Ralph Lauren’s 300 Million Dollar Car Collection Is A Living Example Of Art On Wheels

Ralph Lauren, the billionaire philanthropist, owns a huge car collection that is worth over $300 million. Some of his cars are so exotic that they are on display in a museum. In his own words, Ralph describes cars as arts and they are something to live with your life.

In an interview with CARJAM TV back in 2017, Ralph explained, “I love cars and I think cars are the art and clothes are fashion, and mixing them both is exciting and they are like my children… I’m not a collector but I love my cars, I wanted to drive them so I bought these cars. I wanted to drive all of them so I kept all of my cars and suddenly I have a collection…”

Ralph Lauren Has A Special Taste In Collecting Ferraris

Ralph Lauren developed a hobby of collecting some of the most vintage and classic cars over the years but his $300 million dollar car collection is mostly filled with Ferrari models from different generations. He thinks of cars as art and his car collection is definitely a proper justification for his claim.

7. 1961 Ferrari 250 TRI/61

Ralph has been a sucker for Ferraris for quite a long time and owns one of the rarest and most collectible models to ever exist. The billionaire businessman owns two Ferrari 250 Testarossa or TRI/61 models. One is from 1958 and the other one is from 1961. The 1958 model, however, has a special meaning to him as it was driven by Phill Hill and Olivier Gendebien who won the 1961 Sebring 12 Hours race.

Ralph bought the car back in 1985 and did a restoration through Graypaul Motors. The car resides in Ralph’s private garage and was last seen back in 2014 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It was also displayed at the Fine Arts Museum, Boston, MA, USA.

6. 1965 Ferrari 275 P2

Ferrari has produced numerous sports cars over the years but not quite like the 1965 Ferrari 275 P2 that Ralph owns. The Italian brand built the P2 with the specific need to win Gold at the World Championship and more importantly to beat the Ford. 

Ralph Lauren’s Ferrari 275 P2 from his collection is also one of the few models that were actually used in racing and even captured the Gold back in the day.

5. 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB N.A.R.T Spyder

One of the most iconic Ferrari cars in Ralph’s possession is the 1968 Ferrari 275 GT N.A.R.T Spyder. The car first belonged to Eddie Smith and later was about to be in Steve McQueen’s garage but Eddie kept it for his son. 

As the story unfolded and people got to know about the famous car, Ralph Lauren learned about the NART Spyder and flew all the way to the US to buy it.

4. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione

Lauren’s Ferrari adventure didn’t end as he bought a Ferrari 250 GT Competizione back in his prime time. Designed by Pininfarina, the 250 GT SWB Competizione is one of Ralph's favorite rides in his vast collection. 

Guess what, not only the coupe but Ralph owns the 250 GT SWB California Spyder variant as well.

3. 1991 Ferrari F40

There are a few who can match David Lee’s obsession and passion for Ferrari and Ralph seems to be the right fit. He has a 1991 model of the car painted in red. 

Lauren bought the car brand new by paying around $400K. Ralph’s Ferrari F40 was spotted back in 2019 in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris. Rumor has it that he wanted to sell the car but his children asked him not to.

2. 2009 Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M

Ferrari has always been known to produce special variants to celebrate some of their notable achievements and the 2009 Ferrari F430 Scuderia Spider 16M in Ralph's collection was an open tribute to their 16th Championship-winning memento in 2008. 

Lauren got his hands on this limited (499 units) edition Ferrari as a handover program when the former owner of this car decided to sell it. 

1. 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari

As surprising as it seems Ralph’s garage has only one modern-day Ferrari hypercar at its disposal. First produced back in 2013, the Ferrari LaFerrari boasts the HY-KERS system and has F1 car’s technology which triggered Ralph to have his first-ever hypercar in his garage. According to Forbes, in 2015 he finally acquired Ferrar’s first hybrid car.

