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 wipers (RPO CD4) - Illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirrors (RPO D64/D68) - Remote outside mirrors - Delco AM/FM stereo with cassette (aftermarket head unit installed in the radio slot as visible in photos) - Grand National logoed floor mats - Heavy-duty battery (RPO UA1) - Comprehensive GN-specific body molding package — door edge guards, belt reveal, wheel openings, windows (RPO B72/B77/B79/B88/B89/B91/B24)

Mechanical

The heart of this 1987 Buick Grand National is the factory LC2 engine — a 3.8-liter (231 cubic inch) turbocharged, intercooled V6 with sequential fuel injection. The OHV 12-valve architecture is compact and pushrod-driven, but what makes it capable is the forced induction system built around it. The turbocharger draws from a low-restriction exhaust housing, compresses intake air, routes it through the intercooler mounted in the lower front fascia, and delivers cooled, dense air to the sequential injectors at each intake port. The result is 245 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 355 lb-ft of torque arriving at 2,400 rpm — usable power well before the engine reaches its mid-range.

The factory-rated quarter-mile time for a stock 1987 Grand National runs between 14.0 and 14.5 seconds at 98 to 100 mph. Those figures are stock, on street tires, with a driver who knows how to manage boost. The boost gauge in the instrument cluster reads in PSI and was a functional, driver-referenced instrument — not a styling exercise. The ECM managed fuel and spark under boost in real time, a sophisticated approach for a domestic production car in 1987.

Behind the engine sits the TH200-4R 4-speed automatic transmission, equipped here with the performance valve body that comes as part of the WE2 package. The TH200-4R includes an overdrive fourth gear for highway cruising, while the performance valve body improves shift firmness and responsiveness under hard acceleration. The transmission output connects to a driveshaft feeding the rear axle, which carries the G80 limited-slip differential and 3.42:1 ring-and-pinion gears — a ratio that balances launch performance with drivability. The rear axle uses the heavy-duty 8.50-inch ring gear (RPO G87), which was part of the Grand National's standard heavy-duty drivetrain build.

The FE3 Grand Touring suspension was fitted as part of the WE2 package. It includes stiffer springs, larger front and rear sway bars compared to a base Regal, and revised damper tuning. The result is a car that rides firmer than a standard G-body but handles body roll better in corners. The undercarriage photos confirm a well-preserved suspension cradle, trailing arms, and rear axle housing — all showing black-painted finish with no visible structural rust or patch repair.

Four-wheel disc brakes were standard on the 1987 Grand National. ABS was not available on this model. The brake system is conventional but adequate for street use, and the swept area of the rear discs was an upgrade over the drum brakes used on lesser Regal variants.

Interior

The interior of this 1987 Buick Grand National is trimmed in Medium Dark Gray cloth (RPO 82C), which is the correct factory specification for a Grand National of this year. The seats use a two-tone ribbed pattern — lighter gray inserts against darker charcoal surround panels — with the Grand National torch logo embroidered on each headrest. The cloth is in good condition throughout, front and rear, with no visible tears or sagging visible in the photos. The rear seat shows particularly clean presentation, with the ribbed insert pattern intact and the seat structure holding its form.

The front bucket seats (RPO AR9) are European-style reclining buckets, a step up from the bench or split-bench configurations found in standard Regal models. A full-length floor console (RPO D55) runs between the front seats and houses the TH200-4R shifter. The console surface and surrounding trim appear intact and original.

The instrument cluster is the Grand National-specific full analog unit. It integrates a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and the all-important turbo boost pressure gauge — calibrated in PSI from 0 to 15. The cluster also incorporates a trip computer function. The photo of the cluster shows the odometer reading at approximately 71,942 miles, with the boost gauge and "Turbo 3.8 Litre" designation visible below. This is the factory cluster, not a replacement.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel (RPO NP5) is the correct three-spoke Grand National unit with the torch logo horn cap (RPO B19). The instrument panel nameplate appliqué reads "Grand National" per RPO BY4. The tilt steering column (RPO N33) is present and functional. The door panels carry the custom GN build-up trim (RPO YT1), using the same Medium Dark Gray cloth over molded panels with integrated power window and lock switches.

Additional interior equipment includes power windows front and rear, power door locks, air conditioning with factory controls, electronic cruise control, electric rear window defogger, illuminated vanity mirrors on both sides, pulse-delay wipers, and Soft-Ray tinted glass all around. The floor mats carry the official Grand National logo — the torch and checkered flag emblem — on black carpeted mats, which appear factory correct. The headliner, sail panels, and rear quarter trim all read as original and intact in the photos. The dashboard cover shown in the photos has been fitted with a dash cap, which is common on southern cars where prolonged sun exposure can crack original vinyl.

Exterior

The 1987 Buick Grand National leaves no ambiguity about what it is. The WE2 package mandated a single exterior color — Lamp Black (RPO 19U) — and paired it with complete blackout trim across every exterior surface. There is no chrome on this car by design. The grille is black (RPO TL6). The door handles and lock cylinders are black (RPO BV8). The rear impact bar is black (RPO VH6). The body moldings — including door edge guards, belt reveal strips, wheel opening moldings, and window surrounds — are all color-keyed to black (RPO B72/B77/B79/B88/B89/B91/B24). Even the front fascia was GN-specific, with a lower air dam that fed the intercooler and created a visual distinction from the standard Regal.

The hood carries the functional scoop that directs air toward the induction system. The rear decklid spoiler (RPO T43) is present and correctly mounted. The tail end shows the full-width red taillight lens treatment with the "6.5 Turbo" badge — a factory designation on the 1987 Grand National that announced the engine under the hood. The Grand National badge sits on the trunk lid. Overall, the black paint presents well in the photos, showing strong reflections without visible repaints or obvious panel irregularities.

The tires visible in several photos are performance radials on what appear to be aftermarket wheels, replacing the factory 15x7 chrome styled wheels (RPO N83) with GN center caps that were original to this car. The factory wheel specification was P215/65R15 white-letter steel-belted radials (RPO QYH). Buyers who prioritize factory-correct appearance will want to source the original wheel style.

The undercarriage shots confirm what matters most on a car this age: there is no visible evidence of structural rust, floor pan corrosion, or patch welding. The subframe, rear cradle, trailing arms, and floor pans all show solid, original metal with an aged but intact painted finish. The exhaust components show natural surface oxidation consistent with normal use and age but no collapse or patchwork.

Conclusion

The 1987 Buick Grand National is the most collectible year of the model, and the final production year before Buick closed the book on the G-body platform entirely. This example carries the full WE2 Grand National Package with the LC2 turbocharged intercooled V6, TH200-4R transmission with performance valve body, G80 limited-slip differential, FE3 suspension, and the complete factory blackout exterior treatment — all of which are documented by the RPO codes confirmed on this build. The interior shows a well-preserved original cabin at approximately 71,942 miles, with no significant wear damage visible in the photos. The undercarriage is solid.

For a buyer who knows what a correct 1987 Grand National represents — and understands its place as the fastest naturally produced American car of its year — this is a verifiable, well-optioned example to examine closely.

To ask questions or schedule an inspection, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

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.