Kendrick Lamar fans weren’t surprised that a Buick GNX figured prominently in his Super Bowl LIX halftime show - opens in new window or tab.. This 1987 GNX recently sold on eBay isn’t that car, but it was a low-mileage example of Buick’s late-1980s supercar.
item 1 of 21
The Best Thing
Buicks have been special to Lamar since he was born. He told Complex magazine in 2012:
My pops put me on to rap. When I was born, I came home from the hospital in an ’87 Buick Regal while my pops was bumping Big Daddy Kane.
Lamar bought a GNX in March 2024, attracted by its tire-shredding performance. He told his Instagram followers:
In a moment of confusion, the best thing you can do is find a GNX.
Lamar named his latest album GNX and posed with the car for the album’s cover.
End of an Era
The GNX was born from Buick’s early-1980s dominance in NASCAR. A limited-edition 1982 Regal Grand National commemorated Buick’s 1981-1982 NASCAR championships. Just a few of them had turbocharged V-6s, but the engine became a fixture in future Grand National models. By 1987, the Regal’s front-engine/rear-drive platform was ready to retire. The GNX (Grand National Experimental) marked the end of the era.
Buick produced the GNX - opens in new window or tab. with McLaren/ASC. McLaren engineers put in engine upgrades, including:
- Low-restriction exhaust
- A GNX-specific engine management system
Output jumped to nearly 300 horsepower from the standard turbo V-6’s 245 horses.
The GNX chassis included a torque arm mounted to the rear differential that planted the Gatorback Goodyear tires under hard acceleration. Buick reported 5.5-second 0-to-60 times and 13-second quarter-mile ETs. Deep black paint with minimal badging, a hood bulge, and fender flares and vents gave the GNX a sinister visage.
Darth Vader, your car is ready.
Car and Driver put this tagline on its cover:Shop now for OEM Regal parts - opens in new window or tab.
Muscle Clown Car
Lamar’s Super Bowl show opened with him kneeling on the hood of a GNX, rapping Bodies while dancers poured out of the car. The mind-boggling visual was Lamar’s idea. Its flawless execution fell to production companies experienced in staging intricate shows within the confines of a football field and the NFL’s time constraints.
Finding a GNX for the show wasn’t easy. Buick built only 547 of them, and they are highly prized today. Wired - opens in new window or tab. noted that GNX popularity rose even further after Lamar’s album dropped.
The Buick GNX in the halftime show was authentic. Producers gutted it to facilitate the clown car effect, admitting the act was “sacrilegious.”
They said:
Lamar’s fans were going to need to see the car and not a cheap imposter.
Flawless
The seller of the GNX example sold on eBay reported that it was a flawless, all-original, and garage-kept car. It showed 4,679 miles on the odometer. The sale included a GNX jacket and a binder full of factory and dealer documents.
The GNX’s Buy-It-Now price was $189,000 — not unreasonable for a low-mileage, well-kept GNX with documentation. And there might have been a little Lamar bump at work here, too.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.