The year 1987 holds a truly hallowed status in the history of American muscle car history, primarily due to the concluding manufacturing run of Buick's legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal coupe. This was a time that witnessed the absolute culmination of a performance renaissance, establishing a clear hierarchy of models which ranged from subtle performers to a uncompromising supercar destroyer. Although they all shared the same basic chassis, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T, the Grand National, and the mythical GNX each had a distinct character, set of specifications, and intended buyer. Deciphering their subtle and not-so-subtle differences is key to fully grasping the genius brilliance behind Buick's final last muscle car hurrah of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
At the base of this performance ladder were the more flexible and frequently underappreciated variants: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbo engine as well as the Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was primarily the brand's comfort-focused trim, replete with cushy interiors, generous chrome trim, a a compliant ride. Crucially, in 1987, savvy customers could discreetly option this luxurious comfortable vehicle the addition of the potent potent LC2 3.8L turbocharged engine, effectively birthing a true wolf dressed in luxury attire. This allowed for a high-performance drive without the aggressive obviously aggressive styling of more famous blacked-out siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known by internal WE4 RPO code, was a decidedly purpose-built approach for lightweight speed. Buick designed the Turbo T as a lighter alternative to the Grand National, achieving this through utilizing aluminum bumper supports by offering aluminum rims. Visually, this model stood in direct opposition to the Grand National, keeping most of the standard brightwork accents it was being offered in a wide spectrum of body colors. This was the purist's choice for those that prioritized raw acceleration and a slightly more responsive chassis above the unmistakable visual presence of the more famous more infamous all-black sibling.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most many people envision a 1980s '80s Buick muscle vehicle, the image image that instantly comes to their head is that of the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 WE2 Regular Regular Production Option (RPO), the Grand National was fundamentally less a mechanically mechanically separate model and more of an all-encompassing appearance and trim upgrade. It utilized the identical same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 engine the 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was adherence to a monochromatic all-black paint theme, a look that earned the car its famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was carefully enforced throughout the entire entire vehicle. Every piece of the the exterior body trim, from the door surrounds and the grille grille, was blacked-out. The vehicle sat on specific fifteen-inch steel chrome wheels a a contrasting black-painted center section, creating a truly truly distinctive look. On the interior, the National came with a specific two-tone black and gray cloth upholstery, with the turbo six emblem embroidered on the front front seat headrests. It also came standard with the firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, which gave it better handling to complement its accelerative prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
If the Grand National was considered the king king of the street, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the pinnacle of all domestic performance vehicles of 1987. Developed as a a final farewell to the Regal chassis, General Motors shipped just five hundred forty-seven fully-optioned loaded Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a comprehensive transformation. The goal goal was clear: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to end all Grand Nationals." The result was a machine vehicle that was incredibly fast it could out-accelerate many of the day's most expensive supercars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both extensive and highly effective. The engineers installed a larger larger Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a higher-capacity effective intercooler, a a custom tuned engine control control chip (ECU). The click here transmission was beefed-up firmer firmer gear changes, and critically, the entire rear suspension was re-engineered. This new setup featured a unique torque bar and a Panhard rod, a system that dramatically increased grip and virtually eliminated axle hop during brutal launches. Truly appreciating the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep examination of the bespoke engineering that this partnership poured into this very rare model.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When analyzing these four distinct models, the differences differences in specifications available features become even more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 engine found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively rated at 245 horsepower with three-hundred and fifty-five pound-feet of torque. In stark comparison, the GNX GNX, with its significant upgrades, was officially officially pegged at 276 horsepower and a staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, though actual dynamometer readings have repeatedly shown these figures to be wildly conservative, with actual output being far above 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy was just as defined. The Turbo T and Limited were sleepers of the bunch, frequently sporting bright accents and available a a variety of wide range of colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively strictly black, creating an intimidating aura. The GNX, however, elevated this dark theme a step further. It was fitted with lightweight fender flares, working heat-extracting louvers in the front fenders, and a style of 16-inch 16-inch black mesh mesh rims which set it apart instantly even from even a Grand National. Options such as T-tops were widely ordered on the Limited Limited, Turbo National, and models, but, not a single GNX was ever officially built with this option, in order to maintain optimal structural rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful masterful case study of market segmentation and performance evolution. From the the unexpectedly fast luxurious comfortable Regal Limited Turbo to the lightweight agile Turbo T, Buick provided a spectrum of turbocharged turbocharged performance to suit varying preferences and budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this performance with an iconic iconic a menacing menacing style identity, creating a cultural automotive phenomenon that endures to this very day. Crowning this all stood the GNX, a limited-edition rare masterpiece that acted as a a definitive final statement mark, solidifying the G-body Buick Regal's platform's place within the pantheon halls of automotive performance legends. Each model was special distinct in its own way, but collectively they created a legendary legendary hierarchy that defined domestic muscle for a a generation.