The Buick, a most peculiar vehicle referred to as a car, specifically a convertible, possessed the rare ability to engage in combat not only on the ground but also in the atmosphere and even in space. Its design was unlike anything else in the galaxy, originating from beyond the known regions of space. It boasted a very resilient hull and a unique engine system, providing enough power for rapid interstellar travel. Furthermore, the Buick was equipped with concealed laser cannons and cluster missile launchers, making it a formidable opponent against various threats, including starfighters, armored vehicles, ground troops, both space-based and land-based installations, and even large capital ships.
Inside, the Buick featured an intricate damage monitoring system and navigational map, along with a steering wheel and various gauges and displays. This convertible could function as a landspeeder in planetside engagements. Later, around 0 ABY, the vehicle demonstrated its capabilities as an airspeeder in higher altitudes. Around the same time it became a capable combatant in space. The addition of a hyperdrive enhanced the Buick's overall capabilities, enabling it to operate independently against enemy forces.
At one point, a person named Rudy owned the car, and it was simply known as Rudy's Car during this period. By 32 BBY, the Royal Naboo Security Forces had acquired the Buick and employed it in operations that followed the Invasion of Naboo and the subsequent recapture of Naboo. By 0 ABY, when the Alliance to Restore the Republic began utilizing the vehicle in their war against the Galactic Empire, it had aged to the point of being considered an antique. Its use continued into the era of the New Republic, as late as 10 ABY.
The Buick was a black convertible with chrome trim and accents. General Carlist Rieekan of the Alliance described it as a classic vehicle in 0 ABY, noting its heavily armored hull, which protected the pilot and any passengers. An awning-like roof sat above the pilot's seat, retracting into the rear when the Buick reached cruising speed and extending again during acceleration. The front and rear of the Buick each featured plate-like objects. These white plates displayed the words "California" and "KOELSH" in the High Galactic alphabet, but were later removed. Lighting fixtures were present on both the front and rear of the vehicle.
The interior of the vehicle could accommodate multiple passengers, including one next to the pilot. There was also a designated space for an astromech droid, which would perform necessary repairs during combat situations. When used as a landspeeder by the Royal Naboo Security Forces in 32 BBY, the cockpit was simple, featuring a roofless area with a row of lights, dials, and switches in front of the pilot. A dashboard-mounted steering wheel and foot pedals controlled the car. By 0 BBY, the Rebel Alliance was using the car as an airspeeder in the upper atmospheres of planets, at which time the pilot was surrounded by numerous displays for various functions. Around the same time the Buick was also capable of engaging in spaceflight. By this point, the instrument panel included displays for a map of the surrounding area showing enemies and allies, a system for contacting wingmates and issuing commands, a high-precision damage indicator, and weapon status readouts. A mirror hung from the windscreen, and two mirrors were mounted on each door, providing views of the area behind the vehicle, although the images were not very clear.
The Buick's interior was adorned with two decorative items: a bunny figure of Max, suspended from the roof-mounted mirror, and a bobblehead figure of an unidentified creature. A targeting computer was also included, enabling the pilot to easily differentiate between enemy and friendly units and providing detailed information on mission objectives.
The engines of the car, though powerful enough for rapid space travel, were not visible externally. Instead, two exhaust ports indicated the Buick's propulsion systems, emitting a glow reminiscent of other starfighters of the era. The repulsorlift engines, responsible for hovering, often malfunctioned, particularly when exiting a hangar into space, causing the Buick to drop upon reaching the end of the landing deck. The sublight engines would then engage, allowing the pilot to regain control and movement. The convertible also featured four wheels, two at the front and two at the rear, though the rear wheels were mostly concealed by the hull. These wheels were not used for transportation due to the car's hovering capability. The car's hyperdrive later allowed it to travel to distant locations without needing support ships or units, enabling it to operate entirely independently.
Similar to the engines, the Buick's weapons were hidden from view. However, it possessed significant firepower in the form of dual laser cannons and two cluster missile launchers. The laser cannons could deliver a continuous stream of fire. While the lasers were fired from the front, the cluster missile launchers were located at the rear and underneath the convertible, each containing a payload of three missiles.
Rudy once owned the Buick, referring to it as "Rudy's Car." By 32 BBY, the Naboo Security Forces had acquired the car, deploying it in ground missions related to the Invasion of Naboo. Despite being allied with the Naboo, a B1-Series battle droid piloted the vehicle.
Later, around 0 ABY, the Rebel Alliance acquired the car, which was already considered an antique. The Rebellion stored it in the hangars of their Mon Calamari Star Cruisers, allowing Rebel pilots like Wedge Antilles to use it in missions against the Galactic Empire. The convertible remained in their possession, and later that of the New Republic, throughout the Galactic Civil War, even as late as the Battle of Calamari in 10 ABY.
General Carlist Rieekan of the Rebel Alliance stated that the car was "a relic from a galaxy far, far away," when discussing the vehicle's origins and specifications.
The Buick serves as a recurring easter egg in every game of the Rogue Squadron series, as well as Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo, as a special unlockable. In Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader and Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, it replaced the A-wing after being unlocked. The only method to unlock the convertible was by using cheat codes. However, the Buick is not present in the PC version, as the cheat code for unlocking it does not function properly. Despite this, the source files remain in the PC version, and it is possible to unlock the vehicle using unofficial modifications. In Star Wars: Battle for Naboo, the ship is accessible in both versions of the game without any modification.
In Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, the Buick includes two references to other LucasArts games: first, a swinging Max head, from the adventure series Sam and Max, and second, a bobblehead monkey, reminiscent of the adventure series Monkey Island.
The vehicle draws inspiration from American automobiles of the 1960s, potentially as a tribute to George Lucas's well-known appreciation for classic cars. The in-game car is modeled after a 1969 Buick Electra convertible owned by Factor 5 employee Rudolf Stember. Consequently, the designation "Rudy's Car" was frequently used in various sources to locate the cheat code for unlocking the Buick in each game.