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Suddenly 80s cars are back
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and high-performance Buick Grand National
Leno's Law would allow classic cars in California to skip smog checks.
San Diego’s car scene is shifting gears as 80s cars roar back onto the streets. Along with them, two other past trends are making a return: red-colored Club anti-theft devices and a renewed interest in learning how to drive stick shift. The driving forces behind these trends? Late-night TV host Jay Leno and rap star Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl halftime show.
Over the weekend, a trip to the Giant Dipper roller coaster in Mission Beach offered a glimpse into this growing movement. Parked near the wooden coaster were classic rides that brought back memories of the Reagan era—but these weren’t exotic Lamborghinis or Ferraris. Instead, these were boxy, chrome-heavy G-Bodies, like a 1980s Buick Regal.
G-Bodies were some of the most recognizable American cars of the 80s, known for their squared-off boxy styling, rear-wheel drive, and mid-sized versatility. These cars became fan favorites for lowriders, muscle car customizers, and drag racers, because they were affordable for a long time, easy to customize and had a durable frame.
Enthusiasts are revisiting 80s favorites like the Honda CRX, a car that dominated the early 90s street racing scene in San Diego.
“If this SB 712 law passes, some of these G-Body cars will double or even triple in price,” said Migs Hernandez, a local car enthusiast admiring the lineup outside the Hamel's surf and skate shop in Mission Beach. “Other G-Bodies, which all share the same boxy body style, include the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and the high-performance Buick Grand National.”
SB 712, known as Leno’s Law, is a bill introduced by Senator Shannon Grove from Bakersfield. If passed, this would allow classic cars in California to skip smog checks, making it much easier for San Diego car owners to restore and drive them without constantly looking in their rear view mirrors for SDPD. To qualify, a car must be at least 35 years old and insured as a collector vehicle.
Hernandez, like many car fans in San Diego County, supports the law, which is named after Jay Leno, one of the world’s biggest car collectors and the host of Jay Leno’s Garage.
“Because we won’t have to smog them," Hernandez said, "more people will be able to fix them and get them back on the road. That’s all rides 1990 and before.”
This revival isn’t just about legislation. When millions tuned in to the Super Bowl halftime show, former San Diego Chargers fans and car lovers alike took notice of Kendrick Lamar’s dramatic entrance. The Grammy-winning rapper, in the midst of his ongoing rap feud with Drake, took the stage alongside dancers who emerged from a Buick Grand National—a car now tied to his latest hit single, "TV Off."
"All I ever wanted was a black Grand National," Lamar raps on the track, which appears on his album GNX—named after a rare, high-performance edition of the Grand National that recently sold for over $300,000 at auction.
“That Kendrick performance during halftime put the G-Ride platform on the map,” said Steve Smith, a local car collector. “Now everybody is scouring for them on Marketplace, OfferUp, local garages, and even Craigslist. If they can’t find a Grand National, they’ll settle for the more affordable models.”
However, a quick search on these platforms in San Diego shows that G-Bodies are almost nonexistent.
One 1987 Buick Regal from Jamul was listed on Craigslist for almost $16,000 and a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme recently popped up on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000. “Just 10-15 years ago, we’d find those cars around San Diego for less than $1,000,” Steve recounted.
It’s not just American classics that are seeing a surge. Import car enthusiasts are also revisiting 80s favorites like the Honda CRX, a car that dominated the early 90s street racing scene in San Diego.
“Back in the day, we built and raced these like crazy,” said Sean H., a veteran of San Diego’s tuner community. “Now they’re getting rare, and the prices are shooting up.”
Sean has been searching for a CRX, but he’s noticed the market tightening. “A Honda CRX, once a $1,500 find, is now selling for upwards of $7,000 on Facebook Marketplace,” he said. “That’s the only one up there now and that's because of the new bill that we hope will pass.”
But with the spike in demand for both G-Rides and Honda CRXs, car owners are facing another issue—theft.
“Man, I gotta bust out my old Club again,” said Sean, referring to the red steering wheel lock that was a must-have anti-theft device in the 90s. “Some of these 80s cars have thousands of dollars’ worth of rare parts, and thieves know it. But these young thieves might throw a hard pass trying to steal a car with a Club attached to the steering wheel; they might not know how to bypass it.”
Only 10 percent of Americans know how to drive a manual transmission.
However, the best theft deterrent might be the cars’ manual transmissions. There have even been reports in San Diego County of thieves breaking into cars and trucks, only to abandon them after realizing they couldn’t drive stick.
“A lot of younger car thieves can’t even drive stick shift,” joked Sean. According to a recent survey, only 10 percent of Americans know how to drive a manual transmission.
With demand for stick-shift vehicles on the rise, local driving schools are stepping up to teach people how to drive manual transmissions.
One driver, Aliya T., left a five-star review after her lesson at Stick Shift Driving Academy in Chula Vista.
“I recently had my stick shift driving lesson with Ray," she posted in a Google Review. "It was an amazing experience. He was very helpful and patient. I didn’t have stick shift experience prior to the lesson, but eventually, I got the hang of it! It was super fun, I took the Level 2 lesson! Totally recommend Ray for driving lessons!!”
With SB 712 on the horizon and 80s nostalgia driving up demand for classic cars, San Diego County finds itself at the center of a major automotive revival. Whether it’s G-Rides or two-seater CRXs, one thing is certain—the 80s are back, and if the smog-exempt law passes, they’re here to stay.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Suddenly 80s cars are back
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and high-performance Buick Grand National
Suddenly 80s cars are back
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and high-performance Buick Grand National
Leno's Law would allow classic cars in California to skip smog checks.
