The most famous muscle cars may have been built in the 1960s and 1970s, but Ringbrothers is here to remind people that they’re not limited to that era.
The Wisconsin custom shop, best known for its work on classic hot rods, brought a supercar Buick Grand National restomod called the “Invadr” to this year’s SEMA Show. The show has been upgraded in every way and is actually the fastest car in Ringbrothers history.
Although it’s hard to believe today, there was a time when the world’s fastest production car wore Buick’s stepped shield logo. It was 1987 and the car was the GNX, an experimental version of the high-performance Grand National that had been released during the model’s final year of production. This version of the car came with a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produced over 300 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 124 mph. Add to that its distinctive all-black appearance, and it’s no wonder it would go on to become one of the most respected American-made cars of the past 40 years.
Inside a 1987 Buick Grand National “Invadr” by Ringbrothers
Ring Brothers/Facebook
The GNX may be the most powerful version of the original Grand National, but it has nothing on the Ringbrothers design. It also has a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine, but it has been completely overhauled and equipped with a twin-turbocharger. The custom powertrain produces 1,246 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of twist sent to the rear axle via a six-speed manual gearbox. No performance numbers have been released, but Mike Ring, co-founder of Ringbrothers, explained that it could easily outperform the original GNX.
“The acceleration of this car is nothing short of violent.” he told Top Gear earlier this week. “This may be the fastest car we’ve built yet.”
Ring Brothers/Facebook
However, the powertrain has not been completely reworked. The car is based on a new custom chassis, has a unique suspension system with adjustable dampers, and new carbon-ceramic brakes at the front and rear.
It also looks a little different, although only the most die-hard Buick enthusiasts will notice that. The Invader wasn’t technically painted all black, but instead was finished in dark grey, which should be dark enough for purists. The old plastic fenders were also stainless steel units and the body came with a number of custom fiber pieces that improved aerodynamic performance. Inside, there’s a new cage and plenty of exposed carbon fiber.
