Why Tupac’s BMW Is Still for Sale and No One Will Buy It

The Gruesome Story Behind Tupac’s BMW

A black 1996 BMW 750iL with a dark history has once again “popped up” for sale after being on the market for over eight years. The car Tupac Shakur was in when he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting was originally offered for sale at $1.5 million in 2017, with no takers. Now, Celebrity Cars of Las Vegas has relisted it at an even more astonishing $1.75 million. You might think a car with this sort of history (with an M70 V12 to boot) would appeal to collectors, but there’s one aspect that’s tanked its value: it’s been completely restored. 

Bullet holes were plugged and painted over, and the original black leather interiors were refinished, leaving no signs of the events of that fateful night in 1996, except for some dings in the insulating sheet behind the door cards. The irony here is that for collectors seeking a car with legitimate ties to music history, its pre-restoration battle scars are exactly what would have made it more appealing despite the high price tag.

This BMW Was Restored When It Was A Year Old

Celebrity Cars’ acquisition of the BMW is an interesting story in itself. The 1996 7-Series, leased to Death Row Records, the label Tupac Shakur had signed with just months before his death, was towed to a police junkyard as evidence, and it was eventually restored and auctioned off in 1997 by BMW Financial to recoup its investment. The next owner managed to put over 100,000 miles on the clock over a few years before realizing its connection to Tupac Shakur. It was then sold to a collector who further refined the restoration, including having custom wheels made that replicated the set that was on the car at the time of the shooting, which were subsequently damaged in the attempt to get away from the shooters.

Celebrity Cars bought the vehicle from the collector and had it listed for a price that was hard to digest nearly a decade ago. Tupac’s BMW was even featured on the TV series Pawn Stars in 2018, but no sale occurred thanks to its high asking price. 

Cold Case Heat Drives Demand

Celebrity Cars is said to have been firm on its selling price, having reportedly turned down an offer for $900,000 from an overseas buyer when the car first went on sale with them. The prime suspect in Tupac Shakur’s shooting is set to face trial on 21 January 2026, and Tupac’s own Hummer H1 is to be auctioned a few days after, probably sparking an increase in inquiries about the car the rapper had his last ride in.

The BMW in which Tupac was gunned down has been described as art, similar to a 1928 Cadillac once owned by Al Capone. However, unlike the Cadillac, the restored BMW doesn’t wear its history on its sleeve. The only visible signs of what occurred are barely visible after taking half the door apart, thanks to the restoration job. To most collectors, that’s like asking top dollar for a Picasso that’s been painted over.