Why This Car Is Special

The 1987 Buick Regal Grand National holds a specific and well-documented place in American automotive history. It was the last year of production for the Grand National, and it arrived at exactly the right moment. By 1987, Buick's engineers had refined the turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 to a point where it could embarrass purpose-built sports cars from Ferrari and Porsche in straight-line acceleration — a fact that was widely reported at the time and has never been forgotten by people who follow performance cars seriously.

What made the Grand National concept unusual from the start was its origin. Buick introduced the nameplate in 1982 as a way to capitalize on its NASCAR sponsorship, but the car that emerged by 1984 and reached full development by 1986 and 1987 was something entirely different from a marketing exercise. It was a rear-wheel-drive, turbocharged, intercooled American muscle car wearing a full blackout suit and absolutely no chrome. Every piece of exterior trim that would normally have been brightwork — door handles, lock cylinders, grille, impact bars — was finished in black. The RPO 19U Lamp Black paint was the only color available. There was no option for anything else. That deliberate, monochromatic aggression was baked into the package at the factory level.

The WE2 Grand National package, which this car carries in numbers-matching configuration, was the specific option group that turned a standard Regal into a Grand National. It bundled together the LC2 turbocharged engine, the FE3 sport suspension, the blackout exterior treatment, the GN-specific front fascia and hood scoop, and the dedicated interior with Grand National badging throughout. This is not a tribute car or a clone. The build documentation confirms this is the real package as Buick delivered it from Flint Assembly.

The 1987 model year was the final year for the G-body Regal platform, and Buick ended production of the Grand National at the close of that run. Approximately 20,193 Grand Nationals were built for 1987, making it the largest single-year production of the model — but demand has consistently exceeded supply in the collector market for decades. A numbers-matching example with a freshly rebuilt engine and solid undercarriage represents a very specific tier of survivor within that group.

Features List

• Numbers-matching WE2 Grand National Package
• LC2 3.8L (231 ci) turbocharged intercooled V6, sequential fuel injection (SFI), OHV 12-valve configuration
• Fresh engine rebuild — fewer than 1,000 miles on rebuilt motor
• Factory-rated 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 G80 limited-slip differential
• Heavy-duty 8.50-inch rear ring gear (RPO G87)
• FE3 sport suspension with GN-specific heavy-duty springs, sway bars, and damper tuning
• Four-wheel disc brakes
• Lamp Black exterior (RPO 19U) — full GN blackout trim, no chrome by design
• GN-specific turbo front fascia, functional hood scoop, and rear decklid spoiler (RPO T43)
• Soft-Ray tinted glass all around (RPO A01)
• Medium Dark Gray cloth bucket seats with two-tone insert pattern and Grand National headrest embroidery
• Full analog instrument cluster with turbo boost gauge and trip computer
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with Grand National horn cap (RPO NP5/B19)
• Full-length floor console (RPO D55)
• Tilt steering column (RPO N33)
• Power windows front and rear, power door locks, power driver's seat
• Air conditioning (RPO C60)
• Electronic cruise control (RPO K34)
• Electric rear window defogger (RPO C49)
• Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirrors
• Aftermarket head unit (AM/FM)
• Grand National logoed floor mats
• Solid undercarriage — no visible structural rust or patch repair

Mechanical

The LC2 engine in this 1987 Buick Regal Grand National has been fully rebuilt and has fewer than 1,000 miles on it since completion. That means a buyer is receiving a freshly built version of one of the most significant American V6 engines ever produced, without the accumulated heat cycles, seals, and wear that come with an aging original powerplant. The numbers-matching status is preserved, which means the engine block is the unit that came in this car from the factory — a detail that directly affects collector value and documentation authenticity.

The LC2 displaces 231 cubic inches (3.8 liters) and uses an overhead-valve 12-valve configuration fed by sequential fuel injection and a turbocharger with an air-to-air intercooler. Buick's factory rating was 245 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 355 lb-ft of torque at just 2,400 rpm. That torque number, arriving low in the rev range, is precisely why the Grand National was so effective at the drag strip. Stock quarter-mile times for the 1987 Grand National ran in the 14.0 to 14.5-second range at approximately 98 to 100 mph. Zero to 60 was typically in the 5.5 to 6.0-second window for stock cars. Those numbers were class-leading in 1987 and are still respectable today.

Behind the engine sits a TH200-4R 4-speed automatic with overdrive, fitted here with a performance valve body that sharpens shift response without sacrificing streetability. The rear axle carries a 3.42:1 ratio and is equipped with the G80 limited-slip differential — Buick's Positraction — and the heavy-duty 8.50-inch ring gear (RPO G87) that was specific to the Grand National application. This is a stronger rear end than what standard Regal models received, intended to handle the torque loads the turbo engine puts down.

