The year 1987 occupies a hallowed status in the annals of U.S. muscle car history, primarily due to the final final production run for the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal coupe. It was a time which saw the absolute culmination of a surprising turbocharged revival, creating a clear hierarchy of which spanned the understated performers all the way to a all-out supercar destroyer. Although these vehicles all were based upon a common foundational chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each possessed a completely unique character, set of specifications, and intended buyer. Deciphering the nuanced sometimes blatant differences is key to truly appreciating the genius of Buick's final last performance stand of the decade.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
At the foundational bottom of this performance ladder were the more flexible often often underappreciated variants: the Regal Limited with the turbocharged engine and the purposeful Turbo T-Type. The Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented trim, replete with plush interiors, generous brightwork accents, a a softer suspension. Crucially, for that final year, savvy buyers could quietly spec this luxurious comfortable coupe the addition of the potent potent LC2 V6 turbocharged powertrain, essentially creating a predator in luxury clothing. This allowed for a a blisteringly fast drive sans the overtly menacing styling of its its blacked-out stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known its its WE4 designation, was a more decidedly focused philosophy to stripped-down speed. Buick designed the Turbo package as a more agile alternative for the heavier Grand National, attaining this by utilizing aluminum bumper supports and alloy wheels. Visually, it stood in stark contrast the the Grand National, retaining most of the factory chrome trim and being available in a variety of exterior colors. This variant was the enthusiast's purist's choice for individuals who valued unfiltered acceleration a a nimbler feel above the iconic style presence of more famous better-known infamous monochromatic counterpart.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most most enthusiasts think of a 1980s '80s Buick performance vehicle, the image which instantly comes to their head is undoubtedly the the menacing Grand National. Coded as the WE2 Regular Production Option Option, the '87 Grand National was fundamentally not so much of a mechanically separate vehicle but more an all-encompassing all-encompassing styling and suspension upgrade. This model utilized the exact exact same powerful LC2 3.8L turbocharged V6 engine the 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable characteristic was adherence to a monochromatic Darth Vader paint theme, which gave the car the enduring nickname "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing aesthetic was meticulously carefully applied across the entire whole car. Every piece of the the exterior molding, including the window window surrounds to the grille, was finished in black. The car rode on specific fifteen-inch chrome-plated steel wheels a a contrasting black inset, creating a truly very memorable appearance. On the interior, the National featured a specific two-tone black and grey cloth upholstery, with the signature turbo six emblem stitched on the driver and passenger seat headrests. The model also came standard the the firm-riding firmer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension, a feature that provided the vehicle better handling to complement its accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was the king ruler of the boulevard, the GNX GNX was the pinnacle of American domestic performance cars in 1987. Created as a final send-off to the G-body chassis, General Motors shipped just 547 fully loaded Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies a a radical comprehensive transformation. The objective was simple simple: to create the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} to end all Grand Nationals." The outcome was a a machine vehicle that was so fast it could was able to beat most of the world's day's most expensive supercars, such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were comprehensive and highly effective. The engineers installed a larger Garrett ceramic-impeller ceramic-impeller turbocharger, a more effective intercooler, and a custom tuned engine control unit (ECU). The 200-4R was also recalibrated for quicker shifts, and critically, the entire rear suspension was redesigned. It included a unique torque bar and a Panhard rod, a system that drastically increased traction and virtually eliminated axle hop during brutal acceleration. Truly understanding the complete complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a thorough examination of the bespoke modifications that this partnership poured into this very rare model.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When directly analyzing these four variants, the differences their performance figures available options are made even more apparent. Officially, the LC2 LC2 in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at 245 hp and 355 pound-feet of torque. In stark contrast, the GNX, with its significant modifications, was officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six horsepower and a staggering staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, though actual dyno readings have since consistently proven these factory numbers to be wildly conservative, with true power being well over 300 horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the progression was equally just as defined. The Turbo Turbo T the Limited were the chameleons of the bunch, often sporting bright bumpers and offered a a full palette of exterior paints. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, projecting an unmistakable presence. The GNX, however, took this dark menacing persona even further. It was fitted with composite wheel arch flares, working heat-releasing vents on the front front fenders, and a unique style of 16-inch 16-inch black cross-lace rims that distinguished the car apart immediately even from a standard a regular Grand National. Features such as removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited Limited, Turbo T, but models, but, no GNX was officially produced with this option, in order to maintain preserve maximum structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful masterful case study in market segmentation and performance development. From the the unexpectedly quick and comfortable Regal Limited to the agile Turbo T-Type, the brand provided a range of turbocharged power to fit varying preferences and priorities. The Grand National subsequently solidified this performance power into an unforgettable a menacing menacing visual identity, creating a cultural legend that endures to this very day. Crowning this all was the GNX, a limited-edition rare masterpiece that acted as a a final exclamation point, cementing the G-body G-body Regal's status in the pantheon of automotive performance legends. Each model model was special distinct in its own way, but together they created a legendary unforgettable hierarchy which redefined domestic performance for a generation new era.