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At first glance, few would assume Rowan Atkinson to be a car junkie, let alone own so many priceless vehicles. The on-screen personas he’s established, like the bumbling and animated Mr. Bean or secret agent Johnny English, contrast the real-life Atkinson. As a celebrity, Atkinson is able to pursue his passion, which happens to be collecting and driving rare cars. Although he has an impressive collection, he’d bed to differ. “I’m not a collector,” Atkinson said, as per Carole Nash. “I don’t like the toy cupboard syndrome that causes so many good cars to evaporate. It depresses me that they are hidden away like investment art or gold ingots in a Swiss vault.” Again, Atkinson upends expectations of what the general public might expect from a rich celebrity. Instead of hoarding rare and expensive cars, Atkinson has a diplomatic and inclusive approach to his car obsession that's admirable. As the following list shows, Atkinson has a steady stream of cars going in and out of his garage. Even some of his rarest and best cars are now sold and transferred on to different owners. If Atkinson’s collection reveals one thing, it’s that his tastes are diverse. Even more enlightening is that he takes the world of automobiles seriously. Compiled below are a list of cars that are currently—or were at one time—in Atkinson’s collection. We’ve also compiled some facts about those cars and his passion for driving that sheds light on this great car enthusiast of our time. 27 Garage - Johnny English Rolls-RoyceThis one is only a slight cheat. The Rolls-Royce Johnny English Phantom Coupe is a beautiful addition to anyone’s collection. As part of the second Johnny English film, Atkinson pulled some strings in order to get it into the movie (detailed later on). What’s amazing is that he had enough clout to borrow the car for a time, as ShearComfort notes. The same source does mention Atkinson’s well-known affinity for Rolls-Royce and that he owned one he drove frequently. ADVERTISING Skip × 26 Garage - McLaren F1This is perhaps the most notorious car in Atkinson’s collection (for reasons detailed further down the list). It’s not only the most eye-popping but proved to be one of the most expensive ones to maintain over time. According to Carole Nash, he bought his McLaren F1 in 1997 and would hold on to it for about 18 years before putting it up for auction. The McLaren F1 proves that Atkinson is less concerned with collecting than he is in rocketing down the street. 25 Fact: You Won’t Find A Porsche In His GarageIf Atkinson’s collection tells us anything, it’s that his tastes and appreciation for automobiles runs deep. He likes all kinds of cars and has a variety of brands. There’s just one brand he refused to ever buy that you won’t find in his garage: Porsche. “I have a problem with Porsches,” said Atkinson, as per the blog Bernice 4 Crosby 27. “They’re wonderful cars, but I know I could never live with one.” In his comments, Atkinson suggests that it’s Porsche owners he doesn’t find many commonalities with. 24 Fact: He Crashed His McLaren F1…TwiceRowan Atkinson crashed one of the crown jewels of his collection: the McLaren F1. Not only did he do it once, but twice, as ShearComfort reports. What really raises eyebrows though, even more than the fact that he crashed a beautiful car, was that the insurance company hit him with a huge bill afterward. The same source notes that it cost Atkinson’s insurance company a heap of money to do the repairs. It proves once again that insurance goes a long way. 23 Garage - Jaguar MK7The more vintage offerings in Atkinson’s collection suggest a level of class many wouldn't expect of the British celebrity on the surface. ShearComfort reports that he owns a Jaguar MK7, which is a classic Saloon any collector would be lucky to get their hands on. Motor Trend reports that this was the equivalent to a Bentley or Rolls-Royce back in Europe during the 1950s. Not only does this car have a rich history, but an eye-catching style that’s timeless. 22 Garage - Lancia Thema 8.32 Series 1Atkinson's 1989 Lancia Thema 8.32 Series 1 is a sight to behold. These cars are rare for a reason, as they sport a signature styling and have the insides to match. His came with a slick red paint job. The Sun reports that Atkinson’s Lancia Thema came in left-hand drive, making it unique for a car that resides across the pond. He owned it for a total of seven years before putting it up to the highest bidder through Silverstone Auctions. 21 Garage - Land Rover Defender 90 HeritageAtkinson's collection reveals a wide variety in taste that’s not limited to sports cars alone. His Limited Edition Land Rover Defender 90 Heritage was a rugged and unique entry in his long line of valuable cars. AOL reports that he ended up selling it, though it would’ve gone for a lot considering there’s only 400 produced. These Heritage models commemorated many years of the Defender in the UK and Atkinson was one of the lucky ones to snatch a model before it was too late. 20 Fact - There Are Only 20 Lancia Themas In The UKAtkinson has proven he’s willing to sell his cars, even some of the rarest ones. As The Sun reports, he let go of his Lancia Thema when he put it up for sales through Silverstone Auctions. The same source points out that of Atkinson’s Lancia Thema, only 20 are registered in the UK, making it a rare piece of machinery. Adding even more value to the car is that it’s been in Atkinson’s garage for years, which is only going to increase the bidding price. 