic comparison, the GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive upgrades, was officially rated at two-hundred and seventy-six hp a massive a staggering whopping three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, although real-world dyno tests have repeatedly shown these numbers to be grossly conservative, with actual output being far above three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the progression was just as defined. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the group, often sporting chrome accents being available a a full palette of exterior colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively black, projecting an intimidating presence. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark menacing website theme even further. It featured lightweight fender flares, functional heat-releasing vents in the front fenders, a set of a style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace wheels which set the car apart immediately from even a Grand National. Options like removable roof panels were widely ordered on the Turbo T, and Grand T, but models, but, not a single GNX was officially produced the T-top this feature, in order to maintain maximum chassis stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful brilliant case study in market segmentation the art of performance development. From the surprisingly unexpectedly quick and luxurious Regal Limited to the agile Turbo T, Buick provided a spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction performance to suit different preferences as well as priorities. The Grand Grand National then codified this performance with an unforgettable and menacing visual package, creating a cultural phenomenon which endures to this very day. At the very top of this all was the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar which acted as a a final exclamation mark, cementing the G-body G-body Regal's place within the halls of automotive legends. Each model car was special special in its own way, yet collectively they created a legendary legendary lineup which defined domestic performance for a generation generation.