Inside Eddie Van Halen's Garage: These Are His Coolest Cars

Inside Eddie Van Halen's Garage: These Are His Coolest Cars

Eddie Van Halen was known as one of America's greatest rockers. But when his band, Van Halen, wasn't selling out venues, Eddie's other great passion was cars. He even featured prominently during the early days of MTV, celebrating hot rods and modified cars of all types. Let's review some of Eddie Van Halen's greatest rides, from the fast and furious—to the downright ridiculous.

Chevy C-1500

The first of Van Halen's eccentric cars is a customized Chevrolet truck. The C-1500 was custom-built by Hot Rods and designed by the legendary Chip Foose. It featured a billet grille, Corvette rear suspension, and an LT1 engine—covered gorgeously by a deep red paint job inspired by the Frankenstein guitar.

Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chevy C-1500 (Cont'd)

While Van Halen's gorgeous Chevy V-1500 was custom-built, its base was a 1988 Chevy C/K, which marked the beginning of the "Sport Truck" boom in the American market. Liking what he saw, Van Halen had Chip Foose create the "Van Hauler" for him. It was hugely popular among rock music fans. So popular that Petersen Publishing Company, who owned Sport Truck magazine, gave away a second truck with the iconic black, white, and red stripes just like Eddie Van Halen's, but without the crazy under-hood mods.

Dennis Elzinga, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1970 Chevrolet Nova

Another Chevrolet to feature in Van Halen's collection was a 1970 Chevy Nova. It was built by Jim Bones Fab Shop in California, featuring a carbon fiber trunk and hood, a nine-inch rear differential, and a powerful 454 LSX motor under the hood. To make it even better, Van Halen painted the entire thing in bright yellow paint.

Greg Gjerdingen, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1970 Chevrolet Nova (Cont'd)

Chevy Novas are rightly considered a "classic car" by today's standards. Van Halen's suped-up Nova could push 375 horsepower and did 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds. It was also complete with the iconic hood-air intake that defined the Nova. Sales of the Nova greatly increased thanks to Van Halen's ownership.

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1947 Dodge COE

A behemoth of a vehicle, Van Halen's 1947 customized cab-over truck was also built by Jim Bones from the base of a 1947 Ford. Giving the whole truck a complete makeover, including fitting huge tires, a 7.3 liter turbocharged engine, and a five-speed gearbox, this custom truck was an indicator of just how much Van Halen loved to be different.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1947 Dodge COE (Cont'd)

Along with the engine upgrades, the 1947 COE was fitted with a new radiator—a Fluidyne aluminum rad with two Spal fans. The transmission and steering were also upgraded to improve driving performance, but Van Halen regularly used this massive truck to make trips to Home Depot and Lowe's while renovating his house. I mean, it did come with a huge truck bed for a reason.

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1956 Chevrolet Nomad

While not as "in your face" as some of Van Halen's other vehicles, the 1956 Chevy Nomad exuded class and elegance. Van Halen kept much of the original build of the Nomad, but packed a 256-cubic inch V8 engine in there for some serious power under the hood. He sold this beautiful car in 2009 in Scottsdale, AZ for $930,000.

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1956 Chevrolet Nomad (Cont'd)

From the gargantuan to the serene, the 1956 Chevy Nomad featured significant upgrades to its large V8 engine, including a double-barrel carburetor and independent front and rear suspensions. Additionally, Van Halen stipulated that the custom-built Nomad had power steering and power brakes. The "Power Pack" V8 engine produced a whopping 256 horsepower, which was very powerful for a 1956-era Chevy. 

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1955 Chevrolet 210

It would seem that Eddie Van Halen had a thing for Chevrolets. This 1955 210 "shoebox" Chevy is another example of a small car with lots of power. Its 540-cubic inch V8 engine gave it the power, even if the grey paint job didn't exactly scream "I like to go fast".

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1955 Chevrolet 210 (Cont'd)

Another of Van Halen's sedans that underwent significant upgrades was the Chevy 210. Known as the "Bel-Air", this powerful sedan was a hard-top work of art, producing as much as 500 horsepower. It had a gorgeous black and white paint job with a stunning exterior. Under the hood, you'd find braided fuel lines, an aluminum radiator with electric fans, and MSD electronic ignition and so much more. It's now being driven by Eddie's brother, Alex Van Halen.

