Elton John's Car Collection Hits A High Note

Elton John's Best Of British Collection

Sir Elton John is one of England's greatest musicians. The now-78-year-old Elton hadn't gotten to drive his cars very much throughout the last two decades, so he sold them all at auction through Christie's of London in 2001. Let's look back at some of the Rocketman's sweetest rides.

1986 Ferrari 412 Sports Coupé

First up in his collection is a Ferrari 412 Sports Coupé. Purchased by Elton John in 1992, the English musician got the car from his own drummer, P Langford Morgan, who'd worked with Elton on albums like Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Elton's only modifications to the original 412 Sport Coupé were to repaint it black and tone down the interior styling slightly.

Charles, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1986 Ferrari 412 Sports Coupé (Cont'd)

Elton didn't need to make many under-hood modifications to the 2+2 coupé, which already roared into life with a Ferrari V12 4.9L engine that screamed out 335 hp and had a top speed of 150 mph. Elton once said that he loved the car: "I love the look of that model. It's a classic Ferrari shape". It was fairly box-shaped by Ferrari standards, but that didn't dissuade Elton one bit.

Thomas's Pics, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1975 Bentley Corniche Convertible

Opting for the convertible version of the 1975 Bentley Corniche, Elton purchased the car brand-new with Silver Mink paintwork (quickly changed to a darker Metallic Blue). Powered by a V8 engine, this Corniche Convertible was one of Elton's favorite cars. "Everyone's been in it. I've had Princess Margaret in it," Elton remarked, reminiscing of the time he took the Princess to the cinema.  

Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1975 Bentley Corniche Convertible (Cont'd)

Based on the Bentley Silver Shadow, the Bentley Corniche was unveiled in 1971, featuring cruise control for the first time in a Bentley car. The Corniche was no slouch, with a V8 engine that produced 237 hp and took the car up to a top speed of 118 mph. It's one of the rarest Bentleys ever—as only 77 were ever produced.

Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante

Elton John's love of classic British cars also extended to Aston Martin. One of a couple in his collection: the 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante. Spotted in James Bond, the Vantage was ordered new by Elton in '87 and was a rare manual version of an almost all-automatic car. Elton's classic Aston Martin convertible was bespoke, with a magnolia interior and a Winchester blue paint job, with a darker shade for the hood. Elton says that the Vantage Volante was the "first great car I bought". 

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1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante (Cont'd)

And it's no wonder it's such a great car—its engine produced 400 hp and a top speed of 170 mph. When the first of these V8 Vantages were introduced a decade prior, they were considered Britain's first supercar. In addition to being owned by Elton John, the V8 Vantage Volante also found a home with King Charles III, back when he was Prince Charles. Although, according to his driver, Elton prefers to use his Volante for "quick runs to football", as he is an avid fan of Watford FC.

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1956 Bentley S1 Continental

The 1956 Bentley S1 Continental is the oldest car in Elton's collection, released when the star was just nine years old. Derived from Rolls-Royce's Silver Cloud, it was equipped with a 4.9L inline-six engine that could take Elton from 0 to 60 in 12.9 seconds. During Elton's early ownership in 1976, he had the interior redone and a bare metal respray of the vehicle. Elton says that "It's the most beautiful-looking car that's ever been designed". We're inclined to agree—it's a work of art.

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1956 Bentley S1 Continental (Cont'd)

The "Continental" was the high-performance version of the S1, offering a top speed of 120 mph to cater to the high-performance market in the United States, mostly. Only 431 units of the S1 Continental were ever produced, making it a very rare car in Elton's collection.

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1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Roadster

Another oldie-but-goodie in Elton John's collection was his vintage 1965 Jaguar E-Type. Painted a stunning Carmen Red with an all-black interior, Elton acquired the car in 1987, which was totally restored in 1979 prior to his purchase. The car's number plate reads: "OK ELTON", which is his staff's nickname for the car. 

SG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (Cont'd)

Widely considered one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the E-Type Jag was hand-built and equipped with enormous power under the hood and meticulous beauty on the exterior. Mechanically, the car was revolutionary: pinion steering, disc brakes, independent suspension, and it could hit 60 mph in under 7 seconds. It claimed a top speed of 150 mph and Enzo Ferrari thought it "the most beautiful car ever made". 

SG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Ferrari Testarossa

He didn't say the same about his own Ferrari Testarossa, a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car that was a birthday gift to Elton from his record company for the man's 40th birthday. Produced between 1984 and 1996, the Testarossa was powered by a flat-12 engine that propelled Elton from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds.

MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Ferrari Testarossa (Cont'd)

Painted in a gorgeous red, the car was nicknamed the "Red Devil" by the singer and was presented with a feather boa and wrapped in a giant red bow. That's a birthday present for the ages. Under the hood, the 12-cylinder engine growled out 385 hp and could hit a top speed of 180 mph. We aren't sure if Rocketman ever tested that, but it's a good bet that he did.

Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1960 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur

A close second for the oldest car in Elton John's collection is the 1960 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur. Purported to be the car's fourth owner, Elton purchased this beauty in the 1970s, complete with British Racing Green paint with a gorgeous grey interior. Elton had a record player fitted throughout the years of his ownership, before resorting to a more normal stereo in the 2000s. Apparently, Elton loved to take guests out in his "Flying Spur".

Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1960 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur (Cont'd)

Just 388 S2 Continental Flying Spurs were ever built by Rolls-Royce, powered by a 6.2L V8 engine and featuring some at-the-time groundbreaking things: A fully automatic transmission, push-button windows, electric rear window demisters, and power steering. It's no wonder Elton picked one up, as the 230 hp engine propelled the Flying Spur to a 110 mph top speed.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé

This exquisite Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé was ordered new by Elton John in August of 1985. Elton clearly had a thing for Aston Martins. It's no wonder—the V8 Vantage Coupé was painted a gorgeous Royal Cherry color with magnolia upholstery. In 1992, Elton upgraded the engine and drivetrain after almost 10,000 miles on the car.

Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé (Cont'd)

Powered by a 5.3L V8 engine, the 1985 Vantage Coupé was a huge upgrade over the traditional V8, increasing its power by almost 40%, releasing 315 hp and giving the car a staggering top speed of 150 mph. It blew from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds.

Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

1987 Bentley Turbo R

This beautiful 1987 Bentley Turbo R wasn't just the high-performance beast that took the Lamborghini Countach to the limit at speed-record tests, it was also the car which transported Elton John to one of the most poignant and sad moments of his career: his performance at the funeral of Princess Diana. Supplied to Elton brand-new in 1987, the star took very good care of his Turbo R, it being one of several in his collection to have better performance because it was built before catalytic converters were a thing. 

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1987 Bentley Turbo R (Cont'd) 

We mentioned that the Bentley took a Lamborghini Countach to its limits. This refers to when it set 15 British speed records over the course of an hour. It beat the Lamborghini Countach's speed records by 8 mph in 1987 and launches you to 60 mph in under 7 seconds, hitting 100 mph in under 20 seconds. True speed. 

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1973 Rolls Royce Phantom VI Limousine

There's a neat story of near-theft behind Elton's acquisition of this stunning brown 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine. The story goes that Elton John was being driven to a show in a white version of this Phantom VI, drove past a Rolls-Royce showroom and spotted the brown one. He pulled up, got out, bought the car on the spot, threw his bag in the back, and off he went! He's since spent many hours driving the car, touring all over the country. It was one of his most-driven cars.

Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1973 Rolls Royce Phantom VI Limousine (Cont'd)

A black version of the 1973 Phantom VI was crafted by Rolls-Royce for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee in 1978. Elton's was powered by a 6.7L V8 engine with a three-speed automatic gearbox but was physically almost identical to the Phantom V. The VI was the final Rolls-Royce to have a separate chassis and separate front and rear air conditioning units. There are fewer than 40 in the world.

Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1965 Bentley S3 Continental Fixed Head Coupé

Elton John acquired this stunning S3 Continental in 1976, and was its second registered owner. Several changes have taken place over the last 20 years to keep the car in tip-top shape, including an exterior respray of the magnolia paintwork and red interior trim. Additionally, a CD player was retrofitted. Elton's driver reportedly said that the S3 Continental "just glides".  

SG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1965 Bentley S3 Continental Fixed Head Coupé (Cont'd)

The 1965 S3 Continental was almost identical to the S2 version that preceded it, except for the four-headlamp layout, with the front radiator lowered to allow for a lower hood. However, Bentley kept the 6.2L V8 engine but increased the power by 7%, bringing the top speed to 115 mph without losing fuel economy. Just 311 of the Continental version of the S3 were built.

SG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1963 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coupé

From the Fixed Head Coupé to the Drophead Coupé from two years prior, Elton's next Bentley was this stunning 1963 Bentley S3 Continental. Another nod to Dark Metallic Blue in this one—Elton John's paint choice du-jour for his Continentals, it seems. Elton purchased the car in 1979 from a dealer in London, and it was frequently used on trips to Paris, when he rented an apartment in the city. The car was then refurbished with a magnolia interior and retrofitted with a modern (for the era) CD player. 