San Diego’s car scene is shifting gears as 80s cars roar back onto the streets. Along with them, two other past trends are making a return: red-colored Club anti-theft devices and a renewed interest in learning how to drive stick shift. The driving forces behind these trends? Late-night TV host Jay Leno and rap star Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl halftime show.
Over the weekend, a trip to the Giant Dipper roller coaster in Mission Beach offered a glimpse into this growing movement. Parked near the wooden coaster were classic rides that brought back memories of the Reagan era—but these weren’t exotic Lamborghinis or Ferraris. Instead, these were boxy, chrome-heavy G-Bodies, like a 1980s Buick Regal.
G-Bodies were some of the most recognizable American cars of the 80s, known for their squared-off boxy styling, rear-wheel drive, and mid-sized versatility. These cars became fan favorites for lowriders, muscle car customizers, and drag racers, because they were affordable for a long time, easy to customize and had a durable frame.
Enthusiasts are revisiting 80s favorites like the Honda CRX, a car that dominated the early 90s street racing scene in San Diego.
“If this SB 712 law passes, some of these G-Body cars will double or even triple in price,” said Migs Hernandez, a local car enthusiast admiring the lineup outside the Hamel's surf and skate shop in Mission Beach. “Other G-Bodies, which all share the same boxy body style, include the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and the high-performance Buick Grand National.”
SB 712, known as Leno’s Law, is a bill introduced by Senator Shannon Grove from Bakersfield. If passed, this would allow classic cars in California to skip smog checks, making it much easier for San Diego car owners to restore and drive them without constantly looking in their rear view mirrors for SDPD. To qualify, a car must be at least 35 years old and insured as a collector vehicle.
Hernandez, like many car fans in San Diego County, supports the law, which is named after Jay Leno, one of the world’s biggest car collectors and the host of Jay Leno’s Garage.
“Because we won’t have to smog them," Hernandez said, "more people will be able to fix them and get them back on the road. That’s all rides 1990 and before.”
This revival isn’t just about legislation. When millions tuned in to the Super Bowl halftime show, former San Diego Chargers fans and car lovers alike took notice of Kendrick Lamar’s dramatic entrance. The Grammy-winning rapper, in the midst of his ongoing rap feud with Drake, took the stage alongside dancers who emerged from a Buick Grand National—a car now tied to his latest hit single, "TV Off."
"All I ever wanted was a black Grand National," Lamar raps on the track, which appears on his album GNX—named after a rare, high-performance edition of the Grand National that recently sold for over $300,000 at auction.
“That Kendrick performance during halftime put the G-Ride platform on the map,” said Steve Smith, a local car collector. “Now everybody is scouring for them on Marketplace, OfferUp, local garages, and even Craigslist. If they can’t find a Grand National, they’ll settle for the more affordable models.”
However, a quick search on these platforms in San Diego shows that G-Bodies are almost nonexistent.
One 1987 Buick Regal from Jamul was listed on Craigslist for almost $16,000 and a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme recently popped up on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000. “Just 10-15 years ago, we’d find those cars around San Diego for less than $1,000,” Steve recounted.
It’s not just American classics that are seeing a surge. Import car enthusiasts are also revisiting 80s favorites like the Honda CRX, a car that dominated the early 90s street racing scene in San Diego.
“Back in the day, we built and raced these like crazy,” said Sean H., a veteran of San Diego’s tuner community. “Now they’re getting rare, and the prices are shooting up.”
Sean has been searching for a CRX, but he’s noticed the market tightening. “A Honda CRX, once a $1,500 find, is now selling for upwards of $7,000 on Facebook Marketplace,” he said. “That’s the only one up there now and that's because of the new bill that we hope will pass.”
But with the spike in demand for both G-Rides and Honda CRXs, car owners are facing another issue—theft.
“Man, I gotta bust out my old Club again,” said Sean, referring to the red steering wheel lock that was a must-have anti-theft device in the 90s. “Some of these 80s cars have thousands of dollars’ worth of rare parts, and thieves know it. But these young thieves might throw a hard pass trying to steal a car with a Club attached to the steering wheel; they might not know how to bypass it.”
Only 10 percent of Americans know how to drive a manual transmission.
However, the best theft deterrent might be the cars’ manual transmissions. There have even been reports in San Diego County of thieves breaking into cars and trucks, only to abandon them after realizing they couldn’t drive stick.
“A lot of younger car thieves can’t even drive stick shift,” joked Sean. According to a recent survey, only 10 percent of Americans know how to drive a manual transmission.
With demand for stick-shift vehicles on the rise, local driving schools are stepping up to teach people how to drive manual transmissions.
One driver, Aliya T., left a five-star review after her lesson at Stick Shift Driving Academy in Chula Vista.
“I recently had my stick shift driving lesson with Ray," she posted in a Google Review. "It was an amazing experience. He was very helpful and patient. I didn’t have stick shift experience prior to the lesson, but eventually, I got the hang of it! It was super fun, I took the Level 2 lesson! Totally recommend Ray for driving lessons!!”
With SB 712 on the horizon and 80s nostalgia driving up demand for classic cars, San Diego County finds itself at the center of a major automotive revival. Whether it’s G-Rides or two-seater CRXs, one thing is certain—the 80s are back, and if the smog-exempt law passes, they’re here to stay.
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