On “ tv off,” Kendrick Lamar begins the song rhyming “all I ever wanted was a Black Grand National.” Why is the game’s top MC infatuated with this 1987 muscle car—the last rear-wheel Buick Regal T-Type put into production? For one, there are similarities between the vehicle and the Compton MC.
Car & Driver referred to the vehicle as a barbarian that lacked the elegance of other fast autos of the time. And the publication meant that as a compliment to be clear. Nicknamed “Darth Vader,” the car wasn’t Lamborghini-pretty but this American Hulk on wheels was one of the fastest whips on the planet. Only 547 black Grand Nationals were created boasting over 300 horsepower, 400 ft lbs of torque and a $27K sticker price.
The GNX could go from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds. Only the Porsche 959 and Ferrari F40 were besting the Buick at the time.
The power and scarcity of the vehicle has allowed it to increase its value as models are now sold for $100K. We've also seen a record sale of over $200K.
There is more history with the car and Kendrick. The rapper talked to Complex in 2012 and revealed that he was brought home from the hospital as a baby in a Regal.