It’s amazing how many vehicles were manufactured in the 70s and 80s that resembled what fictional character Cruella Deville drove in the Disney classic 101 Dalmatians. Of course, the Mercedes SSK could also be looked towards for inspiration, but there’s so little information available on this 1982 Baroque, we may never know what it was intended to resemble. It is certainly unique, however, especially with a turbocharged drivetrain lifted from the Buick Grand National. Find it here on craigslist for $19,500, and go here if the ad disappears.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Miguel for the find. The seller claims the Baroque is one of just 11 ever made, which would make it a fair amount rarer than a Zimmer, Stutz or comparatively mass-produced Excalibur. The lines aren’t drastically different from any of those cars, though it does look far less kit-car like than the others. The body shut lines seem tighter and the design more cohesive, despite its combination of styles from wildly different eras.
I find this Baroque so much more appealing than the other cars mentioned solely for the powertrain choice. Seeing another SBC or 5.0L V8 is old hat, but the lusty turbocharged Buick mill is the non-conformist’s choice if driving a swoopy recreation like this is your bag. The seller notes it wears just 41,000 miles from new and owning it will put you in extremely exclusive company: just 11 are said to exist in the world. The frame is also GM-sourced, noted as a “…GM/Buick chassis.”
Accommodations appear decent but not over the top. The seller notes, “This car not a kit car, manufactured in Southern California by the Baroque company in the early 80s.” If that’s the case, perhaps it shouldn’t be classified with other kit-style vehicles. The asking price is $19,500, which seems ambitious for such a niche vehicle; however, if just 11 were made, chances are someone’s keeping track of these rare creations and will pony up for such exclusivity. Would you?
I like the looks except for the tail lights. As for the motor you can have it. I’d rather see a straight six or even restored straight eight. This 3.8 without the turbo on couldn’t get out of its own way, and is a crappy motor. Frankly you’d be far better off with a hoe hum sbc 350 but as I said for this car an inline engine would be cooler. How about the trail blazer 4.2 DOHC. Variable valve timing port injection coil on plug engine, That and an over drive transmission. I’d take anything over that boat anchor in there now.
You are totally off base on the Buick 3.8 These were very durable and can be built to withstand 1000 hp or more. However this version is not fuel injected and an early version of the turbo. The 3.8 was one of the most successful engines GM ever made and the power varied per application.
I remember a lot of rod knocks in them.
When you have bought and sold a lot of cars, you remember things.
Maybe the later 3.8Ls, but the early ones were total crap. The oil only seemed to lubricate the ground beneath them. Lot’s of noise and knocks from them.
That isn’t the 3.8L Grand National motor; the GN was fuel injected. Buick had been producing turbocharged 3.8L’s back to the 1970’s with the blow-through system shown here, and they weren’t particularly great motors either. I’d almost rather see the SBC or even a 301/305/307 from any of the BPO marques.
Even a Caddy 4.1L would seem preferrable. . .
From the know-it-all Wiki:
In 1978, GM began to market the 231 as the 3.8 liter as metric engine sizes became common in the United States. The RPO Code was LD5, though California-emissions versions were called LC6. Starting in 1979, the engine was used in the front-wheel drive Buick Riviera, though still with a longitudinal mounting. Larger valves and better intake and exhaust boosted the power output for 1979.
A turbocharged version was introduced as the pace car at the 1976 Indianapolis 500, and a production turbo arrived in 1978. The turbo 3.8 received sequential fuel injection and a distributorless wasted spark ignition system in 1984. In 1986 an air-to-air Garrett intercooler was added and the RPO Code became LC2. The LC2 engine has a bore of 3.80″ and a stroke of 3.40″. The respective horsepower ratings for 1986 & 1987 were 235 hp (175 kW) & 245 hp (183 kW). The limited production GNX benefitted from additional factory modifications such as a ceramic turbocharger, more efficient Garrett intercooler, low restriction exhaust system and revised programming which resulted in a 276 hp (206 kW) factory rating.
The turbo 3.8 liter was used in the following vehicles:
•1978–1987 Buick Regal Sport Coupe, T-Type, Grand National, Base T, Limited T, Turbo T, and GNX
•1978–1980 Buick LeSabre Sport Coupe
•1979–1980 Buick Century Turbo Coupe & Sedan
•1979–1985 Buick Riviera S-Type, T-Type and less than 100 Convertibles
•1980–1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
•1989 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo
Nice find Miguel. I’ve never seen one of these before. Looks like it would be fun to cruise in but definitely not a drag racer and wasn’t built for that anyway. I wonder how many came in this colour. It looks great on this car.
I just had a few questions when looking at this.
If it is a one owner car from 1982, why does it have a 1991/1992 license plate on it.
I would also like to see how it is titled in California. Was this company actually registered as a car manufacturer or was it registered like a kit car.
It does look nice though and it would look great running down the highway.
I am sure the engine can be updated to fuel injection like the GN had.
Absolutely de rigueur for our inner parvenue poseur. Or, dare I say, pimp?
For 20k, a person would be Baroque after they bought it. ( sorry I had to do it)
Outstanding!
You do have to wonder if the person who named the car made that connection.
Pretty Good!
I think maybe that’s why they named it the Baroque Motor Company. Might have been a better name for GM.
WTF
“… previous owner: Herman Munster”
Not bad but the design of the bumpers and the tail lights appeared to have been very little attention
A rolling tragedy on so many levels.
Whenever I see one of these ostentatious, half-new and half-old cars like this, I just roll my eyes and smh. >Insert Picard facepalm meme here.< The Clenet comes to mind. Clearly designed for someone who isn't getting enough attention in their life. "HEY, LOOK AT ME!"
This would be a fun car…to enter in the local destruction derby. Now that would be the best use for this monstrosity.
Go right ahead Bro. Be my guest. As long as you can afford the $19 and a half big fat ones for your ticket of admission, let ‘er rip.
Looks like a factory CF5 car.
a four wheeled gargoyle, one of eleven automotive horrors unequally ugly
even a panther had some fluidity in its design….no no no on so many levels no
Looks to me like it is built on , and based on a Buick Regal ,, with the fiberglass panels attached ,,,,similar ideas as the Chev Chassis-ed Auburns , Lincoln/Couger based “neo classics ,,,, still a “kit-kar ,,,, jp