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Audi R8

Complete with a supercharger, Van Halen embraced the modern feel of the Audi R8, kitting out the first with a V8 engine, before buying another R8 that had a V10 under the hood. Six-speed manual transmissions were included in both.

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Audi R8 (Cont'd)

The Audi R8 was a world apart from Van Halen's classics like the Chevy and Dodge COE, but it exuded speed and sophistication. Painted "Ibis White", both the V8 and the V10 versions of the Audi could top 200 mph on the track, producing a staggering 540 to 620 horsepower. 

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Evidently, Van Halen was a huge fan of German engineering, regularly hitting the race track with one of his many Porsches, pushing the 911 GT3 RS to its maximum. His 911 GT3 RS bore the license plate "5150", an homage to Van Halen's first album that was released in 1986.

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Cont'd)

Van Halen's Porsche 911 wasn't just customized with a vanity plate, it sported a 4.0L flat-six engine that produced 500 horsepower and produced 346 ft-lbs of torque. The top speed of the 911 GT3 RS was 199 mph and it could go from 0 to 60 in just 2.7 seconds. 

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Ferrari 550 Maranello

Before he owned his Porsche 911 GT3, when Van Halen had the need for speed, he'd hit the race track in his Ferrari 550 Maranello. Because Van Halen loved to whip the Maranello around the track, it was fitted with a roll-cage and racing seats. 

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Ferrari 550 Maranello (Cont'd)

Under the hood, Van Halen's 550 Maranello sported a 5.5L V12 engine, producing an astonishing 478 horsepower and could also perform at a top speed of 199 mph. Ferrari originally produced the Maranello between 1996 and 2002 and while it wasn't their best-selling 1990s production, it obviously caught Van Halen's eye. Perhaps because it could do 0 to 60 in just 4.2 seconds.  

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Porsche 993 Turbo

Another option in Van Halen's extensive German car collection was (yet another) Porsche. This time, a customized version of a 911 Turbo, created for Van Halen by RUF, a German custom car manufacturer. This 993 Turbo received upgrades in the form of turbos, camshafts and an Electronic Control Unit.

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Porsche 993 Turbo (Cont'd)

The Porsche 993 rounded out Van Halen's "go fast" German car collection nicely, featuring an all-black interior with a stunning Arena Red paint job. It features all-wheel drive and a flat-six turbocharged engine with a six-speed manual transmission. Jumping through the gears, Van Halen could reach a top speed of 184 mph at a screaming 480 horsepower. When Van Halen's 993 was sold, it only had 21,000 miles on the odometer.

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Lamborghini Miura

By far Van Halen's pride and joy was his Lamborghini Miura. It was actually a wedding gift from his first wife, Valerie Bertinelli, and can be heard revving in his song "Panama". Van Halen customized the Miura with side-air intakes and wider rear rims.

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Lamborghini Miura (Cont'd)

Van Halen's Lamborghini Miura wasn't just a romantic gesture from Valerie Bertinelli, it could also cut the mustard on the road. With a top speed of 180 mph and capable of 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds, from a late-60s/early-70s standpoint, it was the fastest production car of its time.

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1934 Ford Hotrod

Another addition to Van Halen's car collection was a 1934 Ford Custom Sedan. The gorgeous two-door Ford was a customized hot rod of the highest order. Featuring a 350 cubic inch V8 Chevy engine, with a four-speed automatic transmission and a stunning camel-colored leather interior, Van Halen's 1934 Hotrod sold at auction in 2021 for an undisclosed price.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1934 Ford Hotrod (Cont'd)

The gorgeous Ford Hotrod had a Jaguar-inspired rear end, with a stunning front grille and a B&M supercharger. Van Halen had the car custom-built for him in the 1990s, but with an original all-steel body. Other modifications include doors that open toward the rear of the car and power windows. Van Halen stored the car in a climate-controlled environment when he wasn't out driving in it. 

Elina Peura @ Pori, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

1964 Volkswagen Beetle

A gorgeous 1964 VW Beetle was another of Van Halen's cars. Quite apart from his hot-rod  Italian and German customizations, this 1964 VW Beetle was most likely bought by Van Halen because of its iconic status. A "Because I could" purchase.

