With a boosted powerplant and styling that would make Darth Vader do a double-take, the 1987 Buick Regal Grand National is a surefire fan favorite. Now, we’re getting the lowdown on this fully built Buick Regal Grand National restomod pieced together by the folks at the Roadster Shop to throw down an astounding 1,600 horsepower.
Coming to us from the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel, the video is a little on the long side, clocking in at over 40 minutes, and includes specs, a walk around the vehicle, and finally, some driving action on the street.
The video kicks things off with a little background on the car and the Roadster Shop’s approach to the build. While the purists may not like it, the builders decided to yank out the factory six-cylinder in favor of a twin-turbocharged LS V8.
“We paid respect to what the Grand National is,” says Roadster Shop co-owner Jeremy Gerber.
“Visually, it very much looks stock GN, just a little bit cooler,” Gerber adds.
While the lines are definitely recognizable as being a 1987 Buick Regal Grand National, the two-door now rocks a flared stance that helps to accentuate the crazy performance in store. The extra width also helps to swallow the massive new wheels and tires with ease, all without disturbing the classic look.
Lifting the hood, we find a clean install for a Dart 427 LS7 V8, done up in flat, monochromatic paint, complementing the sinister exterior. Wagner Motorsports takes responsibility for the engine build, while a tank of ethanol yields 1,600 horsepower at the crank and about 1,200 horsepower at the rear wheels.
The cabin is also on point, with a subtle six-point roll cage, a hand-wrapped dash, and tons of custom pieces, all done up to resemble the factory look. The center console now houses a lightning rod-style shifter setup, while the custom digital display graphics continues the ‘80s-era theme perfectly.
Check out the full feature video right here:
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Comments
Look at what Buick builds now and one can see that if wasn’t for China the brand would be dead here in America.
As a bit of a Grand National purest myself, I can appreciate the build quality and the insane horsepower they are putting down in an 87 G-Body. At least they stuck with the Turbo/EFI theme of the GN.
But as an owner of an 87 GN, they gutted the defining characteristic of the car, being the SFI Turbo Buick 3.8L V-6 and replaced it with a Chevy LS. I often wonder why these LS leaning folks don’t swap the 305 out of a far more common Monte SS instead of the GN…
At least they did a nice job with the build.
Love the build. Wonder why not keep the v6 but it’s not mine I hate the video. True car guys want to see the car not the guys in the interview. Show the car as you talk. Nobody clicks this video to see 2 guys talk.
Agree. (Really stupid how the driver accelerates through the construction zone….)
It’s a hot rod. That’s where purists scream travesty and how individualists enjoy obnoxious tire smokin’ happiness.
Exactly. Any car is a blank canvas to personize. Years ago we things called options from the manufacturer. Not anymore, much of what we do at our shop is de-contenting standard equipment. Like the f’ing TV screens, nav systems and other crap that should be an option but is now an inconvenience.
Navigation was a beautiful woman in a mini skirt with a road map. It wasn’t thought of as sexist and often was an excuse to get lost for pleasure (our legal department asked we put that in, see the world is REALLY screwed up).
TV? Didn’t even have one at home.
A vehicle is something you enjoy driving, not an arcade game.
Awww, they lost me at V8. Now a proper GN would still have a V6 under the hood.
My friends with real GN’s are turning the 1320 in the 9’s and 10’s with the 3.7 V6 and would not be very proud of LS V8 perversion.