Cars that famous people owned - that surprised you!

[ERC]

I've just acquired a newly released auto biography of my musical idol - jazz trombonist and band leader Chris Barber. (Celebrates 60 years of leading his band this year, aged 84!)

He is always happy to talk cars when we catch up so I knew he'd raced a Lotus IX, Elite, Elan and also entered the Lotus 47. I knew he was friends with Bernie Ecclestone, Colin Chapman, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren etc . I knew he'd owned Aston Martins, Jaguars, Mercedes and a couple of La Salles.

What I didn't know was that he'd owned and enjoyed a Dodge Charger!!!

[Oldfart]

How about Peter Sellers and the string of Lotus 7s he owned and lent to "up and comings"?

[Bryan]

Harry Secombe Daimler SP250 'Dart'
Paul McCartney Hispano-Suiza and Aston DB6, Ringo Starr Facel Vega , John Lennon Iso Fidia, read here.

[ERC]

Although no surprise as I knew he loved his cars, George Harrison's McLaren did have a Chris Barber CD permanently in the player and that was a surprise, even though they were close friends!

[Bryan]

Jools Holland has a replica Rover Jet 1

[Bryan]

James May had a Datsun 120Y

[GD66]

B-but that's not really a surprise !

[stirlingmac]

I was always surprised Denny Hulme drove a Chevette...

[Jeff]

When we used to visit Mike Hailwood at his house in Mairangi Bay in Auckland in the '70s he used to get around in a Citroen / Maserati SM

[ERC]

Although most will know, James Hunt ran an Austin A35 van!

From memory at a talk given by Frank Williams at Frank Sytner's dealership, apparently when both were based in Nottinghamshire in their early days, they ran Austin A40s - and one of them managed to roll one, I believe in the City!

[Jeff]

Of course there was the legendary A35 that Graham Hill used as a road car to get to races in the U.K and Europe in the 60's....
From reading various books the general word was that the A35 was "indecently" fast in the hands of it's talented owner and often attracted the attention of the law in various countries

[Oldfart]

Sir Stirling had a Standard 8 which was well modified by Alf Francis, Borrani wheels and all

[928]

Denny Hulme had a Range Rover. and a Granada at one stage.
Graham Hill owned Speedwell who made go faster bits for BMC cars

[bry3500]

Oldfarts Standard 10

[bry3500]

Brian Johnson ( ACDC) Lola T70

[Malcolm McLeod]

Patrick Head has a Beecham Jaguar Mk2

[Mini.Mad]

Steve McQueen had a Mini

[GeebeeNZ]

Not to forget Brian Johnsons 4 1/2 litre Vintage Bentley

Brian Johnson ( ACDC) Lola T70

[rf84]

Think Denny drove a Chevette only because he had to-seem to remember him advertising/endorsing them in TV ads. I was present at Manfield on one occasion when Denny rocked up at the pit entrance gate in said Chevette and without his pit pass. The exchange between Denny and the marshall on the gate was short and not very sweet with Denny asking "Don't you know who I am?" and (without waiting for an answer), driving straight through. You can't blame the poor marshall-it was stretching anyone's credibility to believe that an ex F1 World Champion would drive a Chevette!

[Oldfart]

Oldfarts Standard 10

Don't think that counts!