Crooner Cruisers: Sinatra's Stunning Classic Cars
Frank Sinatra’s car collection was as smooth and stylish as his legendary voice. From American classics to European exotics, each vehicle he owned reflected his impeccable taste and status as an icon of elegance. Here’s a look at some of the most notable cars that graced Sinatra’s garage.
1942 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible
As Sinatra's fame grew, so did his taste in cars. He upgraded his first car, a 1930s Chrysler Convertible, to a 1942 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible. Produced during WWII, when just 12,000 were built. Powered by a 4.9L straight-eight engine, Sinatra's New Yorker Convertible was stylish, beautiful, and innovative, featuring technology that married fluid coupling between the engine and clutch.
Frank Sinatra's All-American Car Collection, Vintage Vehicles
1955 Ford Thunderbird
In the mid-1950s, Sinatra was so popular that his record label, Capitol Records, gifted him a gorgeous 1955 Ford Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was powered by a 5.8L V8 engine producing 193HP and a top speed of around 112 MPH. 3,500 orders of the 1955 T-Bird were placed in the first ten days of its release, including one for Mr. Sinatra.
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II
Sinatra's ultra-luxurious Lincoln Continental Mark II was priced higher than a Rolls-Royce at the time. One of Ford's most beautiful marques of the 1950s, the car featured hand-built panels and a powerful V8 engine that produced 300HP. It wasn't extravagant, but it offered a simple elegance that Sinatra would have appreciated.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
The Eldorado Brougham was Cadillac's answer to the Continental Mark II, and Sinatra owned several of them. With advanced features like self-leveling air suspension and a 5.4L V8 engine that produced 335HP, this car was the epitome of 1950s luxury. One of his Eldorado cars even appeared in the film "Ocean's Eleven."
Frank Sinatra's Swingin' Car Collection, Fusion Kidd
1961 Dual-Ghia L6.4
The Dual-Ghia L6.4 was a rare blend of American engineering and Italian design. Only 26 were produced, and Sinatra owned one, equipped with Italian engineering and American interior design, including a Chrysler windshield and running gear. Powered by a 5.2L V8 engine that produced 335HP, it was an exceedingly rare and cost $7,500 new. Frank's Dual-Ghia L6.4 was the very first one produced in 1961.
Frank Sinatra's All-American Car Collection, Vintage Vehicles
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S
On his 54th birthday, Sinatra gifted himself a Lamborghini Miura P400S, painted in his favorite color, orange. With a Lamborghini V12 engine that produced 370HP and a top speed of over 170 MPH, the Miura is widely considered the world's first supercar, aligning with Sinatra's status as a trendsetter.
Frank Sinatra's All-American Car Collection, Vintage Vehicles
1970 Maserati Ghibli
The Maserati Ghibli combined Italian styling with powerful performance. Sinatra's silver Ghibli featured a 4.7L V8 engine producing 330HP, rocketing to 60 MPH in 6.8 seconds and could reach speeds of up to 155 MPH. Its low-profile design was typical of 1970s Italian sports cars, including pop-up headlamps and leather seats.
Frank Sinatra's Swingin' Car Collection, Fusion Kidd
1976 Jaguar XJS
From Italian flair to English class, Frank Sinatra bought a Jaguar XJS in 1976, as a wedding gift from his wife Barbara Marx. Colored in beautiful, classy, British racing green, the grand tourer boasted a V12 engine capable of reaching 143 MPH and could hit 60 MPH in just 7.6 seconds. Offering both comfort and performance, Sinatra's wedding gift for Barbara might rank top of the list of the "nicest wedding gifts ever."
Frank Sinatra's Swingin' Car Collection, Fusion Kidd
1981 Chrysler Imperial 'FS Edition'
Chrysler honored Sinatra with the 'FS Edition' Imperial, featuring Glacier Blue paint matching his eye color and a special console with 16 of his cassette tapes. Despite its luxury features, including a 5.2L V8 engine, the model saw limited sales, making it a collector's item today.