Anton van Luijk, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1963 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coupé (Cont'd)

The S3 Continental was manufactured entirely from aluminum, with two doors instead of four (these four-door models, like the one mentioned above, were denoted as Flying Spurs). The Drophead Coupé version was convertible, but otherwise mechanically identical to the Fixed Head Coupé and Flying Spur.

Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante

Another gorgeous Aston Martin in Elton's collection was this British Racing Green with Magnolia interior V8 Volante. This entirely hand-built car was made with over 1,200 man-hours of work from start to finish. A simply staggering feat, appreciated by the likes of Elton John. Reportedly, in the early days, Elton drove a Ford Escort, but was told by his manager at the time, "You can't drive around in that. You've got a certain image to live up to". So, Elton went out and bought this 1984 V8 Volante. From one extreme to the other. 

Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante (Cont'd)

It's no wonder this Aston Martin would become Elton John's first of his collection. A V8 engine that produced 300 hp with a five-speed manual gearbox, propelling the Volante from 0 to 60 in 8.9 seconds with a stunning top speed of 142 mph. Elton refers to the car as the "Beautiful, classy lady that needs to be taken to the south of France every now and again". Which he did, keeping this Volante there at his summer residence.

Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1964 Bentley Standard Steel Saloon

This 1964 Bentley Standard Steel Saloon is one of the greatest Bentleys to come out of post-war car production in the UK. Purchased by Elton in the early 1970s, being comprehensively restored in the late 1990s/early 2000s with air conditioning and a CD player fitted, along with Rolls-Royce electric windows and a two-tone grey color scheme. Elton affectionately called the Standard Steel Saloon "Two Tone" and it was his go-to car for royal occasions.

Bentley S3 1964 Standard Saloon, P&A Wood

1964 Bentley Standard Steel Saloon (Cont'd)

A true marque of vintage British car building, all of the Standard Steel Saloons were hand-built and would become the benchmark of the S3 Continentals that Elton John loved so much. Apparently, Elton's driver took him to the Queen's birthday in this 1964 Steel Saloon, where he dined, performed, and then danced with Her Majesty.

Bentley S3 1964 Standard Saloon, P&A Wood

1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé

Another Aston Martin in Elton John's collection is the 1978 V8 Vantage Coupé. The beautiful 1978 Coupé is one of just 172 ever built. Elton's 1978 Aston Martin was originally presented in the Watford FC club livery: yellow with black and maroon stripes. Elton's love of football drove him to take this car to Watford FC's matches when he became Chairman of the Club in 1976. 

1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe, AutosportDesigns

1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé (Cont'd)

Coming off the heels of one of the worst Aston Martins ever, the Lagonda, Aston Martin would need to pull a rabbit from the hat if they were to salvage their reputation. Thankfully, they did with the V8 Vantage Coupé. This hugely upgraded version of the Lagonda featured high-performance camshafts, bigger carburettors, and it was one-tenth of a second faster getting to 60 mph (5.3 seconds) than the Ferrari Daytona, at 5.4 seconds.

1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe, AutosportDesigns

1994 Bentley Continental Convertible

One of only two models of Elton John's cars from the 1990s, this '94 Bentley Continental Convertible was painted in a gorgeous light metallic blue color, featuring a V8 engine in a newly-balanced body that was one of the last Bentleys built at Rolls-Royce's old factory. Elton acquired this car new in October of 1994 and, apparently, he loved the sound of the engine.

ZidaneHartono, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1994 Bentley Continental Convertible (Cont'd)

Equipped with a 6.75L V8 engine, the Continental Convertible was definitely a powerhouse, perhaps slightly less-refined than Bentleys that had come before it. It produced 385 hp and had a top speed of 145 mph. Elton's 1994 Continental Convertible was one of only seven built that year.

ZidaneHartono, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1993 Jaguar XJ220

This like-new Jaguar XJ220 from Elton's collection had just 852 miles on it when it went up for auction. The 57th custom order than Jaguar produced of the XJ220, in a dark metallic blue color with a grey interior—you know, for a change. It's reported that Elton had a minor accident on the way home from tennis, when his 1993 XJ220 clipped some traffic cones resulting in minor damage. Elton has aptly named this XJ220 "The Beast".

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1993 Jaguar XJ220 (Cont'd)

This two-seat supercar was once the fastest production car in the world between 1992 and 1993, holding the speed record at a staggering 217 mph and doing a lap of Nürburgring in just 7:46. Faster than any other car before it, according to Jaguar. A typical V12 engine was replaced by a turbocharged V6 and the car retailed for nearly $500,000, making it one of the most expensive cars of the early 1990s.

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Which Of Elton John's Cars Is Your Favorite?

Let us know which of Elton John's cars is your favorite. Which would you happily drive off into the sunset with? Are you also a fan of everything British, like Elton? Let us know in the comments below.

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Sources:

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