There are only a handful of people as fascinating as Elon Musk, Twitter’s new CEO and CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX. When not working on the next tech in automotive or space travel, Elon Musk will make witty tweets that spark controversial debates worldwide. But this CEO is not just all about work, as this article will reveal that he is somewhat of a gearhead like you and has pretty good taste.
Before electric cars were a reality, Musk had several internal combustion cars. It might surprise many that the man who introduced the Tesla Cybertruck and the Tesla Semi Truck has some not-so-eco-friendly options in his garage. Many of the cars in Tesla's lineup offer solutions to problems Elon Musk faced in owning standard mass-produced cars. Here are the ten coolest cars ever owned by Elon Musk.
10 1978 BMW 320i: You Have To Start From Somewhere
Despite coming from a humble background, he had an idea of getting a cheap car with the BMW 320i. BMW was far from the ultra status symbol it is today, and it wasn’t as nearly as fancy as some expect of it now.
The BMW 320i might not be the most driver-focused car from the Bavarians, but in its time, it whets the young entrepreneur's appetite enough to make it his first car. Unfortunately, his first car had a sad ending when an intern in Musk’s first company crashed it.
9 1997 McLaren F1: Big Wins Deserve Big Celebrations
A CNN camera crew documented Elon Musk famously taking ownership of the world’s fastest production car in the ‘90s, the McLaren F1. After a series of big wins in Silicon Valley, the young entrepreneur deserved a treat, and what better way than to buy the top dog in automotive engineering?
While most normal humans would be satisfied with such an achievement, Musk wouldn’t settle, and he decided to make an electric car that eclipses the performance of the McLaren. Elon Musk’s Mclaren F1 suffered an ugly feat, but the wealthy multi-billionaire couldn’t care less.
8 1976 Lotus Esprit: ‘Wet Nellie’
Elon Musk admitted to being an avid James Bond fan after spending close to a million dollars in 2013 to acquire a barely functioning prop from the flick The Spy Who Loved Me.
In classical James Bond fashion, this Lotus Esprit-derived vehicle had a few tricks to catch the bad guys. It would turn amphibious with the touch of a button. It would be epic if Musk decided to make an amphibious electric vehicle, as he derives some inspiration from cars he already owned.
7 2010 Audi Q7: Particularly Horrendous
Speaking of cars that bring inspiration, Elon Musk got the inspiration to bring falcon doors to the Tesla Model X after owning an Audi Q7. In 2010, the Q7 was one of the most luxurious SUVs suitable for Musk’s large family.
However, the businessman wasn’t impressed with Audi’s definition of luxury at the time, describing the car as “particularly horrendous.” Keeping in mind the issues with the Q7, he designed his own electric SUV that didn’t need to break a sweat when jumping in the back seat.
6 2006 BMW M5: Tuned by Hamann
By now, the pattern is clear. Musk buys a car, but instead of stashing it away in a car-collection warehouse, this genius at work uses it as an inspiration for his next innovations.
The BMW M5 was a powerful car, but Musk went a step further and got the Hamann package that unleashed the full potential of the V10 engine to churn out 600 hp. The insane performance of this beast is what inspired Elon Musk to install the ‘Ludicrous Mode’ in the Tesla Model S.
5 1920 Ford Model T: All About Influence
The historic Ford Model T is one of the most influential cars of the 20th century. The Model T made it possible for mass-produced vehicles to be available to the public, and every car manufacturer has Henry Ford to thank for that.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and arguably one of the most influential cars on the planet is the Tesla. Interestingly, Elon Musk names his cars in the same format as the Model T, with the name ‘model’ followed by a letter or alphabet on the nameplates.
4 1967 E-Type Jaguar Roadster: Teenage Dream Car
Many teenagers today dream of owning a Tesla, but the Tesla CEO as a teenager had a wild dream of owning one of the best classic sports cars, the Jaguar E-type. Like some other cars in Elon Musk’s possession, it disappointed him once he got to own it.
The E-Type Jag that Musk got was not too kind to him, as it kept breaking down. It was too unreliable that Elon Musk described it as a “bad girlfriend.”
3 Tesla Roadster: Expanding His Garage Into Space
Elon Musk owning a Tesla should be a no-brainer (duh!). But what’s even cooler is that he parks his Tesla Roadster in space. That’s right. This car sits with the stars up in space.
When SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018, Elon Musk sent a Tesla roadster to go up in the skies with a dummy astronaut strapped behind the wheel. Anyone can know where the space Tesla Roadster is right now.
2 Tesla Model S Performance 2019
You can call this one his daily driver, as it’s what he likes to drive most. The Tesla Model S is one of the most comfortable and accommodating EVs. This car saw the introduction of the ‘ludicrous mode,’ inspired by the Hamann BMW M5.
If you would like to go even faster, there’s the Model S Plaid variant, which is ridiculously quicker than the ludicrous Model S.
1 Tesla Cybertruck: The Rest Of Us Can Wait
No surprises here, one of the most polarizing men on the planet owns one of the most polarizing vehicles ever. The Cybertruck follows a controversial design advertised to have bulletproof windows.
The fans had to await production delays for the Cybertuck following the Covid-19 pandemic. If all goes well, the Cybertruck will soon hit the streets running, so enthusiasts can join Elon Musk in the revolution.
Sources: Businessinsider, Tesmanian, CNN, Forbes, TheVerge