This Beastly Custom Buick Special With 550 HP Seeks New Owner

Back in 2002, Ted and Sue Richardson embarked on an ambitious project to convert a stock 1962 Buick Special into a monstrous 550 horsepower machine. The aim was simple: the duo wanted to build a sleek yet powerful car to compete for 2003 Street Machine of the Year that retained the character of the original Buick but had the power of a performance machine. The result was a one-of-a-kind custom nicknamed the "Bu'Wicked," which is now up for sale at the coveted Barrett Jackson Collection Showroom.

The 1962 Buick went through an extensive transformation at Hot Rod Fabrication, where it was placed on an Art Morrison chassis with custom coilover suspension and fitted with a hefty 7.5-liter Buick 455 big-block V8 engine under the hood churning out 550 horsepower, which was linked to a six-speed manual transmission and high performance brakes. 17-inch Budnik Arrowhead wheels were fitted with Michelin Pilot tires. With all these modifications, the beastly Buick could reach a top speed of 186 mph. Inside, the Bu'Wicked is fitted with front Fiero bucket seats, a custom-made rear seat and a roll cage. It's finished in a black and green paint scheme to match the hand-stitched green leather of the interior upholstery.

The Bu'Wicked is something of a celebrity in the custom car world, having made appearances in several hot rod magazines, as well as the 2003 Street Machine of the Year where it finished in the top five. It's perhaps best known its appearance in the Gran Turismo 4 video game back in 2004, having scooped the Gran Turismo Award at the show. The game developers pick the car that catches their eye and immortalizes it into the game which is played by millions. Such fame comes at a price, though: Barrett Jackson want $150,000 for the Bu'Wicked.