There are certain types of cars that appear over and over again at the SEMA Show, such as: first-gen Camaros, Dodge Challengers, and Ford Mustangs. All of these cars are popular with performance enthusiasts, and the cars are well-supported by the aftermarket industry. But after multiple days of walking the giant convention halls, the cars start to look the same.
Walking the floor at the 2024 SEMA Show, I passed by the STEK book and saw a very unique car that drew me in for a closer look. It was a wild custom 1965 Buick Skylark built by VRD Customs of Danbury, CT. The car is nicknamed “The Enforcer” and it blends modern technology with classic style.
The exterior is painted black, and every inch of the car is wrapped with a combination of Satin Black, Gloss Black, and Carbon Fiber paint protection film (PPF) from STEK. This gives it an interesting visual look.
The exterior is adorned with a carbon fiber hood, roof, and trunk lid, as well as front aero components, including a large front air dam. Sticking up through the hood are a pair of twin turbochargers, hinting at the performance under the surface.
Hidden under the front carbon fiber canards are night vision cameras, which are an unusual feature you don’t typically see on a high-performance drag car.
Speaking of performance, this Skylark features a 350 cubic inch Small Block Chevy engine with twin turbos, producing a strong 1,400 horsepower on 93 octane fuel. It has a custom fuel delivery system with two injectors per cylinder, and the whole thing is managed by a Haltech ECU. This is an interesting choice to go with a Small Block Chevy instead of an LS-based engine, and one that I think is pretty cool.
Even with all this performance, the car doesn’t skimp on driver comforts. It includes air conditioning, power steering, and Wilwood hydroboost brakes to help make it more comfortable and controlled on the street. Yes, this car is street legal!
The custom steel widebody fenders give the car a wider, aggressive stance. You’ll also notice the side-exit exhaust pipes just in front of the rear wheels, which add to the hot rod look. It rides on air suspension at all four corners, allowing for ideal height adjustment depending on road or track conditions. The car rides on Billet Specialties wheels with wide drag slicks in the back.
Inside, the car is fitted with Braum seats and G-Force harnesses, providing both safety and comfort. A full roll cage has been installed and painted gloss grey, adding structure and reinforcement to the car’s A-body chassis. Additional comforts include Bluetooth, navigation, and Wi-Fi modules.
Open the trunk, and you’ll find an interesting layout: dual fuel cells and a nitrous bottle are mounted over the rear-mounted radiator and transmission cooler. There is so much going on with this car that it really takes a while to let it sink in.
While it may look intimidating at first glance, The Enforcer is a no-compromise build that mixes vintage muscle and modern tech. Instead of having this or that, have both! VRD Customs has taken the classic Skylark and turned it into something truly special, a drag racing beast that can also be driven on the street. I enjoyed checking out this car at the 2024 SEMA Show.
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