Celebrity car collections that are open to the public

Car collections that you can go see

Many celebrities own incredible car collections that are often hidden away. However, some renowned collectors choose to share their passion by making parts of their collections available for public viewing.

These collections are frequently seen as rolling works of art, featuring rare vintage cars and modern, one-of-a-kind supercars. This allows people who love cars to see unique pieces of automotive history up close and personal.

Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage access

Following the general idea of public access, comedian and former talk show host Jay Leno owns one of the world’s most impressive car collections. This collection is known as the Big Dog Garage.

The garage, located in Burbank, California, houses over 180 cars and 160 motorcycles. The collection’s value isn’t publicly disclosed; published estimates vary and are speculative. What’s clear is that tours are not offered regularly and are typically limited to charity-auction winners or special events.

Ralph Lauren’s traveling masterpieces

Another famous collector, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, views his highly respected collection as “living art.” His private garage contains over 70 automobiles.

The collection was once valued at over $350 million due to extreme rarity. Although it is privately owned, Lauren often exhibits selections of his cars in major art museums around the world. For example, 17 vehicles from his collection were exhibited in Paris, France, in 2011.

Gabriel Iglesias’ VW Fluffy Museum

Similarly, comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has a personal museum dedicated to Volkswagen vehicles. His collection mainly focuses on VW buses and Beetles, vehicles he has loved since childhood.

He keeps his collection, which is valued at approximately $3 million, in a location designed to resemble the Volkswagen factory in Germany. Iglesias’s VW collection is primarily private. He has occasionally hosted tours/filming, and has said he wants it to become a public museum in Long Beach in the future.

Metallica frontman’s custom cars

In a unique twist on public display, James Hetfield, the lead singer of the band Metallica, donated 10 of his custom-built cars to a museum. The donation was made in 2020 to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

The collection, known as “Reclaimed Rust,” was added to the museum’s permanent collection upon donation. The Petersen Automotive Museum was founded in 1994 by Robert E. Petersen, a magazine publisher, and his wife, Margie.

Public displays of Hollywood star cars

Besides private donations, many museums feature vehicles that were personally owned by celebrities or cars that were stars in movies.

Open since 1996, the Hollywood Star Cars Museum features over 50 vehicles, including personal cars from stars like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, along with screen icons such as the 1966 Batmobile and the Ecto-1.

Pink Floyd drummer’s Ferrari collection

Another musician with a notable collection is Nick Mason, the drummer for Pink Floyd. Mason’s collection, heavily featuring Ferrari models, is housed at his private home, Middlewick House, in Wiltshire, England.

Although the collection is private, Mason and his wife host an annual Open Garden event at their home. The ticketed event is a fundraiser for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity and the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

Rowan Atkinson’s rare car sales

Like many collectors, comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson has both bought and sold rare cars. Atkinson previously owned a rare McLaren F1 supercar, which he originally purchased new in 1997.

He sold the car in June 2015. The sale price was widely reported as eight million pounds, which was approximately $12 million USD. The sale was notable because the car had over 41,000 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase.

Celebrity Car Museum in Branson, Missouri

If you are looking for a museum with a constantly changing display, the Celebrity Car Museum in Branson, Missouri, is a good choice. This museum is a permanent public display that houses over 100 iconic vehicles.

The museum rotates about 40% of its inventory each year to keep the exhibits fresh for visitors. Notable displays include the DeLorean from Back to the Future and the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo.

The Nethercutt Collection in California

Another massive public collection is the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, California, which is open to the public free of charge. The collection complex was established by J B Nethercutt in 1971.

The entire collection contains over 250 prestigious, antique, and exotic vehicles. The Nethercutt Museum building, which is a self-guided section, opened in 2000. The collection’s restoration shop has won multiple Pebble Beach Best of Show awards.

Petersen Museum’s rotating celebrity exhibits

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is known for James Hetfield’s donation, but it is one of the world’s largest car museums overall. The museum’s current total vehicle collection is estimated to be over 400 cars.

The museum’s lower level, known as “The Vault,” features more than 300 of the museum’s rarest vehicles. The museum has previously showcased cars formerly owned by celebrities like Elton John and Steve McQueen.

Curious which classic cars are worth more than just their price tag? Read more in Collector cars that are often valued above their practical worth.

Why collectors open their garages

In conclusion, many celebrities who open their car collections to the public do so for charitable reasons. Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason raises money for two different charities by opening his gardens and garage.

The availability of these collections also promotes automotive education and appreciation for engineering and design. Famous collections allow the public to share in the history of unique vehicles that would otherwise remain in private vaults.

Want to see which 1960s models are truly for dedicated collectors? Find out in you have to be a true collector to know these 60s cars.

Which star’s car collection would you love to see? Share your pick below.

Read More From This Brand:

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.