The year 1987 occupies a special status within the annals of U.S. muscle car lore, primarily thanks to the final manufacturing run for the Buick venerable RWD G-body Regal. This was a year that saw the absolute pinnacle of a performance renaissance, establishing a distinct distinct hierarchy of models that spanned from understated sleepers all the way to an all-out supercar slayer. Although they all were based upon the same basic chassis, the Buick Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a completely unique character, set performance metrics, and intended audience. Understanding their subtle and not-so-subtle differences is essential to truly grasping the brilliance behind Buick's final final muscle car hurrah of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational base of this performance ladder were the more surprisingly flexible often often overlooked variants: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged engine as well as the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily primarily the comfort-focused trim, replete with cushy interiors, ample brightwork accents, and a more compliant suspension. However, for 1987, astute buyers were able to discreetly spec this plush vehicle the addition of the powerful LC2 3.8L turbocharged powertrain, essentially creating a predator dressed in sheep's attire. This allowed for a a stealthy blisteringly fast experience sans the aggressive overtly menacing styling of its blacked-out siblings.
Conversely, the Turbo T, sometimes identified by internal WE4 RPO code designation, was a decidedly focused philosophy for stripped-down speed. The manufacturer designed the Turbo T as a a more agile alternative for the Grand National, achieving this goal by employing aluminum bumper supports and alloy rims. Aesthetically, it stood in stark stark opposition the all-black Grand National, keeping much of the factory chrome trim and being offered across a variety of exterior colors. This variant was essentially the enthusiast's purist's choice those individuals that valued raw acceleration and a more responsive chassis above the unmistakable visual presence of the more famous better-known famous all-black counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most enthusiasts envision a 1980s Buick muscle car, the image which immediately springs to mind is that of the menacing Grand National. Designated as the WE2 Regular Production Option, the Grand National was fundamentally less a mechanically mechanically separate model but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing appearance and suspension package. It utilized the exact exact same potent LC2 intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R automatic transmission as the Turbo T. But, its defining characteristic was its single-color Darth Vader paint theme, which gave it its enduring monikers "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was meticulously meticulously enforced throughout the entire car. All of the exterior exterior molding, including the window frames and the grille front grille, was blacked-out. The car car sat upon unique 15-inch steel chrome rims a a black-painted center section, creating a truly truly distinctive look. Inside, the Grand National came with a specific two-tone black and gray fabric upholstery, the addition of the turbo six emblem embroidered into the front driver and passenger headrests. It also was standard with the stiffer F41 Gran Touring Touring suspension, a feature that gave it sharper road manners in order to complement its accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
While the Grand National was considered the king of the boulevard, the Grand National Experimental was the emperor of all American domestic muscle vehicles of 1987. Developed as a a fitting final farewell to the G-body platform, Buick shipped only five hundred forty-seven fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren a a comprehensive re-engineering. The objective was simple clear: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine machine which was so so quick it was able to beat many of the world's era's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both extensive highly very impactful. The engineers installed a larger larger Garrett hybrid turbo, a more more effective intercooler, and a specially custom programmed engine control management unit (ECU). The transmission was beefed-up for quicker gear changes, and most importantly, the rear axle setup was redesigned. This new setup featured a unique ladder arm and a Panhard rod, which drastically improved grip and completely cured axle hop under brutal launches. Truly appreciating the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep dive of the bespoke modifications that ASC/McLaren invested in this extremely limited-production model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly comparing these four four variants, the differences their performance figures available options are made all the more more clear. Officially, the LC2 LC2 engine in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp and 355 pound-feet of torque. By dramatic comparison, the GNX GNX, thanks to its extensive extensive modifications, was officially officially pegged at 276 hp a massive a staggering three-hundred and sixty pound-feet of torque, though actual dyno readings have consistently shown these factory numbers to be grossly underestimated, the true actual power being well over three-hundred horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy was just as defined. The Turbo T the Limited were the sleepers of the group, often wearing chrome bumpers and offered a a wide range of colors. The Grand National, of course, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable intimidating presence. The GNX, however, took this dark dark theme a step further. This model was fitted with lightweight fender flares, functional heat-releasing vents in the front fenders, a set of a style of sixteen-inch black cross-lace rims which distinguished the car apart immediately even from even a regular Grand National. Options such as removable roof panels were widely ordered for the Turbo T, Turbo T, and Grand National, but, not a single GNX was check here ever produced with this feature, in order to preserve maximum structural rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding analysis, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup represents a brilliant case study of product segmentation the art of performance development. From the surprisingly surprisingly fast luxurious luxurious Regal Limited to the lightweight Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a spectrum range of turbocharged forced-induction performance to fit varying preferences as well as budgets. The Grand Grand National then codified this power into an unforgettable and intimidating visual identity, creating a cultural automotive phenomenon which persists even this very day. Crowning it all stood the GNX, a limited-edition supercar that acted as a a definitive final statement mark, solidifying the G-body G-body platform's status in the pantheon of automotive automotive legends. Each car was distinct in its own way, yet collectively they formed a unforgettable hierarchy that defined domestic muscle for a a generation generation.