Trump's opulent car collection: From Rolls-Royces to Lamborghinis
On January 20, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. We took a look at his automotive achievements. As befits a billionaire, Trump's garage was filled with expensive cars.
The history of Donald Trump shows that he loved opulent, luxurious limousines, but he also didn't shy away from sophisticated, iconic supercars from today's point of view. Regardless of his accomplishments (and future purchases), the new President of the USA will no longer drive a car on public roads.
Trump had to say goodbye to sitting behind the wheel of cars during his first presidency. In the USA, the head of state not only cannot drive a car on public roads while in office, but also for life after finishing their presidency. This applies to First Ladies as well, but interestingly, this peculiar prohibition is not regulated by any national laws.
This is a security policy dictated by the Secret Service. It's not just about the attention from other drivers that a president behind the wheel might attract, but also the potential assassination risk. The last US president who was able to drive a vehicle independently was Lyndon B. Johnson.
Let's take a look at what Donald Trump had in his garage, because there's plenty to be envious of.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
A collection of such a wealthy person could not lack Rolls-Royces. First, Trump welcomed a 1965 Silver Cloud, and rumor has it that it was one of his very first cars. He used it only on special occasions.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
In 2010, the future US president bought a Phantom equipped with a 6.75-liter V12, which he loved. In 2021, the vehicle was sold at Mecum Auctions with a mileage of 35,000 miles, but the transaction price is a mystery. It was predicted that the auction could reach $300,000-$400,000.
Ferrari F430
At the same auction, a Ferrari F430 that Donald Trump purchased in 2007 was sold. However, he didn't use the car as often as the Phantom, as indicated by the symbolic mileage the car had during the auction in 2021 — only 4,294 miles. Equipped with a 4.3-liter V8 with 490 horsepower and paired with a 6-speed sequential transmission, the car surely provided a lot of fun. The car was sold at the Mecum Auctions for $270,000.
Lamborghini Diablo VT
The Ferrari is not the only Italian supercar that Donald Trump had in his garage. Due to special preferences, he ordered a Diablo VT Roadster in 1998 in a stunning and very rare Blu Le Mans color. Trump was often seen taking the 5.7-liter beast out for a spin, enjoying the weather. The naturally aspirated V12 generated 492 horsepower and could reach 208 mph.
The car was in his possession until 2002. Almost exactly a year ago, this Diablo was sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale for an impressive $1.1 million. Archival photos suggest that Trump also had a second Diablo — a VT coupe version.
Mercedes-McLaren SLR
Another elegant and powerful car that Donald Trump owned is a Mercedes-McLaren SLR. Released in 2003, the model was meant to reference the legendary Mercedes sports cars from the 1950s. When the car debuted, it made a striking impression with its 5.4-liter V8 producing 626 horsepower and a fantastic design featuring massive exhaust tips exiting just behind the front wheels. The SLR must have enchanted Trump because he almost immediately ordered one, which was delivered in 2004. The price? At the time, $455,000.
Tesla Roadster
The friendship between the new President of the USA and Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, is no secret. Even though Trump loved gas-guzzling cars, he was also interested in electric vehicles when they (along with Musk) were just emerging in the automotive market. The Tesla Roadster, built in collaboration with Lotus, featured a 250-horsepower electric motor and a battery pack with a capacity of 53 kWh, allowing a range of nearly 249 miles on a single charge. The further fate of the car is unknown.
Cadillac Escalade, Allante, and Trump Golden Series
Cadillac is one of the brands that Donald Trump particularly likes. While he fell in love with the first version of the SUV, rumor has it that he bought several units of each subsequent generation. Trump also owned Cadillac limousines, and his bond with the brand was strong enough that the manufacturer created a special extended limousine model—the Cadillac Trump Golden Series, of which only a few units were made in the late '80s. In 1993, due to exceptional loyalty, the manufacturer gifted Trump a golden Cadillac Allante with a V8.