This revving hypercar in Ralph Lauren’s car collection features a rare glossy black exterior paint job. Also, Ralph's LaFerrari was even featured in many of his fashion weeks.

Ralph Lauren’s Garage Is Filled With Iconic Porsche Models

Not Only Ferraris but the billionaire fashion mogul didn’t limit his taste just to Ferrari cars. Instead, he acquired some of the most iconic Porsche models that built the German carmaker company into what it is today.

6. 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder #718-009

In the late 50s when Ferrari was almost invincible throughout all racing platforms, Porsche came with the 718 RSK model and almost snatched Ferrari’s winning spree in 1958 and 1959. The same car with chassis number 718-009 currently resides in Lauren’s car collection. 

Only 35 Porsche 718 RSK models were ever built. At present, the average auction value of the Porsche 718 RSK made between 1957 and 1962 is around $3.2 million. Lauren’s Porsche would likely fetch way more than the average number. After all, In 1959, it took second place in the Tourist Trophy on the Goodwood Circuit in England.

5. 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort

Ralph Lauren’s 959 Komfort is one of the rarest Porsche a collector can have. Only three were imported to the US and one of them is owned by RL. Besides him, Larry Hedrick and Norman Stone are/were the owners of the remaining two 959 Komfort. The car touched American soil on 27 June 1988, according to RM Sotheby.

It was back in 2010 when the renowned designer was spotted getting in his Porsche 959 parked on Greenwich Ave. Lauren and the other two owners had to have a special exemption from the US government to drive the Porsche 959 Komfort. They had to pay $50,000 to the NHTSA and an unspecified amount to a lobby group in Washington, DC. That said, in order to comply with EPA emission norms, the 959 Komort was modified by AmeriSpec Corporation of Danbury, Connecticut.

4. 2004 Porsche Carrera GT

First built in 2003, the Porsche Carrera GT set a benchmark in the supercar world which happens to be a road legal. It remains unclear when Ralph bought the car. However, since the purchase it has been on display in various events.

Ralph’s Carrera GT comes with the classic silver exterior paint job but there were other options as well unlike the interior which only came in ascort brown/black leather.  That said, the Carrera GT had a base price of $440,000.

3. 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder

Another hybrid supercar in Ralph Lauren’s car collection is the ‘spine-tingling’ Porsche 918 Spyder. First launched in 2014, the 918 Spyder caught the whole world's attention for its cutting-edge engineering which might have triggered Ralph's appetite to own this model. That said, Ralph's Porsche 918 Spyders come with the Weissach Package.

Interesting fact, Ralph doesn't own one but two of these badass Porsche models. Although the famous designer wasn't seen much in public with his 2014 918 Spyder, it's only about time that he will be captured by the paparazzi. However, his 918 Spyder was preset at the 2017 Ralph Lauren Fashion Show in Bedford, New York.

2. 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

In 2010, Ralph Lauren was spotted with his orange 911 GT3 RS coupe in a parking lot. The 911 GT3 RS appears to be a 2008 model. No further details about the options or features selected by Lauren are available at the moment.

According to Ralph Lauren, “When it comes to cars, men are like kids – their passion drives them.” Hence, it makes sense why he bought the 911 GT3 RS, which boasts incredible driving prowess. He must have paid at least $124,900 for the car.

1. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Apart from his orange 911 GT3 RS, Ralph Lauren’s car collection also includes an RS 4.0 model as well. However, the exact model year of the car is up for debate.

Ralph’s GT3 RS 4.0 is covered in white paint and a black strip runs through the center of the car. He has been photographed with this limited edition model on some occasions.

Ralph Lauren’s 17 Cars From The ‘L'Art de L'automobile’ Exhibition In Paris

Every year “The Musée des Arts Décoratifs” organizes a special exhibition showing off 100 extraordinary cars in their “L'Art de L'automobile” division. Well, Ralph Lauren’s most iconic 19 cars from his collection have been a part of the exhibition for quite a long time and it started back in 2011. Let’s take a look at those 19 historical cars from Ralph Lauren’s car collection.

