So… what do you think?
For those who know little about vehicle history, the 1980s was a time absent of American muscle cars. You might get by saying that kind of nonsense in a bar in Belfast, Ireland where the blokes don’t know any better, but here in North America such a claim is fighting words and exposes you as an ignoramus. There are other examples, but the 1987 Buick Grand National blows that theory of American muscle being dead in the 80s out of the water, right along with your claim you knew a guy who built a water-powered car in his garage back in 1994.
Because it came as a shining beacon back in the 80s and absolutely demolished everything from Ferraris to Lamborghinis on the track, the Buick Grand National is a folk legend among gearheads. Many fantasize about owning one, but those which haven’t been destroyed in unfortunate incidents just keep climbing in value.
That might be in part what’s behind this artist’s rendering of what a modern Buick Grand National would look like. It’s a sad replacement for the much-rumored return of the car, that was until GM yet again killed everyone’s fantasies. Hey, at least they did well with the C8 Corvette.
Anyway, this rendering done by Oscar V and posted to his Instagram account has obvious design influences from the Cadillac lineup. Some people are absolutely going to hate that fact right off the bat. After all, Buicks and Caddies shouldn’t look so much alike.
However, we like some of the details on the car, like how the artist kept the wheel design similar (but of course made the wheels much larger) and how the retro badges are still on the car. Oh, and it of course kept that blacked-out appearance everyone just loves. He even did a close interpretation of the grille and headlights.
So, what do you think? Is this too Cadillac for your tastes or did Oscar V nail it? Let us know in the comments.
See our comprehensive vehicle overview for the 1987 Buick Grand National including production numbers, performance specs, factory colors, and OEM brochures. Also, check out additional model years or view other Makes and Models in our Research center.
