Top 10 Celebrity Driven Cars
While we all choose the cars we drive for different reasons: gas mileage, safety, cost, or appeal; you may be surprised at some of the cars that these famous people have chosen to drive. Hopefully celebs enroll in a quality driving school before getting behind the wheel as well.
Top 10 Surprising Cars that Celebrities Drive
We tend to think of celebrities as cruising around in high-dollar sheet metal 24/7, but the truth is not everyone who makes headlines in entertainment likes to roll in pricey rides. We’ve worked up a list of the top 10 surprising cars that celebrities drive. Have a look to see if your favorite celeb commutes like you do.
Larry David
The award for least-exciting celebrity car goes to Larry David’s Toyota Prius. The hybrid gas-sippers are nearly as popular among the Hollywood elite as Bentleys andEscalades. The 62 year-old TV producer has been behind the success of shows like ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ so odds are he’s got the cash to drive around in something a little more prestigious. Then again, a green image counts for a lot these days.
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is a little braver when it comes to the car she drives. The supermodel cruises around in an MG Midget MK III, a car renowned for its unreliability and safety hazards. What the little car lacks in modern convenience, it makes up for in charisma and driving bliss – characteristics we’re sure Moss appreciates.
Eric Bana
OK, so this one isn’t actually Eric Bana’s daily ride. It’s his first car. The Australian-born actor has had this thing since he was 16 and recently converted it into a competition-spec racer to take part in the Targa Tasmania – a brutal rally race in the land down under. Bana even made a documentary about the car.
Conan O’Brien
Late-night funny man Jay Leno may be better known for his car obsession, but Conan O’Brien has a pretty interesting vehicle of his own. It’s a 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Far from the high-tech 2010 Taurus SHO, this five-speed creation of the ’90s rocks a Yamaha-produced 3.0-liter V-6 with around 220 horsepower. Not too shabby.
Jeremy Piven
Actor Jeremy Piven may spend his time driving some high-dollar metal while playing Ari Gold in HBO’s ‘Entourage,’ but in real life the guy rolls in a seriously cool 1977 Ford Bronco. The truck has been restored to its former glory with a few extra tweaks, including larger wheels and tires.
David Spade
Who would have thought stand-up comedian David Spade would drive one of the coolest Buicks ever produced? The Grand National boasts a turbocharged, 3.8-liter V-6 engine with 245 horsepower – big news for 1987. With a sinister look outside, the car doesn’t exactly fit Spade’s funny-guy persona, but we love it anyway.
Daniel Radcliffe
When the star of the astronomically grossing Harry Potter franchise turned 18, he had access to his $37 million fortune for the first time. What did he buy? A 2007 Fiat Grande Punto. The tiny, econobox three-door is one of the most economical and eco-friendly rides in Britain, hence the purchase. Still, couldn’t he have gone for something a little more interesting?
Zac Efron
While Zac Efron may play the coolest kid in High School Musical, he drives around in a lowly 1999 Oldsmobile Alero. While the Olds is probably great reliable transportation, something tells us most actual high school seniors would laugh at this set of wheels. Efron’s either the most humble actor in the history of mankind, or this is some serious method acting.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood spends his time cruising around in a GMC Typhoon. If you think this thing looks just like a lowly Jimmy, you’d be wrong. GMC produced the Typhoon for only two model years, from 1992-1993, and the company plopped a potent turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 under the hood. Couple that mean powerplant to an all-wheel drive system and you have one of the quickest SUVs around.
John Goodman
Reinforcing his regular-Joe persona, actor John Goodman uses a 1997 Ford F-150 as his chariot of choice. With an Emmy and Globe-winning career, we would think the “Big Lebowski” star could afford something with a little more panache. Then again, the best-selling pick-up in America kind of fits the guy.
Courtesy of DriverSide
Frequently asked questions
What's the most surprising celebrity daily driver on this list?
Larry David's Toyota Prius takes the prize for least-flashy celebrity ride. The producer behind Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm certainly has the resources for something more prestigious, but the Prius has become surprisingly common among Hollywood's environmentally conscious set. A green public image carries real weight in the industry today, and Priuses are nearly as visible at celebrity events as Bentleys and Escalades.
What does Kate Moss drive?
Supermodel Kate Moss drives an MG Midget MK III, a classic British roadster known equally for its driving charisma and its mechanical unreliability. The car has none of the modern safety features or conveniences you'd expect of a star's daily driver, but it offers a kind of pure driving experience that vintage car enthusiasts love. It's a more adventurous choice than most of her peers make.
What was Eric Bana's first car, and what makes it special?
Eric Bana has owned the same car since he was 16 years old, an Australian Ford XB Falcon Coupe that he eventually converted into a competition-spec race car. He took it through the Targa Tasmania, a brutal road rally in his home country of Australia, and even made a documentary about his relationship with the vehicle. It's not his daily driver today, but the emotional attachment to a first car is something most drivers can relate to.
What unusual car does Conan O'Brien drive?
Conan O'Brien drives a 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Far from the high-tech 2010 SHO, this five-speed version of the 90s sedan came with a Yamaha-built 3.0-liter V6 producing about 220 horsepower. It was a serious performance sleeper in its day, and O'Brien's choice of the classic version rather than the modern car gives it real enthusiast credibility.
Which celebrity drives a Buick Grand National?
Stand-up comedian David Spade drives a Buick Grand National, one of the coolest American performance cars of the 1980s. The Grand National's turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 produced 245 horsepower, which was significant for 1987 and could embarrass plenty of contemporary sports cars in a straight line. The car's dark, sinister styling is a funny contrast to Spade's comedic persona.
What does Clint Eastwood drive?
Clint Eastwood drives a GMC Typhoon, which looks like a regular Jimmy SUV but is anything but. GMC built the Typhoon for only two model years, 1992 and 1993, and equipped it with a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 and all-wheel drive. The combination made it one of the quickest SUVs of its era, capable of out-accelerating most sports cars of the time.
Why is taking driver's ed worth it even if you'll never own a fancy car?
The cars these celebrities drive are interesting because of personality, history, or surprise factor, not because expensive cars make better drivers. Every driver, from a teen in their family sedan to a Hollywood star in a vintage roadster, benefits from a strong foundation in scanning, communication, and defensive driving habits. Top Driver's courses focus on those skills because they transfer to any vehicle you'll ever own.
