Dutchboys Hotrods unveiled their most ambitious project yet at this year's SEMA Show: Angelo Vespi’s 1987 Buick Grand National. It was displayed as part of the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) featured vehicles. The GNXS marks the shop's first venture into the G-body platform.
With a meticulous approach to custom work and incredible creative freedom from the owner, the finished car was clearly a fan favorite. “This is definitely our biggest build to date,” said Jason Mitchell, one of the lead builders. “It's the most amount of custom work we’ve done to a car. The owner really let us be creative, giving us the freedom to make modifications that we thought would be cool.”
The resulting G-body balances the traditional appeal of the Buick Grand National with modern performance and custom touches.
Angelo Vespi, the owner, saw the completed car for the first time during its unveiling at SEMA. Jason shared that the only specific request Vespi had was regarding the design of the wheel flares; everything else was left to Dutchboys’ expertise.
The custom cooling system is a standout feature, incorporating functional headlight inlets that split into ducts to cool the oil, power steering, and transmission systems. The ducts feed into horizontally mounted coolers, while fans controlled by the Holley Dominator ECU pull air through.
The Buick features two additional cylinders and plenty of extra displacement, compared to the original turbo V6, in the form of a 1,400hp twin-turbo 427ci LS7. Under the hood, Dutchboys opted for a Holley mid-mount front drive, along with a custom power steering reservoir mounted above the alternator for easy access. It is outfitted with Baer Brakes 14-inch Extreme six-piston calipers at the front and a GearFX nine-inch rear end.
In a nod to motorsport, the Grand National features custom center-lug wheels, designed in collaboration with Greening Auto Company.
The Dutchboys team took extra care to maintain elements of the car’s original look, including heavily modifying the factory hood rather than replacing it. The end result is a build that retains the aggressive, unmistakable profile of the Grand National while incorporating countless custom touches that elevate it to a new level of craftsmanship.