Note: The number after "#" indicates the chassis number for each of the respective cars mentioned.

19. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic #57591

The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic was one of the earliest and most expensive cars from Bugatti. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is a 1938 model, which he acquired in 1988 and was restored by Paul Russell. In 1990, the car went on to win Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours. The original price of the car is not known, but the auction value of the car stands at a minimum of $30 million.

The initial owner was Richard Pope, a British tennis player who owned it for close to 30 years, after which Bugatti specialist Barrie Price owned it for 10 years. Following him, Anthony Bamford owned the car, and after him, another collector, before it became a part of Ralph Lauren’s collection. The car’s chassis number was 57591, and the engine number was 39S. This model had a beige interior, with the original color being sapphire blue. Meanwhile, Jay Leno is quite jealous of Ralph’s Bugatti since he doesn’t own the original one. There is only one more 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic that has survived and that is in the Mullin Automotive Museum.

18. 1933 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix #59122

The 1933 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix was the last race car from Bugatti in the years 1933–1934. The car’s original price is not known at all, but a while ago, the Type 59 went under the hammer for a price of $1.2 million. The car was based on the chassis of the Type 54 Grand Prix Bugatti. The Type 59 is considered to be one of the most awe-inspiring and noble GP cars made back then.

The Type 59 also had a rear differential. However, the car debuted in the later part of the 1933 season, and it won its first pole position in the 1934 Belgian Grand Prix. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is chassis number 59122, one of the eight cars built for the 1933 season. For most of its life, before it became a part of Ralph Lauren’s car collection, the Type 59 was driven mostly by race car drivers such as René Dreyfus, Robert Benoist, and Jean Pierre Wimille.

17. 1929 4½-Liter Birkin Blower Bentley #HR3976

The oldest car in Ralph Lauren's car collection is the 1929 Bentley Blower. Before Ralph, the Bentley Blower was owned by three individuals, the first being Hon. Dorothy Paget, followed by a private owner in France, and then going into the hands of Sir Anthony Bamford, a renowned car collector.

Ralph Lauren’s car chassis number is HR3976, and he acquired the car in 1988. It was later restored by Traction Seabert of England in 1990. This particular car was built by Walter Owen Bentley in the final, near-bankruptcy days of the company. Recently, Bentley also made 12 models in 2020 based on the Blower, named the Bentley Blower Car Zero which really upset Ralph as a collector. Meanwhile, Ralph’s  1929 4½-Liter Birkin Blower Bentley took second place in 1930 French Grand Prix.

16. 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK (Count Trossi) #36038

This particular model in Ralph’s collection is the 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK “Count Trossi”, which he bought for $7.4 million and let Paul Russell restore it. The SS in the name stands for Super Sport, and the K is the German word “Kurz”, which means short.

Once restored, Ralph’s SSK won the top award at the 1993 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the 2007 Concorso d’Elegance Villa d’Este. It is the SSK’s number of models that makes it highly rare and unique. Only 33 units were built, of which half were made for the track and sold as racing cars. In 2022, only four of the original cars will remain in the world.

15. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe Alloy Gullwing ‘Papillon’ #198.040-5500386

The German carmaker company went crazy back in the 50s with their ‘300SL’ project for ‘Super Leicht’ So, they introduced the 300SL Coupe Alloy Gullwing. What triggered Ralph to buy the car is its excellent racing qualities - given it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952 and the Carrera Panamericana.

A total of 1,400 units of these models were produced and Ralph’s 300 SL was one of them. The car also has a name for itself - ‘Papillon’. You know what’s cooler than a 300SL Alloy Gullwing - two 300SL models and Ralph Lauren owns a 300SL Roadster version in his car collection.

14. 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 #2111043

Ralph Lauren's 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 was the first car to be made in the 8C series. While there is no clarity on the car’s original MSRP, the 1931 model fetches around 11 million dollars at auctions, one of the highest for Alfa Romeo models. 

