The model year 1987 occupies a truly hallowed status in the annals of U.S. performance lore, largely thanks to the final concluding production run for the Buick legendary rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. This was a year that witnessed the apex of a surprising performance revival, creating a distinct distinct pecking order of which ranged the understated sleepers all the way to a uncompromising asphalt destroyer. Although these vehicles all were based upon a common foundational architecture, the Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T, the iconic Grand National, and the GNX each had a distinct character, set of of specifications, and target audience. Understanding their subtle sometimes blatant differences is essential for fully appreciating the genius genius of Buick's final muscle car hurrah of the 1980s.
The Turbocharged Starting Points: Regal Limited and the Turbo T Package
At the foundational bottom of this performance ladder were the more surprisingly versatile often often underappreciated variants: the Regal Limited with the turbocharged engine and the Turbo T-Type. The Buick Regal Limited was traditionally the luxury-oriented package, replete with cushy interiors, generous brightwork trim, and a more compliant suspension. However, in that final year, savvy buyers could quietly option this luxurious comfortable vehicle with the potent LC2 3.8-liter 3.8L turbocharged engine, effectively birthing a wolf dressed in luxury clothing. This combination allowed for a stealthy blisteringly fast experience without the aggressive overtly menacing visuals of its its darker siblings.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, sometimes known its internal WE4 RPO code RPO code, represented a more decidedly purpose-built philosophy to stripped-down performance. The manufacturer created the Turbo T as a lighter lighter alternative to the Grand National, achieving this by employing lightweight aluminum bumper supports by offering aluminum wheels. Visually, it was in stark contrast the the Grand National, keeping most of the standard standard chrome trim and being available across a spectrum factory exterior hues. This was the enthusiast's purist's selection for individuals that valued raw acceleration a a slightly nimbler chassis over the iconic iconic visual statement of the its more infamous all-black counterpart.
The Dark Icon: The Grand National (WE2)
When most most enthusiasts think of a 1980s '80s Buick muscle vehicle, the image vision which instantly comes to mind is undoubtedly the the menacing Grand National. Coded as the WE2 WE2 Regular Production Production Option (RPO), the Grand National was less a mechanically mechanically separate vehicle and rather of an all-encompassing appearance and trim package. It shared the exact exact same powerful LC2 intercooled V6 the 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. However, its defining trait was its its single-color all-black exterior theme, a look that gave the car the famous monikers "Darth Vader's car" or "the Dark Side."
This sinister sinister look was carefully applied throughout the whole car. All of the the exterior body molding, including the window surrounds and the grille, was finished in black. The vehicle sat on specific fifteen-inch chrome-plated chrome rims a a black-painted inset, creating a truly truly memorable look. Inside, the Grand Grand National featured a specific dual-color black and gray cloth interior, the addition of the turbo six logo stitched into the front seat headrests. The model also was standard the the stiffer F41 Gran Touring suspension package, a feature that gave it better road manners in order to match its straight-line prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was the ruler of the boulevard, the GNX was nothing less than the emperor of American domestic muscle cars of 1987. Developed as a a final farewell to the G-body chassis, General Motors shipped only 547 fully loaded Grand Nationals to ASC/McLaren Performance Technologies for a comprehensive transformation. The objective was simple simple: to build the "Grand National|Grand National} to put an end to all other Grand Nationals." The result was a machine machine that was so so fast it could beat many of the day's most exotic sports cars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both extensive highly very effective. ASC/McLaren fitted a larger larger Garrett hybrid turbo, a more higher-capacity efficient intercooler, and a custom programmed engine control unit (ECU). The transmission transmission was also recalibrated firmer quicker shifts, critically critically, the rear axle setup was redesigned. It featured a unique ladder arm and a transverse Panhard rod, which dramatically increased traction virtually completely cured wheel hop under brutal launches. Truly understanding the full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX necessitates a deep dive into the bespoke engineering that ASC/McLaren invested in this extremely extremely rare vehicle.
A Comparative Look at Specifications and Unique Features
When comparing these four four models, the differences distinctions in performance figures available options become even more apparent. Officially, the LC2 LC2 engine found in the Regal Regal Limited, Turbo T, check here and Grand National was understatedly rated at two-hundred and forty-five horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. In dramatic contrast, the GNX, thanks to its extensive upgrades, was officially officially rated at 276 hp a massive a staggering 360 lb-ft of torque, although real-world dynamometer readings have repeatedly shown these factory numbers to have been wildly conservative, with actual power being well above three-hundred horsepower.
Visually, the progression was equally equally clear. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were chameleons of the group, frequently wearing chrome accents being available a a variety of wide range of colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively exclusively black, creating an unmistakable aura. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark dark persona a step further. This model featured composite fender flares, working heat-extracting vents on the front fenders, a set of a unique style of 16-inch sixteen-inch black cross-lace rims that distinguished it apart instantly even from even a Grand National. Options like T-tops were widely ordered on the Limited Limited, Turbo T, but models, however, not a single GNX was ever ever built the T-top this option, in an effort to maintain maintain optimal chassis stiffness.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Buick's Turbocharged Fleet
In the concluding assessment, the 1987 Buick Regal range stands as a masterful brilliant case study of market tiering the art of performance evolution. From the the surprisingly fast and comfortable Regal Limited to the agile Turbo T-Type, the brand offered a range of forced-induction performance to suit suit varying tastes and budgets. The Grand National subsequently codified this performance with an iconic iconic and menacing visual identity, creating a cultural automotive phenomenon that endures even this day. At the very top of this hierarchy stood the mighty GNX, a limited-edition limited-edition masterpiece that served as a definitive statement point, solidifying the G-body Buick Regal's Regal's status within the pantheon halls of performance greatness. Each model car was special distinct in its own right, yet together they formed a legendary legendary lineup that defined domestic performance for a new era.