1987 Buick Regal RWD Cars Fact Sheet

In addition to base Regal equipment of bumper guards and protective strips, power brakes and steering, AM radio, cigarette lighter, dual horns, dual chrome mirrors, color-keyed body-side moldings, the Regal Limited added an exterior molding package and 55/45 notch back seating. P195/75A14  white sidewall tires were standard. All Regals were equipped with power steering and power-assisted low-drag front disc and rear drum brakes.

Regal’s high-performance Grand National replaced the T Type as the performance model. It retained the 3.8 Liter V-6 with turbocharger and sequential port fuel injection and intercooler. With some computer tweaks, the  engine churned out 245 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. The inter­ cooler not only added power but reduced the likelihood of detonation.

Regal’s Grand National sported its all black paint, black sport mirrors, a blackout-trimmed grille, windows, wipers and headlamp bezels, plus blacked out tail lamp moldings. It rode on low-profile P215/65R15 tires on aluminum wheels. The Grand National’s Gran Touring suspension included a rear stabilizer, larger-diameter front stabilizer bar, higher-rate springs and shocks. Performance rear axle ratio was 3.42:1. Engine identification appeared on the side of the hood bulge. Grand Nationals also had a trip odometer, turbo boost gauge, LED tachometer. leather-wrapped steering wheel, and air conditioning was standard. The rear spoiler was now optional. All Regals were equipped with power steering and power-assisted low-drag front disc and rear drum brakes.

NOTE: See Options for more information.

For the final year, 1987, Buick introduced the limited production GNX, for “Grand National Experimental”, at $29,900 ($78,438 in 2022 dollars). Made in partnership with McLaren Performance Technologies/ASC. Buick sent standard Grand Nationals to McLaren that were then upgraded to the Buick GNX.

Changes made included a special Garrett AiResearch T-3 turbocharger with a ceramic-impeller blowing through a more efficient and larger capacity intercooler with a ceramic-aluminum  coated  pipe connecting the intercooler to the engine. A GNX specific computer was fitted, along with low-restriction exhaust with dual mufflers, a reprogrammed turbo Hydra-matic 200-4R transmission with a custom torque converter and transmission cooler, and unique differential cover and Panhard bar. Exterior styling changes include vents located on each front fender, 16.0″ black mesh style wheels with VR Speed rated tires, and deletion of the hood and fender emblems. The interior changes included a serial number on a dash plaque and a revised instrument cluster providing Stewart-Warner analog gauges, including an analog turbo boost gauge

Buick underrated the GNX at 276 HP @ 4400 RPM and torque at 360 lb⋅ft  @ 3000 RPM. Actual output was 300 HP 5000 RPM and 420 lb⋅ft of torque at 3000 RPM. The GNX also used a unique torque arm that was mounted to a special, GNX only, rear differential cover, for increased traction. The torque arm rear suspension alters the suspension geometry, making the body lift while planting the rear tires down, resulting in increased traction.

Buick produced only 547 GNXs.

307 CID V-8 LV2: 90-degree, overhead valve V-8. Cast iron block and head. Displacement: 307 CID (5.0 liters). Bore & stroke: 3.80 x 3.385 in. Compression ratio: 8.0:1. Horsepower: 140 @ 3200 RPM. Torque: 255 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: 4 barrel 4MC. Built by Oldsmobile. VIN Code: Y or H.

LM9 TURBOCHARGED V-6 (Regal T Type): Cast iron alloy block and head. Displacement: 231 CID (3.8 liters). Bore & stroke: 3.8 x 3.4 in. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Brake H.P.: 245 at 4400 R.P.M. Torque: 355 lb.-ft. at 2800 R.P.M. with turbocharger, intercooler. Four Main Bearings. Hydraulic valve litters. Valve Timing: (w/o ramp) Intake (193°) 282°, Exhaust: (196°) 276°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.400″, Exhaust 0.422″ Sequential fuel injection. VIN Code: 7.

GNX TURBOCHARGED V-6: Cast iron alloy block and head. Displacement: 231 CID (3.8 liters). Bore & stroke: 3.8 x 3.4 in. Compression ratio: 8.5:1. Brake H.P.: 276 at 5000 R.P.M. Torque: 400 lb.-ft. at 3000 R.P.M. with ceramic impeller turbocharger, increased efficiency intercooler. Four Main Bearings. Hydraulic valve litters. Valve Timing: (w/o ramp) Intake (193°) 282°, Exhaust: (196°) 276°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.400″, Exhaust 0.422″ Enhanced Computer Control. Sequential fuel injection.

• Air conditioning.
• Automatic touch climate control air conditioning.
• California assembly line emission equipment and testing
• Cruise control w/resume
• Delcotron 85-amp
• Delcotron 94-amp
• Electric door locks
• Electric rear window defogger
• Electronic cruise control
• Electronic digital instrumentation
• Engine block heater
• Heavy-duty battery
• Heavy­ duty engine and transmission coolin
• Limited slip differential
• Manual seat back recliner (passenger)
• Power windows
• Remote electric trunk lock release
• Six-way power driver seat, Front license plate mounting
• Sport steering wheel
• Theft-deterrent system with starter interrupt
• Tilt steering wheel Sport steering wheel
• Trip odometer
• Trunk trim covering
• Two-speed windshield wiper system with low-speed delay feature

• Body-colored sport remote-control outside mirrors (left and right remote)
• Coach lamps (Limited)
• Cornering lamps
• Door courtesy/warning lights: Ltd
• Dual chrome mirrors left remote
• Front-seat reading lamps
• Headlights “On” warning chime
• Rear seat reading light
• Styled black remote-control outside mirror (left)
• Tungsten-halogen headlamps
• Twilight Sentinel headlamp control
• Vanity mirror, lighted passenger visor
• Vanity visor mirror (passenger)

• Automatic power antenna
• Concert Sound speaker system
• Concert sound speakers
• Dual rear speakers
• ETR AM/FM stereo with seek and scan
• ETR AM/FM stereo with seek and scan and clock
• ETR AM/FM stereo with seek and scan with search/repeat and clock, radio and front speakers delete, rear dual extended-range speakers
• ETR AM/FM stereo with seek and scan, cassette tape, auto reverse and clock, graphic equalizer, cassette tape
• Radio delete ($56 credit).

• Black protective body side moldings
• Body side stripes
• Deck lid spoiler
• Door edge guards
• Front license bracket
• Heavy-padded landau vinyl top .
• Landau vinyl top
• Lockable hatch roof
• Silver Astroroof (electric sliding)
• Soft-Ray tinted glass
• Soft-Ray tinted windshield,

• Carpet savers with inserts front and rear
• Carpet savers, front and rear
• Cloth 55/45 seating standard on Limited.
• Cloth bucket seats: on Base
• Full-length console:
• Lear Siegler bucket seats:
• Leather/Vinyl 45/45 seating:
• Mats: front  & rear
• Mats w/inserts front & rear
• Trunk trim covering

• Cast aluminum wheels
• Chrome-plated wheels
• Color-keyed wheels
• Locking wire wheel covers

• All-Season Tires: P205/70R14 SBA WSW
• P215/65R15 SBA WLT: T Type