The year 1987 holds a truly special place in the annals of American performance lore, primarily due to the final manufacturing run for the Buick venerable rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal coupe. It was a year which witnessed the absolute culmination of a turbocharged revival, establishing a distinct distinct hierarchy of models that ranged the understated sleepers to a all-out asphalt slayer. While these vehicles all shared the same foundational architecture, the Regal Limited, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a distinct personality, set of of specifications, a unique intended buyer. Deciphering their nuanced and blatant differences remains key to fully grasping the genius brilliance of Buick's final performance hurrah of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
On the foundational base of this power ladder were the more versatile and frequently underappreciated models: the Regal Limited with the turbocharged engine as well as the Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented trim, featuring plush interiors, generous chrome trim, a a softer suspension. However, in 1987, astute buyers were able to discreetly option this plush vehicle with the potent powerful LC2 3.8-liter 3.8L intercooled powertrain, effectively creating a wolf in sheep's clothing. This allowed for a a stealthy high-performance drive sans the overtly aggressive visuals of its darker stablemates.
Conversely, the Turbo T package, often known by its WE4 designation, was a more decidedly focused approach to lightweight performance. The manufacturer created the WE4 T as a a lighter lighter alternative to the Grand National, attaining this goal through utilizing aluminum bumper reinforcements by offering aluminum rims. Aesthetically, this model was in stark stark opposition to all-black Grand National, retaining most of the factory brightwork trim and being offered in a spectrum of body hues. This variant was essentially the purist's selection those individuals that prioritized unfiltered performance and a slightly nimbler chassis over the iconic iconic visual statement of the its better-known infamous monochromatic sibling.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When many enthusiasts think of a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle car, the vision which instantly comes to mind is the the Grand National. Coded with the WE2 Regular Regular Production Option Option (RPO), the '87 Grand National was not so much of a mechanically distinct vehicle but rather of an all-encompassing styling and suspension upgrade. This model shared the identical same potent LC2 turbocharged V6 the 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. However, its unmistakable characteristic was its its single-color Darth Vader paint scheme, a look that gave it the famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This menacing look was meticulously carefully applied across the entire car. All of the exterior exterior trim, from the window window frames and the front grille, was finished finished in black. The car car sat upon specific fifteen-inch chrome-plated chrome rims a a black-painted center section, lending a truly truly memorable appearance. On the interior, the Grand National featured a specific two-tone black and gray cloth interior, the addition of the signature turbo six logo embroidered into the front seat headrests. It also was standard the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring Touring suspension package, which gave the vehicle sharper road manners to complement its impressive accelerative prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
If the Grand National was the ruler of the boulevard, the GNX GNX was the pinnacle of all all domestic performance vehicles in 1987. Developed as a final farewell to the Regal chassis, Buick more info shipped only 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies a a radical comprehensive transformation. The goal objective was simple: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The resulting result was a machine vehicle that was so quick it could was able to beat most of the world's era's most exotic supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive upgrades were comprehensive highly very effective. The engineers fitted a more efficient Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbo, a more higher-capacity efficient intercooler, a a specially custom tuned engine control management chip (ECU). The transmission was also recalibrated firmer firmer gear changes, and critically, the rear axle setup was completely redesigned. This new setup featured a unique unique ladder arm a a Panhard rod, a system that drastically improved traction and virtually cured wheel hop during hard launches. Truly understanding the complete complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep thorough dive into the bespoke modifications that ASC/McLaren invested in this very limited-production vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When analyzing these four four distinct models, the distinctions in specifications available features are made all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 found in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively understatedly rated at 245 horsepower and three-hundred and fifty-five lb-ft of torque. By dramatic contrast, the GNX GNX, with its extensive significant upgrades, was officially pegged at 276 hp and a staggering whopping three-hundred and sixty lb-ft of torque, though real-world dynamometer tests have since consistently proven these factory figures to be grossly conservative, with actual power being far over 300 horsepower.
Visually, the progression was equally just as clear. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were chameleons of the bunch, frequently sporting chrome accents and available a a full palette of paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively strictly black, projecting an unmistakable unmistakable aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this menacing theme even further. This model was fitted with composite fender flares, working heat-releasing vents in the front front fenders, and a unique style of 16-inch black mesh wheels which set the car apart instantly even from even a regular Grand National. Options such as removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited Turbo T, and Grand National, but Grand National, however, no GNX was ever built the T-top this option, in order to preserve maximum chassis rigidity.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful brilliant case study of product tiering and brand evolution. From the surprisingly fast and luxurious Regal Limited Turbo and the lightweight agile Turbo T, Buick provided a spectrum range of turbocharged forced-induction power to suit suit varying tastes as well as priorities. The Grand Grand National subsequently codified this performance power with an iconic and menacing style identity, birthing a automotive phenomenon which endures to this very day. At the very top of it all was the GNX, a limited-edition limited-edition supercar that acted as a final statement mark, solidifying the G-body Buick Regal's platform's place within the pantheon pantheon of automotive greatness. Each model was special in its own way, but collectively they formed a unforgettable hierarchy which defined domestic muscle for a generation.