The model year 1987 holds a sacred status in the history of American performance lore, largely due to the final concluding production year of Buick's venerable rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. It was a time which saw the apex of a surprising performance revival, establishing a distinct hierarchy of models which ranged from subtle sleepers all the way to an all-out asphalt destroyer. Although these vehicles all were based upon a common basic architecture, the Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each possessed a distinct personality, set of performance metrics, and intended buyer. Deciphering the nuanced and not-so-subtle distinctions is essential to fully appreciating the genius of Buick's final performance stand of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational bottom of this power ladder were the more surprisingly versatile often often underappreciated variants: the Buick Regal Limited equipped with the turbocharged engine and the Turbo T-Type. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily primarily the brand's luxury-oriented trim, replete with plush interiors, generous brightwork trim, a a softer ride. Crucially, for that final year, savvy buyers could quietly option this comfortable vehicle the addition of the potent LC2 V6 turbocharged powertrain, effectively birthing a true predator in sheep's clothing. This combination permitted for a high-performance experience without the obviously aggressive visuals of its more famous blacked-out stablemates.
Conversely, the Turbo T, sometimes known its internal WE4 designation, was a more decidedly focused approach to stripped-down performance. The manufacturer designed the WE4 T as a a lighter lighter alternative to the heavier Grand National, achieving this goal through utilizing aluminum bumper reinforcements and alloy rims. Visually, it was in stark stark contrast to all-black Grand National, keeping much of the standard brightwork accents it was being available in a wide variety of exterior hues. This variant was essentially the purist's selection for individuals that valued raw acceleration a a slightly nimbler feel over the iconic iconic style presence of its better-known famous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most many people think of a 1980s Buick muscle car, the vision which immediately springs to their head is that of the menacing Grand National. Designated with the WE2 Regular Regular Production Option (RPO), the Grand National was fundamentally not so much of a mechanically distinct vehicle but rather an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and suspension package. This model shared the exact identical same powerful LC2 turbocharged V6 engine and 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable trait was its its single-color all-black paint theme, a look that earned the car its enduring nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing look was meticulously meticulously enforced throughout the whole vehicle. All of the body trim, including the door surrounds and the grille, was finished in black. The car vehicle rode upon unique 15-inch chrome-plated steel rims a a black center section, lending a truly very memorable look. Inside, the Grand Grand National featured a specific dual-color black and grey cloth interior, the addition of the signature turbo "6" logo embroidered on the driver and passenger headrests. It also came equipped the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Touring Touring suspension package, which gave the vehicle better handling to match its accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
While the Grand National was the king ruler of the boulevard, the GNX Grand National Experimental was the emperor of American domestic performance cars in 1987. Developed as a a final farewell for the Regal platform, General Motors shipped just five hundred forty-seven fully optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren for a comprehensive re-engineering. The goal goal was simple simple: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all other Grand Nationals." The outcome was a machine machine that was so incredibly fast it was able to out-accelerate many of the day's most exotic supercars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The upgrades were comprehensive and highly effective. The engineers fitted a larger Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbo, a more more effective intercooler, a a specially custom programmed engine management chip (ECU). The 200-4R was also beefed-up for quicker shifts, critically most importantly, the entire rear suspension was completely redesigned. This new setup included a unique ladder bar a a transverse Panhard rod, which dramatically improved traction and virtually eliminated axle hop under brutal launches. Fully understanding the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep deep dive of the engineering that get more info ASC/McLaren poured in this extremely very limited-production vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly comparing these four distinct models, the differences differences their performance figures and options are made even more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 engine found in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower with 355 pound-feet of torque. In dramatic contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive extensive upgrades, was officially pegged at 276 hp a massive a whopping three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, although real-world dynamometer readings have since repeatedly shown these factory numbers to be grossly conservative, the true actual output being far over three-hundred horsepower.
Visually, the hierarchy progression was equally defined. The Turbo T and Limited were the chameleons of the group, frequently wearing chrome bumpers being offered a a full range of colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an intimidating presence. The GNX, however, elevated this dark dark persona even further. It was fitted with lightweight fender flares, working heat-extracting louvers on the front front fenders, and a unique set of 16-inch 16-inch black mesh mesh rims which set it apart immediately even from a standard a regular Grand National. Features like T-tops were commonly available for the Limited Limited, Turbo T, but Grand National, but, not a single GNX was officially produced the T-top this option, in an effort to maintain preserve maximum chassis stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In final assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a brilliant case study of market segmentation and performance development. From the surprisingly unexpectedly quick and comfortable Regal Limited to the lightweight Turbo T-Type, Buick offered a range of turbocharged turbocharged performance to fit varying tastes and budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this performance performance with an iconic unforgettable and intimidating visual identity, creating a automotive phenomenon that endures to this day. Crowning it all was the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare masterpiece which served as a a definitive final statement mark, cementing the Buick Regal's platform's place within the halls of automotive legends. Each model model was distinct in its own way, but collectively they formed a legendary unforgettable lineup which redefined domestic muscle for a new era.