Sir Elton John is a legendary British musician who has enjoyed a glittering career spanning almost 6 decades. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards including 5 Grammy Awards, 2 Academy Awards, and a Tony Award. He has sold over 300 million records, amassing quite a fortune in the process.
His association with music is no secret, but what people may not be aware of is his passion for automobiles, especially British-made ones. Sir Elton John once owned an extensive fleet that included several Bentleys, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martins, and Ferraris. His wealth allowed him to indulge without restrictions. However, in 2001, he put up a huge chunk of his cars for auction, claiming that he wanted other people to enjoy them. Here, you will find some of the most iconic cars that once formed a part of the musician’s collection.
10 1972 Ferrari Daytona 365GTB/4
The pop star took delivery of his Ferrari Daytona in 1972 and it was just one of 158 examples with a right-hand drive; a specific requirement for the UK market. The 2-seat grand tourer had a front-mounted 4.4-liter V12 engine with enough power for a 170mph top speed. That made it one of the fastest road-going cars of its era and the car enjoyed a significant amount of popularity; with over 1,200 units produced in total. Sir Elton John owned this masterpiece for only three years before he put it up for sale.
9 1955 Bentley S1 Continental Sport Saloon
This luxurious sports saloon held a special place in Sir Elton John’s collection. He bought the car in 1975 and it remained in his possession for over two decades. At one point, the musician even declared that the Bentley S1 was, ‘the most beautiful car…ever designed.’ The car was big enough to seat 4 people in comfort but could still hit a top speed of 120mph which was a pretty impressive figure in its time. Only 431 units of the S1 Continental were made, preserving its exclusivity among other cars in its class.
8 1997 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V550
Less than 300 of these V8 Vantage models were built during a 7-year production run, from 1993 to 2000. The car is powered by a 5.3-liter V8 engine that produced 550hp and 550 pound-feet of torque. At the time of launch, these numbers were enough to set the car apart as one of the most powerful production cars in the world. The car weighed about 2 tons but could still zip to 60mph in just over 4 seconds before powering on to a top speed of 186mph.
7 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III
The Silver Cloud III, produced between 1963 and 1966, was the final version of the Silver Cloud series and it featured a number of notable differences from the previous generations. The most obvious cosmetic change was the new 4-headlamp arrangement, set on both sides of the massive grille. The V8 engine was rated at about 220hp and was enough to propel the car to a top speed around the 120mph mark. The car eventually found a new owner after it changed hands at an auction for over $100,000.
6 1987 Bentley Turbo R Saloon
As the name implied, this was a high-performance car; one that debuted in 1985. The car packed a powerful turbocharged engine under the hood that was capable of almost 300hp. It needed just over 6 seconds to sprint to 60mph and could keep going until it peaked at 135mph. The Turbo R had all the usual trappings of luxury one could expect from a carmaker like Bentley and cruising along in one of these on the highway was the ultimate pleasure ride. Sir Elton loved the Bentley brand and this was just one of the many he owned.
5 1993 Jaguar XJ220
The legendary XJ220 is one of the rarest cars owned by the musician and was also the one that fetched the highest amount of money when it changed hands for over $300,000 at an auction. The sleek car could reach a top speed in excess of 200mph and briefly held the title of the fastest production car in the world. Less than 300 units of the car were built from 1992 to 1994 before the curtain came down on a car that sadly, never fulfilled its true potential.
4 1965 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Roadster
The Ferrari boss himself, Enzo Ferrari, described the Jaguar E-Type as, ‘the most beautiful car ever made’ when the car was first unveiled to the public in 1961. It was based on the highly successful racing D-Type Jaguar and this was evident in some of the major stats posted by the car. The sleek lines of the car greatly enhanced the car’s aerodynamics, helping it reach a top speed of 150mph after flashing past the 60mph mark in less than 7 seconds. The ‘Sacrifice’ crooner parted with this gem for about $105,000.
3 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
There were only 192 units of this car built from 1887 to 1989. it was at one time, the most expensive convertible on the market. It was no slouch when it came to performance too. The Vantage belonging to Sir Elton came with the optional X-Pack package that greatly bumped engine power by about 160hp over the regular model, to 432hp. That was good enough for a blistering top speed of 160mph. The car needed an extra latch for the hood to hold it in place at high speeds.
2 1992 Ferrari 512TR
The 512TR emerged first emerged in 1991 as a replacement for the iconic Ferrari Testarossa that had been in production since 1984. The car shared some design elements with its predecessor, notably those prominent side rakes. It was also powered by the traditional naturally aspirated V12 under the hood. However, several internal changes made the car more powerful, faster, and easier to control at full speed. Sir Elton John only put less than 2,000 miles on this beauty before it was put up for sale.
1 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine
Even in the early times, Rolls-Royce Phantoms were the exclusive preserve of the wealthy individuals in society. The cars just exuded class and royalty unlike anything else on the roads. The 1973 Phantom VI had a 6.7-liter V8 powerplant under the elongated hood; features like power steering and hydraulic brakes came as standard to improve overall handling. The one owned by Sir Elton John had some unique touches by the well-known coachwork builder, H.J Milliner.