1987 Buick GNX Original Paint Unmodified Showroom Detail Window Sticker 1 of 547

A downsized Regal appeared for the 1978 model year with Buick's new 196cuin (3.2L)V6 engineas standard equipment and a revised version of the venerable 231cuin (3.8L) V6 as an option (which became standard for 1980). Initially, a three-speedmanual transmissionwas standard but this was later replaced by an automatic. At the time of introduction, Regals were available exclusively ascoupéswith theCenturynameplate applied to standard equipment sedans andstation wagons.[8]In January 1982 the Century was replaced by an all-new car on thefront-wheel driveA platform, which meant that the Regal gained a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon - essentially facelifted andrebadgedversions of the previous year'srear-wheel driveCentury. It was the first time the name appeared on a full model lineup. The wagon was discontinued after 1983, and the sedan dropped from the lineup the next year.[9]This generation Regal lasted ten years. The base model was equipped with softer-riding luxurysuspension, and did not offer a manual transmission in later years.

The 1978 Regal could be equipped with a 3,791cc (3.8L; 231.3cuin)TurbochargedV6 engine withautomatic transmission, and was known as a Regal Sport Coupe. Turbo versions were offered with either a two- or a four-barrelcarburetor. TheBuick LeSabrewas also available with the turbocharged engine. The only other turbocharged cars available in the U.S. market in 1978 were imports fromMercedes-Benz,PorscheandSaab. The Regal Sport Coupe also included a firmhandlingsuspension with larger tires and sport wheels. Bucket seats and a center console with a T-shifter were also available.

For 1980, the Regal was offered in a specialSomerset Limited Editiontrimwhich featured unique tan and dark blue designer exterior paint, wire wheel covers, sportmirrors, and chrome Somerset badging. The interior had tan and blue plushvelourupholstery, brushedchrometrim, and additional Somerset badging. A Somerset Limited Edition model was also offered on the restyled 1981 Regal. It had unique dark sandstone and camel exterior paint, sport mirrors, and turbine wheels. The interior's plush velour upholstery was camel with dark brown piping.

A major facelift for 1981 gave the Regal a much more aerodynamic profile, helping make it possible for the car to compete on theNASCARracing circuit. The slopinghoodand nose of the car made it the favorite of several NASCAR teams, and reduced the drag coefficient by eighteen percent.Richard Pettydrove one to victory in the1981 Daytona 500, and the car won a majority of the 1981 and 1982 seasons races and won the NASCAR manufacturers title in 1981 and 1982.

V8sfor street use were still available, but had shrunk to 265cuin (4.3L) (1980 and 1981 only,Pontiacbuilt), and the V6 was rapidly gaining popularity. From 1986 to 1987, the307cuin (5.0L) V8was available as an option. The 3,791cc (3.8L; 231.3cuin) 2-bbl V6 was standard. The200-4Roverdrivetransmissionwas an option with either engine.

Buick Regal Production Figures:

In February 1982, the Grand National debuted, which was named for theNASCAR Winston Cup Grand National Series(the "Grand National" term was part of the Cup series nomenclature until 1986).[11]Buick had won the Manufacturers Cup in 1981 and 1982, and wanted to capitalize on its success: "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday", and hoping to revive their performance image from the 1960s with theBuick Skylark Gran Sport. These 1982 cars were not painted black, which may confuse those not familiar with them. All started out as charcoal gray Regals that were shipped off to a subcontractor for finishing.

Originally intended for a run of 100 units, Cars and Concepts ofBrighton, Michigan, retrofitted 215 Regals with the GN package. Most obvious was the light silver-gray firemist paint added to each side. Redpinstripesand billboard shadow lettering proclaiming "Buick" were applied. The wheel opening moldings androcker panelmoldings were blacked out using black vinyl tape. Finally, a front air dam andrear spoilerwere installed. On the inside, special "Lear-Siegler" seats were installed. These seats are fully adjustable and were covered with silver brandon cloth with black vinyl inserts. The front seat had Buick's "6" emblem embroidered onto them. Also, a special clock delete plate was added to theinstrument panelwhich contained the yellow and orange "6" logo and the words "Grand National Buick Motor Division".)

The 1982 GN came with anaturally aspirated252cuin (4.1L) V6 engine with 125hp (127PS; 93kW) at 4000rpm and 205lb⋅ft (278N⋅m) oftorqueat 2000rpm. Of the 215 Grand Nationals produced in 1982, at least 35 were based on the Buick Regal Sport coupe package with the turbocharged 3,791cc (3.8L; 231.3cuin) V6 engine with 175hp (177PS; 130kW) at 4000rpm and 275lb⋅ft (373N⋅m) of torque at 2600rpm. There were only 2022 Sport coupes produced in 1982, and the number of cars with both the GN and Sport coupe packages is estimated to be fewer than 50.

For 1983, there was no Grand National. The Sport coupe model was renamed theT-Type; 3,732 were produced (190hp (193PS; 142kW) at 1600rpm and 280lb⋅ft (380N⋅m) of torque at 2400rpm). The T-Type had been used on other Buicks, starting with theRivierain 1981 (in 1979 and 1980, it was the S Type). The 1983 Regal T-Type featured tubeheaders, Hydro-Boost IIbrakes, 200-4R 4-speed overdrive trans and 3.42rear axle(7.5").[12]

For 1984, the Grand National returned, now in all black paint. Theturbocharged3,791cc (3.8L; 231.3cuin) became standard and was refined withsequential fuel injection,distributor-less computer-controlledignition, and boasted 200hp (203PS; 149kW) at 4400rpm and 300lb⋅ft (407N⋅m) of torque at 2400rpm. Only 5,204 turbo Regals were produced that year, only 2,000 of which were Grand Nationals. Because this was the first year of production of the computer-controlled sequential fuel injection and distributor-less ignition, this is often considered the year and model that started the development of the legendaryintercooledGrand Nationals. The performance of this package was well ahead of its time and the "little V6" easily kept up with the bigger V8s.1⁄4mile (402m)performance was listed at 15.9 seconds at stock boost levels of 10psi (0.69bar), while for the same year, theChevrolet CamaroV6 was listed at 17.0 and theChevrolet Corvetteat 15.2 seconds.[13]Soon, performance enthusiasts determined the modifications that worked and the Grand Nationals easily broke into the 13-second territory. All Grand Nationals had theLear Siegler-made cloth/leather interior which was only available for this year. An estimated 200 of the 1984 Grand Nationals were produced with the Astroroof option which makes these the rarest of the Grand Nationals.

