When Your Garage Looks More Like A Museum
Most people know Ralph Lauren for polo shirts, designer suits, and the little horse logo. But his taste in cars might be even more impressive than his fashion empire. His extraordinary car collection has been estimated to be worth around $600 million. Over several decades, Lauren has assembled one of the world's most celebrated private collections, filled with rare Ferraris, vintage Bugattis, racing legends, and some of the most beautiful machines ever built. Many have appeared in major museum exhibitions.
Here's just 30 of Ralph Lauren's impressive collection.
Steve W. Grayson, Getty Images
30. 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon
Flathead V8 • 239 cubic inches • Approximately 100 hp
Even a fashion legend appreciates an old-fashioned American station wagon. Lauren's Ford Woody combines genuine wood-bodied styling with the familiar flathead V8. It isn't fast, but that hardly matters when the vehicle looks like it belongs outside a 1940s beach club. Compared with his exotic European racers, this one's practically a family grocery getter.
Brett Weinstein (Wikipedia User: Nrbelex), Wikimedia Commons, Modified
29. 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
365-cu-in V8 • 325 hp • Automatic transmission
Few American cars scream 1950s luxury louder than the Eldorado Biarritz. With towering tailfins, acres of chrome, and a powerful V8, it was Cadillac at its most extravagant. Lauren's appreciation for dramatic styling makes this convertible a natural fit. It might be the only car in his garage where excess chrome is the whole point.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
28. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet
3.5L V8 • Approximately 200 hp • Four-speed automatic
The 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet is understated luxury at its finest. Its hand-finished interior, elegant proportions, and smooth V8 make it more about sophistication than speed. Lauren's example represents the sort of classic Mercedes that looks equally appropriate outside a country estate or a fashionable Manhattan restaurant.
27. 1950 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster
3.4L straight-six • 160 hp • 120-mph-class performance
The XK120 helped establish Jaguar as a serious sports-car manufacturer after World War II. Its long hood, sweeping fenders, and lightweight early aluminum bodywork make Lauren's example especially desirable. When introduced, the XK120 was among the fastest production cars available. Today, its styling is just as impressive as its original performance.
26. Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Naturally aspirated flat-six • Rear-wheel drive • Track-focused suspension
Not every car in Lauren's collection belongs in a museum. His Porsche GT3 RS represents the modern enthusiast's dream: a lightweight, high-revving machine built around driver involvement. With aggressive aerodynamics and razor-sharp handling, it's considerably more practical to enjoy on a racetrack than his priceless prewar Bugattis.
The Car Spy on Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecarspy/, Wikimedia Commons
25. 1988 Porsche 959
2.85L twin-turbo flat-six • 444 hp • All-wheel drive
The Porsche 959 was a technological marvel when it arrived. Its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, adjustable suspension, and twin-turbocharged engine helped it reach approximately 197 mph. Lauren's example shows that his taste extends beyond vintage beauty. Sometimes automotive art involves engineers making something ridiculously complicated work brilliantly.
Curt Smith from Bellevue, WA, USA, Wikimedia Commons
24. 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
5.7L V10 • 605 hp • Six-speed manual
The Carrera GT combines a screaming naturally aspirated V10 with a traditional manual transmission. Its carbon-fiber construction and racing-derived engineering make it one of Porsche's most exciting road cars. For Lauren, it's another example of functional design becoming sculpture. Unlike a statue, however, this one can exceed 200 mph.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, Wikimedia Commons
23. Ferrari F40
2.9L twin-turbo V8 • 471 hp • Five-speed manual
Ferrari built the F40 to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and subtlety wasn't part of the plan. With its enormous rear wing, lightweight construction, and turbocharged V8, it became an instant supercar legend. Lauren's example adds a dose of 1980s aggression to a collection otherwise filled with elegant vintage curves.
Will ainsworth, Wikimedia Commons
22. Bugatti Veyron 16.4
8.0L quad-turbo W16 • 1,001 metric hp • All-wheel drive
The Veyron redefined what a production supercar could accomplish. Its enormous W16 engine, four turbochargers, and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission made 250-mph performance possible. Lauren's appreciation for engineering masterpieces makes this Bugatti an obvious choice. It looks expensive, sounds expensive, and requires the sort of maintenance budget that could frighten a billionaire.
