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Elon Musk is the famously eccentric visionary behind electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla. However, his car collection isn’t all eco-friendly rides. In fact, a handful of Elon Musk’s personal cars are just about as far from a contemporary Tesla as you can get. Check out a few of the billionaire’s wilder wheels, like his screen-famous Lotus Esprit.

Does Elon Musk drive a gas car?

Elon Musk might be the mind behind Tesla, but he owns a handful of gas-powered cars. What’s more, a few of them are just about as far as you can get from a Model S or Model 3.

  • Lotus Esprit
  • McLaren F1
  • Ford Model T 

Elon Musk’s Lotus Esprit is more than a British supercar; it’s a movie star

The white 1976 Lotus Esprit from 'The Spy Who Loved Me,' now owned by Elon Musk of Tesla, glides underwater.
The Lotus Esprit from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ | Screen Archives/Getty Images

Musk’s 1976 Lotus Esprit is more than a handsome, wedge-shaped supercar. His personal Esprit is a prop from the 1977 James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me.” However, the car’s mere presence in a 007 movie isn’t its party piece. No, the Lotus Esprit’s claim to fame is that it will turn into a submarine. 

Well, it will with movie magic. Still, Musk has made it clear that he intends to turn the Esprit into a functional sub. 

Musk’s McLaren F1 is the antithesis of an EV

A white McLaren F1 on a stage.
1995 McLaren F1 | National Motor Museum, Heritage Images, Getty Images

The McLaren F1 is a 618-horsepower supercar with a BMW-sourced 6.1L V12– far from any of Tesla’s EVs. However, before Elon Musk took the helm of his electric car marque, he treated himself to the fabulously expensive McLaren as a reward for his work with PayPal. 

Unfortunately, the mighty McLaren is no more. Musk totaled the supercar in an accident in 2000.  

Just because Elon Musk pioneered the battery electric vehicle doesn’t mean he doesn’t value a classic

A Ford Model T drives on a public road.
A Ford Model T | Anatoliy Cherkasov, NurPhoto via Getty Images

Musk’s car collection isn’t just EVs and supercars; he also owns a Ford Model T. While it seems like an odd addition to an EV mogul’s garage, the car was a gift from an associate. It’s a poetic choice for Musk; the Model T revolutionized a new technology, not unlike Tesla’s impact on the EV market.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).