The year 1987 occupies a truly special place in the history of American performance history, primarily thanks to the final final production year for the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. It was a time that witnessed the pinnacle of a a surprising performance revival, establishing a clear hierarchy of which spanned from subtle sleepers to a uncompromising supercar slayer. While these vehicles all were based upon the same foundational chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the mythical GNX each had a completely distinct personality, set of of specifications, and target buyer. Understanding their subtle and not-so-subtle distinctions is key for fully appreciating the genius genius of Buick's last performance hurrah of that 1980s.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
On the bottom of this performance pyramid were the more more versatile and often underappreciated variants: the Buick Regal Limited with the turbocharged engine as well as the Turbo T. The Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented package, featuring cushy seating, generous brightwork trim, and a compliant ride. However, in 1987, savvy buyers could discreetly spec this luxurious comfortable vehicle with the potent powerful LC2 V6 turbocharged engine, effectively creating a wolf in luxury clothing. This allowed for a a high-performance drive sans the obviously aggressive styling of more famous darker stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known by its WE4 RPO code designation, represented a more focused approach for lightweight performance. Buick designed the Turbo T as a more agile counterpart for the heavier Grand National, achieving this by employing aluminum bumper reinforcements and alloy rims. Visually, this model stood in stark direct contrast the all-black Grand National, keeping much of the standard standard brightwork accents and being offered across a variety factory exterior hues. This was essentially the enthusiast's purist's choice those those that prioritized unfiltered acceleration and a slightly more responsive feel over the iconic unmistakable visual statement of the its better-known infamous all-black counterpart.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most many people think of a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle vehicle, the image that instantly comes to mind is undoubtedly that of the Grand National. Designated with the WE2 Regular Production Production Option, the '87 Grand National was not so much a mechanically mechanically distinct vehicle and rather of an all-encompassing styling and suspension package. It shared the exact exact same potent LC2 intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R transmission found in the Turbo T. However, its unmistakable trait was its adherence to a single-color all-black paint theme, a look that gave it its famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister aesthetic was meticulously applied across the entire car. Every piece of the the exterior molding, from the window window surrounds to the front grille, was blacked-out. The car vehicle rode on specific 15-inch chrome-plated chrome wheels a a contrasting black-painted center section, creating a very distinctive look. Inside, the Grand National came with a specific two-tone black and gray cloth upholstery, with the turbo "6" logo embroidered on the front seat headrests. The model also came standard the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, which gave the vehicle sharper handling in order to match its accelerative performance.
The Apex Predator: The Grand National Experimental (GNX)
If the Grand National was the king king of the street, the Grand National Experimental was nothing less than the emperor pinnacle of all American muscle cars in 1987. Developed as a a final farewell to the Regal platform, General Motors sent just 547 fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a radical radical transformation. The goal was clear: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to end all other Grand Nationals." The resulting result was a a machine which was incredibly quick it was able to beat most of the era's most expensive supercars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were comprehensive and highly effective. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett hybrid turbocharger, a more more effective intercooler, and a custom tuned engine control unit (ECU). The transmission was also recalibrated for quicker shifts, and critically, the entire rear suspension was completely re-engineered. This new setup featured a unique longitudinal ladder arm and a transverse Panhard rod, a system that drastically increased traction virtually completely eliminated axle hop during brutal acceleration. Fully appreciating the complete Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a deep thorough examination of the modifications which ASC/McLaren poured in this extremely very limited-production vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When analyzing these four models, the differences their specifications and options become all the more more apparent. From the factory, the LC2 LC2 found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, as well as the Grand National was conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower with 355 lb-ft of torque. By stark comparison, the GNX, thanks to its significant modifications, was officially officially pegged at two-hundred and seventy-six hp a massive a whopping three-hundred and sixty pound-feet of torque, although real-world dynamometer readings have repeatedly proven these figures to have been wildly conservative, with true output being far above three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy hierarchy was equally equally clear. check here The Turbo T the Limited were the sleepers of the group, frequently sporting chrome accents and available a a variety of full range of exterior colors. The Grand National, of course, was strictly black, projecting an unmistakable intimidating aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark persona even further. It was fitted with composite wheel arch flares, functional heat-extracting louvers in the front fenders, a set of a set of 16-inch black mesh rims that distinguished it apart immediately even from even a regular Grand National. Options such as removable roof panels were commonly available on the Limited Limited, and Grand T, but models, however, no GNX was officially built with this feature, in an effort to maintain preserve maximum structural rigidity.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 Buick Regal lineup stands as a masterful brilliant case study in product tiering the art of brand evolution. From the the surprisingly unexpectedly quick luxurious comfortable Regal Limited Turbo to the lightweight agile Turbo T-Type, the brand provided a spectrum of forced-induction performance to suit suit different tastes as well as budgets. The Grand Grand National subsequently codified this power into an unforgettable a menacing menacing visual package, creating a cultural legend that persists even this day. At the very top of it all stood the GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar which acted as a definitive statement mark, cementing the G-body Buick Regal's platform's status within the pantheon halls of performance greatness. Each model model was special distinct in its own right, but collectively they formed a legendary legendary lineup that defined domestic muscle for a generation.