January appears to be a fantastic month for car collectors seeking a celebrity connection. We reported on Tim Allen’s previously owned supercar, and now we have rap legend Tupac Shakur’s 1996 Hummer H1 up for grabs.
The Bonhams Scottsdale auction is on January 23, 2026, almost three decades after the rapper’s controversial death.
Carscoops reported that Tupac bought this car just weeks before he was shot in Las Vegas in September 1996. The car has barely more than 10,000 miles on the odometer.
This was Tupac’s last purchased car, and that detail matters because it links the truck to the final stretch of his life. Something rap fans will always remember.
Why the Hummer should make big money
I’ve been a collector for years, and this one feels bigger than most of the cars hitting the auction block this January. However, it does have a weird history at auction.
For clarity, this isn’t just the usual famous person owning it. It’s a legend’s last purchased car that was listed in Tupac’s estate inventory. Add in the controversial story surrounding his death, and it comes together as a one-off, with paperwork. So expect the final price to be huge.
It’s not just the story and provenance, though, the Hummer is packed with upgrades that scream mid-90s bravado. The Herald highlights off-road touches like a brush guard, a winch, and a roof spotlight. It’s easy to imagine this thing rolling through Los Angeles with zero interest in blending in.
Other details include a Clarion head unit with a 12-disc changer, an in-cabin TV, a cream leather interior, and air conditioning. In the 90s, this tech would have seemed incredibly futuristic.
In the car’s coverage, it’s also mentioned that it has an external PA system with sirens. Yes, that’s right, sirens.
The fact that it also only has a little over 10,000 miles on the clock should lead to increased interest at auction. However, this hasn’t been the case.
Weird history at auction
Some key information to know about this auction is that back in 2016, the Hummer sold for nearly $340,000. However, the winning bidder defaulted on payment.
The Hummer was also up for auction in 2022, where it failed to meet its reserve.
So maybe it’ll be third time lucky. That or the headlines after the auction might be about a shocking low price or another failed-to-sell outcome.
Magneto Magazine reported that the timing is perfect right now, with a wave of 1990s nostalgia and renewed attention around the feud era.
According to Netflix, “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” (released December 2, 2025) digs back into the Bad Boy vs. Death Row history, and has put Tupac’s name back into everyday conversation.
I love nostalgia as much as anyone, and CarThrottle’s summary is spot on. This is “a cultural artefact that just happens to have a VIN number.”
For collectors watching from the sidelines, we recommend focusing on the boring stuff that protects your wallet. This includes:
- A documented ownership chain and estate references
- Detailed condition notes, storage history, and maintenance records
- The source of the period upgrades versus later add-ons
These things may actually save you a lot of time, money, and pain in the future.
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