Roadster Shop Debuts Twin Turbo 427 LS Powered Buick Grand National at SEMA 2022
Making over 1,500 horsepower thanks to an extra turbo and two additional cylinders this is no standard Buick Grand National.
The Buick Grand National. You read that name and you instantly picture that menacing black coupe in your mind. And while the car is black it was actually a bright spot in the world of automotive performance. The 1980s had precious few serious performance cars that you could buy with a reasonable budget.
But a 1987 Buick Grand National was one of them. Using a turbocharged V6 the car was rated at 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. And that was likely conservative. It would hit 60 mph in about 4.7 seconds. Fast by 2022 standards and blistering in 1987. However, at SEMA you don’t expect to see all original preserved cars. The show is all about pushing boundaries. And this particular 1987 Buick Grand National built by Roadster Shop is certainly pushing things to the limit.
Do you like numbers? 8 cylinders. Two turbos. 427 cubic inches. 1,504 horsepower. How about those numbers? Making those numbers is an LS-based powerplant. A Dart 427 block is supplemented with a couple Precision 64/66 mirror image turbos. A Holly Dominator system controls everything. The transmission is a 4L80 from Bowler Performance. It is an impressive machine for sure, but the powertrain is just part of the story.
A Look Inside
We will get back to the power in a moment but let’s checkout the inside of this Buick Grand National. The dashboard was 3D printed and covered in leather by the folks at JK Automotive Designs. Behind the steering wheel you will find a lovely electronic digital display. It screams 1980s retro and modern at the same time.
See that center console? SEMA may be in Vegas but those are not slot machine handles. It is a Hurst Lightning Rod-style shifter from Kilduff Shifters. The sticks control line-lock, trans brake, and torque converter lockup.
Underneath
Beauty is more than skin deep. The chassis is a Roadster Shop Fast Track IRS. However, the rear end was modified in order to accommodate the massive 345-millimeter-wide rear tires. Those tires are Nitto NT05R drag radials. They are wrapped around custom wheels created by Greening Auto Company. They measure 18×10.5 inches up front and 19×12 inches in the back. The wheels pay homage to the design of the original wheel but with a modern touch. Especially cool is the new logo that Roadster Shop designed for this car. The logo forms the number eight (the new cylinder count) out of a pair of turbos.
Power
Back to the powerplant. That 1,504-horsepower number is when running on Ignite Racing Fuel – Yellow E98. Probably not the most practical for daily use. Not to worry though because you have other options. On 93 octane pump gas the engine is still good for 1,100 horsepower. There is actually a key that you can use to control four different fuel maps depending on what you are running at the time.
The Buick Grand National is an iconic American car. And the one built by Roadster Shop on display at SEMA 2022 might be the most impressive one in the world.
Photos: Derin Richardson; Roadster Shop
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