19 Fact - The Lancia Thema’s Engine Comes From A FerrariNot only is Atkinson’s Lancia Thema special on the outside, but even better on the inside. Starting first with the interior, The Sun reports that it’s decked out with velour upholstery, which is a material that feels similar to velvet. While that’s something everyone can appreciate, there’s something else that car enthusiasts will love, the engine. Underneath the Lancia’s hood is a 32-valve motor that the same source notes comes from another popular and lavish sports car, the Ferrari 328. 18 Garage - Rolls-Royce GhostThere isn’t too much intel on Atkinson’s Rolls-Royce Ghost. According to Legendary Car Videos, we know that Atkinson owns one—or did at one time—and that its blue. Embodying its model’s name, this car seems to drift in and out of existence like a specter enough to get people off its trail. While there’s little information on this vehicle, it isn’t surprising Atkinson would add a Rolls-Royce to his garage considering all the other luxury cars he owns. 17 Garage - BMW 328Atkinson’s collection not only shows an appreciation for new cars but vintage ones as well. Take this 1939 BMW 328, for example, which ShearComfort notes won the Mille Miglia, an open road race. It must have cost a lot to restore a car like this and still keep it in such good condition over the years. Even though the ride’s from the 1930s, this car is capable of reaching 93 mph. The same source notes its outside exterior is not only meant to look good but be aerodynamic as well. 16 Fact - He Persuaded Rolls-Royce Execs To Loan Out A Phantom For Johnny EnglishThe Rolls-Royce used in the Johnny English sequel wouldn’t have been in it unless Atkinson had pulled some strings behind the scenes. The execs behind this car that comes with a V16 engine over at Rolls-Royce required some convincing to loan it out for the movie and Atkinson was more than happy to oblige. According to ShearComfort, Atkinson reached out personally because he knew Rolls-Royce could provide him with a special car for the movie. His love for Rolls-Royce runs deep. 15 Fact - He’s a Thrill Seeker First, Car Collector SecondAs Atkinson reveals in the introduction’s quote, he’s more interested in driving cars than displaying them. As per Entertainism, Atkinson said, “I enjoy racing historic motorcars from the '50s and '60s.” In spite all the value some of these cars has, he’s more curious in experiencing the value rather than earning from it. “But my favorite car is still a McLaren F1, which I have had for 10 years.” It makes sense his favorite car is one that’s focused mostly on performance. 14 Garage - Aston Martin VantageThe Aston Martin Vantage has been part of Atkinson’s collection for a long time. According to ShearComfort, he got it back in 1984. His is the color burgundy. Where the Aston Martin Vantage really shines though is in its mechanics underneath. The same source points out its 5.3-liter engine that’s able to do an impressive 389 hp. While it’s easy to be envious of a car that has both style and power, one can’t fault Atkinson owning one considering all his achievements. 13 Fact - His McLaren F1 Reached A Recorded 240.1 MPHAtkinson's McLaren F1 is a beauty both on the outside and inside. Taking a look at this supercar’s specs, ShearComfort reports that it comes with an astounding V12 engine. This thing can really haul as a result. For one, it’s able to churn out a massive 627 hp. In a mere 3.4 seconds, it can reach 60 mph. The most astounding stat of all though is its top speed, which once reached a recorded 240.1 mph. We’d pay admission just to go for a ride. 12 Garage - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGIt’s hard not to like Atkinson’s Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Legendary Car Videos has a clip of Atkinson cruising around in this red ride looking like the king of the world. One of the distinguishing characteristics about it are the gull-wing doors that elevate this car to a whole new level of class. According to Autotrader, these cars back in 2011 cost about $183,000. We can only imagine how much Atkinson’s would cost, considering the boost in value after passing through his ownership. 11 Fact - He Sold His McLaren F1 for $10 MillionEven after all the years and miles he racked up on the McLaren F1, Atkinson said goodbye and parted ways with one of his collection's best cars. The two had been through a lot together, including two car crashes and repairs. He definitely got his money’s worth for it in the end though. According to Legendary Car Videos, he sold the McLaren F1 for a whopping $8 million pounds. Today, that comes out to a little more than $10 million USD. 10 Garage - Skoda SuperbWhile it may not be as familiar to US car buyers, this is a Skoda Superb. Out of all the cars in Atkinson’s collection, he’s had this one for a long time. Carole Nash reports that he’s had it since 2011 when he got it for the equivalent of $26,710 today when adjusted for inflation. While it’s a more conservatively priced car compared with the rest in his fleet, it’s still a nice luxury sedan with style. We can see why he’d add it as an everyday driver. 