Cruise Through Hollywood Icon Clark Gable’s Classic Car Collection

In 1924 and 1926, Clark Gable began his movie career as an extra in silent films in Hollywood where he was born and raised. With Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he moved on to supporting roles, and in Dance, Fools, Dance (1931), Crawford made a request to cast him alongside her. He became MGM's biggest male star after starring with the reigning sex symbol Jean Harlow in Red Dust (1932). Initially considered too rough to play a romantic lead by studio decision-makers, it was not until undergoing grooming and training by his acting coach that Gable came to epitomize the American ideal of masculinity and virility. With his fame and fortune booming, Gable could afford the best, including the 1935 Duesenberg Model JN, which was used in his famous relationship with Carole Lombard. He also owned a 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedster, a 1937 Zephyr V12, a 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, and a 1956 300. Clark also owned the XK120 which was introduced to the public in 1948. 

7. 1937 Ford Lincoln Zephyr V12

One of the most premium cars of that time was the 1937 Ford Lincoln Zephyr V12, which Gable was seen boasting on several occasion. The Lincoln-Zephyr, launched on November 2, 1935,[3] as a 1936 model, was exceedingly contemporary, with a low sloped windscreen, integrated fenders, and streamlined aerodynamic design, which prompted the name "zephyr," originating from the Greek term Zephyrus, meaning the deity of the west wind.

The starting price of the 1937 Ford Lincoln Zephyr V12r is $35,000.

The 1937 Ford Lincoln Zephyr V12 is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.3L V12 engine that puts out 110 HP and 186 lb-ft of torque. It helps the car to reach a top speed of 100 MPH.

6. 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria

Next in the list is the 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria. Rudy Stoessel was busy at work developing and creating designs for a three-piece cast aluminum cowl that would be easier to construct and stronger, but it wasn't finished yet, and Clark Gable was not a customer to be taken lightly.

Darrin's automobile was completed quickly, earning him instant national attention. The starting price of the 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria is $170,000.

The 1938 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.2L Inline 8 powertrain that puts out 135 HP. The car can reach a top speed of 101 MPH with this engine.

5. Jaguar XK120

The sumptuous and stylish Jaguar XK120 was a favorite of Hollywood star Clark Gable. Only when Jaguar XK120 was originally shown to the public in 1948, Gable immediately charmed with it and urged on owning the very first XK120 to arrive on the West Coast, saying he wants the automobile “as a kid loves sweets.”

In June 1949, his automobile, chassis number 670003, was among the first cars to depart the Holbrook Lane assembly line. The reported price for the Jaguar XK120 vehicle is $311,111.

The Jaguar XK120 is powered by a 3.4L Inline 6 engine that puts out 160 HP and 195 lb-ft of torque. It helps the car go from 0-60 MPH in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 122 MPH. 

4. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300

After a long wait, vehicle collector Bruce Meyer was ultimately able to purchase Clark Gable's 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc. Meyer claims Gable adored the showy Mercedes and has photographs to prove that. When the star died in 1960, his widow put blankets around the large touring automobile.

Meyer persuaded the family to sell after it sat for two years. The 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 that Gable owned is valued at around $962,500.

The 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 is powered by a 3.0L Inline 6 engine that puts out 173 HP and 188 lb-ft of torque. It helps the car go from 0-60 MPH in 10.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 112 MPH.

3. 1935 Duesenberg Model JN

The "King of Hollywood," previously owned the 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible. Recently, Gooding & Company auctioned off the automobile at Pebble Beach, California but it was insufficient to satisfy the seller's specified "reserve" price, hence this Duesenberg failed to sell. As per Gooding, the auction house that was selling the vehicle, it played a prominent role in Gable's famous romance with Hollywood beauty Carole Lombard, who was one of America's top stars at the time.

They met at a party and then went on a lengthy drive. It was then sold for a record price of $1,346,000.

The 1935 Duesenberg Model JN is powered by a 6.9L Inline 8 engine that puts out 265 HP. It helps the car to reach a top speed of 116 MPH. Rollston of New York built this short-wheelbase convertible sedan coachwork for the 1935 Duesenberg (chassis 2593). A 142.5-inch wheelbase and 17-inch wheels were standard on the JN, compared to 19-inch wheels on the Model J. The JN was wider and lower-slung than the Model J and featured a 142.5-inch wheelbase.

2. 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing

Next in the list is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing. Following Gable's death in 1960, the automobile changed ownership several times until landing in the hands of Charles Wood in 1975.

A high-dollar restoration was completed in 1989, and vintage equipment installed by Gable himself, such as the Rudge knock-off wheels and Nardi steering wheel, were maintained. Any Mercedes-Benz 300SL is extremely valuable. At the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, bidding for Clark Gable's antique Gullwing halted at $1.9 million. The current reported price of this car is $2,000,000.

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing is powered by a 3.0L Inline 6 engine that puts out 215 HP and 206 lb-ft of torque. It helps the car go from 0-60 MPH in 8.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 135 MPH.

1. 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedster

The next car on this list is the 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedster. The manufacturer produced only two of these outstanding lightweight small wheelbase autos.

Gary Cooper acquired one of them. And the eye-catching metallic green and red automobile are shown here, driven by Clark Gable. The starting price of the McLaren 675LT is $24,000,000.

The 1936 Duesenberg SSJ Speedster is powered by supercharged 6.9L Inline 8 engine that puts out 320 HP. It helps the car to reach a top speed of 130 MPH.