For 1986, a modified engine design with air-air intercooling boosted the performance even further to a specified 235hp (238PS; 175kW) at 4000rpm and 330lb⋅ft (447N⋅m) of torque at 2400rpm. The Grand Nationals (quantity 5,512) and T-Types (quantity 2,384) were both produced in 1986. For 1987, performance reached 245hp (248PS; 183kW) and 355lb⋅ft (481N⋅m) of torque. Buick dropped the T-Type package for Regal for 1987 models and opted for a "T" sport package instead. There were only 7,896 turbo Regals produced in 1986. In 1987, when turbo Regals reached their peak in popularity, a total of 27,590 turbo Regals were produced through December, with those models produced between September and December of that year window stickered as "1987½ Buick Grand National" vehicles.

For 1987, a lightweight WE4 (turbo T) option was offered. Only 1,547 of this variant were produced. The differences between a WE4 and the Grand National were the interior trim package, wheels, exterior badging, aluminum bumper supports, and aluminum reardrum brakesas opposed to the Grand National's cast iron, making the WE4 a lighter and faster car. The rear spoiler was only available as a dealer-installed option. 1987 was the only year that the LC2 turbo option was available on any Regal, making it possible to even see a Limited with a vinyllandau roofand apower bulgeturbo hood. Turbo Regal Limiteds were one of the rarest models of turbo Regals produced second only to the GNX at 1,035 turbo Limiteds. Turbo Regal Limiteds could be ordered with many options with most having chrome external trim but for $35 could have been built with the full black-out trim WO2 option making them extremely rare (similarly, a base Regal could also be ordered with the Turbo 6, and, the WO2 blackout trim was also available; all rare). Limiteds were treated to a very luxurious interior with plush carpeting and optional bench pillow seats and acolumn shift. It was also possible to order the 1987 Regal T with the 5.0/307 V8 instead of the turbo 3.8/231 V6. The 1987 model would be the end of the manufacture of theRWD"G-Body" Regal, butGMhad to extend the build of the Grand National to meet customer demand into December.

• Buick Regal T-Type

• 1987 Regal T Turbo with rare blackout WO2 trim package

• Buick GNX

• Buick GNX

For the final year, 1987, Buick introduced the limited production GNX, for "Grand National Experimental", at $29,900 ($71,317 in 2021 dollars[14]). Made in partnership withMcLaren Performance Technologies/ASC, Buick produced only 547 GNs with the interior trim package, that were then sent off toMcLarenand upgraded into the Buick GNX. Buick underrated the GNX at 276hp (280PS; 206kW) at 4400rpm and a very substantial 360lb⋅ft (488N⋅m) at 3000rpm oftorque,[15]although actual output is 300bhp (304PS; 224kW) and 420lb⋅ft (569N⋅m).[16]This was created to be the "Grand National to end all Grand Nationals". Changes made included a specialGarrett AiResearchT-3turbochargerwith a ceramic-impeller blowing through a more efficient and significantly larger capacityintercoolerwith a "Cermatel (ceramic-aluminum) coated" pipe connecting the intercooler to the engine. A GNX specificEEPROM, low-restriction exhaust with dualmufflers, reprogrammed turbo Hydramatic 200-4R transmission with a customtorque converterand transmission cooler, and uniquedifferentialcover/Panhardbar included more of the performance modifications. Exterior styling changes include vents located on each front fender, 16inch black mesh style wheels with VR-speed rated tires, and deletion of the hood and fender emblems. The interior changes of the GNX included a serial number on the dash plaque and a revised instrument cluster providingStewart-Warneranalog gauges,[17]including an analog turboboost gauge.Dragstripperformance was measured as faster than theFerrari F40and thePorsche 930with a1⁄4mile (402m) time of 12.7 seconds at 113.1mph (182km/h) (0.3 and 0.8 seconds quicker, 2.9 and 13.3mph (21km/h) faster) and a 0-60mph (97km/h) time of 4.6 seconds (0.4 and 0.3 seconds quicker, respectively).[18]GNX #001 is the 1986 prototype currently owned by Buick and sometimes makes appearances at car shows around the US. The GNX used a uniquetorque armthat was mounted to a special, GNX only, rear differential cover, for increasedtraction. The torque arm rear suspension alters the suspension geometry, making the body lift while planting the rear tires down, resulting in increased traction.

The stealthy appearance of the all-black GNX and Grand National (and the resemblance of its grill to his helmet's mouthpiece), coupled with the fact that the Grand National was initially released during the popularity ofStar Warsmovies, earned it the title "Darth Vader's Car".Car and Drivercovered the GNX model's introduction with the headline "Lord Vader, your car is ready". Due to the turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the Buick make, and the black paint Grand Nationals were sometimes referred to as the "Dark Side". The "Dark Side" contrasted with the more common V8Mustangsand Camaros that were popular at the time.[citation needed]