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1964 Volkswagen Beetle (Cont'd)

Almost anything from VW in the 1960s could be considered iconic, but there's perhaps no more iconic a VW than the 1964 Beetle. Van Halen's Beetle was a purple-ish color with a custom pink and black interior, right down to the stitching in the seats and a custom pink and black steering wheel. Exuding the eccentricity that Van Halen was known for, his Beetle was featured in the Hot VWs magazine.

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1985 Lamborghini Countach

Although the Miura may have been Eddie Van Halen's favorite Lamborghini, it had to have been closely followed by his 1985 Lamborghini Countach. Lamborghini's first supercar, the Countach had a top speed of 221 mph and a standard 374 horsepower V12 engine. Van Halen liked to go fast, and the Countach would definitely have satisfied his need for speed.

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1985 Lamborghini Countach (Cont'd)

The 1985 Lamborghini Countach was an earth-shattering piece of engineering. Prior to 1985, Ferrari had mostly ruled the roost of supercar manufacturing. The Countach became Lamborghini's statement car and has now achieved legendary status, mostly thanks to its "Italian Wedge" shape and a huge spoiler, as well as the aforementioned specs that make it a high-performance beast.

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1960 Volvo PV544

Along with Van Halen's classic American sedans was this 1960 Volvo PV544, a two-door, four-passenger sedan that Volvo produced between 1947 and 1965. Knowing Van Halen's love of sedan-style vehicles, it's no wonder he added a Swedish model to his garage.

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1960 Volvo PV544 (Cont'd)

The 1960 Volvo PV544 was a refinement of the much-loved PV444 produced by Volvo from 1947 till 1958. Upgrades included a one-piece curved windshield, a four-speed manual transmission (replacing the three-speed), and the introduction of a 1.8L B18 engine.  

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Mini Cooper

Of course, no classic car garage is complete without a Mini Cooper. Known as a "Mini Van Halen", Eddie Van Halen's Mini was likely suped-up in some fashion, although details are sketchy on that.

order_242, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mini Cooper (Cont'd)

Earlier in his life, Van Halen clearly didn't have the money to splurge on Lamborghinis and Porsches, so he bought a bright red Mini Cooper. Mini owners across the internet mourned his passing, as the proud owner of a red/black Mini Cooper S, which he often posed alongside for photos with the iconic Frankenstein guitar.

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An Unknown Peugeot

While the model and year is unknown, it's widely thought that Eddie Van Halen owned a French-built Peugeot. This small car may have been added to his garage during the Mini Cooper phase of his car ownership.

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1979 CJ-5 Jeep Renegade

Another military-esque vehicle in Van Halen's garage was a 1979 CJ-5 Jeep Renegade. This car made an appearance in Van Halen's life in the early 1980s, complete with a roll cage, no doors, and soft top roof. It was silver in color and appeared in now-famous images of a young Van Halen, taken by world-renowned music photographer Neil Zlozower.

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1979 CJ-5 Jeep Renegade (Cont'd)

Although the 1979 CJ-5 Renegade was somewhat customized for Van Halen, it did come with some impressive standard-issue specs, like 30.1-inch tires that made off-roading a breeze, and eight-spoke wheels with a 53-inch track width. Complete with a manual three-speed gearbox and part-time 4x4 suspension, we're not sure if Van Halen utilized the fantastic off-road capabilities of the Renegade, but it suited his personality perfectly.

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The Lambo Rambo

Nicknamed the "Lambo Rambo," Lamborghini only made a handful of the "LM002" SUV, with a V12 engine borrowed from the iconic Countach. Only manufactured between 1986 and 1993, Van Halen was one the few celebrity owners of this off-road beast. It cost approximately $120,000.

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The Lambo Rambo (Cont'd)

In the mid-1980s, Lamborghini produced the "Militaria" series of vehicles, alongside the Lamborghini Cheetah and the LM001. Each of these initially had a V8 American engine in the rear, while the Lambo Rambo received the enormous V12 upgrade. It had custom tires made by Pirelli (commissioned by Lamborghini), to be able to run nearly without air, and was fitted with a 169-liter gas tank. 

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What Was Your Favorite Van Halen Car?

Do you have a favorite car owned by Eddie Van Halen? Did you own a similar model? What was your favorite Van Halen song to blast through the speakers of your car? Let us know in the comments below. 

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