Car Keys
LONDON — Any new US president faces scutiny and extensive media coverage on their private lives, but perhaps none more than Donald Trump.
Part of the reason is Trump’s wealth, a common topic of discussion both during his 2016 presidential campaign and in the media.
In 2015, Trump claimed to be worth as much as $10 billion.
While a recent Forbes investigation shows that Trump’s wealth has declined along with the value of his retail and office properties, his net worth is still believed to be roughly $3.7 billion.
From apartment buildings and hotels to yachts and aircrafts — and a penchant for gold — he certainly knows how to spend it. However, one of his favourite ways to spend his money is through his impressive collection of expensive cars.
We teamed up with Stephen Goldasz of Car Keys to examine some of the nicest cars the new president owns — or has previously owned.
From classic saloons to tiny sports cars, here are the highlights from Trump’s collection of cars:
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
According to Goldasz, Trump is a fan of Rolls-Royce, owned by BMW but based in Britain, and has owned more than one of the cars.
“In recent months, Trump has been seen behind the wheel of an up-to-date Phantom saloon from Rolls-Royce, but way before that he had a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud,” he said.
“This classic Rolls-Royce is believed to be one of the first cars Donald Trump ever took ownership of and remains a personal favourite of his to this day. Reportedly the Silver Cloud can sell for anywhere between £20,000 and £90,000 in classic car markets, depending on their condition and history.”
Lamborghini Diablo
Trump once owned a 1997 Lamborghini Diablo, according to Goldasz, which he called “one of the most famous supercars from the Italian manufacturer’s illustrious history.”
“Trump sold his Diablo a while back, but it did get some online coverage earlier this year when it appeared on eBay and was sold for as much as $460,000,” he said. “The Lambo has been passed around to several owners since Trump parted with it, but to help ramp up its value, the car has received some special Trump-related treatment from subsequent owners, such as a unique exterior badge with his name on it.”
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Over time, Trump has owned the likes of the Mercedes-owned Maybach limousine and the more recent S600 saloon, according to Goldasz.
“Probably the most intriguing Mercedes which Donald has owned, though, is the SLR McLaren supercar,” he said. “It was originally launched back in 2003, back when Mercedes and McLaren Automotive were close partners. The combined efforts of these brands resulted in the creation of a striking two-door grand tourer which boasted 617bhp as standard from a supercharged V8. The only things possibly more striking than that were the car’s Formula 1-esque nose and its big gullwing doors.”
Cadillac Allante
A popular choice among the rich and famous in America, according to Goldasz, Trump has had more than one Cadillac, such as the Escalade SUV.
“He even had a pair of special edition Cadillac limousines named after him, known as the Trump Executive Series,” he said
Another includes the Allante, a convertible V8 which “prioritised style over driving dynamics.”
“According to Trump, Cadillac gave an Allante to him as a gift, and it was painted in [his] favourite colour, gold.”
Tesla Roadster
Goldasz said that the Tesla Roadster sports car is a more surprising choice for Trump.
“While the Tesla Roadster is a sporty model, it is also fully-electric zero-emission vehicle. A ‘green’ car like this then seems an unlikely fit for a politician who is widely known to be a climate sceptic,” he said.
“It’s also difficult (or hilarious, depending on your point of view) to picture Trump’s large six-foot-two body squeezing into the compact, low-slung Roadster, especially since it’s related to the famously dinky Lotus Elise.”
24 Karat Gold Chopper
It may not be a car, but the 24 Karat Gold Orange County Chopper shows Trump’s love of luxury vehicles — and gold.
“This is a customised Orange County Choppers motorcycle featuring parts made out of genuine gold,” Goldasz said. “It was made by Paul Teutal Sr. who is one of the co-founders of Orange County Choppers.”
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