9 Fact - His McLaren F1 Cost More Than $1 Million To RepairPeople won’t believe that Atkinson crashed his McLaren F1 on two occasions. On the one hand, there’s something to admire about his thrill-seeking. On the other hand, one could argue it’s being a little irresponsible with money. Contact Music reports that it cost Atkinson’s insurance company $1.4 million to fix the car after the incident. This was for the second crash, which occurred back in 2011. Part of what made the repairs so expensive was that the ride is made of carbon fiber. 8 Garage - Mercedes-Benz 500ENot only does Atkinson’s collection reflect style and luxury, but exclusivity as well. His 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E, according to The Sun, was rare due to being a left-hand drive model. It’s since gone on to auction. It’s also worth noting that this 500E is not the only one he owned but in fact the second one he added to his garage. Considering he sold his other cars for several million pounds, this 500E was bound to go for a lot of money too. 7 Garage - Aston Martin V8 ZagatoLuxury cars don’t get much better than the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato. Atkinson has one in his collection according to the blog Bernice 4 Crosby 27. RM Sotheby’s reports that the standard engine that came in these is able to do 432 hp. It also brings together two renown brands in Zagato and Aston Martin who collaborated to make this special car. No wonder Atkinson found it worthy to add to his fleet, which only solidified his taste and the value of his collection that much more. 6 Fact - He Owns One Of Great Britain’s First Major SupercarsAston Martin is a car brand so legendary, their cars feature in James Bond movies. If they’re fit for James Bond, they must also be fit for Johnny English. According to ShearComfort, Atkinson’s Aston Martin model year is from 1981. Believed to be worth over $180,000, the same source reports that it was one of Great Britain’s first supercars in existence. Even more than that, the car is able to go 0 to 60 mph in an amazing 5.2 seconds. 5 Garage - Ford FalconThere’s no shortage of rare and limited cars among Atkinson’s fleet. He also has others that are more common but show his extensive taste in cars. According to ShearComfort, he owns a 1964 Ford Falcon, showing that even his automobile tastes stretch as far as Canada and the US. Hagerty reports that they made over 300,000 before discontinuing production. These came before Mustangs rolled onto the scene and changed Ford’s landscape forever. They have a crucial place in history that any collector can appreciate. 4 Fact - It Took A Year To Restore His McLaren F1In the aftermath of crashing the McLaren F1 for the second time, it cost Atkinson’s insurance company a lot of money to repair it. Due to the carbon fiber materials and its rare parts, Contact Music confirms that it took technicians over a year to get it back on the road again. Atkinson was only doing what he thought was right when driving his McLaren by saying, “The McLaren is just so usable, it is a crime not to use it. No gritted teeth, you just get in and drive.' 3 Garage - BMW i3Some car enthusiasts who value speed and performance shun eco-friendly cars. Rowan Atkinson is different though. According to ShearComfort, Atkinson has a BMW i3 that he drives around in. While some car enthusiasts wouldn't be caught dead one, Atkinson takes the high road, showing he's willing to embrace the future of automobiles. The same source reports that these only go up to 95 mph, which is a lot less than other cars in his garage, including the supercar McLaren F1. 2 Garage - Audi A8Even celebrities have their everyday drivers. While the Audi A8 would be a step above for many average drivers today, it’s one of Atkinson’s lower tier vehicles part of his collection. The blog Bernice 4 Crosby 27 reports that the British comedian and star uses the Audi A8 to go on trips with his family. Despite being a sedan, these are a step above the average sedans on the market today for their interior luxury and a decent level of performance. 1 Fact - He Was Building A Mansion To Store His Car CollectionRowan Atkinson needs a place to store all his cars. According to Millionaire's Sayings, he started work on building a mansion in Oxfordshire where all his cars could inhabit. His collection is not only lavish but extensive as well, requiring lots of comfortable parking spaces. The project, as per the same source, could cost up to $10-20 million, which speaks not only to his wealth but the size of the mansion as well. He recently went through a divorce, however, so the project is currently up in the air. Sources: The Sun, ShearComfort, Motor Trend & Hagerty
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David Schmidt
(241 Articles Published)
HotCars News Editor and small business owner, David has been writing for the site since 2018 and can remember sitting on his father’s lap in the driver’s seat of his family’s two-door Ford Maverick thinking he was the one steering into the driveway. David’s real love for cars began in high school while working on various projects in his friend Chris’s garage, including on one occasion banging out the dent in a fender he had made to his parent’s Altima. His tastes have changed over the years from loving '90s JDM cars to appreciating a reliable SUV for his family. Today, he almost gets as much of a thrill haggling over the price of a car at a dealership as he does driving a sports car. Aside from keeping up and reporting on the latest news in the auto world, David loves to fish, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends where he currently resides in Southern California. |
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