If Darth Vader owned a car, this would be it

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:14

'87 Buick Grand National. Epic car in standard form, with the 3.8 turbocharged six-pot it just eats V8 Mustangs alive. And then you start modifying them, and suddently they're eating everything.

750hp. Forged internals, worked heads, 70mm TB and plenum, 75lb injectors and a whacking great turbo. Set the suspension up right, and the car will run high 9s in the 1/4. As it is, it makes for a horrifically rapid street car.

Kings Racing Parts are selling it for $28k. Bargain of the century.

One more shot, a bigger one of the engine.

<3

Oh, and while I'm at it:

Vid of exhaust sound at idle.

More pics and some other vids here.

Dangerous · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:22

I thought it was Noble M400 TT V6

volospian · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:23

I know the figures speak for themselves, but there's something not quite right about a yank tank without a V8. It sort of spoils the boast a bit.

Frank "Yeah, so what's it running?"
Cletus "Ahh got a big block 460, yoo?"
Frank "Ah got me a Chevy 350 with a twin screw blower. What about yoo, Hank?"
Hank "232 turbocharged six pot"
Frank "seecks pot???"
Cletus "What in tarnation??.... Are you gay, Hank?"

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:26

Everyone laughs, right up until the point that they launch off the lights and see the jet black car alongside just disappear off up the strip ahead of them. Same as in Aus, with the Valiant Hemi 6s. Much as I love V8s, the victory is so much sweeter when you do it shy of a couple of cylinders

Firestar_3x · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:28

Fast as it might be, it looks like a long box with a shorter box placed ontop of it with windows.

Wasn't on of these running mad power and had the turbos sticking out the bonnet, video of it spinning up on the dyno iirc.

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 08:34

Yeah, way up over 1000hp.

As for the looks - that's the whole point! It (sort-of) looks like a grocery-getter, but is fast enough to bend time.

lordrobs · 30 Aug 2007 at 09:36

That just looks so wrong from the side. Half pick-up, half car

...yet I still kind of like it :confused:

paradigm · 30 Aug 2007 at 09:50

Cars like this prove why americans have NO TASTE.

Cracking specs for the engine, godawful car.

knowlesy · 30 Aug 2007 at 10:01

was expecting some led lights on the grill and under car lights red of course =P

Ex-RoNiN · 30 Aug 2007 at 10:23

paradigm said:
Cars like this prove why americans have NO TASTE.

Cracking specs for the engine, godawful car.

Agreed.

Pop that engine into an Alfa or something similarly nice looking, then we're talkin

Lowe · 30 Aug 2007 at 10:26

Even though that car is downright wrong in every respect it still gives me the horn. i wonder how it actually drives...?

alexthecheese · 30 Aug 2007 at 10:32

What does forged internals actually mean?

Firestar_3x · 30 Aug 2007 at 10:36

alexthecheese said:
What does forged internals actually mean?

As you put more power into an engine it gives off heat, forged internals such as the pistons or rods can stand more pressure / heat before they melt, basically

Stonedofmoo · 30 Aug 2007 at 12:21

I remember this car posted with pretty much the same title earlier this year

It does look mean

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 12:37

Lowe said:
i wonder how it actually drives...?

Standard ones drive alright. It's a mid-size car, so not particularly barge-like or soft sprung like some American cars can be *COUGH*like mine*COUGH*. Steering has typical American Car Steering Syndrome - i.e. bit lacking in feel - but apart from that it's fine.

That one will be rather more of an animal of course, given that it's up about 500hp from stock....

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 12:46

Stonedofmoo said:
I remember this car posted with pretty much the same title earlier this year

It does look mean

Was a different one, wasn't it? In fact, the last one of these I posted IIRC was a bone-stock GNX - the ultimate of the factory versions. Enough power to blow by 60mph in 4.7 seconds and run the 1/4 in 13.4s. The contemporary Porsche 911 Turbo would take 5.0s and 13.6s for those two tests

Phal · 30 Aug 2007 at 13:08

paradigm said:
Cars like this prove why americans have NO TASTE.

Cracking specs for the engine, godawful car.

Its not exactly a modern design is it

Plenty of fugly looking cars around here if you go back to 1989

Sone · 30 Aug 2007 at 16:59

just read somewhere the engine is based off the rover/buick v8.

Not sure why i posted, just thought it was worth an intersting fact

Clarkey · 30 Aug 2007 at 17:13

I'm convinced, where do I sign?

JRS · 30 Aug 2007 at 17:14

Sone said:
just read somewhere the engine is based off the rover/buick v8.

Not sure why i posted, just thought it was worth an intersting fact

Yep, hence the 90° angle between cylinder banks on these engines - normal for a V8, less so for a V6.