Hip hop artists have always loved luxury - gold chains, Rolex watches, and prohibitively expensive cars. The Acura Legend holds its own special place in hip hop history, having been introduced to the US in 1986, just as hip hop’s “Golden Age” was hitting its stride. Rappers loved the affordable luxury and style that the Legend offered, and it quickly made its way into the lyrics of everyone from A Tribe Called Quest to the Wu-Tang Clan.
Rapper Ludacris has gotten a lot of attention in the past few years for his humble daily driver - a 1993 Acura Legend. Though he’s had a very successful career and could easily afford a Rolls Royce or two, Ludacris continues to drive his Legend to this day. To most people, it's just a beige 90's sedan, but for Ludacris, the car is a reminder of how far he has come.
The story of Ludacris' 1993 Acura Legend proves that you don't need the latest luxury car to keep it real and look good on the street.
Origins Of The Legend
Ludacris purchased his 1993 Acura Legend back in 1999 just before his music career took off, which is part of why it holds a special place in his heart. Despite having a net worth of over $25 million, Ludacris still chooses to drive his nearly-30-year-old Acura over the Bentleys and Maybachs favored by his peers or even the more expensive cars driven by his on-screen counterpart.
The Acura Legend was a car intended for middle-management types, though it quickly found its way from the suburbs to the inner cities, where they were beloved by rappers, drug dealers, and anyone who wanted to look fresh rolling down the block. It’s no mystery why - the Legend packs a lot of luxury and style into a reliable Honda package. This reliability is probably why Luda’s ‘93 has racked up well over 280,000 miles to date.
Ludacris' Legend is a testament to Acura's engineering and build quality. While most European luxury cars of the era have been sent to the junkyard after an expensive failure, their Japanese counterparts are still a relatively common sight on the road today. A combination of reliable powertrains and inexpensive parts means they can be maintained without draining your bank account in the process.
Restored And Revamped
The 1993 Legend was in need of much repair after an accident smashed in the rear right door and quarter panel. Twenty-plus years of daily driving had also taken its toll on the vehicle, and it was going to need a lot more than a simple detailing. Luckily for Ludacris, when Acura heard about the car they were happy to help restore the Legend, and tastefully modify it for the 2015 SEMA show.
The Acura Design Studio in California worked on the car for two months to get it back to factory condition, while also adding some performance goodies like 18-inch Rays wheels, lowered suspension, Wilwood brakes front and rear, and of course, a bumping new Pioneer sound system. The Legend was repainted to the factory Warm Cashmere, but with a little bit of Icy Pearl added in to really make the car stand out when cruising down the street.
The restoration process involved a lot of searching for the right parts, as new parts for 25-year-old luxury cars usually aren’t easy to find. The Acura restoration team had to search scrap yards as well as their own parts bins to find what they needed, even getting a donor vehicle for certain hard to find parts. The hard work paid off, resulting in a car that looks fresh out of the factory despite being made in the early nineties.
When their work was complete, the car was displayed at SEMA, where it garnered much attention and praise, even when placed next to the new NSX.
Better Than Ever
After the extensive restoration by Acura’s Design Studio, the Legend was nicer than when it left the factory. The new suspension and brakes mean it handles and stops like a real sports sedan, plus the lower ride height compliments the bronze Rays wheels to make it look the part as well. When you add that together with a freshly reupholstered interior, and two big Alpine subwoofers in the trunk, you’ve got a sweet ride that can turn heads on any street corner.
Ludacris was ecstatic when he finally received the Acura and appreciated the hard work that went into the restoration and upgrades. He even took to Instagram to post about the car earlier this year, showing that he still has it 5 years after the restoration job, and reminding followers, “Never Forget Where You Come From.”
Though the car is now approaching 30 years old, Ludacris still chooses to drive his Legend. Simple yet elegant, and now freshly restored, the Acura looks like it’s ready for the next 30 years.