Ralph Lauren acquired the car in 1988, and it has a chassis number of 2111043. The 8C 2300 was made specifically for racing, but Alfa Romeo later decided to make 188 units for road-legal usage as well. The car won the 1931 Targa Florio, the 1932 Targa Florio, and the 1931 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. As a result, sometimes the 8C 2300 is also called the 8C 2300 Monza. Alfa Romeo developed a great reputation with the 8C in the racing department.

13. 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia #412030

Another 8C owned by Ralph Lauren is the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia. The Mille Miglia was one of the four cars built by the brand that participated in the race. Although the car’s actual buying price for Ralph Lauren is not known, one of these beauties fetched an auction value of $19.8 million. The car was created by Vittorio Jano, and the bodywork was from Carrozzeria Touring.

Under Alfa Corse’s name, the Mille Miglia owned by Ralph Lauren (RL) was displayed at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours, where the car was awarded for being the best in its class. Before Ralph, the car was owned by Bill Serri. After the purchase, Ralph asked Paul Russel and Company to restore the car to its former glory.

12. 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus #0398AM

The Ferrari 375 Plus in Lauren's collection was a racing sports car made in 1954 that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1000 km of Buenos Aires, Silverstone, and other races. The initial build price of the car is not available, but a 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus model was sold at an auction for a staggering price of $18.3 million. Also, the 375 Plus was designed by Pinin Farina, the founder of the famous coachbuilding company Pininfarina S.p.A.

The Ferrari 375 Plus was a successor to the Ferrari 375 MM and a predecessor to the Ferrari 410 S. A total of 8 units of the Ferrari 375 Plus were made and Ralph Lauren purchased the car in 1990, and his car’s serial number is 0398TF.

11. 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder #5500061

You can’t ignore Porsches when it comes to small and balanced sports cars, and that has been the legacy of the brand since its inception. In its various forms and avatars, Ralph Lauren's 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder participated in several competitions like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Targa Florio, the Carrera Panamericana, etc.

Despite all this, if we talk about the exclusivity of Ralph's 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, only about 90 units of these were ever manufactured, and the car had an estimated price of $2.7 million back in 2023.

10. 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa #0734

The 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is one of the most envied cars and belongs to Ralph Lauren. The reason is its limited number of 33 units, making it one of the most valuable vintage Ferrari cars. The car’s price is not known, but auctions have raised it to a whopping $40 million. 

Ralph's Scaglietti car was the 14th model in the series. He acquired the other Spider model in March 1985, after which he restored it at GrayPaul Motors. Also, Ralph Lauren owns two of these: a 1958 Scaglietti car with chassis number 0734TR and a 1961 250 TR-61 Spider Fantuzzi with chassis number 0792TR.

9. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO #3987GT

The most valuable car in Ralph Lauren’s car collection is the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, made on October 11, 1962. It is said that the car had an MSRP of $18,000 when launched in the United States, but today, it has an average auction value of nearly $51 million. 

The GTO in the name stands for “Gran Turismo Omologato”, and only those selected personally by Enzo Ferrari himself could buy it. Ralph Lauren purchased the car in 1985 for a sum of $650,000, and his car’s chassis number is 3987GT. The total 250 GTO is limited to 36 units.

8. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM #6321

Ralph Lauren’s Ferrari 250 LM was one of Ferrari’s ‘Abandoned Children’ back in the days when Enzo wanted 100 units of these models taking after the 1962 250 GTO. The 250 LM was supposed to be a part of the “Grand Touring division” but taking in the 250 GTO’s success in racing, authorities boycotted the idea of its production. So only 32 units were made.