21. 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder
1.5L four-cylinder • Approximately 148 hp • Lightweight racing chassis
The 718 RSK proves that Porsche didn't need enormous engines to win races. Its lightweight construction and nimble handling made it a formidable sports racer. Lauren's example is a beautiful reminder of an era when small, efficient machines could embarrass competitors with considerably more horsepower.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
20. 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Aravis
3.3L supercharged straight-eight • Approximately 200 hp
The Aravis is one of Bugatti's most elegant prewar creations. Lauren's Gangloff-bodied example features flowing fenders, graceful proportions, and intricate coachbuilt details. It looks less like transportation and more like something an Art Deco architect dreamed up. Underneath the gorgeous bodywork sits a sophisticated supercharged straight-eight.
19. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
3.0L fuel-injected straight-six • 215 hp • Four-speed manual
Few automotive designs are more recognizable than the 300 SL's upward-opening doors. Mercedes developed the Gullwing from its successful racing program, giving it a tubular spaceframe chassis and mechanical fuel injection. Lauren's example combines dramatic styling with genuine engineering innovation. Those doors alone make it worthy of a museum exhibit.
Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons
18. 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Blower
4.4L supercharged four-cylinder • Approximately 240 hp in racing trim
The Blower Bentley is everything you'd expect from a vintage British racing machine: enormous headlights, exposed mechanical components, and a supercharger mounted proudly at the front. Lauren's example celebrates an era when racing cars were intimidating mechanical beasts. It looks like it could frighten modern traffic simply by starting its engine.
17. 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
2.3L supercharged straight-eight • Approximately 165 hp
The Alfa Romeo Monza was a serious Grand Prix contender, with engineering overseen by legendary designer Vittorio Jano. Its supercharged straight-eight and lightweight construction made it incredibly competitive. Lauren's example has the purposeful appearance of a machine designed to win races rather than impress spectators, although it does both beautifully.
Charles from Port Chester, New York, Wikimedia Commons
16. 1933 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix
3.3L supercharged straight-eight • Approximately 250 hp
The Type 59 is one of Bugatti's most visually distinctive racing cars. Its slender body, intricate wire wheels, and exposed mechanical components make it look almost delicate. Don't be fooled. This was a serious Grand Prix machine. Lauren's example is particularly desirable because of its racing heritage and extraordinary craftsmanship.
15. 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible
4.0L straight-six • 282 hp • Five-speed manual available
The DB5 is famous for its James Bond connection, but the open-top version brings an entirely different kind of glamour. Its elegant bodywork, leather interior, and smooth straight-six make it a quintessential British grand tourer. It's easy to imagine Lauren choosing this one for a leisurely drive rather than a high-speed adventure.
14. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
3.0L Colombo V12 • Approximately 240 hp • Four-speed manual
Few Ferraris capture open-top glamour quite like the California Spider. Built for wealthy enthusiasts who wanted racing-inspired performance without sacrificing style, it featured gorgeous Scaglietti bodywork. Its short-wheelbase configuration made it especially desirable. This is the kind of car that could make a parking lot look like the French Riviera.
13. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
3.0L Colombo V12 • Approximately 240–280 hp, depending on specification
The short-wheelbase Berlinetta is considered one of Ferrari's most beautiful grand touring cars. Its compact proportions, elegant roofline, and racing pedigree make it a collector's dream. Lauren's example, with Scaglietti coachwork, shows why classic Ferrari design remains so influential. It looks fast even when parked.
12. 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
1.5L flat-four • Approximately 110 hp • Four-speed manual
The Porsche 550 Spyder is a lightweight racing legend, famous for its competition success and connection to James Dean. Its mid-engine layout and low weight made it remarkably quick despite modest horsepower. Lauren's example is a reminder that driving excitement doesn't always require a huge engine. Sometimes less really is more.
Thesupermat, Wikimedia Commons
11. 1957 Jaguar XKSS
3.4L straight-six • Approximately 250 hp • Four-speed manual
The XKSS was essentially a road-going version of Jaguar's successful D-Type racer. Only 16 original examples were completed before a factory fire interrupted production. With its beautiful curves and racing-derived engineering, it's one of the most desirable Jaguars ever built. Lauren's example is a masterpiece of British automotive history.
