The Tool Man Would Be Proud
Tim Allen didn't just play a car loving handyman on Home Improvement. He's a genuine gearhead who grew up around Detroit muscle and spent decades collecting everything from vintage hot rods to outrageous supercars.
Allen's garage has featured dozens of different vehicles, although the exact number isn't confirmed as he frequently buys, restores, and sells cars. Here are 30 of his favorites, including some of his wildest custom builds.
Petersen Automotive Museum, Open Garage: Tim Allen, YouTube
30. 1971 Volkswagen Beetle
Not everything in Allen's garage has a monster V8. The humble 1971 Beetle came with a rear-mounted, air-cooled 1.6L flat-four making around 60 gross horsepower. With a four-speed manual and simple mechanical design, it's proof that even serious horsepower addicts appreciate a little old-school charm.
Adam Carr at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
29. Tesla Model 3
Allen's Tesla Model 3 is a surprising addition for someone who loves rumbling V8s. Depending on the version, the Model 3 offers rear- or all-wheel drive and instant electric torque. Allen has described a love-hate relationship with the car, but there's no denying its impressive acceleration.
Alexander-93, Wikimedia Commons
28. Cadillac ELR
The Cadillac ELR combined luxury-coupe styling with Chevrolet Volt-derived plug-in hybrid technology. Its original powertrain produced 207 combined horsepower using electric propulsion and a 1.4L gasoline range extender. Allen enjoyed driving it, proving that even the Tool Man occasionally appreciates something quieter than a supercharged V8.
27. 1972 Ford Bronco
Allen's first-generation Bronco offered a 302-cubic-inch V8, four-wheel drive, and a short 92-inch wheelbase. He eventually gave it to his wife, although he admitted its handling wasn't exactly his favorite. It's rugged, boxy, and wonderfully old-fashioned, even if it drives like something designed before comfort became fashionable.
26. Volvo P1800
The Volvo P1800 brings a little Swedish sophistication to Allen's garage. Later fuel-injected versions used a 2.0L four-cylinder producing around 130 gross horsepower. With rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and gorgeous coupe styling, it's a reminder that a great-looking car doesn't need 500 horsepower.
Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons
25. Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance
Allen's Fleetwood represents Detroit luxury at its most unapologetic. These enormous Cadillacs offered V8 power, automatic transmissions, and suspension designed for floating down highways. Allen has worked on restoring and personalizing his example. Sometimes the coolest thing about a car is simply how comfortably it cruises.
24. 1950 Cadillac Series 61
Cadillac's 1950 Series 61 featured a 331-cubic-inch overhead-valve V8 producing approximately 160 horsepower. That engine helped establish the foundation for decades of American V8 performance. Allen appreciates the engineering history, while the long hood and classic Detroit styling make this Cadillac an attention-grabber.
Alan Raine from Cheshire, Wikimedia Commons
23. 1971 Chevrolet Nova Custom
Allen's modified Nova appeared in the 2006 movie Zoom. Factory examples offered engines up to a 350-cubic-inch V8, although his customized car doesn't necessarily retain its original specifications. Allen reportedly spotted it on the road before buying it. It's the kind of understated Chevy that practically begs for a big engine.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
22. 1940 Ford Custom
The 1940 Ford is hot-rodding royalty. Originally available with an 85-horsepower, 221-cubic-inch flathead V8, it became a favorite for engine swaps and custom bodywork. Allen's personalized example celebrates traditional American hot-rodding, where the fun begins when somebody decides the factory engine isn't nearly powerful enough.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
21. 1946 Ford Convertible Custom
Allen's customized 1946 Ford has connections to his Home Improvement years. Original models offered a 239-cubic-inch flathead V8 producing roughly 100 horsepower. Allen has called this one of his favorites, and its classic styling makes it easy to understand why. It's pure 1940s Americana with hot-rod attitude.
20. Porsche 356
Before the 911, Porsche had the lightweight 356. Depending on the version, its rear-mounted flat-four ranged from approximately 1.1L to 2.0L. Allen's example represents his appreciation for lightweight European sports cars. The appeal isn't massive horsepower but the precise steering, low weight, and mechanical connection to the road.
19. Porsche 911 S Short-Wheelbase
Early Porsche 911 S models packed a 2.0L air-cooled flat-six producing approximately 160 metric horsepower. A five-speed manual and rear-engine layout made these cars incredibly rewarding to drive. Allen's early 911 proves he appreciates vehicles that demand skill rather than simply relying on enormous engines.
18. Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type remains one of the most beautiful sports cars ever built. Early versions featured a 3.8L straight-six rated at 265 gross horsepower, independent rear suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Allen's example adds some British elegance to his collection, although it's still plenty exciting under the hood.
17. 1966 Shelby GT350H
The legendary Hertz Rent-A-Racer featured a high-performance 289-cubic-inch Ford V8 producing 306 horsepower. Most GT350H models received automatic transmissions, although some had four-speeds. Allen's example celebrates Carroll Shelby's racing legacy and the glorious days when renting a Mustang could mean getting something genuinely fast.
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
16. 1968 Ford Falcon Cobra Jet
Allen's Cobra Jet-powered Falcon is exactly the kind of sleeper enthusiasts love. Ford's legendary 428-cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 was officially rated at 335 horsepower. Stuffing that much engine into an ordinary-looking Falcon makes for a wonderfully intimidating combination. Nobody expects a humble compact Ford to have that kind of attitude.
