Pablo was something of a paradox. With the amount of wealth he accumulated over his lifetime, he left behind a car collection as fascinating as the life he led.

Money didn’t seem to be much of an object for Escobar. According to his own son, as per Business Insider, he once burned $2 million in cash to make a fire for his family. With those millions coming from all sorts of activities, that scene perfectly sums up the complexity of his own life.

People aren’t aware of the cars he acquired over time. Vast, varied and surprisingly low-key, Escobar’s many modes of transportation say a lot about this complicated figure. His cars may not have the instant appeal of a supercar at a single glance but when one uncovers some of the facts surrounding his collection, it reveals more about his character.

We’re going to look at Escobar’s car collection, which on its own is intriguing enough. Even more, we’re going to go deeper into what cars he gave his private militia, the one he bought to commemorate a hero in his eyes and the one he loved the most. He also had another hobby with cars that extended beyond merely collecting them, which we also cover below.

Not everyone is going to agree with Escobar’s taste in cars just like they won’t agree with the way he lived his life. Appropriately fitting the following list, he once said: "Life is full of surprises, some good, some not so good" (Goodreads).

16 His Porsche 356 Was His Prized Possession

It’s easy to see why this red car was his favorite one. According to The Drive, even though Escobar’s 1964 Porsche 356 had an engine that left him wanting more, he still cherished it. The same source notes it was able to put out about 75 hp. One can imagine Escobar cruising around in this bright red gem with the top down on a sunny day in Colombia.

Unfortunately, the car met a terrible end, which must have broken Escobar’s heart considering how much it meant to him. We cover the details on what happened to this classic Porsche further down below.

15 He Raced Cars Too

Escobar wasn’t just about buying cars and storing them away—he loved driving them. Nowhere more did he love to do that than on a race track. It was something of a hobby he could share with family members, which we touch on later. We also reveal some of the cars he raced with and decided to add to his collection.

The Drive also adds that he tried to get an advantage in races through unfair means, once going so far as to put tacks on the race course to impede other drivers. This may have been an attempt to compensate for losing races often.

14 Brought Four Cars And A Helicopter To Races

With the kind of power, money, and influence Escobar possessed, he did some extreme things. For proof, one need look no further than when he attended races. According to Autoweek, he would roll up with four Renaults along with trucks that carried tons of amenities. They go on to note that food and champagne were in good supply; he would bring the party with him wherever he went.

He even had his own helicopter close at hand in case he felt like taking a spontaneous vacation, or possibly for a quick getaway. It’s likely the spectators at these events both feared and respected Escobar whenever he showed up.

13 Paid Tribute To Al Capone With A Cadillac V8 Town Sedan

Escobar had a penchant for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. It didn’t matter how old or how modern the car was, he got whatever he felt like. One of them stands out though not just for the time it came out of, but the reasons behind Escobar’s acquiring it. His 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan was a classic car that represented an earlier period in America's history.

It’s a car that’s also synonymous with Al Capone. While it’s hard to imagine Escobar actually getting behind the wheel of it to take for a spin in the rough terrain of Colombia, he must have kept this one safely stored away.

12 Hovercrafts, Jets and Submarines, Oh My!

Escobar had the kind of capital that afforded him any kind of car—and vehicle—imaginable. He wasn’t just limited to land vehicles either but took to sea and sky in his trade. Auto Info reports that he also owned hovercrafts he could take to navigate waters. These vehicles also have the benefit of versatility and were able to travel over land as well.

Then he also had planes at his disposal if he didn’t mind being out in the open. Most astounding of all though, according to the same source, is the fact that he even had submarines he could take to the depths of the ocean far from sight.

11 A Renault 4 Was The First Car He Raced

As touched on earlier, Escobar had a penchant for not just owning cars, but racing them too. This hobby influenced many of the cars he kept over time, many of which still belong on his estate to this day. One of them is a small white 1978 Renault 4. There’s a special significance behind this car and Escobar’s racing car though.

According to The Drive, he drove a Renault 4 in the 1979 Renault Cup. That was important because it was the first race he ever took part in behind the wheel. It would be the start of a side gig Escobar would explore for years to come.

10 He Preferred Low-Key Vehicles

With millions of dollars, it’s easy to imagine the kind of cars available at one’s disposal. If taking a poll on the most coveted brands today, it’s likely that the top ones to grace the list would include Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari, McLaren, and Maserati. Strangely enough, Escobar didn’t seem too interested by these offerings. Instead of getting the most luxurious sports cars around, he seemed to stick with more low-key vehicles, as Auto Info points out.

Perhaps it had to do with keeping a lower profile, or maybe he was budget conscious. Whatever the case, Escobar never filled his collection up with these coveted rides.

