Yahoo Autos Ringbrothers' 1246-HP Buick Grand National Leads Trio of SEMA Builds
Ringbrothers revealed three cars for the SEMA show, including a Buick Grand National producing 1246 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-6.
The Chevy K5 Blazer "Tuka" has a 525-hp LS3 V-8 and chassis components from a Toyota Tacoma.
The Plymouth Barracuda "Infected" gets a hot pink paint job and an 807-hp V-8 from Dodge's Hellcat Redeye muscle cars.
Wisconsin-based hot-rod specialists Ringbrothers have returned to the SEMA show for 2024 with a trio of modified American muscle cars. The Buick Grand National "Invadr" pushes out over 1000 horsepower to become the company's fastest car yet, the Chevy K5 Blazer "Tuka" modernizes the classic off-roader, and the Plymouth Barracuda "Infected" injects horsepower and styling pizzazz into the iconic bruiser.
One Potent Buick
The Invadr pushes Ringbrothers to new heights. Not only is the 1987 Buick Grand National base car a more modern starting point than the majority of the company's past creations, but the boxy coupe's custom-built 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 churns out a whopping 1246 horsepower and 1000 pound-feet of torque running on E85 fuel. Ringbrothers says the engine is capable of an even more insane 2000 ponies but that the Invadr is currently tuned for daily driving, although we still have to imagine that having 1246 hp under your right foot is a bit of a scary proposition on public roads.
Although the original Grand National used a turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6, the engine in the Invadr has been completely overhauled by California-based Duttweiler Performance. Among the changes are an all-aluminum block, custom aluminum cylinder heads, and a bespoke intake manifold. The turbochargers produce 32 pounds of boost but can be cranked up to 50 pounds of boost to achieve that 2000-hp figure. Even crazier, all of that oomph is routed through a Bowler Tremec six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels.
It took 4900 hours for Ringbrothers to complete its reworking of the Grand National's body, resulting in a meaner and sleeker look. The plastic front and rear bumpers were replaced by stainless steel units with machined aluminum bumper guards, and Ringbrothers tweaked the angle of the front fenders to more seamlessly align with the new bumpers. Carbon fiber adorns the custom hood scoop, sideview mirrors, and rear lip spoiler, and the sinister styling is complemented by "Dark Vader Gray" paint.
Under the body lies a custom chassis with four-link rear suspension and Penske three-way adjustable dampers at each wheel. Orange six-piston Brembo brake calipers grab 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors. The Invadr rides on sweet HRE wheels which measure 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear and come shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The Invadr is even fitted with a nitrogen-powered air-jack that lifts the car by 15.1 inches for quick tire changes. Given the monstrous horsepower outputs, the owner will likely be burning through tires quickly.
Inside, the greyscale cabin has been reupholstered and features an array of carbon fiber accoutrements, from the steering wheel to the dashboard panels. An Invadr logo, sporting a curlicue design that emulates both devil horns and turbochargers, is stitched into the headrest. Racing harnesses for the seats will do their best to keep the driver strapped in while making the most of all 1246 horsepower.
An American Classic with Japanese Bones
The Tuka makes less than half as much power as the Invadr but instead focuses on the bones beneath the bodywork. While the Tuka looks like a 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, the off-roader utilizes chassis elements from the third-generation Toyota Tacoma, sold from 2016 to 2023, including the independent front suspension. Ringbrothers took things further by fitting control arms from Total Chaos, dampers from King at all four corners, a custom rear suspension, and a custom front skid plate.
The engine bay hosts a 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 from GM Performance, pumping out 525 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque, sent to all four wheels via a Bowler GM four-speed automatic transmission. Six-piston brake calipers and 14-inch rotors from Baer Brakes are fitted to slow the Tuka.
Some 3700 hours were spent on the Tuka's bodywork, with Ringbrothers creating a more streamlined profile by raising the tailgate and box sides two inches to match the height of the doors. The hood is fashioned from carbon fiber, and the Tuka wears a hand-built fiberglass rear top that features a panoramic roof snagged from the modern Blazer crossover. The rear window is borrowed from a Jeep Wrangler, and the powered mirrors were taken from a 2019 Chevy Blazer.
The Tuka is painted in Galactic Black and sports machined-billet aluminum roof rails and daytime running lights integrated into the grille. The 18-inch bronze wheels come courtesy of HRE, and the Tuka packs a custom spare tire mount aft of the rear seat. The powered running boards lower to ease entry into a vastly more modern cabin, which features a carbon-fiber dashboard that holds a pair of screens. There is also billet-machined and 3D-printed switchgear, with the majority of the trim in a bronze hue, along with a carbon-fiber steering wheel.
Pretty in Pink
Last but now least is the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda named "Infected," which playfully references the searing "Pink Eye" paint job. The color's name is also a reference to the 807-hp Redeye Hemi V-8 crate engine from Mopar, which was originally found in Dodge's Charger and Challenger Hellcat Redeye models. The supercharged engine also sends 717 pound-feet of torque to a Bowler Tremec six-speed manual transaxle.
Not only did Ringbrothers install a strong powertrain, but the tuners gave a complete overhaul to the chassis and bodywork. The wheelbase was extended by shifting the front wheels 1.5 inches forward while the front fenders were shortened. An all-new chassis rides on Fox coilover suspension. The HRE wheels wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and hide six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers from Baer Brakes.
The grille surround and bumper guards were each milled from a single piece of billet aluminum, and the lower front valance was widened to improve airflow. Both bumpers were made narrower and the Barracuda sports a custom rear diffuser and a carbon-fiber hood. The cabin receives white leather upholstery and custom gauges, as well as a classic "pistol grip" shifter crafted from carbon fiber. There's also a carbon fiber steering wheel, along with a custom sound system and a screen mounted low in the dashboard that runs Apple CarPlay.
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