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Superstar performer and producer Lionel Richie loves his cars. Unfortunately, the celebrity had to settle on a facsimile of his dream car early on. However, Lionel Richie bought a sizable portion of a California Mercedes-Benz dealership’s cars to celebrate his success with the Commodores. 

Hello, is it Mercs you’re looking for? It certainly was for superstar performer Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie, fondly remembers his second car, a Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL. However, he didn’t acquire the Mercedes-Benz as a solitary purchase. No, Richie walked into a dealer and bought seven Mercedes-Benz luxury cars at the same time. 

After sitting down for an interview with then-BBC “Top Gear” presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Lionel Richie talked about his taste and experiences with cars. Richie let Clarkson know on a 2004 episode that he always had an eye for cars, and his first desire was an iconic British sports car. 

“I couldn’t afford the XKE,” Richie said of his aspirations to own a U.S. spec Jaguar E-Type. Instead, he bought a charming little Datsun 280Z, a vehicle he described as the “discount version” of the XKE. 

Lionel Richie gets out of his car and on the red carpet at an event in LA
Lionel Richie at an event in LA | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Better yet, later in the conversation, Richie references the time in his life when his famed group, the Commodores, achieved unexpected levels of success with their second album. To celebrate said accomplishment, Richie and the Commodores decided to gift one another with cars. So, the singer-songwriter returned to the same dealer where he had purchased the Datsun. However, instead of buying one car for another band member, Richie wanted to buy seven cars to celebrate with his musical mates. 

At the time of the purchase, the proprietor of the dealership was hesitant and short with Richie after his request to buy seven cars. However, Richie said a quick call to the Bank of America’s president vindicated him. Understandably, the news that Richie was a wild success was music enough to the dealer’s ears. Check out a video of the interview below!

Source: Top Gear

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).