Enzo Ferrari was so determined to ensure the production of the 250 LM that he even considered stepping away from racing. However, his efforts didn’t pan out as planned. Later on, a few privately purchased 250 LMs did find their way to the racetrack. One notable example was Ralph’s 250 LM, which competed in Australia's Surfers Paradise 12 Hours race in 1966. Driven by Andy Buchanan and Jackie Stewart, also known as "The Flying Scot," the car, numbered 31, won 13 out of 19 Australian racing events.

7. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Passo Corto Berlinetta Competizione #2035GT

If you think the 1955 250 GTO was cool then check out Ralph’s 1960 250 GT ‘Berlinetta’. First debuted in 1959 at the Paris Motor Show, the ‘Berlinetta’ was a short chassis version of the 250 GTO. While you appreciate its performance promises, the design of the car was straight from Pininfarina himself.

While Ralph's Berlinetta car won the 250 Passo Corto for three straight years (1960 to 1962), Ralph’s 250 GT Berlinetta was the 31st factory unit and Horacio Macedo was the second owner of the car. Also, Macedo was a Portuguese who won more than 23 national race events back in the day.

6. McLaren F1 LM #LM3

Another special McLaren in Ralph Lauren’s collection is the F1 LM. It was the race-spec version that was built by the manufacturer to honor the 1995 Le Mans winner the McLaren F1 GTR. McLaren only built six of these cars and only five were sold to the public. Meanwhile, unlike the Sultan of Brunei who ordered three F1 LM models, Ralph claimed his model in a 2004 auction

Ralph Lauren was last spotted with his beloved McLaren F1 LM back in December 2023 in his private ranch wearing a polo shirt and grey sweatpants. The official page of GTBOARD.com released the picture stating, “Ralph Lauren and his McLaren F1 LM #mclaren #mclarenf1 #ralphlauren”. 

5. 1955 Jaguar XKD #505/601

The 1955 Jaguar XKD was Jaguar's attempt to dominate the ‘60s Le Mans, which they failed miserably the first two times. The car was unable to deliver, leading to the company's ceasing of motorsport activities. However, Ralph's XKD is special as the legendary drivers Ivor Bueb and Duncan Hamilton raced it in 1956’s 12 Hours of Reims at Reims-Gueux before Duncan got injured following a major accident. 

The one that is a part of Ralph Lauren’s collection was the XKD 505/601, which also grabbed sixth place at Le Mans. It is covered in British Racing Green paint. This car was also among the few long-nosed models made. Ralph Lauren also sells a hand-made 1:18 replica model of the same car, made by Amalgam, a Britain-based company.

4. 1956 Jaguar XKSS #XKD533

The 1956 Jaguar XKSS in Ralph's collection is a huge chapter in British automobile history being the most-paid. Built for only 71 units, the model was even related to “The King Of Cool” Steve McQueen. McQueen also had an XKSS (AKA - Green Rat) with the chassis number XKSS 713 which was the fifth car built in late 1958 but initially, it was an XKD model.

Ralph Lauren's XKSS however was first dispatched back to the factory after recording some issues and was later released with a British Racing Green color scheme. After decades, the first of the 12 cars (including Ralph's XKSS) out of 16 (first lot) were gathered for Jaguar's 75th anniversary celebration in 2010, at the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Meanwhile, according to Architectural Digest, Lauren’s Jaguar was part of his collection featured in the Lime Rock auto show in 2013.

3. 1950 Jaguar XK120 Aluminum Roadster #660043

Ralph has always been into Jaguars especially those which have a brief and significant history. Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable used to own the same model. Hence, it could be one of the reasons Lauren bought the car. Since he adores the golden age of Hollywood. That said, for the British automaker brand, the 50s was one of their glory periods as the Jaguar XK120 Roadster was unveiled back in 1948 at the London Motor Show. Jaguar designer William Lyons explained the car as an explosive roadster with feline grace. 

Ralph’s XK120 Roadster is one of the remaining original factory-made models still existing to this day. The car was even in the 1950 Mille Miglia race driven by Clemente Biondetti and came in eighth place. The car was originally red but Ralph likes to make it quite personal to him. That’s why, he came up with a new darker olive paint than the regular racing green for the Jaguar.

