Ralph Lauren, the fashion designer who transformed American style through his Polo brand, has built an automotive collection that functions almost like a living museum of automotive history. Valued between $600 million and $800 million, the collection contains more than 70 rare automobiles representing performance, design, and heritage. Maintained in running condition 40 miles outside New York City, these remarkable vehicles have also been displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours elegance and Paris’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Lauren’s collecting philosophy closely mirrors his fashion empire, with a strong focus on authenticity and historical significance. He views these vehicles as major art forms of the twentieth century, choosing automobiles that represent important moments in engineering and styling. From legendary pre-war masterpieces to modern hypercars, each vehicle reflects a different part of that vision.
1. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe
The 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe is considered the crown jewel of Ralph Lauren’s car collection. This rare sports car was created by the legendary designer Jean Bugatti in 1938. The Atlantic Coupe has a unique tear-drop shape, a central opening, and a riveted aluminum body. The car also has an art deco interior, which makes it one of the rarest and most expensive vintage vehicles. The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe is often called the Mona Lisa of the automobile world. Only four cars were made, and two of them are in Ralph Lauren’s possession.
Atlantic Coupe Highlights:
- Jean Bugatti created this masterpiece
- Teardrop silhouette defines its design
- Riveted aluminum bodywork looks distinctive
- Only four examples were built
- Two surviving examples remain today
A 3.3-liter supercharged straight-eight engine is located in the heart of the car, providing it with 200 horsepower. The powerful engine makes the car capable of reaching a speed of 125 mph. Ralph Lauren bought the car in the 1980s for $300,000. Today, its estimated value ranges from $80 million to more than $100 million. The car also won the Best of Show award at the Pebble Beach Concours in 1990.
2. 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most sought-after sports cars in the world. The car was manufactured in 1962, and only 36 Ferraris 250 GTO were produced. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is considered one of the most valuable cars in the world. The car has a rich racing history as it was driven by a racing driver Roger Penske and won the race in its first race.
Ferrari 250 GTO Highlights:
- Only 36 examples were produced
- Lauren owns chassis #3987GT
- Roger Penske drove this example
- First race ended with victory
- Le Mans victories strengthened its legacy
The car has a 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine that generates 300 horsepower. The car can reach a speed of 60 mph in only 6.1 seconds. It also can reach a speed of 174 mph. In Ralph Lauren’s collection, the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is considered one of the most valuable cars and is estimated at $40 million and $70 million.
3. 1996 McLaren F1 LM
The 1996 McLaren F1 LM is the rarest and fastest car owned by Ralph Lauren. The car is the ultimate example of the racing car, and only five units of this model were produced. The car has a rare colour called orange, which makes it unique among other cars in the collection. It has a powerful engine that can reach a speed of 240 mph. The car also has a lightweight body, which allows it to have a racing performance.
McLaren F1 LM Highlights:
- Only five examples were produced
- Distinctive orange paint defines it
- BMW V12 produces 620 horsepower
- Gold foil manages engine heat
- Weight is just 1,018 kilograms
The engine of the car has a capacity of 6.1 liters and produces 620 horsepower. The power of the engine is distributed to all four wheels, making the car capable of reaching a speed of 0 to 60 mph in only 3.2 seconds. The car is also equipped with gold leaf, which protects the engine from excessive heating. The body of the car weighs only 1,018 kilograms, making it one of the lightest cars in Ralph Lauren’s collection. The value of the car owned by Ralph Lauren is estimated at $20 million and $25 million.
4. 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
The 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is one of the most valuable Ferraris in Ralph Lauren’s collection. This car was manufactured in 1957 and has a unique design. The car has a racing history as it was driven by a famous racing driver Stirling Moss and won the race three times. The car also has a unique body made by Pininfarina, which makes it one of the rarest sports cars in the world.
Testa Rossa Highlights:
- Pininfarina created its bodywork
- Pontoon fenders define its silhouette
- Colombo V12 powers the racer
- Engine produces 300 horsepower
- Only 34 units were built
The car has a 3.0-liter Colombo V12 engine that produces 300 horsepower. The engine allows the car to reach a speed of 60 mph in only 6.5 seconds. The car also can reach a speed of 150 mph. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is considered one of the rarest sports cars in the world and is estimated at $12 million and $18 million.
5. 1967 Ferrari 275 NART Spider
Built at the request of North American Ferrari dealer Luigi Chinetti, the 1967 Ferrari 275 NART Spider represents a remarkable connection between Italian performance and American racing culture. The car carries official North American Racing Team badges, giving it a particularly distinctive identity. Only 10 examples were ever produced, making the open-air Ferrari extraordinarily rare. Its combination of Italian styling, performance, and American racing connections makes it one of the collection’s most desirable Ferraris.
