cars news 10: Video: The ICON Derelict ’48 Buick, Corvette ZR-1 Power, Rolls into Jay Leno’s Garage

Jay Leno with the ZR1-powered ICON Derelict '48 Buick

We love the whole concept of the ICON Derelict line. Founder Jonathan Ward finds rough, patina-laden vintage bodies, stuffs them full of modern horsepower, and hides a thoroughly sporty and capable chassis underneath that unrestored classic body.

It’s hard work, with attention to details that even a sharp-eyed car geek might not notice on first glance. But the results are legendary.

Jay Leno knows a thing or two about the driving experience of a 1948 Buick Super convertible. So when Ward brought ICON’s vision of the Buick barge to Leno’s garage, comparisons to the original were inevitable.

But with a supercharged LS9 engine from a Corvette ZR1 packing nearly 700 horsepower, and a fully custom chassis tuned to make the classic American barge actually handle, the similarities to an original ’48 are purely aesthetic.

As is usually the case with Jay Leno’s Garage videos, this is a long, deep look. You’ll want to watch the whole thing. Every nook and cranny of this custom Buick holds a nifty design or engineering secret, a custom touch that hides modern functionality behind classic gritty style.

We want one.