2. 1953 Morgan Plus Four Flat Rad

According to the New England Auto Museum, Ralph Lauren’s first car was a Morgan. Meanwhile, since he “can’t drive a painting”, it makes sense why Lauren circled back and bought the 1953 Morgan Plus Four Flat Rad, one of 750 models ever made.

Ralph’s 1953 Morgan was among numerous display vehicles for the Lime Rock show. He bought the car in 1986, became its second owner, and has remained its owner since then.

1. 1965 Aston Martin DB5

Dubbed as James Bond’s car, Aston Martin DB5’s notoriety is known worldwide. From Paul McCartney to Mike Jagger, numerous top celebs own the DB5. Hence, it is hardly a surprise that this British classic swayed RL’s heart.

Ralph Lauren DB5’s model year is debated. However, some credible sources such as Carbuzz claim it to be the 1965 model. That said, the average price of the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 is around $1 million.

Modern-Day Bugatti To Limited RUF, Ralph Has It All

2. 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Ralph’s Bugatti collection didn’t stop with his vintage models but escalated to 2006 when he bought a Veyron. There was an unexpected turn of events regarding the Veyron in 2007 when famous YouTuber Doug DeMuro was accompanying his girlfriend Kate through Telluride. He noticed a Veyron for the first time in his life and felt excited. 

However, the number plate (RLX 7) intrigued Doug as he thought about the RL initials on the number plate and quickly remembered Ralph Lauren’s ranch in New York. He followed the car for quite some time and there he was, Ralph Lauren driving his Veyron. The two even shared some words that Dough asked, “What's it like, Ralph?” to which the billionaire replied, “(laughs and nods) It's incredible”.

1. 2014 RUF CTR3 Clubsport

We all know about the legendary CTR “Yellow Bird” that took the sports car world by storm. After 20 years of the “Yellow Bird”, RUF launched the CTR3 model in Bahrain back in 2007 and was caught on Ralph's radar a year later.

Back in May 2013, the legendary fashion designer was spotted in the Hamptons while cruising down the road on his brand-new CTR3 Clubsport. Besides that, it has also been displayed in his 2017 fashion show.

Special Mentions

3. 2003 Lamborghini Reventón

Only 16 Lamborghini Reventón were made with the roadster body style and Top Speed claims that Ralph has the 2010 model year Reventon which was priced nearly $1.6 million. The car is currently being lent to Audrain Museum in Newport, Rhode Island by the Ralph Lauren Automobile Collection.

As with every other Lamborghini, the Reventón (small explosion in Spanish) name comes from a fighting bull who is famous for killing Mexican bullfighter Felix Guzman. Meanwhile, Ralph has been photographed with his silver Reventon while he was wearing attire of a darker shade to match.

2. McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 in Ralph's collection was actually crashed by BMW during a test, according to VINwiki. Apparently, Lauren’s F1 was sent to get serviced and the engine was replaced at a secret workshop by BMW. A driver testing the car went over 200 MPH, lost control, and grass was everywhere in the F1. The damage was covered up and never officially reported.

That said, the F1 was designed by Paul Rosche. Back in the 1990s, famous names like Gordon Murray, Ron Dennis, and Peter Stevens, turned the car into reality.

1. Aston Martin Vanquish

Matt Farah from ‪TheSmokingTire‬ and TheSmokingTirePodcast‬ claims that Ralph Lauren gave his personal Aston Martin Vanquish to his father who worked for the famed designer for 15 years as the President and COO.

Ralph’s Vanquish belonged to the 2003 model year and had dark titanium a.k.a James Bond paint on the exterior. In the cabin, there is a Ralph Lauren purple label leather and suede. Meanwhile, Carbuzz claims that RL also has a 2005 Aston Martin Vanquish S model.

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