Eleven custom Lucernes knock down the SEMA show door
By Brian Chee
|
November 1, 2006
Introduction
2006 SEMA Show: Custom Buick Lucernes – Photo Gallery: Buick and SEMA go together like beer and a corned beef hash breakfast. While it may seem like an odd pairing, it's actually quite a delight to the senses.
Seriously. So keep all those jokes about wheelchair racks to yourself. And while you're at it, keep your Mustangs, your ‘Vettes and your Vipers, too. Make mine a Buick Lucerne CXS, its long body gently nudged toward a more European style and its interior swathed in quality aftermarket materials. Stick a kickin' stereo in the dash, tint the windows, give it a nice, deep paint and some custom wheels, put rhinestones in the Buick crest…and there you have it: Buick, SEMA style.
Classic 1964 Buick Electra
Before you go thinking that Buick is for old men who can't afford a Cadillac, guess again: Buick is a nameplate steeped in performance heritage. Buicks are just as American as Ford and Chevrolets, by gum, and now aren't you ashamed? Consider the vintage 1964 “Deuce and Quarter” Buick Electra, on display at the 2006 SEMA Show: meticulously restored, it boasts a 620-horsepower ZZ572 crate engine, a hydra-matic turbo 400 automatic transmission and a custom radiator outfitted with twin electric fans. The Electra is fitted with chrome 20-inch five-spoke wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
Best of Show: Buick Lucerne by Rides Magazine
Sometimes the beauty of a car is already there – it just needs to be fleshed out. That's what Rides Magazine did with their Lucerne: they turned it over to the capable hands of designers who applied a light, sophisticated touch inside and out, and came up with a custom application that we think stands out among all 11 creative Lucernes. Called VIP, the Lucerne reflects a Japanese-influence tuner trend involving full-body sedans. Modifications on the Lucerne VIP include a black-on-black color scheme, custom body kit; lowered suspension and 20-inch wheels and tires. Designers enhanced the lines at the back of the Lucerne with a flat spoiler, and slightly smoked tail lamps and a mesh covering around two hearty exhaust pipes.
Best of Show: Buick Lucerne by Rides Magazine
Inside, mobile and iPod video plays through the factory navigation system and Critical Mass C652 component speakers are mounted behind custom metal mesh grilles. Existing wood grain dash plastics are painted single stage black, set inside an all-charcoal interior, including charcoal headliner treatment, door detail and seat trim. Two seven-inch Icon widescreen LCD monitors are located in each rear-seat headrest.
Buick Lucerne by Concept 1
A distinctive, two-tone exterior finish -- gray over bright silver metallic – are separated by two thin blue stripes highlights and enhanced by Razzi ground effects and a rear spoiler. Twenty two-inch wheels with a satin finish add a touch more aggressiveness to the Lucerne, and are wrapped with Toyo tires. Spokes are painted in the body color gray. Eibach springs also give the Buick an aggressive look.
Buick Lucerne by Concept 1
If you like suede, you'll love the headliner inside the Concept 1 Lucerne, as well as interior paint that matches the exterior. And if you like sound, you'll love it: there's a Kenwood double-din video/navigation head unit; amps and speakers are smartly incorporated in the trunk, leaving room for day-to-day Lucerne duty, meaning room for luggage and golf clubs.
Buick Lucerne D3 Signature Series
Performance is where it's at for the D3 Signature Lucerne, including a 325-horsepower V8 engine with a carbon fiber engine cover; twin stainless steel exhaust and throttle body. The exterior features a Signature Series front grille, black chrome finish emblems and a front fascia chin spoiler upgrade. Inside, the D3 Signature Series Lucerne sports embroidered tan suede inserts in the doors, seat and console; three seven-inch monitors and a navigation head unit. This luxury package rolls on 22-by-9-inch wheels in the front and 22-by-10-inch wheels in the back.
Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built
Sleek and elegant, the Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built features large, 22-inch luxury wheels painted to match the car and accented by chrome; an Eibach sport suspension, larger brakes, low-profile, and high-performance tires. Exterior paint is a deep, bright red.
Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built
The Fesler Built Lucerne interior boasts features such as a unique monotone color theme, a mobile audio/video system and with a matching interior color theme with accents that include fiberglass, suede and leather. In building out the Lucerne, Fesler Built completely disassembled the car and repainted it inside and out. All wood grain trim is also painted to match exterior colors, and there's a custom air brushing on Buick emblems and badges.
