Although GM didn’t run any ads in this year’s Super Bowl, a GM icon quite literally took center stage in Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show. Lamar dropped his newest album entitled GNX in November, using his own personal Buick GNX in the album art. The car was an obvious choice for a prop in Lamar’s halftime show, but the one on stage wasn’t his car.
The show began with Lamar crouched on the hood of the Buick GNX performing his song “Bodies.” When the doors and trunk opened, scores of dancers jumped out of the car from a corridor underneath the stage.
Based on a story from Wired explaining the behind-the-scenes story of making the Super Bowl halftime show happen, it sounds like an authentic Buick GNX was sourced and gutted to be used as a clown car for this performance.
“That car was not easy to find, especially since he dropped his album,” art director Shelley Rodgers told Wired. “We could have just used his, but I don’t know that he would’ve liked it after.” The car was found at a “mom-and-pop car lot” in Riverside, California. The article discusses the difficulty in finding the car and its bump in value since the release of Lamar’s album.
The car in the show was tracked down by Erik Eastland from All Access, who fabricated the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show. Eastland told Wired that Lamar’s fans were “going to need to see the car and not a cheap imposter” during Sunday’s halftime show. This comment implies that the gutted clown car on the stage wasn’t a Regal-based GNX clone but the real deal.
Lamar may tour with the car audiences saw at the Super Bowl halftime show and continue using it as a prop. However, its modifications were too extensive to bring it back to life. Once a car is hollowed out like that, it can never really return to roadworthy status, at least not as a numbers-matching car.
Was this a worthwhile sacrifice to bring the Buick GNX some much-deserved spotlight, or was it a waste of a rare and iconic muscle car?
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In reality it wasn't a GNX, but was a Grand National.
I hope that is true. They look similar. If they butchered a true GNX, it is a travesty of enormous proportion.
It would have been a little more impressive if he would have used his own car and left off the clown car effect. He and his choreographer were clowns enough. The show stunk.
Ooof. They should’ve just used a Regal.
“That car was not easy to find, especially since he dropped his album,” Oh puleeze, the scarcity of a GNX has nothing to do with his album.
So he butchered 2 prices of art last night, a classic car, and music as a whole.
Exactly, who the hell listens to this garbage? What language was it supposed to be?
The inclination to trash items of historical significance to "make a buck" should infuriate anyone with reasonable intelligence. Whether it's a muscle car or a religious artifact doesn't make any difference. Hopefully, Kendrick Lamar's stage prop wasn't an actual Buick GMX, Grand National or even a Turbo Regal. Not that he'll give a flip, but if he did pay to destroy one of Buick's iconic muscle cars, I'm filled with total disrespect for Mr. Lamar and his decision. If the public is being misled and a less iconic vehicle was modified, I apologize for voicing my frustrations.
Damn Steve. You must be a lawyer. other then fat fingering the m key instead of n in GNX. You went deep brother.
Sorry 'bout the typo. Also, not a lawyer, kinda got carried away ...
We’ll alert the media…thanks.
Imagine that. Over half of the country looking at your product. Yet you don't have that product on the lots.
There were also two ads featuring first generation Camaros. Another popular product GM doesn't think you deserve.
That halftime show tops the charts...for the absolute worst ever.
From what I've seen over the years I didn't think it was possible. Half time show reached a new low.
Let me know if the halftime show with the wardrobe malfunction (Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake) is worse. I haven't watched professional sports since then, and don't miss it.
Really, a one second shot of a naked breast was so detrimental to your psyche? I hope never see what Trump likes to grab.
The kind of money you’ll never see.
If this clown actually had a GNX cut-up for arguably the worst halftime show that I've ever seen in my 51 years, it underscores the fact that nothing is sacred in America anymore. It would also prove that this guy has more money than brains OR talent. And please...don't try to take credit for the market demand and pricing of the GNX. Prices have been bonkers for years. George, you calling it a clown car was certainly appropriate. This guy is certainly a clown!
I watched 45 seconds of it then switched it over to a Star Wars rerun I’ve seen at least five times. Anything was better than watching that mess.
turned to Archie Bunker myself.
meathead