Car TalkIndustry knowledgeWhat Car Does Elon Musk Drive?

What Car Does Elon Musk Drive?

Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, the proud new owner of Twitter, and one of the wealthiest people in the world. Unsurprisingly, the founder of the world’s most famous electric car brand has amazing taste in cars. But is Elon Musk also a Tesla superfan in his personal life? Let’s clarify our curiosity in this article by looking inside the cars owned by billionaire Elon Musk to find out what car does Elon Musk drive in his daily life.  

What Car Does Elon Musk Drive?

It’s no surprise that Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, has an affinity for cars. While Elon is frequently seen driving a Tesla Model S (Musk has previously revealed his go-to ride is a Tesla Model S in a 2019 tweet), he has an impressive car collection to suit his mood depending on the day.

Not just electric ones, he has several amazing and unique cars. His love of autos even inspired design elements of the Teslas in circulation today. How many cars does Elon Musk have? Now let’s find out the Elon Musk car collection to see what’s so special:

1. BMW 320i 1978

In a 2012 interview with Forbes, Elon Musk disclosed that his first car was a 1978 BMW 320i. He bought it for $1,400 and refurbished it himself. This was the original BMW 3 series, which made its official debut in 1975 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. But soon after two years, one of his Zip2 interns drove it to run some errands, and one of the wheels had fallen off after a bad turn, and he had to scrap the car. 

elon musk car collection
Elon Musk disclosed that his first car was a 1978 BMW 320i (Photo: flickr)

2. 1967 E-Type Jaguar Roadster

His second car purchase is the Classic 1967 E-Type Jaguar. Musk instantly fell in love with this car when he first saw it at the age of 17. He decided to buy his dream car when he could afford it, which of course he did quite soon. 

The Jaguar E-Type is a front mid-engine sports car that was manufactured by Jaguar Cars Ltd from 1961 to 1974. This car combines exceptional aesthetics, advanced technologies, and high performance with its top speed of 150 MPH. 

Having a lot of outstanding features, but Elon Musk compared the Jaguar to a terrible girlfriend since it kept breaking down and getting into trouble. 

3. McLaren F1 1997

The next car that Elon Musk owned was the McLaren F1 with serial number 067, which was among the 7 imported into the US at that time. 

The McLaren F1 was seen as a gift to himself after his newfound success in Silicon Valley. At that time, the McLaren F1 was also known as the “super million dollar,” and the price to own this supercar was up to 815,000 USD.

The McLaren F1 was his first supercar. The McLaren F1 is a sports car manufactured by British automaker McLaren Cars with only 106 models produced from 1992-2000. This car set the world record for the fastest car on March 31, 1998, with a speed of 391 km/h (240 mph).

Unfortunately, the Elon Musk Mclaren suffered some serious damage in a car crash and ultimately Musk made a profit when he sold this supercar in 2007. 

4. Lotus Esprit 1976

elon musk cars
The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 (Photo: flickr)

Another iconic car from Musk’s garage is the 1976 Lotus Esprit (Wet Nelli). The Lotus Esprit was one of the cars featured in the 1977 James Bond film. In 2013, billionaire Elon Musk spent nearly $1 million to own the car. Musk has been fascinated with the car ever since he saw Bond push a button to turn the Esprit into a submarine. 

The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 at their Hethel, England factory. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Together with the Lotus Elise / Exige, it is one of Lotus’ most long-lived models.

5. Audi Q7 2010

The Audi Q7 SUV is another car owned by Elon Musk, but it doesn’t seem to have impressed Musk, who described the car as “particularly terrifying”. One design flaw of the Audi Q7 is that it’s difficult to access the third row.

Musk remarked that even in the best-case scenario, you need to be a dwarf mountain climber to get in the back seat. So when developing his electric SUV, the Model X, Musk kept his problems with the Q7 in mind. The Model X’s falcon-shaped doors were born, ensuring easy access to the vehicle’s back seat.

6. Ford Model T 1920

Well, you might be surprised to see a car like Tin Lizzie in Elon Musk’s car collection. But it showed off the love Musk has for vintage cars. A friend of Elon Musk gave him this classic Ford in 2017, one of the models considered to be the most influential cars of the 20th century. Elon Musk has named his cars himself in the same format as the Model T. The car will have the name ‘model’ followed by a letter or alphabet on the nameplate.

The Model T, sold by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927, was the earliest effort to make a car that most people could buy. 16.5 million units sold, ranking eighth in the list of ten best-selling cars of all time as of 2012

7. Various Tesla Models

how many cars does elon musk have
How many cars does Elon Musk have (Photo: insideEVs)

Unsurprisingly, Musk is frequently seen driving various Teslas from the sporty Model S and Model X to the utilitarian Cybertruck. He disclosed that his day-to-day vehicle is a Tesla Model S; however, if he has his kids, he will drive the Model X SUV, which boasts more room for the kiddos. He’s also been photographed in a Tesla Cybertruck, the futuristic, angular pickup truck that has generated significant buzz.

Wrapping Up

Elon Musk’s car collection is a fascinating reflection of his personality and his values. It’s a blend of cutting-edge technology, classic charm, and a touch of rebellious spirit. While Tesla undoubtedly holds a prominent place in his garage, Musk’s willingness to explore other automotive avenues demonstrates his appreciation for the diverse world of cars.

Which Elon Musk car do you like best? Let us know in the comment box below!

Philipp Meister
Philipp Meister
Philipp Meister is a valuable member of the Car From Japan blogger team. With a degree in Automotive Technology from the Technical University of Munich and over 20 years of experience as a technician at various Volkswagen dealerships, Philipp brings a wealth of knowledge to his writing. A lifelong car enthusiast, he offers insightful discussions and keeps readers informed on the latest automotive trends. If you're passionate about cars, Philipp's blog is a must-read.
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