Buick Lucerne MTX
As one of the most extensively reworked Lucernes, the MTX features a custom grille, 22-inch wheels wrapped by Michelin tires, custom paint, exhaust, and custom body work. All told, there are 14 significant new parts and systems, including a custom burnt orange and piano black two-tone body paint and Razzi body kit.
Buick Lucerne MTX
Additional interior features of the MTX Lucerne is a specially designed dashboard, door panels with suede and alligator skin inserts.
Buick Lucerne QuattraSport by Performance West
Coated in a Candy Brandywine metallic exterior paint, the QuattraSport Lucerne is for performance enthusiasts who may be searching for a little more maturity and refinement. Case in point: the custom chrome body side moldings emphasize the Buick's low, sleek appearance, and the 22-inch wheels, clad with Pirelli PZero rubber, give it a tint of sophisticated mean streets. Other enhancements include chassis changes designed to improve ride and handling, 15-inch slotted rotors, custom brakes an engine management system and a cat back dual exhaust system.
Buick Lucerne QuattraSport by Performance West
The sumptuous interior features multi-hued, glove-soft Tuscany custom leather with silver pearl trim. Also inside is a Boston Acoustics custom audio entertainment system, 11 speakers an amps, amplified through nine channels and delivering more than 1,200 watts of total power (up from six channels and 270 watts total).
Buick Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms
Designed to appeal to the affluent, 40- to-50-year-old professional, the Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms is sleek enough to catch the attention of younger buyers. Features include a vibrant Candy Blue exterior finish, a hood with induction, fiberglass side mirrors, a chrome billet detail, ultra premium, one-of-a-kind 20-inch wheels, audio components and seamless body modifications.
Buick Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms
Interior enhancements to the Rick Dore Kustoms Lucerne center on audio, with two 10-inch subwoofers, four midrange and four tweeters.
Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom
Dubbed the commuter's custom, Rick Bottom Custom's Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner was built to thrill enthusiasts stuck in the daily grind with boosted performance and a comfortable interior. The fun starts with a two-tone white gold, and gold, divided by a gold stripe. There's also a ground effects kit made of add-on body pieces to the front and rear fascias and a small deck spoiler, all of which accentuate the vehicle's 2.25 inch lower posture and 20-inch wheels with Dunlop 245/40R20 low-profile tires. Under the hood resides the same V8 engine in all Lucernes but pumped up in the horsepower department by 20 percent.
Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom
Inside, Cashmere leather with perforated inserts on the seats allow a cooled-seat feature, while a hard drive-based navigation system, satellite radio, DVD, CD, two CD changers, HDD radio, rear-seat monitors and X-box plus iPod connection make for an informative, entertaining – and comfortable – experience.
Buick Lucerne by Spade Kreations, American Racing
Just how Spade Kreations managed to stick 22-by-9.5-inch wheels under the body of a Lucerne is a mystery, but it sure looks good. Especially when they accompany a ground effects lip kit, smoked tail lights and a paint job best described as neon orange. Other notable exterior changes include the relocation of the Buick porthole emblem.
Buick Lucerne by Spade Kreations, American Racing
The Spade Kreations, American Racing Lucerne features several significant interior upgrades, including an in-car stereo system featuring an in-car PC and a 2,400-watt stereo system with 17 speakers; suede fabric on headliner, pillars, dash pad and rear package tray, wood trim color matched to exterior paint and rear video entertainment.
Buick Lucerne CST by Stainless Steel Brakes
CST calls their Lucerne a rolling office, and, if true, it's the best looking and most powerful office we've seen in a long time. Grunt is handled by the 4.6-liter Northstar V8, reworked with custom heads to crank out 320 horsepower. To stop all that power, the Lucerne CST features 15-inch front and 14-inch rear rotors attached to whopping 22-inch wheels. Paint is a black cherry color with an all-black chrome treatment.
Buick Lucerne CST by Stainless Steel Brakes
Custom work inside the CST Lucerne includes a Sony full stereo system with overhead TV, and two headrest monitors powered by multimedia laptops with wireless internet connections.
