Everyone remembers that marvelous scene in Iron Man when Tony Stark rocked up in an Audi R8. The car soon became his preferred mode of transportation when he wasn’t busy flying around in his suit. Off the set, the Hollywood star prefers an entirely different type of car, the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette.

Robert Downey Jr. has been one of Hollywood’s leading men for years, and after the success of the Marvel movies, his stock rose to a new high. In fact, according to Forbes, Downey Jr. was the world’s highest-paid actor for three successive years. Today the iconic superhero is worth an incredible $300 million. So, how does Tony Stark spend his vast fortune? Well, Robert Downey Jr. has a car collection that is quite the sight to behold.

In this amazing car collection, two cars immediately stand out. The Audi R8 that he helped make famous, and the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, an old school classic. Now, the two cars are opposites of one another; one is a symbol of the changing times and is packed with all sorts of technology. While the other is a throwback to a much simpler time when cars used just used to be cars.

So why does Robert Downey Jr favor the old school 1965 Corvette over the much more modern Audi R8?

An Old School Icon

C2 Corvette
via

In 1993 the first generation Corvettes made way for their predecessors, the C2s. The Second generation Corvette was an instant hit. Chevy went for more power and more X-factor.  The C2 was designed by Bill Mitchell and named it after the Stingray, a sea creature closely related to sharks. Ever since then the evolution of the Corvette Stingray has been something car fans have marveled at.

For the first time in Corvette's history, the new C2 came with a coupe. In 1965, Chevy decided to take it a step further. They added a "Big Block" engine, improved the styling, added a new braking system as well as brand new larger power plants.

Out of all of these nifty little additions, the most significant one was the new Big Block engine. Under the Stingray's beautiful fiberglass hood was 425 horses of pure American muscle. And today, Robert Downey Jr. has in his garage the most powerful version of the legendary 327 Corvette.

Related: Joe Rogan’s 1965 Corvette Stingray Restomod Is A Knockout

A Superhero's  Dream Car

Few collaborations have worked out quite as well as the one between Audi and the Marvel franchise. At the center of this relationship is Tony Stark, an eccentric billionaire with a love for cars. When the Audi R8 was given to the character played by Robert Downey Jr, nobody at the time knew just how big the movies would get, least of all Audi.

Since then Robert Downey Jr. and Audi have taken their relationship off-screen. He is a well-known petrolhead and the crown jewel of Downey's marvelous car collection is the Audi R8 or should we say R8s because there's quite a few.

The most impressive of all of his R8s is the V10 Spyder. Not only because a V10 engine powers it, but its also the best looking of all of the R8. Downey's partnership with the German company means that he can choose any one of their cars, so for him to keep going for the R8 makes it one special car.

Now that he's left the franchise, we won't be seeing Tony Stark make his iconic entrance in an R8.

Related: Ranked: Every Car Featured in The MCU’s Avengers Movies

Why Robert Downey Jr. Favors The Corvette

Robert Down Jr. 1965 Chevy Corvette
via pinterest.com

It's no secret that Robert Downey Jr. loves the finer things in life. He's not the type to keep his $300 million fortune safe just in case there's a rainy day (although, I don't think Iron Man has many rainy days). His love for vintage cars outweighs his love for their more advanced modern counterparts.

An everyday car isn't necessarily the fastest, the most powerful, or indeed the most expensive. It's the car that is most comfortable to drive. And for Downey, it's his 1965 Chevy Corvette.  Its the perfect car to just sit and cruise in. The Corvette C2 is regarded as one of the greatest automotive designs ever.

The C2s were fitted with two small seats, a neat little cargo area in the back, making them not only functional but also stylish. They also had a useful V8 engine for those days when Iron Man is running a little late.

It's obvious when looking at Iron Man's cars, that Tony Stark and Robert Downey Jr have different tastes. While the eccentric fictional character may enjoy making a statement in an Audi R8, his real-life counterpart prefers to try and keep things as lowkey as possible. He has been sported a few times taking a casual drive around California with his wife inside his classic 1965 Chevrolet Corvette.

Next: Avengers Assemble: 24 Pics Of MCU Stars And Their Cars