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1987 Buick Regal

$79,997

1987 Buick Regal

Vehicle Details

Make

Buick

Model

Regal

Year

1987

Mileage

71,944 miles

VIN

1G4GJ1176HP438923

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

3.8L V6 Cylinder

Description

1987 Buick Grand National — Numbers-Matching WE2 Package, Lamp Black with Full Blackout Trim Why This Car Is Special The 1987 Buick Grand National holds a specific and well-documented place in American automotive history. It was the final year of production for the Grand National nameplate, and Buick made the most of it. The 1987 model year brought the most powerful version of the turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that the Grand National ever received from the factory — 245 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque.

Those numbers were enough to put the 1987 Buick Grand National ahead of nearly every other American production car of its era in straight-line performance, including the contemporary Corvette, which made 240 horsepower that same year. Car and Driver tested an '87 Grand National at 0 to 60 mph in the mid-five-second range, a figure that surprises people even today. What made that performance possible was not displacement, but engineering.

The LC2 engine — a 231 cubic inch (3.8-liter) OHV V6 with a turbocharger and intercooler feeding sequential fuel injection — produced peak torque at just 2,400 rpm. That low torque peak is what gave the Grand National its characteristic surge off the line and out of corners. By the time the turbo spooled and boost came on, the car was already moving.

The intercooler, added in 1986 and refined for 1987, was the key upgrade that allowed Buick's engineers to safely push boost and timing without detonation. The Grand National package itself — RPO code WE2 — was not just a cosmetic option. It bundled the LC2 engine, the FE3 sport suspension with larger sway bars, specific blackout trim, GN-specific interior appointments, and performance-tuned running gear into a single, factory-integrated package.

This car carries that full WE2 designation, which means it was built from the factory as a complete Grand National, not a Regal that received cosmetic additions after the fact. The 1987 model year saw approximately 20,193 Grand Nationals produced before the Flint, Michigan assembly line closed. It was the last year for both the Regal-based G-body platform and the Grand National itself.

Buick did not bring the nameplate back in any meaningful performance capacity, which makes 1987 the definitive year for collectors. The odometer in the photos reads approximately 71,942 miles — a reasonable, documented figure for a car of this age, consistent with careful use rather than storage. The undercarriage photos show solid, well-preserved structure with no evidence of significant rust or repair, which is a meaningful observation for any 37-year-old car.

Features List - LC2 3.8L (231 ci) turbocharged intercooled V6, sequential fuel injection, 245 hp at 4,400 rpm, 355 lb-ft torque at 2,400 rpm - TH200-4R 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and performance valve body - 3.42:1 rear axle ratio with limited-slip differential (G80 Positraction) - Heavy-duty 8.50-inch rear ring gear (RPO G87) - FE3 sport suspension with Grand National-specific heavy-duty sway bars - Four-wheel disc brakes - WE2 Grand National Package — full factory-authenticated build - Lamp Black exterior (RPO 19U) with complete blackout trim - GN-specific turbo front fascia, functional hood scoop, and rear decklid spoiler - Black grille, black door handles and lock cylinders, black impact bars - Soft-Ray tinted glass all around (RPO A01) - Tungsten halogen headlamps (RPO TT5) - Medium Dark Gray cloth bucket seats with two-tone insert pattern and GN headrest embroidery - Full-length floor console (RPO D55) - Leather-wrapped steering wheel with Grand National horn cap (RPO NP5 / B19) - Full analog instrument cluster with integrated turbo boost gauge and trip computer - Tilt steering column (RPO N33) - Power windows front and rear (RPO A31) - Power door locks (RPO AU3) - Power driver's seat - Air conditioning (RPO C60) - Electronic cruise control (RPO K34) - Electric rear window defogger (RPO C49) - Pulse/delay windshield wi
Trim: Grand National Turbo 2dr Coupe