Buick Lucerne LUX SS by Trent's Trick Upholstery
Trent's trick was to make the Lucerne cool, and they did just that with interior appointments such as stainless steel mesh inserts in the headliner and door panels, high-end stereo equipment, low-back bucket seats and a custom upholstered trunk. On the outside, Trent's Trick added 20-inch wheels, a modified suspension, navigation system and stainless steel gauges.
Before you go thinking that Buick is for old men who can't afford a Cadillac, guess again: Buick is a nameplate steeped in performance heritage. Buicks are just as American as Ford and Chevrolets, by gum, and now aren't you ashamed? Consider the vintage 1964 “Deuce and Quarter” Buick Electra, on display at the 2006 SEMA Show: meticulously restored, it boasts a 620-horsepower ZZ572 crate engine, a hydra-matic turbo 400 automatic transmission and a custom radiator outfitted with twin electric fans. The Electra is fitted with chrome 20-inch five-spoke wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
Best of Show: Buick Lucerne by Rides Magazine
Sometimes the beauty of a car is already there – it just needs to be fleshed out. That's what Rides Magazine did with their Lucerne: they turned it over to the capable hands of designers who applied a light, sophisticated touch inside and out, and came up with a custom application that we think stands out among all 11 creative Lucernes. Called VIP, the Lucerne reflects a Japanese-influence tuner trend involving full-body sedans. Modifications on the Lucerne VIP include a black-on-black color scheme, custom body kit; lowered suspension and 20-inch wheels and tires. Designers enhanced the lines at the back of the Lucerne with a flat spoiler, and slightly smoked tail lamps and a mesh covering around two hearty exhaust pipes.
Best of Show: Buick Lucerne by Rides Magazine
Inside, mobile and iPod video plays through the factory navigation system and Critical Mass C652 component speakers are mounted behind custom metal mesh grilles. Existing wood grain dash plastics are painted single stage black, set inside an all-charcoal interior, including charcoal headliner treatment, door detail and seat trim. Two seven-inch Icon widescreen LCD monitors are located in each rear-seat headrest.
Buick Lucerne by Concept 1
A distinctive, two-tone exterior finish -- gray over bright silver metallic – are separated by two thin blue stripes highlights and enhanced by Razzi ground effects and a rear spoiler. Twenty two-inch wheels with a satin finish add a touch more aggressiveness to the Lucerne, and are wrapped with Toyo tires. Spokes are painted in the body color gray. Eibach springs also give the Buick an aggressive look.
Buick Lucerne by Concept 1
If you like suede, you'll love the headliner inside the Concept 1 Lucerne, as well as interior paint that matches the exterior. And if you like sound, you'll love it: there's a Kenwood double-din video/navigation head unit; amps and speakers are smartly incorporated in the trunk, leaving room for day-to-day Lucerne duty, meaning room for luggage and golf clubs.
Buick Lucerne D3 Signature Series
Performance is where it's at for the D3 Signature Lucerne, including a 325-horsepower V8 engine with a carbon fiber engine cover; twin stainless steel exhaust and throttle body. The exterior features a Signature Series front grille, black chrome finish emblems and a front fascia chin spoiler upgrade. Inside, the D3 Signature Series Lucerne sports embroidered tan suede inserts in the doors, seat and console; three seven-inch monitors and a navigation head unit. This luxury package rolls on 22-by-9-inch wheels in the front and 22-by-10-inch wheels in the back.
Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built
Sleek and elegant, the Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built features large, 22-inch luxury wheels painted to match the car and accented by chrome; an Eibach sport suspension, larger brakes, low-profile, and high-performance tires. Exterior paint is a deep, bright red.
Buick Lucerne by Fesler Built
The Fesler Built Lucerne interior boasts features such as a unique monotone color theme, a mobile audio/video system and with a matching interior color theme with accents that include fiberglass, suede and leather. In building out the Lucerne, Fesler Built completely disassembled the car and repainted it inside and out. All wood grain trim is also painted to match exterior colors, and there's a custom air brushing on Buick emblems and badges.
Buick Lucerne MTX
As one of the most extensively reworked Lucernes, the MTX features a custom grille, 22-inch wheels wrapped by Michelin tires, custom paint, exhaust, and custom body work. All told, there are 14 significant new parts and systems, including a custom burnt orange and piano black two-tone body paint and Razzi body kit.
