The year 1987 holds a truly hallowed status in the annals of American muscle car lore, largely thanks to the concluding production run for Buick's venerable rear-wheel-drive G-platform Regal. This was a time which saw the pinnacle of a performance revival, establishing a clear hierarchy of models which spanned the subtle sleepers all the way to a all-out supercar slayer. While these vehicles all were based upon a common foundational chassis, the Buick Regal Limited Turbo, the Turbo T-Type, the Grand National, as well as the GNX each had a completely distinct personality, set of performance metrics, a unique intended audience. Understanding the nuanced and not-so-subtle distinctions remains essential for truly appreciating the brilliance behind Buick's final performance hurrah of the decade.
The Foundation of Force: The Regal Limited and Turbo T
At the foundational base of this power pyramid sat the surprisingly versatile and often underappreciated models: the Regal Limited equipped with the turbo option as well as the purposeful Turbo T. The Buick Regal Limited was primarily primarily the comfort-focused package, featuring cushy seating, ample chrome trim, a a softer ride. Crucially, for that final year, savvy customers could discreetly option this plush coupe with the potent powerful LC2 3.8-liter V6 intercooled powertrain, essentially birthing a predator in sheep's attire. This combination allowed for a stealthy high-performance experience sans the overtly menacing visuals of its its darker stablemates.
On the other hand, the Turbo T, often known its internal WE4 RPO code designation, was a decidedly focused philosophy to stripped-down performance. The manufacturer designed the WE4 T as a more agile alternative to the Grand National, attaining this goal by employing lightweight aluminum bumper supports by offering aluminum rims. Aesthetically, it stood in stark direct contrast to the Grand National, keeping most of the factory chrome trim and being offered in a variety of exterior colors. This was the enthusiast's purist's selection for those that valued unfiltered acceleration and a slightly nimbler chassis above the iconic unmistakable visual presence of the more famous more famous monochromatic counterpart.
The Menace in Black: Understanding the Grand National
When most enthusiasts envision a 1980s 1980s Buick muscle vehicle, the vision that instantly springs to their head is that of the Grand National. Designated as the WE2 Regular Production Option (RPO), the Grand National was less of a mechanically distinct model and more an all-encompassing iconic appearance and trim package. This model shared the exact exact same powerful LC2 3.8L intercooled V6 engine and 200-4R transmission as the Turbo T. But, its unmistakable characteristic was adherence to a single-color Darth Vader paint scheme, which gave it the famous nickname "Darth Vader's car" and "the Dark Side."
This sinister menacing look was meticulously meticulously enforced across the entire whole car. Every piece of the the exterior exterior trim, from the window window frames to the grille, was finished in black. The vehicle rode on unique fifteen-inch steel chrome rims a a contrasting black-painted inset, lending a truly distinctive appearance. Inside, the Grand Grand National came with a two-tone black and gray fabric upholstery, with the turbo six emblem stitched into the front front seat headrests. It also was standard the the firm-riding stiffer F41 Gran Gran Touring suspension package, a feature that provided the vehicle better handling to match its straight-line prowess.
The Ultimate Expression: Enter the GNX
While the Grand National was the king of the boulevard, the Grand National Experimental was the pinnacle of all American American performance vehicles of 1987. Created as a fitting final farewell for the Regal platform, Buick shipped only five hundred forty-seven fully-optioned optioned Grand Nationals the facilities of ASC/McLaren a a radical comprehensive re-engineering. The goal was simple clear: to build the "Grand "Grand National|Grand National} that would end all Grand Nationals." The resulting result was a a machine machine that was incredibly quick it could was able to out-accelerate many of the day's most exotic supercars, such as Ferraris even Lamborghinis.
The extensive modifications were both comprehensive and very impactful. ASC/McLaren installed a larger Garrett hybrid turbocharger, a more efficient intercooler, and a custom programmed engine control unit (ECU). The transmission 200-4R was recalibrated for quicker shifts, critically most importantly, the entire rear suspension was redesigned. It included a unique ladder arm and a Panhard rod, a system that dramatically improved traction and completely eliminated axle hop under brutal launches. Truly understanding the complete full Difference between 1987 Buick Regal Limited Turbo T Grand National GNX requires a thorough dive into the bespoke modifications which this partnership invested into this very limited-production vehicle.
Breaking Down the Specs, Options, and Visual Cues
When comparing these four distinct models, the differences distinctions their specifications available features are made all the more more clear. Officially, the LC2 found in the Regal Limited, Turbo T, and Grand National was conservatively conservatively rated at two-hundred and forty-five hp with 355 lb-ft of torque. In dramatic comparison, the GNX, with its extensive extensive modifications, was officially rated at two-hundred and seventy-six hp and a staggering 360 pound-feet of torque, although real-world dyno tests have since repeatedly proven these figures to be grossly conservative, with true output being far over three-hundred horsepower.
In terms of appearance, the hierarchy progression was equally equally clear. The Turbo Turbo T and Limited were chameleons of the group, frequently sporting bright bumpers being offered in a variety of wide range of exterior colors. The Grand National, naturally, was exclusively strictly here black, creating an unmistakable intimidating presence. The GNX, in turn, elevated this dark dark theme even further. It featured lightweight wheel arch flares, working heat-releasing vents in the front front fenders, a set of a unique style of sixteen-inch black mesh cross-lace wheels which set it apart instantly from even a Grand National. Options like removable roof panels were widely available for the Limited Limited, and Grand National, and models, but, no GNX was ever ever built with this option, in an effort to maintain preserve optimal structural stiffness.
Summary: A Legendary Hierarchy of Power
In the concluding analysis, the 1987 Buick Regal range represents a masterful masterful case study of product segmentation the art of brand evolution. From the surprisingly fast and luxurious Regal Limited and the agile Turbo T, Buick provided a spectrum spectrum of turbocharged forced-induction power to suit fit varying tastes as well as priorities. The Grand National then codified this power into an iconic unforgettable a menacing menacing style package, birthing a automotive phenomenon that persists even this day. Crowning it all stood the mighty GNX, a limited-edition rare supercar which served as a a definitive final statement point, solidifying the G-body G-body Regal's place within the pantheon pantheon of automotive greatness. Each model model was special distinct in its own right, yet collectively they formed a legendary legendary hierarchy that redefined American muscle for a a new era.