10. 1961 Ferrari 250 TRI/61
3.0L V12 • Approximately 300 hp • Racing specification
This Ferrari looks like something designed by an artist who loved going very fast. Its distinctive Fantuzzi bodywork features an aggressive shark-nose front end, while the V12 provides the soundtrack. The TRI/61 was developed for endurance racing, and the type won Le Mans in 1961. Lauren's example combines racing history with extraordinary visual drama.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
9. 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus
4.9L V12 • Approximately 330 hp • Four-speed manual
The 375 Plus was one of Ferrari's most powerful sports racers of the 1950s. Its enormous V12 helped Ferrari achieve major endurance-racing victories, including Le Mans in 1954. Lauren's example represents an era when racing success depended on mechanical strength, brave drivers, and very little in the way of modern safety equipment.
Sfoskett~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
8. 1955 Jaguar D-Type
3.4L straight-six • Approximately 250 hp • Four-speed manual
The Jaguar D-Type was built to dominate endurance racing, and it succeeded spectacularly. D-Types won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three consecutive times from 1955 through 1957. Its aerodynamic bodywork and distinctive rear fin make it instantly recognizable. Lauren's example is a perfect illustration of racing engineering becoming automotive art.
7. 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia
2.9L supercharged straight-eight • Approximately 220 hp in racing trim
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B is one of the most celebrated prewar performance cars ever created. Its supercharged straight-eight, sophisticated suspension, and flowing bodywork made it both beautiful and formidable. Lauren's Mille Miglia example combines competition heritage with coachwork that looks almost impossibly elegant. It's the kind of machine collectors dream about owning.
6. 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
3.0L Colombo V12 • Approximately 300 hp • Four-speed manual
The Testa Rossa is famous for its sculpted bodywork and exposed front-fender design. Built for endurance racing, it became one of Ferrari's most successful sports racers. Lauren's example is among the collection's most visually striking machines. With its roaring V12 and dramatic proportions, it makes modern supercars look almost ordinary.
Sfoskett~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
5. 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK Count Trossi
7.1L supercharged straight-six • Up to approximately 300 hp in period specification
The Count Trossi SSK is arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Its extraordinary black bodywork features a dramatically elongated hood and sweeping fenders. Originally based on Mercedes-Benz's powerful SSK chassis, the car later received its distinctive custom body.
Lauren's example won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 1993. Looking at it, that's hardly surprising.
4. 1996 McLaren F1 LM
6.1L naturally aspirated BMW V12 • 680 metric hp • Six-speed manual
The McLaren F1 LM is one of the rarest supercars ever produced, with just five customer examples built. Created to celebrate McLaren's 1995 Le Mans victory, it features a lightweight body, aggressive aerodynamics, and an incredible BMW-developed V12.
Lauren's LM is one of the most extraordinary modern machines in his collection. Even among billionaires, owning one is a serious automotive achievement.
3. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM
3.3L V12 • Approximately 320 hp • Mid-engine layout
The Ferrari 250 LM marked a major shift toward mid-engine racing technology. Its compact bodywork and powerful V12 made it a formidable endurance racer. A 250 LM famously won Le Mans in 1965, Ferrari's last overall victory there until 2023.
Lauren's example is particularly desirable because of its rarity and the model's importance in Ferrari racing history.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
2. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
3.0L Colombo V12 • Approximately 300 hp • Five-speed manual
The Ferrari 250 GTO is among the most valuable and celebrated collector cars in the world. Just 36 examples of the original 250 GTO series were built, making them extraordinarily rare.
Lauren's car combines beautiful aerodynamic styling with serious competition credentials. It was developed for grand touring racing and remains one of the most recognizable Ferraris ever created. For many enthusiasts, this is the ultimate collector car.
Sfoskett~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
1. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
3.3L supercharged straight-eight • Approximately 200 hp • Four-speed manual
If any car proves Ralph Lauren's collection belongs in an art museum, it's his magnificent Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
Its sweeping bodywork, low roofline, and distinctive riveted dorsal seam make it one of the most recognizable automotive designs ever created. Only four Atlantics were built, and Lauren's example is among the surviving originals.
The car won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 1990 and has appeared in major museum exhibitions. Its rarity, design, and extraordinary history make it one of the world's most significant collector cars.
Lauren could have filled his garage with ordinary supercars. Instead, he owns a machine that looks like it belongs beside the world's greatest works of art.
Countryside 5392, Wikimedia Commons
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