Rowan Atkinson's worldwide recognition as an actor and comedian stems from an awe-inspiring tale of hard work, perseverance, and an unmatched passion for his craft. The character of 'Mr. Bean' has turned into a global sensation, with his dynamic personality encompassing an exquisite blend of comedy, intelligence, and an ardent outlook on life. The immensely successful celebrity has a variety of interests ranging from piloting airplanes to racing cars, with his undeniable love for automobiles evident from his exorbitant garage featuring some of the world's rarest and desirable machines that only a true motoring enthusiast can appreciate.
The British actor and comedian has spent a sizable portion of his huge $150 million fortune on an array of exclusive, fast, and sophisticated automobiles. His garage exudes an element of panache and sheer exorbitance, with the likes of several engineering masterpieces like the legendary and ultra-rare Aston Martin V8 Zagato as well as the iconic BMW 328 being a part of his awe-inspiring collection.
Rowan Atkinson's automobile collection is one of the finest in the world. His garage features an impressive mix of speed, rarity, and stratospheric levels of style that can bring tears of joy to true petrolheads and thrill-seekers alike. His collection has it all, from the legendary Mclaren F1 to the ultra-rare and exclusive Lancia Thema 8.32.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
Aston Martin was always ahead of its time when it came to its gorgeous exterior designs, and the 1977 V8 Vantage is one such shining example. As stated by Rowan himself, this was his first 'proper' car he purchased, with the ascending popularity of the pretty Aston in 1984 making it a hot topic of discussion amongst motoring enthusiasts the world over.
The V8 Vantage was conceived as the performance version of the Vantage grand tourer from Aston Martin and was nicknamed the first 'British Muscle Car' upon its introduction in 1977. The gorgeous high-performance grand tourer featured an energetic 5.3-Liter V8 engine that was well-engineered and housed high-performance camshafts as well as bigger carburetors, resulting in an impressive output of 389 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.
With a top speed figure of a rather splendid 170 mph as well as a 0-60 mph time of a brisk 5.3 seconds, the V8 Vantage was an exquisite mix of performance and beauty, making it a worthy contender against the likes of the more established Ferrari Daytona at the time.
With a valuation of a staggering $161,000, in recent times, the 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is undoubtedly an exorbitant classic in Rowan's passionate collection of automobiles.
Aston Martin V8 Zagato (1986)
This classic grand-tour from Aston Martin was undeniably unique, owing to its limited production run of just fifty-two coupes and thirty-seven convertibles. The element of rarity is strong with this somewhat controversial machine, with the mere drawing of the grand-tourer showcased at the 1986 Geneva Motor Show turning it into an instant success.
The Italian-styled V8 Zagato featured a spirited 5.3-Liter V8 engine that was capable of dishing out an impressive 430 hp and 395 lb-ft hauling the controversy-ridden grand-tourer to the 60 mph mark in a quick 4.8 seconds, onwards to a top speed of 185 mph.
With a price tag of $670,000, the Aston Martin V8 Zagato is doubly special for Rowan, who crashed this rather expensive classic on one of his circuit-racing events, resulting in a rebuild that cost him a figure north of $300,000.
Bentley Mulsanne Birkin-Edition (2014)
Bentleys exude opulence combined with a nearly unmatched level of comfort. The Mulsanne from the British automaker is one of the most luxurious and well-rounded full-size luxury sedans that has enjoyed an immensely successful decade-long production run from 2010 through 2020.
The luxury automobile has seen several limited edition avatars sporting top-of-the-line creature comforts, customized craftsmanship, and an unmatched sense of comfort, with the Birkin Edition of this classic luxury sedan enveloping top-tier levels of premiums.
If the traditional Bentley Mulsanne wasn't enough of an opulent piece of magnificence, this limited edition version featured the renowned Mulliner Driving and Entertainment Specification that provided several creature comforts in the form of twin 8-Inch LCD screens in the rear of the seat's headrests. Moreover, Naim developed a premium audio system and even exquisite hand-crafted picnic tables, making for a premium in-cabin experience.
With a limited production run of just twenty-two units, the Birkin-Edition of the Bentley Mulsanne in Rowan's garage sported a jaw-dropping price tag north of $300,000 upon its launch that was justified owing to its exclusivity and top-notch levels of refinement as expected from a Bentley.
Mclaren F1 (1997)
Also known as the 'holy grail' of high-performance supercars, the Mclaren F1 is probably the most iconic supercar the world has ever seen. The F1 was manufactured by British automaker Mclaren Cars, with its powermill engineered by BMW Motorsports. The F1 was known for its unique center-biased driving position and achieved performance figures that were truly mesmerizing in the mid-1990s.
The blisteringly quick two-door coupe featured a lively naturally-aspirated 6.1-Liter V12 that was custom designed for the F1 by BMW Motorsports and was capable of dishing out a colossal 618 hp at 7,400 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
The resulting performance of the lightweight rear-wheel-drive supercar was mind-boggling. The 60 mph mark was demolished in a quick-paced 3.2 seconds, onwards to a top speed of a redline-limited 221 mph.
With a starting price of a gargantuan $815,000 upon its launch in 1992, the Mclaren F1 has seen significant appreciation through the years. The impeccably engineered track monster sports a price tag of a humongous $20.5 million in recent times, making it one of the rarest and highly exorbitant automobiles in Rowan Atkinson's collection.
Rowan Atkinson's passion for automobiles is commendable and immensely mesmerizing. The British actor certainly knows his cars, and his garage is one of the finest examples of what a true petrolhead's desires encompass. His garage features impeccably engineered masterpieces that possess oodles of character, with his passion for racing clearly evident from the lineup of high-speed exotics present in his collection. From iconic racing machines like the 1964 Ford Falcon to the uber-luxurious and comfort-obsessed 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead, the variety that surrounds his magnificent collection is truly unparalleled.