Buick Lucerne MTX
Additional interior features of the MTX Lucerne is a specially designed dashboard, door panels with suede and alligator skin inserts.
Buick Lucerne QuattraSport by Performance West
Coated in a Candy Brandywine metallic exterior paint, the QuattraSport Lucerne is for performance enthusiasts who may be searching for a little more maturity and refinement. Case in point: the custom chrome body side moldings emphasize the Buick's low, sleek appearance, and the 22-inch wheels, clad with Pirelli PZero rubber, give it a tint of sophisticated mean streets. Other enhancements include chassis changes designed to improve ride and handling, 15-inch slotted rotors, custom brakes an engine management system and a cat back dual exhaust system.
Buick Lucerne QuattraSport by Performance West
The sumptuous interior features multi-hued, glove-soft Tuscany custom leather with silver pearl trim. Also inside is a Boston Acoustics custom audio entertainment system, 11 speakers an amps, amplified through nine channels and delivering more than 1,200 watts of total power (up from six channels and 270 watts total).
Buick Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms
Designed to appeal to the affluent, 40- to-50-year-old professional, the Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms is sleek enough to catch the attention of younger buyers. Features include a vibrant Candy Blue exterior finish, a hood with induction, fiberglass side mirrors, a chrome billet detail, ultra premium, one-of-a-kind 20-inch wheels, audio components and seamless body modifications.
Buick Lucerne by Rick Dore Kustoms
Interior enhancements to the Rick Dore Kustoms Lucerne center on audio, with two 10-inch subwoofers, four midrange and four tweeters.
Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom
Dubbed the commuter's custom, Rick Bottom Custom's Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner was built to thrill enthusiasts stuck in the daily grind with boosted performance and a comfortable interior. The fun starts with a two-tone white gold, and gold, divided by a gold stripe. There's also a ground effects kit made of add-on body pieces to the front and rear fascias and a small deck spoiler, all of which accentuate the vehicle's 2.25 inch lower posture and 20-inch wheels with Dunlop 245/40R20 low-profile tires. Under the hood resides the same V8 engine in all Lucernes but pumped up in the horsepower department by 20 percent.
Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom
Inside, Cashmere leather with perforated inserts on the seats allow a cooled-seat feature, while a hard drive-based navigation system, satellite radio, DVD, CD, two CD changers, HDD radio, rear-seat monitors and X-box plus iPod connection make for an informative, entertaining – and comfortable – experience.
Buick Lucerne by Spade Kreations, American Racing
Just how Spade Kreations managed to stick 22-by-9.5-inch wheels under the body of a Lucerne is a mystery, but it sure looks good. Especially when they accompany a ground effects lip kit, smoked tail lights and a paint job best described as neon orange. Other notable exterior changes include the relocation of the Buick porthole emblem.
Buick Lucerne by Spade Kreations, American Racing
The Spade Kreations, American Racing Lucerne features several significant interior upgrades, including an in-car stereo system featuring an in-car PC and a 2,400-watt stereo system with 17 speakers; suede fabric on headliner, pillars, dash pad and rear package tray, wood trim color matched to exterior paint and rear video entertainment.
Buick Lucerne CST by Stainless Steel Brakes
CST calls their Lucerne a rolling office, and, if true, it's the best looking and most powerful office we've seen in a long time. Grunt is handled by the 4.6-liter Northstar V8, reworked with custom heads to crank out 320 horsepower. To stop all that power, the Lucerne CST features 15-inch front and 14-inch rear rotors attached to whopping 22-inch wheels. Paint is a black cherry color with an all-black chrome treatment.
Buick Lucerne CST by Stainless Steel Brakes
Custom work inside the CST Lucerne includes a Sony full stereo system with overhead TV, and two headrest monitors powered by multimedia laptops with wireless internet connections.
Buick Lucerne LUX SS by Trent's Trick Upholstery
Trent's trick was to make the Lucerne cool, and they did just that with interior appointments such as stainless steel mesh inserts in the headliner and door panels, high-end stereo equipment, low-back bucket seats and a custom upholstered trunk. On the outside, Trent's Trick added 20-inch wheels, a modified suspension, navigation system and stainless steel gauges.
Photos courtesy of General Motors