1985 Chrysler Town & Country
In his later years, Sinatra opted for practicality over the Italian flair that had defined him as a young star. He bought a 1985 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon. While not as flashy as his previous cars, it provided comfort and reliability, serving as his daily driver until his passing in 1998.
Frank Sinatra's Swingin' Car Collection, Fusion Kidd
1954 Cadillac Eldorado
Before the 1958 model, Sinatra owned a 1954 Cadillac Eldorado, one of the first to bear the Eldorado nameplate. With its 5.4L V8 engine that produced 230HP and a Hydra-Matic transmission, a long hood and sleek lines, it represented post-war American automotive design at its finest, aligning with Sinatra's flair for elegance.
Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, Wikimedia Commons
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The 300SL, known for its distinctive gullwing doors, was a marvel of engineering and design. Sinatra bought a 1961 Roadster version, powered by a 2.9L straight-six engine that produced 215HP. It's 162MPH top speed made it the world's fastest production car at the time.
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Is a $1 Million Sports Car Icon, Doug DeMuro
1970 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Embracing American muscle, Sinatra added a 1970 Chevrolet Corvette to his garage. With a 5.7L V8 engine that produced 350HP, Sinatra's 1970 Corvette featured fender flares and "egg-crate" grills, with a body design that resembled a stingray, hence the nomenclature. Sinatra loved his beloved Stingray, that quickly became one of the most popular American cars of all-time.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1987 Cadillac Allante
The Cadillac Allante combined American engineering with Italian design by Pininfarina. Sinatra's 1987 model featured a 4.1L V8 engine and luxurious amenities, but was like driving a boat on the road. The bodies of the '87 Allante were manufactured in Italy, before being flown to Detroit for assembly. It was often dubbed as having the world's longest assembly line. The cost of this production method meant that just 21,000 were produced between 1987 and 1993.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1965 Ford Mustang
Of course, America's musical darling had to own one of it's legendary cars. Frank Sinatra's 1965 Ford Mustang oozed Americana. The iconic 'Stang was powered by a 4.3L V8 engine 225HP with a top speed of 120 MPH. Not exactly the quickest car in his arsenal, but the Mustang was a classic.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Talking of classics, Sinatra purchased a 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the most opulent of Rolls-Royce cars, mostly used by Heads of State. The Silver Shadow was one of the favorite cars of his wife, Barbara, and we can see why: a 6.7L V8 engine that produced 189HP and a top speed of 118 MPH. Although it wasn't designed to go fast, the Silver Shadow was the epitome of class.
Facel Vega Facel II
The Facel Vega Facel II was a French luxury grand touring car, powered by a 6.3L Chrysler-sourced V8 engine, the Facel II produced 390HP. Produced for just two years, the car had a staggering top speed of 150 MPH (for the era) and would out-accelerate many competitors, including the Ferrari 250 GT and the gull-wing Mercedes SL500.
The Car Owned by Ringo Starr, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, & Pablo Picasso, MyClassicCarTV
Stutz Blackhawk
Another American car with a long production was Sinatra's Stutz Blackhawk. Built in Italy and shipped to the U.S., the Blackhawk featured American V8 engines from Ford, Chevrolet and others during it's 17-year production run from 1971 till 1987. The engine produced 425HP and could hit 60 MPH in 8.4 seconds. It's top speed was 130 MPH.
Stutz Blackhawk 1973, MadnessUS
A Man Of Great Taste
Frank Sinatra's car collection was a testament to his impeccable taste and status as an icon of style and sophistication. Each vehicle he owned reflected a chapter of his life, from the early days of ambition to the heights of fame and the comfort of later years. His garage was not just a collection of cars but a reflection of a life lived with elegance and flair.
Capitol Records (File No. 3860-25). Photographer unknown., Wikimedia Commons
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