9 Raced A Simca 1000 In Marlboro Cup

From what it seems, Escobar didn’t have the best luck at racing. That didn’t seem to stop him from racing some of the coolest cars though. Among his collection was a beautiful 1978 Simca 1000 he had raced in the Marlboro Cup, according to The Drive.

One of the appeals of this car, other than its sleek compact design, was its handling, which came in handy on the track. According to the same source though, it wasn’t enough to win him and his cousin Gustavo Gaviria the race. The site Automaatic notes that Abarth worked on the car as well.

8 His Militia Drove Toyota FJ Cruisers

What these vehicles lack in flashiness, they make up for in longevity. Toyota is a brand known for its long-lasting cars, and Escobar recognized that. According to The Drive, Escobar needed vehicles for his militia that could handle the rugged landscape of Colombia. He landed on these Toyota FJ Land Cruisers to do the job, and they, in turn, became harbingers of intimidation.

Unfortunately for Escobar, the authorities got wise and soon associated any FJ Land Cruisers as belonging to Don Pablo, reports the same source. It would seem that these vehicles played a small part in Escobar’s ultimate fall from grace.

7 Got The Porsche 935V That Won 24 Hours Of Le Mans

The late 1970s appeared to have been busy for Escobar when it comes to racing. On a whole different level from the Renault and Simca was his Porsche 935V. If there’s a brand Escobar had an obvious penchant for, it’s Porsche, as there were several in his collection.

This particular one was also a racing monster with a legendary reputation. The Drive reports that the car caught Escobar’s attention for winning the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans. Not only would he have had an appreciation for its accolades, but for the car’s performance, as the same source notes, it could do an incredible 560 hp.

6 Put Holes On The Side Of A Car On Purpose

This is one of those tales that’s easy to imagine Escobar doing. It’s the kind of act that either draws contempt towards his lack of care for classic cars or amazement at his ability to do whatever he wanted. As we went over earlier, Escobar got a hold of a classic 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan.

The Drive reports that he got it to commemorate Al Capone, but apparently it wasn’t up to his standards when he first got his hands on it. He decided that a flurry of holes across the side of it was the perfect touch missing.

5 Many Of the Cars Still Exist Today On His Estate

Many of Escobar’s cars still exist today and are on display for the public to see in a museum. Auto Info reports that the cars reside on his former estate, Hacienda Napoles Ranch, which they converted into something of a tourist hotspot.

Those that get a chance to see the cars up close and personal shouldn’t go in expecting a typical car museum though. Unlike typical car museums, all the cars on Escobar’s estate are beat up, rusty and barely standing. That’s all thanks to Escobar's life, which often lead to his cars facing the consequences of his action, as they were often targets.

4 He Put His Name On The Porsche 935V’s Windshield

Believe it or not, Escobar’s Porsche 935V isn't even the best racing car he ever owned. We reveal one of his most valuable cars later on in the list, and yes, it’s another Porsche. He still had a great appreciation for the Porsche 935V though.

As mentioned early, as per The Drive, the car had managed to win the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans, a legendary endurance race in France. Once Escobar got a hold of it, he did something that would clear up any confusion about who it belonged to. According to the same source, he put his own name on the windshield.

3 His Porsche 911 RSR Was One Of Fifteen Made

Here’s arguably the best racing machine Escobar ever got his hands on. Without a doubt, it’s easily the most valuable. He ended up paying a lot for it, which we reveal later on.

According to The Drive, after some touching up, it went up for auction in 2012 and fetched a healthy haul of $875,000. Part of that has to do with its limited edition nature; the same source notes that only 15 exist. It also took part in the IROC, or International Race of Champions. Escobar must have had a ball zipping around in this race-worthy Porsche, or else keeping it stashed away from harm.

2 His Porsche 356 Was A Casualty

As touched upon earlier, Escobar’s red 1964 Porsche 356 was the crowning jewel of the collection, at least in his eyes. Unfortunately, the car would have to pay the price for Escobar’s life. As part of a feud with Escobar’s competitors, the car was severely damaged. The car did manage to survive, but there’s not much left of it.

Perhaps the bright red eye-catching paint job not only provided a cool aesthetic but a big target for Escobar's competitors. What remains left of it is on display and we reveal where it resides to this day later on.

1 Spent Millions Of Dollars For The Porsche 911 RSR

As this list reveals, Escobar had a soft spot for Porsches. He may have even been a bit impulsive when it came to buying them. The crowning jewel of not just his Porsches, but arguably his collection, was the 911 RSR. Earlier we noted how there was only a limited number made. That, plus its turn in the IROC, must have motivated Escobar to pick this one up.

The site Tire Burn notes that he spent a grand total of $2,310,000 million for the car. Many will agree that it was worth the price tag, but that was even more money back then!

Sources: Business Insider, Goodreads, Automaatic, The Drive, Auto Info, Tire Burn, Autoweek