15 of the best celebrity cars

Celebrities sure have it rough; they have to star in blockbuster movies or top the music charts and all they get out of it is guaranteed harassment by paparazzi and a few million dollars. They have a public image to uphold and they know everyone is staring, and the car they drive makes a statement to their fans and their haters alike.

Should they go with a statement car that signals their status? Or should they go with something humble and efficient to skew their public image and save them from run-ins with those pesky environmentalists? Actually most of your favorite celebrity cars fall into neither category, and most fall into the category of cars for car enthusiasts. I said that my favorite celebrity’s car was Paris Hilton’s Lexus LFA because telling non-car-people that you drive a Lexus doesn’t carry the same clout as telling folks that you drive a Ferrari or something flashier. Unsurprisingly the Jalopnik audience chose some more obscure choices, and I am glad that’s the case. These are your favorite celebrity cars.

The McLaren F1 supercar of actor Rowan Atkinson is removed from the scene following a crash, August 4, 2011 in Peterborough, England.Photo: Paul Franks / newsteam (Getty Images)

The fact that he drove this wild beast so much that he was in two accidents with it is cool/impressive/hilarious.

Submitted by: FijiST

It’s hard to beat Jay Leno’s collection of cars, and equally hard to pick the best. If I had to choose just one, it would be his Chrysler Tank Car. I mean, it’s a street-legal car…powered by a tank engine. What more needs to be said?

Submitted by: paradescar

But seriously, there will probably be a bunch of Leno cars posted; I’m going to counter with Dave Letterman’s 1955 Jaguar XK140.

Submitted by: Gin and Panic

Lady Gaga’s Ford Lightning.

Submitted by: WarShrike

Arnold has a tank. He gives rides to kids. That’s pretty great.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

Dax Shephard’s 700hp LSA-swapped supercharged Roadmaster station wagon (that’s Kristen Bell standing in front of it with their kids).

Submitted by: Baldur5018

deadmau5 purrari.

Submitted by: Shift24

American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin (1943 – 1970) with her 1965 Porsche 356C Cabriolet, circa 1969. The car features a psychedelic paint job by Joplin’s roadie, Dave Richards.Photo: RB/Redferns (Getty Images)

Janis Joplin’s Porsche.

I’ve always loved JJ’s music, even though she died when I was a child, so I made a special side trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when I was in Cleveland for business.

Submitted by: Earthbound Misfit I

He didn’t spent millions on it at an exclusive auction to seal it away in a private collection somewhere. He bought it in 1977 for £37,000, with proceeds from Dark Side of The Moon. And, most importantly, he actually drives it and treats like a car, and not a “rolling sculpture” like all the other 250 GTO owners.

Submitted by: Knyte

Vin Diesel, the lesser Charger fanatic, and his Chargers:

Tantrum: the $700K carbon fiber ‘70:

And the ‘69 Charger Daytona:

Plus all the 2nd gen Chargers he drove in F&F1, 4, 5, 6, 7 (x 3 Chargers), 8, 9 (x 3 Chargers), 10 and undoubtedly in F&F11. So yeah, his choices float my boat for some strange reason….

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

I don’t honestly know much about what-celeb-owns-what-car (I love cars but don’t pay much attention to what rich people drive), but I am quite taken by Tyler the Creator’s Lancia Delta and its beautiful light blue:

While on the topic of hip hop artists who drive awesome cars, can’t forget Killer Mike’s Grand National!

Submitted by: Evan Hayden

Actor James Dean gives a thumbs-up sign from his Porsche 550 Spyder, the Little Bastard, while parked on Vine Street in Hollywood. Dean, who had taken up racing the year before, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche to a Salinas race.Photo: Bettman (Getty Images)

Sure the car was cursed, but just look at it

Submitted by: Tim the KNinja