GPS 56 from New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons
15. 1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV
Pontiac's Ram Air IV GTO packed a 400-cubic-inch V8 producing 370 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. Special cylinder heads, aggressive cam timing, and improved induction made it one of Pontiac's most desirable muscle cars. For a Detroit-raised enthusiast like Allen, this is practically mandatory garage equipment.
14. 1962 Chevrolet Impala 409 Bubbletop
Chevrolet's legendary 409-cubic-inch V8 could produce 409 horsepower with dual four-barrel carburetors. Combined with a four-speed manual and the Impala's distinctive Bubbletop styling, it became a drag-strip favorite. Allen's example captures an era when full-size American cars could deliver genuinely serious straight-line performance.
13. 1939 Studebaker Sleeper Cab Truck
One of Allen's strangest vehicles is a rare 1939 Studebaker truck featuring an early sleeper cab. The original engine specifications of his example aren't firmly documented, but its unusual design is the real attraction. Allen loved trucks growing up and even worked on this one's cab frame himself.
12. 1933 Ford Roadster Hot Rod
Allen's 1933 Ford Roadster has connections to Home Improvement and traditional hot-rodding culture. Originally built around Ford's flathead V8 platform, customized versions often feature upgraded engines and suspension. Its classic proportions and television history make this one especially meaningful to Allen.
11. Ferrari 330 GTC
Allen's Ferrari 330 GTC features a gorgeous 4.0L Colombo V12 producing approximately 300 horsepower. A fiv-speed manual transaxle and independent suspension made it an excellent grand tourer. Allen believes classics like this deserve regular driving, which sounds like the perfect excuse to fire up a vintage Ferrari.
Brett Weinstein (Wikipedia User: Nrbelex), Wikimedia Commons
10. 1956 Ford F-100 Custom Pickup
Allen's 1956 F-100 is no ordinary vintage pickup. Built with help from McLaren Performance Technologies, it features a heavily modified, supercharged Ford V8. The truck combines classic 1950s styling with serious modern engineering. It's exactly what you'd expect from someone whose television catchphrase was basically a demand for more power.
9. Shelby Cobra
Few cars deliver the raw excitement of a Shelby Cobra. Original 289 models offered up to 271 horsepower in street specification, while later 427 versions were considerably more powerful. Allen has displayed a Cobra, although his example's exact engine specifications aren't consistently documented. Lightweight construction and massive V8 power make it an enthusiast's dream.
8. 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
The GT350R features Ford's incredible naturally aspirated 5.2L Voodoo V8, producing 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. Its 8,250-rpm redline, six-speed manual, and carbon-fiber wheels make it a genuine track weapon. Allen's example proves that sometimes the best soundtrack comes from an engine screaming toward redline.
7. 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Custom
Allen's modified 1968 Camaro features a 427-cubic-inch V8 and plenty of custom engineering. Exact horsepower figures depend on the finished engine configuration, but there's no mistaking its big-block attitude. Allen considers it one of his favorite builds, combining first-generation Camaro styling with the performance he always wanted.
GPS 56 from New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons
6. 1955 Ford Club Coupe Custom
Imagine a quiet-looking 1955 Ford hiding approximately 620 horsepower. Allen's customized coupe reportedly uses a Ford GT-derived supercharged 5.4L V8, transforming an innocent-looking classic into a serious sleeper. It's one of Allen's favorites, and the idea of a 1950s Ford with supercar horsepower is wonderfully ridiculous.
5. Ford RS200
The Ford RS200 was developed for Group B rally racing, featuring a mid-mounted, turbocharged 1.8L Cosworth four-cylinder and all-wheel drive. Road versions produced approximately 250 horsepower, while competition versions made considerably more. Only about 200 were built for homologation, making Allen's example one of his rarest machines.
4. Ford GT
Allen's second-generation Ford GT packs a twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 producing 647 horsepower in its original specification. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, carbon-fiber construction, and active aerodynamics make it a legitimate race-inspired supercar. Allen reportedly preferred the Ford enough to part with his Porsche Carrera GT.
3. 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS LT5 Custom
Allen's outrageous Impala SS features an LT5-derived V8 associated with the Corvette ZR-1. The original Corvette engine produced up to 405 horsepower, although Allen's modified version reportedly made considerably more. He recorded a 12.9-second quarter-mile run, proving this big Chevrolet sedan had absolutely no intention of behaving itself.
Barnstarbob at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
2. 1932 Ford Nickel Rod
Allen's famous Nickel Rod combines classic 1932 Ford styling with a racing-derived Gurney-Weslake V8 and extensive nickel plating. Exact horsepower figures aren't firmly documented, but the sophisticated drivetrain and racing clutch make its intentions obvious. Allen even took this extraordinary hot rod on a lengthy road trip instead of treating it like museum furniture.
1. Ford Mustang GTD
Allen's Mustang GTD takes the top spot with a supercharged 5.2L V8 producing a staggering 815 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle, adaptive suspension, carbon-fiber construction, and active aerodynamics make it Ford's ultimate modern performance Mustang.
Best of all, Allen has described the GTD as his daily driver. For someone who spent decades collecting outrageous machinery, driving an 815-horsepower Mustang to run errands sounds like the perfect ending.
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