Mr. Trumps favorite cars!

[eieio 1,594]

Just what kind of cars does the brilliant strategist drive?

HOME / AUTOMOBILES /

5 of Donald Trump’s Favorite Cars

• James Derek Sapienza
• MORE ARTICLES

• March 12, 2016

• 
• FACEBOOK
• TWITTER
• LINKEDIN
• STUMBLEUPON
• REDDIT

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment

Donald Trump is so many things to many people: Billionaire real estate mogul, tactless reality TV star, noted former USFL franchise owner, and inexplicably, front-running Republican presidential candidate. While his name recognition goes back over 40 years now (he made his first headlines by being sued by the Department of Justice for housing discrimination), he’s not drawing crowds because of policy ideas or a strong message, it’s because he’s America’s highest-profile rich guy, and a brand that Americans can’t seem to get enough of.

If there was anyone on earth that resembled the Monopoly man, it’s him — hell, he even had his own Monopoly-based board game in the ’80s. And proving that his White House run isn’t a complete flight of fancy, he recently filed his personal financial disclosure with the Federal Elections Commission, so we can all see just how much “The Donald” is worth. For those of you who don’t want to read through the 92 page list of Trump’s assets, he released a statement disputing Forbes’s $4 billion estimate, declaring that his assets are instead worth “in excess of TEN BILLION DOLLARS [emphasis Trump’s],” and complaining that because of his “massive” net worth, the FEC’s form “was not designed for a man of Mr. Trump’s massive wealth.”

In certain parts of the country, it seems that Trump has his name on everything. He owns skyscrapers, hotels, golf courses, mansions, helicopters, and of course, cars. While a man that has his own $100 million private jet, and has a fondness for limousines probably doesn’t get behind the wheel much, his taste in cars is, unsurprisingly, expensive. Here are 5 of Donald Trump’s best-known rides.

1. 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Source: Mercedes-Benz

When it was released in 2003, the SLR represented Mercedes’s return to the supercar market since the iconic 300SL of the ’50s, and McLaren’s follow-up to its iconic F1. With its outrageous wind-cheating design, and 5.4 liter supercharged V8 putting out 617 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, it was one of the most impressive performers of its era. It was also one of the most expensive – with a $455,000 price tag, it was out of the reach of all but the wealthiest buyers. Enter Trump, who took delivery of one in front of Trump Tower in 2005.

2. ’50s Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

Source: Rolls-Royce

Trump loves opulent, and no car is more opulent than a Rolls-Royce. Unsurprisingly, he’s a huge fan of England’s finest, with a 1950s-era model like this ’56 Silver Cloud reportedly being his first car. Even in the off chance he wins the election, it’s unlikely that the Secret Service would replace the presidential fleet of Cadillacs with Rollers anytime soon.

3. Rolls Royce Phantom

Source: Rolls-Royce

Trump has earned many billions of dollars since that first Rolls, so today it isn’t uncommon to see him behind the wheel of a new Phantom when he feels like driving himself. The big Phantom starts at around $500,000, but nearly everything can be built and designed to the owner’s specifications. Knowing Trump’s penchant for gold, it’s a safe bet that his cars cost twice as much.

4. 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT

Source: Lamborghini

Introduced in 1990, the Diablo picked up where the insane ’74-’90 Countach left off. With a 6.0 liter V12, the Lambo had a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. Trump had a blue VT model, meaning it had an all-wheel drive system delivering 530 horsepower to all four corners. Trump’s car showed up on Reddit a few years ago, complete with his name on a plaque on the door.

5. 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

Source: Chevrolet

By 2011, Trump was experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to The Apprentice, and was asked to drive the pace car at the 100th Indianapolis 500. But even then, he was controversial enough to draw some serious criticism. After a growing Facebook campaign to ouster Trump, he stepped down due to “scheduling conflicts,” and was replaced with legendary driver A.J. Foyt. Too bad – the one of 500 Camaro Pace Car editions came with a 426 horsepower 6.2 liter V8, just about every option available, and a color scheme to match the legendary ’69 Camaro pace car. Despite dozens of photos of Trump posing with the drop-top Chevy, there’s no word on whether he actually drove it.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook and Tumblr

Like classics? It’s always Throwback Thursday somewhere.

Follow Derek on Twitter @CS_DerekS

[Rob L 3,811]

Donald Trump, Con Artist?

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/donald-trump-con-artist