The Budget Buick That Beat the Grand National at Its Own Game

The 1987 Buick Grand National is a legend, the all-black "Darth Vader of the Streets" that embarrassed Ferraris and Corvettes with its turbocharged V6. But what many don't realize is that the same fire-breathing engine was available in a cheaper, lighter Buick that actually ran quicker quarter-mile times.

Meet the 1987 Buick Regal Turbo T WE4: the forgotten sibling that outran the icon for thousands less.

8-liter turbo V6, delivering 245 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. 5 seconds. The Regal Turbo T WE4? 4 seconds, thanks to a lighter curb weight. Buick stripped out heavy cast-iron parts, swapping in aluminum bumpers and brake drums, and ditched the rear spoiler. The result: a car that weighs about 3,400 pounds versus the Grand National's 3,545.

All while costing roughly $14,857 new, compared to the Grand National's $18,295.

Only about 1,547 Regal Turbo T WE4s were built in 1987, making it far rarer than the 20,192 Grand Nationals produced that year. It was a special-order car, late to market, and discontinued when GM killed the rear-wheel-drive G-body platform. Today, a clean Grand National sells for $35,000 to $48,000, while pristine examples hit $80,000.

The ultra-rare GNX can top $180,000. Meanwhile, a solid WE4 goes for $30,000 to $40,000, and show-quality examples sometimes match Grand National prices due to their rarity and sleeper appeal. If you want a piece of turbo Buick history that's lighter, faster, and still a bargain, the Regal Turbo T WE4 might be the smartest buy in the room.