Last Updated on December 12, 2024
Whoever drives a classic car carries an air of sophistication with them which is so loud that it commands attention. In a world where people own the same car as everyone else, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Rowan Atkinson, Patrick Dempsey, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Nicolas Cage, Simon Cowell, Eric Clapton, Idris Elba, and Richard Hammond have raised the bar high in terms of car ownership. They are the top 10 famous classic car collectors, that classic car enthusiasts look up to for inspiration.
After achieving greatness in their respective careers, these personalities that we all know and admire are now enjoying the luxury of celebrating their own individuality by driving the most luxurious cars in the world.
What are classic cars?
Although there are no fixed criteria when it comes to labeling a specific car as a 'classic,' there are certain commonalities among government bodies, automobile clubs, and insurance companies when it comes to this prominent designation. The criteria involve the age, price, quality, and number of vehicles produced for each model. A car that's over 20 years of age can be considered a 'classic car' if it was sold at a high price range, of high quality, and especially if the car belongs to a limited edition model.
What are the Most Popular Classic Cars?
While all classic cars feature timeless elegance and luxury, some are simply just a cut above the rest. One of the most popular classic cars that can be seen around is the 1961 Jaguar E-Type and 1964 Aston Martin DB5. The 1961 Jaguar E-Type was hailed as "The Most Beautiful Car" by no less than Mr. Enzo Ferrari himself. However, the fans of the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 would beg to disagree especially so that it has the word cool written all over it from the time it got featured in one of the James Bond movies.
Why do people collect classic cars?
Clearly, classic cars scream expensive, but this is not the sole reason why they remain to be a sought-after vehicle even in this day and age of technological advancement. Classic cars have stood the test of time and have outlived their purpose which is an obvious testament to the unrivaled quality and impeccable craftsmanship that was rendered to the vehicle. Since it has been around for a long period of time, each car carries with it a certain amount of history that creates nostalgia for anyone who sees it. The fact that the car is no longer being manufactured, driving a classic car is a great experience that one can not help but feel proud of.
10 Famous Classic Car Collectors
Jay Leno
Jay Leno is a talented comedian and successful host known for his late-night talk show, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The show may have ended after airing over 4,600 episodes in a span of over 2 decades, but this opened a new door for Leno to showcase his passion for classic cars.
In 2015, the reality show "Jay Leno's Garage" began airing on CNBC where Leno gets to review classic cars as well as feature the ones from his impressive collection. Leno has approximately 181 rare and classic cars but the 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 Kompressor is by far his favorite. Aside from featuring his awe-inspiring classic car collection, the host also gets to invite famous guests to his show. In the past, he had Billy Joel, Bruce Willis, Elon Musk, and fellow classic car enthusiast, Tim Allen joining his show as guests.
Tim Allen
Tim Allen is a celebrated actor and comedian known for providing the voice of Buzz Lightyear from the blockbuster animation film, "Toy Story." Allen started his acting career in the sitcom "Home Improvement" where he played Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor. Nobody could play Tim Taylor better than Tim Allen because just like the character, the actor also has a deep admiration for classic cars. In fact, Allen has over 20 rare and classic cars hiding in his sizable garage. Of all the classic cars in his collection, Allen favors the 1971 Chevrolet Nova the most. He refers to it as The Sexiest Car that he ever owned and even his wife loves it as much as he does.
Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson is a famous actor and comedian known for creating the British animated sitcom, "Mr. Bean." Aside from being its creator, Atkinson himself also starred in the show as the titular character known for driving a 1977 British Leyland Mini 1000. The fans of Mr. Bean have always been fascinated by the character's classic car but it's nothing compared to the exorbitant classic car collection of the actor himself. One of Atkinson's favorites from his collection is the 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage which was named "Britain's First Supercar."
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey is a successful actor who is most notable for his portrayal of Dr. Derek Shepherd from the TV drama series, "Grey's Anatomy." Aside from being an actor, Dempsey is also a race car driver and a bonafide classic car enthusiast. Dempsey's passion for classic cars started at a very young age when he saw a 1979 Porsche 911 on a poster. With the success of his career, Dempsey doesn't only have one but over a dozen of classic cars in his collection. The classic cars that he currently owns include the 1982 Porsche 911 SC, Jaguar XK-E, and 1963 Porsche 356.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a retired boxing champion with an estimated net worth of approximately $450 million as of 2022. With the incredible amount of wealth that the boxing champ has amassed all through his career, having an extensive collection of insanely expensive classic cars is a type of splurge that he definitely can afford. Among his $40 million worth automobile collection are the over 3 dozens of classic Rolls Royces that he had collected over the years.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is a multi-awarded actor with a career that spans over 4 decades. Unbeknownst to most of his fans, Cage came from an Italian-American family of prominent filmmakers. The actor's real name is Nicolas Coppola and only took a stage name in the hopes of establishing his own career without the help of his last name. Aside from his passion for acting, Cage is also passionate about classic cars, especially Italian makes. In fact, the actor used to have a lot of classic Italian cars in his collection until he got into trouble with the IRS. The classic cars that he once owned include Bugatti Type 101, Porsche 356 Speedster, and Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet.
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell is an English TV mogul known for creating successful franchises such as Got Talent and The X Factor. With the success of his franchises, Cowell has amassed a net worth of around $600 million, and a good amount of it he spends on lavish classic cars.
Simon, who also happens to love motorbikes should maybe just stick to driving to cars as it seems whenever he hops onto a motorbike, he gets into an accident.
The TV mogul didn't fail to impress when he was seen picking up groceries using his classic Ford Bronco SUV way back in 2013 but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Cowell actually owns over 2 dozen class car models which include a classic Porsche Speedster, Bentley Azure, and Jaguar E-Type. For a man like Simon Cowell, there is always a car that can match any mood.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is one of the most influential singers and songwriters of all time. Clearly, the singer is a classic car fanatic which is evident in the lyrics of one of his songs. Clapton even discussed his fascination for classic cars in his autobiography which was released in 2007. The Ferrari Daytona, Ferrari 512BB, 1949 Ford Coupe Hot Rod, 1932 Ford Victoria Hot Rod, and 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood are just some of the classic cars that he has in his collection. Aside from the numerous classic cars that he owns, Clapton also has a one-of-a-kind car that was made especially for him by Ferrari which is quite an achievement on its own.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba is an influential actor, rapper, and producer who is most notable for his portrayal of Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Elba's fascination for classic cars stemmed from his father who used to work at a major automotive factory in London. His love for classic cars only grew stronger as his collection grew over time. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black and Bentley Continental GT are only two of the many cars in his collection.
Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond is an English TV presenter known for co-hosting the motoring show, "Top Gear." Hammond is not only a mere presenter of the show because he is a bonafide classic car enthusiast as well. From his classic Land Rover Defender to his Jaguar E-Type and 1982 Porsche 911 SC, the TV personality clearly has his own fair share of beautifully crafted classic cars. However, the 1968 Mustang is his favorite in all his collection and he even refers to it as one of the wonders of the world.