Buick Regal Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1973–1987
~3 min read
Updated Apr 2026
The Buick Regal Grand National and GNX are legends of the turbocharged 1980s — cars that humiliated Ferraris at stoplights and proved that American engineering could match European performance on its own terms. But the Regal's story is richer than just the performance variants.
This guide covers
8-point inspection checklist
Common issues & what to avoid
In-person inspection guide
Market pricing by year & condition
4 FAQs answered
History & fun facts

Buick Regal Market Overview

Based on 25 Buick Regal listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

25
Listed Now
$41,720
Avg. Asking Price
1979–1987
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Above Average
This car: $79,997
Low: $6,495 High: $89,900
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 88% ◄
Condition Distribution
Excellent 20%
Good 20%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 25 listings →
💰

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Buick Regal Buyer's Guide

Mike Sullivan here. The 1987 Buick GNX is the fastest American production car of its era. That's not hyperbole — the GNX ran the quarter mile in the low 13-second range, making it quicker than a contemporary Corvette, faster than a Ferrari 328, and quicker than nearly anything else for sale in an American showroom. GM's own engineers reportedly drove the final prototypes against a Ferrari Testarossa and the GNX won.

But here's what the GNX legend obscures: the broader Regal family from 1973 to 1987 is an undervalued platform with excellent bones, strong parts support, and collector interest that extends well beyond the turbocharged variants. The G-body Regal that spawned the Grand National is one of GM's most capable platforms, and even the standard V6 and V8 Regals represent good value in the current market.

What to Check Before Buying

Grand National Documentation — Verify boost gauge, shift light, and underhood components are original GN equipment — not add-ons.
GNX Serial Number (if claimed) — Confirm the ASC/McLaren GNX serial plate and have a Buick specialist verify all GNX-specific components.
Turbocharger Condition — Check turbo shaft for play — hold the shaft and wiggle laterally, any movement indicates bearing wear.
Intercooler Condition — Inspect intercooler core for damage and verify it's free of oil contamination.
Lower Quarter Rust — Probe lower rear quarters and rockers — G-body rust in these locations.
Dashboard Condition — Inspect plastic dashboard for cracking — a common issue on 35+ year old GM interiors.
Transmission Operation — Test TH200-4R or TH350 through all ranges — smooth shifts with no slip.
Head Gasket — Check oil for coolant contamination and exhaust for white smoke — 3.8L head gasket is a known wear item.

Common Issues

Grand National clone cars built from standard Regals — documentation verification is essential. Turbocharger shaft wear and intercooler deterioration on high-mileage GN examples. Lower rear quarter and rocker panel rust. Plastic dashboard and interior trim deterioration on 1980s examples. 3.8L V6 head gasket issues on high-mileage or overheated engines. TH200-4R automatic transmission wear on performance-driven cars.

What to Look For

On Grand National and GNX cars, verify documentation before paying any performance premium — boost gauge, shift light, and specific underhood components are all verifiable. For GNX cars, the ASC/McLaren serial number plate and GNX-specific suspension and turbo components must all be present and verifiable. For all turbocharged Regals, inspect the intercooler condition and the turbo for shaft play. On standard Regals, check for rust at the lower rear quarter panels and rocker panels. Verify the automatic transmission operates smoothly through all ranges.

Price Guide

Standard Regal V6 or V8 (1978–1987): $5,000–$14,000. 1984–1985 Grand National T-top: $18,000–$32,000. 1986 Grand National: $25,000–$45,000. 1987 Grand National: $35,000–$65,000 for clean low-mileage examples. 1987 GNX (verified): $80,000–$180,000+. Clone GNs misrepresented as genuine: avoid without documentation.

Did You Know?

The 1987 Buick GNX outran a Ferrari 328 GTS in a comparison test conducted by Car and Driver — achieving 0-60 in 4.7 seconds to the Ferrari's 5.8 seconds. Only 547 GNXs were built, all in 1987, all black, all numbered. The turbocharged 3.8L V6 in the Grand National was controversial inside GM — Corvette engineers reportedly objected to a Buick outperforming their flagship, though the LT5-powered Corvette ZR-1 program had in fact already begun in 1985.

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