The Richard Branson Car Collection Is Still Unique In 2024

The Richard Branson Car Collection is not as fancy as the car collections of S. Robson Walton or Jeff Bezos. However, it does include an interesting variety of cars. Richard has owned multiple Land Rover since his partnership with the British automaker in 2014. Furthermore, his garage also hides Fisker Karma and Mercedes-Bens S-Class. Meanwhile, Richard Branson also used to run a company called Virgin Cars which was defunct in 2005. Hence, it is likely that he has kept a few models as momento in his possesion. Moreover, multiple British media outlets have also reported that Richard did buy a Saab 9-5 as well. 

7. Humber Super Snipes

Another old-age classic in Branson’s collection is the Humber Super Snipes. The car was first put into production in 1938 and it continued till 1967. The British company Humber Limited started building the car with the mindset of providing automobiles for upperclassmen, professional people, and government officials.

According to Bonhams, only 124 Humber Super Snipe Mk II Drophead Coupe was built by Tickford, making this model one of the rarest cars of the last centuries. Having said that, the estimated auction price of a 1949 Humber Super Snipe Mk. II Drophead Coupe is between $70,000 to $80,000.

6. 1960s Morris Minor 1000

Reportedly, the Richard Branson car collection also includes the Morris Minor from the 1960s. Developed by Morris Motors at first, the model was a primary way that Britain got back on the road after WWII. The small 4-door sedan was first put into production in 1948 and it kept going on until 1971. During the journey, the 'Morris Minor' was produced under the banner of different corporations.

The Morris Minor 1000 is powered by a 0.9L straight-4 engine producing only 37 horsepower. A 1.09L Inline-4 engine was also offered in the later cycle of production. That said, the Minor 1000 was available in different body styles such as a 2-door saloon, a 4-door saloon, and, a 2-door convertible.

5. Gibbs Aquada

Branson’s eccentric and daredevil personality is not for the show but has been put to the test multiple times including when he bought himself an Amphibian car from Gibbs Technologies. The UK-based tech firm built the Aquada back in 2015 and it is the World's first high Speed Amphibian. The advanced machinery can run on roads but as soon as it hits the water it transforms into a high-speed boat featuring a boat-like body profile under the deck. The original price of a Gibbs Aquada is over $180,000. However, in an auction, you can get it for around $85,000.

The amphibian car is powered by a 2.5L Rover V6 engine capable of generating a total of 175 horsepower. It can seat 3 people and achieve a top speed of 30 MPH on the water. Furthermore, the Gibbs Aquada weighs around 3,232 pounds

4. 2012 Fisker Karma

Well, the American automotive brand Fisker is known for its luxury-focused car designs and models with futuristic applications. When you are a billionaire and have all the money in your grasp why not stand out in the market with a luxury and futuristic 4-door luxury sedan? The most interesting aspect of the car is its generator-powered powertrain in the back. The front engine generates power and distributes it to the rear electric motors. The Karma cost a little over $100 grand.

The Fisker Karma boasts a plug-in hybrid engine and a dual motor setup in the back churning out a net 403 hp with a massive 959 lb-ft of peak torque. The car features a single-speed transmission resulting in a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph.

3. Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Other than big SUVs and old classic cars, Richard also prefers to drive sleek and luxurious sedans. That is why the Richard Branson car collection has the flagship S-Class model which is covered in white paint. That said, the outgoing 2024 S-Class sedan starts at $118,450 which can go up to $129,300 for the S580 model.

The S-Class S500 comes with a 3.0L Turbo Inline-4 engine and has an all-wheel drive system. The standard output is 429 horsepower which allows a 0-60 run in 4.9 seconds. The S580 model features a bigger 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 with 496 horsepower.

2. Range Rover Defender

During his collab with Range Rover, for the arrival of his first space trip, Range Rover Astronaut Edition was provided by a British automaker. However, when Richard and the crew landed, the Range Rover Defender 110 was offered. Having said that, the Defender nameplate was revived again for 2020 after a long break since 1997.

The 2020 Range Rover Defender 110 which was a four-door model started at $49,900 and the price could go up to $80,900 for the topmost trim. Two engines were offered: a standard 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 with 296 horsepower and an optional 395 horsepower-making 3.0L Twincharged Inline-6 engine with a mild hybrid system.

1. Land Rover Range Rover Astronaut Edition

It was back in 2019 when Virgin Galactic and Land Rover joined hands on a commercial space flight mission becoming the first on a successful space excursion. Branson’s company initiated the mission and successfully achieved the primary mission the same year. Before the mission, Land Rover launched a special edition Range Rover called the Astronaut Edition in case of potential success. Richard Branson was gifted the full-size SUV and was seen riding as soon as they completed the space venture.

The Range Rover Astronaut Edition was offered with two powertrain choices. Selected buyers eligible for this special model could either get the p400e plug-in hybrid engine with over 400 horsepower or a Supercharged V8 with 518 horsepower.

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