The 1987 Buick Grand National has long held a special place in the muscle car world, known for its stealthy blacked-out look and performance that embarrassed much larger V8s in its day. This example, currently listed on eBay, takes that reputation and pushes it into an entirely different universe. While it still looks every bit like the Grand National people recognize, nearly everything beneath the surface has been transformed into something far more extreme. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
According to the seller, this car was purchased in 2016 and subsequently underwent a complete mechanical reimagining. The original turbo V6 has been replaced with a Dart LSX-based 427ci V8, built by Thompson Motorsports and designed to handle enormous boost. Topping the engine is a massive Bullseye Power 88mm turbocharger, supported by a custom liquid-to-air intercooler system. Engine management duties are handled by a FuelTech FT600 ECU, allowing the car to run on either 93-octane fuel or E85 through selectable tuning. The seller claims output in the neighborhood of 1,500 horsepower, which puts this Grand National well into modern supercar—and beyond—territory.
Handling that kind of power requires serious supporting hardware, and this build appears to have it. The drivetrain centers around a Pro Torque–built 4L80E automatic transmission, equipped with a transbrake for aggressive launches. Power is sent rearward through a custom 9-inch rear end from TRZ Motorsports, a proven choice for high-horsepower applications. A removable parachute assembly is mounted at the rear, underscoring just how serious this car is when it’s pushed hard.
The chassis and suspension were addressed as thoroughly as the powertrain. A Ridetech Tru Turn front suspension with adjustable coilovers is paired with Strange Engineering components and TRZ hardware in the rear. Braking is handled by a hydroboost-assisted system with Wilwood six-piston front calipers, ensuring the car can stop as confidently as it accelerates. The wheel and tire setup reflects its dual-purpose nature, with street-friendly rubber up front and Mickey Thompson ET Street tires in the rear.
Inside, the car balances race-focused equipment with street usability. A FuelTech digital display replaces the factory gauges, providing comprehensive engine data, while features like climate control and a modern stereo keep it livable outside the track. A roll bar with removable door bars adds safety without permanently sacrificing access or comfort.
This Grand National isn’t a lightly modified street cruiser—it’s a fully realized, no-compromise build that blends classic G-body presence with modern turbocharged LS performance. For someone seeking one of the most extreme interpretations of Buick’s legendary coupe, this car stands in a category of its own.
Need a little more cowbell…
“Oh God” handle above door and spare pair of underwear available separately
Is traction an issue 🤔 🏁
One way to find out
NOPE!!
This oddity might as well have 13,500 HP.
Put Chevrolet Monte Carlo emblems on it since it has…
It didn’t sell on the auction site…
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-buick-grand-national-265/
$78,500 bid
Instead of running a Grand National why not just use a regular Regal?
Agreed, but they may have already had this car and kept updating the drivetrain until it wound up like this. It happens all the time, the owner is attached to the car and don’t care about what it started out as.
The ad doesn’t read like the seller is the one that built it, though it states it is. It’s too antiseptic and not written in the first person.
It’s really well built with what appears to be no expense spared. I’m sure the asking price is no where close to the amount of money that’s been spent.
Steve R
It’s gotta be a sizable chunk of overall build with an ask of $115k
Its a beast but I wonder what happened to the original drivetrain/engine and why it was changed out.
I can only hope the original engine was blown beyond repair, so as long as a new engine was necessary anyway… things got out of hand from there.
Otherwise, I might’ve gone with a different model that looked the part but never had anywhere near the legendary performance of a GN. I once saw a late-model G-body Cutlass Supreme almost completely blacked-out GN-style, except for bright polished wheels and a thin chrome strip around the quarter windows and T-tops; that’d’ve done the trick.
I’m with Ralphie Wiggum on this car :
“unsane”
This is an unserious automobile.
The parachute attachment suggests this car will exceed 150 mph in a quarter mile. The parachute-chassis connection appears questionable. The rollbar and down bars are nice to brag about but the lack of a full cage suggests this car has never has a sub-eleven second run. What level of tech inspection will this car pass?
AFA being streetable, this car is boy-racer material. At least spectators will be impressed.
The cage in its current configuration is fine until 10.0, at least. NHRA has backing off safety rules for late model cars for years, currently allowing cars later than 2014 to run as quick as 9.0 without a roll bar.
Some tracks will let anything run as long as the driver paid for a tech card, regardless of its safety equipment. There was a track like that near me that operated that way, it attracted people that only wanted to go fast with little regards to safety. It would routinely field events with more cars and spectators than a nearby track that followed the NHRA rulebook.
Steve R
I’m always amused by comments posted by nitpickers on a car like this. You know darn well that you’d take a turn behind the wheel if offered the opportunity and that you’d end up with a smile on your face afterwards.
The cops are going to luv seeing that parachute.
Because most are likely curious… the ebay listing puts the opening bid at $115,000 (no takers yet), with a buy-it-now price of $145,000. And, it’s located in Linwood, New Jersey.
Should have used a regular regal instead of butchering a rare GN. Thats my opinion I would keep it as it came from factory and built up that engine, Thats just me….
I believe Cypress Hill once had a famous song about this car, “Insane in the Drivetrain”.
It’s cool but the wheels sure ugly it up over the look of the stock ones,
That paper work and the one thing missing is a time slip. All that good stuff and nothing to show that it works properly together. 11 second cars are one thing, 9 are another, plus the driver (and track) really matters. In this case at least a $25k difference in price. Buyers will line up for real speed, not so much for a parachute.
But for a cars and coffee, this one is going to steal the morning. Georgous..
145K? Hood doesn’t line up with front header panel, headlights are off center, missing bezels. Trim line design body moldings? they look horrible and paint is fair condition at best. And asking 145k? Newer Vette tuned by Hennessy same or more hp for same price or less. Big pass on this one
I could be wrong, but I think I recognize this car. It was for sale in the Atlanta area a few years back. At that time, it had a recently installed LSX carate engine and eBay turbo kit that wasn’t running well. I bid, but bowed out wondering if the crate engine was wounded. I believe it went to a shop in New Jersey, and reappeared a couple years later have been quite competently completed. Not sure of the current seller. Bear in mind that a pump gas tune probably makes about half that horsepower figure, about right for the sprit of a GN, having evolved to current tech. Once the original drivetrain has been destroyed, I see no point in trying to recreate it, there are enough bubbled wrapped, low mileage cars for the museums. I enjoy seeing one made to run like. The original engineers would have done it in ‘87 if they could.
I’d rather have the ’62 Catalina Super Duty, although the (long ago) teenager in me says what great fun it would be to light up those rear tires at a stoplight, creating a huge cloud of smoke!
what a shame if this was a real G/N to have hacked up for this set up. should have cloned out a plain regal instead. real shame but that’s just me
That setup should take the wiggle out of the G-body shuffle.
Blah blah blah to the nitpickers.
I’m all about horsepower and going fast, I have a 500HP ’69 Camaro. But unless this is used as a track-only car, what good is 1500HP on the street? It’s either going to get you killed or get you put in jail.