Photo: abimelecdesign/instagram
It's no secret that back in May when we first wrote about this Hellcat-swapped Buick Grand National, we had our fingers crossed for seeing the completed build on the SEMA floor in early November. Alas, the show has been canceled due to the global health crisis, but this obviously doesn't stop the amazing project and we're here to discuss the latest updates, including a rendering previewing its final form.
Now, as hinted by digital artist Abimelec Arellano, who is responsible for this stunning pixel work, many of his renderings serve as digital dreams that motivate enthusiasts, while some even help builders visualize the appearance of a real-life project well before this is completed. For the record, the owner nicknamed the car Project Hellnational, with this probably being the first G-Body with a Gen III HEMI swap.
As stated in the intro, the pixel master was called in to provide help in the aesthetics department and it looks like the machine is building on the production look of the Buick - viewed from a distance, the project displays a tastefully restrained look, but if one zooms in, there will be tons of little beefed-up details, such as the lower front apron, the power dome hood or the downforce hardware adorning the posterior of the vehicle.
Then again, these details are required when one decides to throw in a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI that also features a few mods (last time we checked, the V8 delivered 782 ponies).
Of course, purists will disagree with this machine, since the whole idea of the Grand National's range-topping GNX version was to offer amazing performance back in the 80s while relying on a turbocharged V6.
Nevertheless, if you check out the second Instagram post below, which delivers an intermediate test run of the build, you'll notice how difficult it is to resist the blown V8 soundtrack of the contraption. Oh, and if it feels like traction is nowhere in sight, that's because the mandatory performance rubber hasn't landed on the car yet.
In fact, the rendering portrays the Project Hellnational with Toyo R888R tires, a choice many drag racers make and these are even mentioned in the comments section of the post showcasing the said run.
Now, this isn't the only supposed 2020 SEMA build we were monitoring and you'll find more projects of the sort behind the link - here's to hoping the organizers, which have hinted at a virtual replacement for the Vegas event, actually make that happen, so we can enjoy these wacky rides in one place.
As stated in the intro, the pixel master was called in to provide help in the aesthetics department and it looks like the machine is building on the production look of the Buick - viewed from a distance, the project displays a tastefully restrained look, but if one zooms in, there will be tons of little beefed-up details, such as the lower front apron, the power dome hood or the downforce hardware adorning the posterior of the vehicle.
Then again, these details are required when one decides to throw in a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI that also features a few mods (last time we checked, the V8 delivered 782 ponies).
Of course, purists will disagree with this machine, since the whole idea of the Grand National's range-topping GNX version was to offer amazing performance back in the 80s while relying on a turbocharged V6.
Nevertheless, if you check out the second Instagram post below, which delivers an intermediate test run of the build, you'll notice how difficult it is to resist the blown V8 soundtrack of the contraption. Oh, and if it feels like traction is nowhere in sight, that's because the mandatory performance rubber hasn't landed on the car yet.
In fact, the rendering portrays the Project Hellnational with Toyo R888R tires, a choice many drag racers make and these are even mentioned in the comments section of the post showcasing the said run.
Now, this isn't the only supposed 2020 SEMA build we were monitoring and you'll find more projects of the sort behind the link - here's to hoping the organizers, which have hinted at a virtual replacement for the Vegas event, actually make that happen, so we can enjoy these wacky rides in one place.
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