Exciting Automobile Racing Assemblages that Captivate
Top Racing Car Collections Showcase Motorsport History
In the world of motorsport, some collections stand out for their rare and valuable racing and supercars. These collections belong to racing legends, notable enthusiasts, and celebrities who share a passion for the thrill of the race.
The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart houses a collection of racing cars, including the Porsche 917, Porsche 956, Porsche 962C, and Porsche 911 GT1. These legendary models dominated endurance racing in the 1970s.
Across the Atlantic, Todd Werner, an entrepreneur, boasts a collection of NASCAR cars. Among his prized possessions is a model from the 70s driven by the legendary American racer Richard Petty. All cars in his collection have been carefully restored.
Zak Brown, a businessman and head of the F1 McLaren team, has a collection of cars that have participated in prestigious races. His collection includes models associated with Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, and Lewis Hamilton, primarily McLaren models but also including the Wolf WR1 and Lola IndyCar. These vehicles are located in the UK and are occasionally displayed or used in motorsport history projects.
The Museé National de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France, has a collection of 530 vehicles, about 25% of which are racing cars. The collection includes the Bugatti Type 35, Maserati 250F, Mercedes-Benz W125, and Mercedes-Benz W154.
The Henry Ford Museum's collection includes Ford racing cars that competed in prestigious races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 6 Hours of Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Daytona, and others. The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn has a collection of Ford racing cars, including the Ford GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race multiple times.
Fernando Alonso, a successful driver in various racing series, has a collection of all racing cars he has ever driven, including Ferrari and McLaren models.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia has a collection of 200 historically significant racing cars from manufacturers like Ferrari, Jaguar, Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Bugatti, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Corvette, and Ford.
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, has over 1.6 thousand vintage racing cars, with a particularly large collection of Lotus racing cars. The museum's collection includes cars used in various American and European racing series.
Valtteri Bottas, another successful racer, has a collection of rare racing cars, including the Mercedes-AMG One, McLaren 675LT, Ferrari F40, and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. His collection also includes modern models that have broken racing records, such as the Mercedes-AMG One, which set the Nürburgring record in 2022.
Michael Schumacher, a 7-time F1 champion, has a collection of cars in Germany that includes 12 Formula 1 cars in which he won races and titles. Most of the cars are from the Ferrari team.
Events such as those held by Bonhams blend high-profile motorsports culture with collector car auctions, featuring models like the Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DBR1, and McLaren F1 LM, with values reaching tens of millions. Collections housing such cars typically belong to racing elites or serious collectors linked to racing history.
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum organizes demonstration races for visitors to see legendary racing cars in action. For those interested in adding a piece of racing history to their collection, opportunities exist through auctions like the New York City auto auction and online platforms, where Porsche models can be purchased at reduced prices.
Among the top racing car collections, Jay Leno's collection stands out for its rare and valuable racing and supercars. His collection includes an $8 million 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing—one of only 29 alloy-bodied versions ever made, highly prized for its speed and design. Other famous collectors include celebrities like Floyd Mayweather, Jerry Seinfeld, and Ralph Lauren, known for their extensive arrays of classic, exotic, and historic cars from marquee brands such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Mercedes-Benz.
- Despite his focus on boxing, Floyd Mayweather's collection mirrors those of racing elites, containing a variety of rare and valuable racing cars.
- The well-known car enthusiast, Jerry Seinfeld, possesses a large collection that includes not only classic and exotic cars but also racing models from esteemed brands.
- Ralph Lauren's extensive array of cars includes racing models, demonstrating his wide-ranging passion for automobiles, encompassing not only lifestyle or luxury cars but also racing cars and car-maintenance curiosities.
