10 Famous Car Collections And Their Collectors

Collecting cars is something that’s generally reserved for the ultra-wealthy, or junkyard owners, at least on the larger scale of things. The passion some have for cars as a whole, for many, is very difficult to contain in just one vehicle. Many enthusiasts find themselves owning several vehicles at once. Even on the lower end, most gearheads still need a daily driver to go along with their project cars. Others may simply save for a car they like, purchase it, and then repeat the entire process all over again. It’s just what happens when you’re into cars and have enough income to feed your dreams. Life is too short to be spent driving the same car for decades.

On the higher end of the scale, those with greater resources have accumulated collections that humble those of your average enthusiast. These collectors have the same core interests as the rest of us, but far more cash to play the game. When the bar is raised this high, it can produce some captivating effects for car lovers everywhere. Whether it’s modern hypercars, muscle, or classic cars, there’s always someone desiring to hoard. With that said, here are 10 of some of the most interesting car collectors across the globe.

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10 Bruce Canepa

Bruce Canepa is the host of one of the United States’ most extraordinary collection of racing and sports cars, covering nearly all genres of motorsport across several decades. From Le Mans legends like the Porsche 917K to one of Dale Earnhardt’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo stock cars, Canepa seems to have covered all the grounds.

In addition, Canepa is perhaps best known for the creation of the Porsche 959SC, which is an improved version of the original Porsche 959 from the 1980s. On top of which, Canepa also helped extensively with the Show or Display laws that allowed 959 owners to utilize their vehicles on public roads, despite their gray area of legality, as these cars weren’t originally eligible for sale in the United States.

9 Ken Lingenfelter

Ken Lingenfelter is the son of a General Motors executive and the owner of one of the best performance companies in the entire country. On top of which, he certainly has a knack for accumulating cars, and not just the typical pieces of American iron.

Lingenfelter reportedly owns over 150 muscle cars, some of which being the rarest of their kind in existence. Furthermore, Lingenfelter also managed to get his hands on one-off prototypes, like the 1954 Corvette EX-87 test mule, as well as a plethora of modern supercars from across the world.

8 Jerry Seinfeld

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld might be all about the laughs when he’s on television, but he’s definitely serious when it comes to cars, especially vintage Porsches. At one point, Seinfeld had owned 43 different examples from the famed German marque.

These Porsches are the most cherished in the entire world, including an ultra-rare 1949 356/2 Gmünd Coupe. This model is the earliest production Porsche on record and just one of fifty built in Gmünd, Austria before the company set up shop in Germany.

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7 Bruce Meyer

Californian entrepreneur Bruce Meyer has one of the most diverse collections of classics on the West Coast. Various pre-WWII classics like Duesenbergs and Pierce-Arrows take up residence within Meyer’s collection, as well as a highly desirable 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and the first Shelby Cobra ever built.

Meyer’s love of cars also spans across the realm of old-school hot rods, as a third of his collection is dedicated to these amazing speed machines. Consequently, Meyer also helped develop a specific class for hot rods at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

6 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It’s blatantly obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a fan of cars, it’s in his DNA. It’s also obvious that Junior has a love for Chevrolets and has many in his collection, including a C5-R that he and his father raced in the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona.

In an interesting twist, Earnhardt Jr.’s most intriguing collection is a series of wrecked stock cars, which he’d personally adorned outdoors across various patches of his property in North Carolina. Dubbed the “Racecar Graveyard,” Junior seems to be accumulating quite a lot of these wrecked racers, with seemingly no plans to revive them.

5 Nick Mason

Pink Floyd’s former drummer is just as dedicated to his cars as he is to his music, perhaps even more so in modern days.

Over the years, Mason has accumulated quite the collection. Several of his vehicles are racing cars, as he actively participates in vintage motorsport. Two of which that stand out in particular are a coveted 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, as well as an equally impressive McLaren F1 GTR.

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4 Jay Kay

Jamiroquai’s lead singer, Jay Kay, has an absolute lust for all things automotive, but seems to have a niche for European classics. Some of which, like his Lamborghini Miura SV, are worth sums well into the seven-figure range.

One car in particular that stands out in Jay Kay’s collection is a BMW 2002 Baur Cabriolet, which BMW had commissioned Baur, a German coach builder, to develop during the 1970s. These cars are exceedingly rare and also the only real option if you’re seeking a vintage BMW of this era and wish to have the roof open.

3 Jay Leno

There are far many articles here on HotCars about Jay Leno to even count, his love of cars is just that vast. In fact, we even have a category dedicated to him. Leno obviously takes great pride in his rides.

Furthermore, Leno keeps his own team of mechanics at bay to keep these rare machines in pristine condition. Not to say that he doesn’t get his hands dirty himself, as he constantly keeps himself busy fixing and tuning the hundreds of cars in his possession.

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2 Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is easily one of the most known fashion moguls of all time, and his car collection has also garnished a tremendous amount of fame. With several pieces worth sums in the eight-figure range, it’s easy to see why.

One of the highlights of Lauren’s collection is a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC, which is one of two remaining in existence, and the sole numbers-matching example. Altogether, Ralph Lauren reportedly owns roughly 100 cars, with each kept in top condition and ready to be driven at all times.

1 The Sultan Of Brunei

The Sultan of Brunei is host to what might be the largest car collection in the entire world, possessing as many as 9,000 cars, although accurate reports of the total sum are nearly impossible to calculate for those outside of the country.

While other collectors merely buy cars that already exist, the Brunei royal family made a habit of commissioning various European manufacturers to construct unique models, solely for their own use. Sadly, a strong portion of these cars have been left in dire condition throughout recent years. With several of which no longer being driven nor properly maintained, evidence has shown that the collection is quickly falling into a state of disrepair. As the old saying goes, quantity isn’t always better than quality.

Sources: Forbes, Robb Report, Hagerty, Hemmings