The FE3 suspension package was calibrated specifically for the Grand National. It uses heavier springs, stiffer sway bars, and firmer damper tuning compared to the standard Regal setup. The result is a car that handles flat and predictably without the floaty ride characteristics of a luxury-oriented G-body. Four-wheel disc brakes are fitted, which was not standard across the Regal lineup and further distinguishes this package. The undercarriage photos confirm solid structure throughout — no visible rust penetration, no patch welding, no evidence of prior collision repair.

Interior

The interior of this 1987 Buick Regal Grand National follows the factory spec exactly for a WE2-equipped car. The bucket seats are upholstered in Medium Dark Gray cloth with a two-tone ribbed insert pattern. The headrests carry the embroidered Grand National logo, which was a standard detail on the package. Both front and rear seats show the correct cloth, and the door panels carry the matching two-tone gray fabric and molded plastic treatment that was specific to this interior code.

The instrument cluster is the full analog Grand National unit, which includes a turbo boost gauge and trip computer integrated into the dash. The boost gauge is a functional instrument — it gives the driver real-time information on what the turbocharger is doing — and it is one of the details that enthusiasts look for when evaluating a Grand National's authenticity. The leather-wrapped steering wheel with the Grand National horn cap is correct for the RPO NP5/B19 option. The full-length floor console (RPO D55) runs the length of the cabin between the bucket seats and integrates cleanly with the center stack.

Power windows operate front and rear. Power door locks and a power driver's seat are included. Air conditioning (RPO C60), electronic cruise control (RPO K34), and the electric rear window defogger (RPO C49) are all present and accounted for. Illuminated vanity mirrors are fitted to both the driver and passenger sun visors. An aftermarket head unit has been installed in place of the original AM/FM cassette unit — a common and reversible change on these cars. The Grand National logoed floor mats are present on all four positions.

The tilt steering column (RPO N33) adjusts to the driver's preference, and Soft-Ray tinted glass (RPO A01) runs all around the car, consistent with the full blackout philosophy of the Grand National package.

Exterior

The 1987 Buick Regal Grand National wears its factory Lamp Black paint (RPO 19U) throughout. Black was not one of several color choices for the Grand National — it was the only choice. The entire exterior design concept was built around the elimination of bright trim. The grille is black. The door handles are black. The lock cylinders are black. The impact bars are black. There is no chrome on this car by design, and this example presents that correctly.

The GN-specific turbo front fascia is a lower, more aggressive unit than the standard Regal nose. It carries parking lamp clusters integrated into a wider lower valance and provides a visual distinction that immediately separates a Grand National from any other Regal variant. The functional hood scoop feeds cooler air toward the turbocharger intake. The rear decklid spoiler (RPO T43) is the factory unit, running the width of the trunk lid and finished in black to match the rest of the car.

Aftermarket wheels have been fitted in place of the factory 15x7 chrome styled wheels (RPO N83). The factory wheel is a point of authenticity for collectors who prefer the original specification, and this is worth noting for buyers who want to return the car to stock appearance. The change is reversible. Soft-Ray tinted glass surrounds the greenhouse. The trunk interior is clean, carpeted in black, and shows no structural concerns. A spare tire is present.

The undercarriage inspection photos tell the most important story about the exterior structure. There is no visible rust at the frame rails, rocker panel areas, or floor pans. No patch panels are visible. The floorpan surfaces appear solid and consistent with a car that has not been subjected to road salt or significant moisture exposure over its life.

Conclusion

The 1987 Buick Regal Grand National is one of a handful of American production cars from the 1980s that collectors, historians, and enthusiasts treat as genuinely significant. It was faster than most contemporary sports cars, it looked like nothing else on the road, and it was discontinued after just a few years — which means every real example matters. This particular car carries the numbers-matching WE2 package, a freshly rebuilt LC2 engine with fewer than 1,000 miles on it, a solid undercarriage, and a correct, intact interior. The combination of documented factory authenticity and a fresh drivetrain rebuild puts this car in a position where it can be driven with confidence or preserved as part of a serious collection.

For buyers who have been looking for a 1987 Buick Regal Grand National that is the real thing and not a built-up clone, this is a car worth examining in person. Skyway Classics is located in Sarasota, Florida, and welcomes serious inquiries.

Call Skyway Classics at 941-254-6608 to schedule an appointment or to ask specific questions about this 1987 Buick Regal Grand National.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.