Zac Quinn 
Roadster Shop has reinvented the pinnacle of late-80s American cars in every way possible with their 1987 Buick Grand National. The first and most eye-catching modification to the vehicle is the 1500-horsepower twin-turbo LS combo that makes this Grand National stand out above all others. But there’s much more to this beautiful car than the engine.
Roadster Shop Buick Grand National: Details
Roadster Shop started the build by taking the body off of the chassis. Then, the head engineer Mike O’Brien 3D scanned the chassis to give the crew the perfect starting point for the build. Scanning the underpinnings meant they could electronically generate every part needed for the project before crafting it.
The crew opted to use one of Roadster Shop’s Fast Track IRS chassis for the Buick, modifying the rear end further to give the car the proper stance and room to fit the rear 345 tires. The tires are wrapped around one-off wheels by Greening Auto Company which measure 18 x 10.5 in the front and 19 x 12 at the back. A complete set of flares help the mammoth rims fit, milled by Roadster Shop to fit the body as if they’re an OEM part.
Of course, we can’t forget the beautiful engine mounted under the hood. The LS is a 427-cube Dart unit fed even more power by a pair of Precision 64/66 turbos. That combination makes the engine capable of producing 1504 horsepower at full throttle with E98 fuel. Sending all the power to the wheels is a Bowler Performance 4L80E transmission, a manual controlled by a Hurst Lightning Rod-style shifter from Kilduff Shifters. While it may look old school, it has a line lock, torque converter lock-up, and trans brake.
The interior of the Roadster Buick Grand National has modern touches with a fully digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen. The dash is entirely custom and crafted with the help of 3D printing. The modern sensors feature retro 80s graphics to top off the build. This car is a true work of art.
