9 Celebs’ First Cars You’ll Love to See

Ever wondered what cars your favorite celebrities started with? From humble beginnings to luxury rides, check out the very first cars that got these stars behind the wheel!

1. Tim Allen – Volkswagen Beetle

Before he was the “Tool Man” or Buzz Lightyear, Tim Allen’s first car was a humble Volkswagen Beetle. His time with the car was memorably eventful, to say the least. He once experienced a complete brake failure and, with no other options, had to spend an entire night driving the car in circles around a roundabout to avoid crashing, waiting for the car to simply run out of gas.

2. Jay Leno – 1934 Ford Coupe

The host of Jay Leno’s Garage and one of the world’s most famous car collectors started his automotive journey at just 14 years old with a 1934 Ford Coupe. He bought the car, which was already decades old at the time, and learned the basics of mechanics and restoration on it, planting the seed for his lifelong passion.

3. Jeremy Clarkson – Austin Westminster

The outspoken Grand Tour host’s first car was a notoriously terrible 1966 Austin Westminster. Clarkson has often recounted that the car was so poorly made that its steering wheel would physically wobble and come loose in his hands while driving, providing him with an early, harsh lesson in British automotive build quality (or lack thereof).

4. Elvis Presley – 1954 Crown Victoria

“The King” bought his first car, a sleek 1954 Ford Crown Victoria, for $1,200 after getting his first recording contract with Sun Records. The two-tone pink and white car became a symbol of his initial success and was a step up from the bicycle he used for transportation just a year before.

5. Eminem – Ford Taurus Station Wagon

Before he was a global rap icon, Marshall Mathers was a struggling artist in Detroit. His first car was a practical, if unglamorous, used 1988 Ford Taurus station wagon. He used it to travel around the city, trying to get his demo tapes played on local radio stations and to drive to rap battles, literally carting his dreams around in the back.

6. David Hasselhoff – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Before he was saving lives on Baywatch or talking to his car in Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff’s first car was a stylish 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The sporty and elegant coupe was a fitting first car for the aspiring actor, showcasing his early flair for style.

7. James Dean – Volkswagen Beetle

The ultimate rebel, James Dean, is synonymous with his Porsche 550 Spyder. However, his first car was far more modest: a 1949 Volkswagen Beetle. Dean was known to tinker with and modify the Beetle, an early indication of his hands-on, mechanical interest that would later define his relationship with his more famous cars.

8. Rowan Atkinson – Austin Mini 1000

Best known as the hilarious Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson is also a serious car enthusiast and a trained electrical engineer. His first car was a 1971 Austin Mini 1000. This humble beginning is a stark contrast to the extensive and expensive collection of high-performance cars he owns today, which includes multiple McLarens.

9. Paul Walker – BMW 3-Series

The late Fast & Furious star’s passion for cars was genuine and lifelong. It began with his first car, a used 1978 BMW 3-Series (E21), which he received as a gift from his father for his 16th birthday. He would spend hours working on and modifying the car himself, foreshadowing his future role as Brian O’Conner.