- "This vehicle won the Gran Turismo Award, thanks to its high level of customization."
- ―In-game catch text for the car, from GT6's Dealership
The Buick Special is a tuned car produced by Buick. The winner of the inaugural SEMA Gran Turismo Awards with modifications done by Hot Rod Fabrication, it appears in Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo PSP, Gran Turismo 5, and Gran Turismo 6.
In-game description[]
This commemorative Buick managed to take the coveted Gran Turismo Award at the 2003 SEMA Show, an annual custom car festival. It was based on a 1962-model Buick Special 2-door saloon, a model that acquired a reputation for the excellence of its handsome styling as soon as it debuted. This particular car was rebuilt right down to the chassis, with all mechanical components completely restored and reborn as a charming hotrod with exceptionally high build quality.
This official name of this car is "Ted & Sue Richardson's 1962 Buick Special Bu' Wicked" (the first part being the owners' names). The first customization of interest is the frame, an Art Morrison racing main rail to which was added a variety of modifications. The entire suspension, including the arms, was built from scratch. The construction demonstrated fine craftsmanship in such features as the roll cage, which was attached directly to the frame and completely built into the interior.
The engine, based on a 455ci cylinder block, saw mechanical tuning including the addition of a new TA Performance aluminum head and a ProCharger F-1 centrifugal mechanical supercharger, among other changes. The engine was paired to a Richmond 6-speed manual transmission. The inclusion of a Ford 9" differential, well-established as a racing-quality component, could be considered de rigueur.
Based on a cheap and cute compact car, this Buick became a high-performance custom vehicle that marries tradition to modern technology. And that is what makes high-end American custom cars so compelling.
Acquisition[]
| Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 4 | Buick Dealership | 58,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo PSP | Buick Dealership | 58,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 5 | Used Car Dealership | 320,000 | Win the A-Spec Classic Muscle Car Championship |
| Gran Turismo 6 | Buick Dealership | 725,000 | --- |
Pictures[]
Trivia[]
- Due to a lack of model year (as it was removed in GT5), it cannot enter events meant for "classic" cars.
- It is the only SEMA GT Awards winner to be listed with the base car manufacturer as the listed in-game manufacturer.
- It has a haunted history following its award victory; Ted and Sue Richardson reportedly died in a murder-suicide perpetrated by Ted in February 2010,[1] while the builder, Ryan Butler, died in a hydroplane accident in 2011.[2] The actual car has since been sold in 2013 and again in 2023.[3]
Notes[]
- ↑ Ted and Sue Richardson's '62 Buick Special "BuWicked" - GTPlanet (the Mail Tribune article reporting it is a dead link)
- ↑ Motorsport Memorial - Ryan Butler
- ↑ Supercharged 455-Powered 1962 Buick Special "Bu'Wicked" 6-Speed on Bring a Trailer
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