Thu. Nov 21st, 2024
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FROM an “insane” EV worth £2 millions to a supercar, Jenson Button’s love for race vehicles is indisputable – and his flashy car collection reflects it too.

The British racing driver is a Formula One World Champion, and he has a clear choice when it comes to owning cars.

The champion boasts a flashy cars collection10

The champion boasts a flashy cars collectionCredit: AP

Here are the top ten cars that were once part of his impressive collection.

Vauxhall Cavalier (1990)

The Vauxhall Cavalier was customised before he owned it (stock image)10

The Vauxhall Cavalier was customised before he owned it (stock image)Credit: Alamy

Button’s first sports vehicle was an impressive dark-blue G-reg Vauxhall Cavalier.

The race car boasts a 2.0i eight valve and it can reach uo to 183 km/h of speed.

Jenson customised the car and swapped the grey bumpers for colour-coded ones.

He also fitted the car with Sachs suspension and big speakers and gave it 17-inch alloys.

The F1 driver said: “The first car I bought after I passed my test was using £2,000 of my race winnings from karting.

“It was Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0-litre, the 8V not the 16V, couldn’t afford that, and it was dark blue – a 1990 G-reg with 90,000 miles.

“I put some 17in wheels on it, Sachs suspension and obviously the speakers every kid had when they were 17.

“Actually, that thing drove bloody well, once I was finished with it, it was a good little car.”

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet (2000)

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrios are now worth millions (stock image)10

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrios are now worth millions (stock image)Credit: Handout

Like in any lavish car collection, Button also owns a flashy Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet.

He has also owned a GT3, GT3 RS, GT2 RS, a 1973 2.7 RS and a Carrera GT – which he sold for a whopping £220,000.

But the sports vehicle is now worth millions.

The car it was the first one he bought after bagging a paycheque with his BMW Williams when he first stepped into F1 in 2000.

He said: “I had a Porsche GT2 RS, a couple of other fun things, but then it reached a point when I decided I only wanted to buy cars that meant something to me, not just because they were the next new thing.”

Ferrari F355 GTS (1998)

He purchased the Ferrari at a very young age  (stock image)10

He purchased the Ferrari at a very young age (stock image)Credit: Alamy

At only 19 year old, Button splashed a staggering amount of money to buy one of the most valued cars in his garage.

He then owned a two-year-old yellow Ferrari F355 – which he bought at 9,500 miles.

“I spent way too much money. I bought a yacht. I bought a £2million house and I was on less than £500,000 that year,” he said.

Ferrari 550 Maranello (2001)

The Maranello was once lost in Italy (stock image)10

The Maranello was once lost in Italy (stock image)Credit: Alamy

Jenson owned a burgundy-colored Maranello he inherited from his father.

He said the flashy car was once lost by his dad in the Italian Riviera.

“He went for a walk, had lunch, came back and thought it had been stolen. The police found it on the other side of town – exactly where he’d left it,” he explained.

Ferrari F40 (1990)

The Ferrari F40 was first built in the 80s (stock image)10

The Ferrari F40 was first built in the 80s (stock image)Credit: Alamy

The mid-engine rear-wheel sports car was first launches in 1987 by manufacturer Materazzi.

Jenson said the vehicle was one of his dream cars and he even had a poster on his wall as a child.

He said: “The car that meant so much to me as a child was the F40, because I had three things on my bedroom wall: Bart Simpson, Pamela Anderson and the Ferrari F40.

“I looked for a year and found a few low mileage cars, but they were all in bad condition.

“I eventually found one that was completely original with more miles on it. The thing to look out for on an F40 is the roof – if you can see the weave, it’s the original paint.”

Ferrari Enzo (2004)

There are only a few models of the Ferrari Enzo (stock image)10

There are only a few models of the Ferrari Enzo (stock image)Credit: Alamy

The valuable car is so unique manufacturers produced only four hundred models.

The Enzo boasts a six-litre 651bhp V12 and a top speed of 217mph. 

However, Button wasn’t impressed by the high-performing vehicle.

“I didn’t like it. It didn’t drive very fast and it had wind-y windows, so I sold it for what I paid for it,” he said.

Ferrari 275 GTS (1964)

The classic car boasts an all-steel exterior (stock image)10

The classic car boasts an all-steel exterior (stock image)Credit: Alamy

The Ferrari 275 boasts a 3.3-litre V12 with an all-new steel body.

It was manufactured by Pininfarina who designed the “ultra-aggressive” car with a soft-top finish.

There were only 200 models produced and 19 of them were right-hand-drive.

But Button said he wasn’t so satisfied as the classic car caused him various issues.

He said: “If I drive a car and it has a problem, I get it sorted.

“But if I drive it again and there’s another problem, I get rid of it. I can’t be bothered with that.”

Bugatti Veyron (2008)

The Bugatti is one of the most impressive cars in his collection (stock image)10

The Bugatti is one of the most impressive cars in his collection (stock image)Credit: SWNS

Jenson bought his Buggatti during the 2009 world championship.

He said the 1,001 bhp car was difficult to maintain and had to sell it shortly after.

He told GQ magazine: “I had a problem on a circuit with it once.

“Then on Kensington High Street it just got stuck in neutral and I was stranded.

“Quite embarrassing, but then again I owned a Bugatti and the people laughing at me didn’t.

“There are two ways of looking at it.”

McLaren P1 (2015)

The 2015 McLaren P1 GTR, one of the Holy Trinity cars (stock image)10

The 2015 McLaren P1 GTR, one of the Holy Trinity cars (stock image)Credit: SWNS

This one-of-a-kind hypercar boasts carbon fibre door mirrors and arms and lightweight forged wheels.

The incredible 900bhp vehicle was described by Jenson as a “superhero” car.

He said: “It’s the only road car I’ve driven on a circuit that feels good. Most road cars don’t, they’re made for the road, they’re not quick enough, they don’t have the right downforce, mechanical grip, whatever.

“I didn’t develop it myself, I wish I did, but I’m happy with what they did with it, it’s an awesome bit of kit.

“If you think you’re a superhero and you’re not, it will bite you, but that’s why it’s so good.”

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