275 NART Spider Highlights:
- Luigi Chinetti requested its creation
- Only ten examples were crafted
- NART badges mark its heritage
- V12 engine produces 280 horsepower
- Top speed reaches 150 mph
A 3.3-liter V12 engine produces 280 horsepower, allowing the convertible to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Its top speed reaches 150 mph. The Ferrari’s extreme rarity and open-air elegance contribute heavily to its estimated value of between $25 million and $30 million. It combines Italian performance with a distinctly American racing connection, making it a standout within Lauren’s collection.
6. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is one of the most sought-after vintage cars in Ralph Lauren’s collection. The car has a unique design that includes upward-opening doors. The car also has a powerful engine that allows it to reach a speed of 163 mph. The car was one of the fastest cars in the world when it was introduced to the public.
Gullwing Design Highlights:
- Upward-opening doors define it
- Space-frame chassis supports performance
- Sleek profile emphasizes aerodynamics
- Fuel injection powers the engine
- It reached 163 mph
Under the hood of the car, there is a 3.0-liter fuel-injected inline-six engine that produces 240 horsepower. The power of the engine is distributed to the rear wheels, making the car faster and more powerful than any other car of that time. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is one of the fastest vintage cars and is estimated at $1.5 million and $2.5 million.
7. 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
The 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder is one of the most valuable sports cars in Ralph Lauren’s collection. The car has a unique design and was one of the fastest and lightest sports cars in the world when it was introduced to the public. The car has a racing history as it was driven by many famous racing drivers. The Spyder is also known as a racing icon because of its racing successes and victories.
Porsche 550 Spyder Highlights:
- Lightweight mid-engine layout improves agility
- Aluminium body keeps weight low
- Car weighs just 1,200 pounds
- Four-cylinder engine produces 110 horsepower
- Authentic examples reach $8 million
The car has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 110 horsepower. The engine allows the car to reach a speed of 60 mph in only 6.3 seconds. It also can reach a speed of 150 mph. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is one of the fastest sports cars in the world and is estimated at $5 million and $8 million.
8. 1929 Bentley Blower
The 1929 Bentley Blower is one of the rarest and most valuable vintage cars in Ralph Lauren’s collection. The car has a unique design and was one of the fastest and most powerful cars of its time. The car has a racing history as it was driven by many famous racing drivers. The Blower is also known as a racing icon because of its racing successes and victories.
Bentley Blower Highlights:
- British heritage defines its character
- Pre-war racing shaped its identity
- Supercharged engine delivers strong performance
- Traditional craftsmanship remains important
- Values reach $12 million
Under the hood of the car, there is a supercharged 4.5-liter engine that produces 240 horsepower. The power of the engine is distributed to the rear wheels, making the car faster and more powerful than any other car of that time. The car owned by Ralph Lauren is one of the fastest vintage cars and is estimated at $7 million and $12 million.
9. 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Spyder
The 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Spyder captures the romance of pre-war European competition. Designed for Italy’s legendary thousand-mile open-road race, it combines a competition-bred chassis with sculpted Italian coachwork. Its design represents a period when artistic styling and racing ambition were closely connected. The Spyder’s appearance and competition-focused engineering make it an important representation of Alfa Romeo’s motorsport history.
Mille Miglia Spyder Highlights:
- Designed for the Mille Miglia
- Competition chassis supports performance
- Italian coachwork creates elegance
- Straight-eight engine delivers speed
- Values reach $15 million
The car is powered by a 2.9-liter straight-eight engine engineered for speed and endurance. Its balance helped Alfa Romeo remain a dominant force on challenging racecourses during this period. Authentic examples now command estimated values between $8 million and $15 million. Within Lauren’s collection, the Spyder brings rich motorsport history and represents a golden age when artistic design and racing performance existed in harmony.
10. McLaren P1
The McLaren P1 brings Ralph Lauren’s collection into the modern hypercar era. Making its grand debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the P1 demonstrated how advanced hybrid technology could deliver track-level capability in a road car. Its inclusion also shows that Lauren’s passion extends beyond vintage automobiles. The P1 connects modern engineering with the same emphasis on performance, design, and technological achievement found throughout the older vehicles in the collection.
McLaren P1 Highlights:
- Hybrid technology drives modern performance
- Debuted at Paris Motor Show
- Twin-turbo V8 powers the car
- Electric motor adds additional power
- Total output reaches 903 horsepower
The P1 combines a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor to produce a staggering 903 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph. Its market value has appreciated to between $2 million and $3 million. The P1 acts as a bridge between historical craftsmanship and modern hypercar engineering, proving that Lauren’s collection embraces future innovation alongside vintage automotive greatness.
