In the 1970s, rock stars defined themselves as much by the cars on their drive as by the riffs in their songbook or the clothes in their wardrobe.
As royalty checks from sprawling concept albums reached dizzying heights, the era’s icons traded their beat-up tour vans for the ultimate symbols of motorized decadence.
Whether it was the aerodynamic curves of a mid-engine Ferrari or the regal, intimidating bulk of a coach-built Bentley, these machines were essential pillars of a larger-than-life persona. They represented more than mere transport; they were high-octane declarations of freedom and excess, turning the asphalt of the Sunset Strip into a rolling gallery of rock-and-roll rebellion.
1. Keith Moon and Alice Cooper's Rolls Royces
In the mid-70s, Alice Cooper and The Who's drummer Keith Moon were the twin pillars of the Hollywood Vampires, a drinking club where the sun rarely rose. Their friendship was less a partnership, more a competitive sport in chaos. This bond was perfectly mirrored in their respective Rolls-Royces – cars that served as mobile stages for their shared absurdity.
While the Rolls Royce usually signified dignified success, for Moon and Cooper, it was a canvas for high-priced vandalism. Whether they were driving them into pools or treating the interiors like a dive bar booth, these identical steel monuments symbolized a refusal to grow up, turning the ultimate establishment status symbol into a chaotic accessory for their mutual, high-octane self-destruction.
2. Pete Townshend's Mercedes 'Grosser'
The Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman (1963-81) was arguably the greatest luxury car ever made - and definitely the ultimate emblem of absolute power. With its complex 3,000-psi hydraulic system operating everything from the seats to the silent windows, the 600 (aka 'Grosser', or 'Bigger') was the preferred chariot for Pope Paul VI, Coco Chanel, and a litany of Cold War dictators.
Oh, and Pete Townshend. For the Who’s mastermind, the 'Grosser' represented a paradoxical irony: a massive, Teutonic fortress that provided a quiet, dignified sanctuary from the very mod-fuelled chaos he created on stage.
- We named The Who among the 15 greatest 1970s bands
3. Cozy Powell's Ferrari 308 GTB
When he wasn't busy being one of the greatest drummers of all time in bands including Rainbow, Whitesnake and Black Sabbath, Cozy Powell spent his downtime competing in Formula Three and pushing his beloved 1970s Ferrari 308 GTB to its absolute limits. For Cozy, the roar of a high-performance engine was the mechanical sibling to his double-bass drum assault.
Tragically, his obsession with speed proved fatal in 1998, but his legacy remains that of a man who approached both the kit and the asphalt with a heavy, uncompromising foot.
4. John Lennon's psychedelic Rolls
John Lennon’s 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V was the ultimate middle finger to the British establishment. Originally finished in dignified Valentine Black, Lennon grew bored and commissioned a local artist to transform it into a 'psychedelic caravan'. Covered in vibrant yellow floral motifs, zodiac signs, and Romany scrollwork, it looked more like a fairground attraction than a luxury cruiser. Inside, he replaced the rear seats with a double bed and installed a custom sound system – the perfect mobile sanctuary for a counterculture icon.
5. Keith Richards' Bentley
Keith Richards' 1965 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur, nicknamed 'Blue Lena' after jazz singer Lena Horne, was a three-ton fortress of rebellion. Keith famously modified the luxury cruiser with a secret compartment to hide narcotics from the police. It served as the getaway vessel for the Stones' legendary, drug-fuelled 1967 trek to Marrakech, symbolizing Keef's ultimate middle finger to the establishment.
- We ranked all 26 Rolling Stones albums (check out where we placed the 'Big Four')
- 1967: the 21 greatest albums from rock's Year of Revolution - ranked
6. Ginger Baker's Jensen FF
Ginger Baker approached driving with the same polyrhythmic intensity he brought to the drums. His most famous acquisition was a Jensen FF, a groundbreaking British grand tourer featuring an innovative four-wheel-drive system. Baker prized the Jensen’s mechanical sophistication, though his aggressive driving style often pushed the car to its breaking point. For Ginger, these powerful machines were not status symbols but outlets for his restless, high-octane energy – tools of escape that matched his volatile, uncompromising nature.
7. Neil Young's 1934 Rolls
For Neil Young, cars are time machines and political statements. His first legendary ride was 'Mort', a 1953 Buick Roadmaster hearse used to haul equipment across Canada – the same car Stephen Stills famously spotted in L.A. traffic, sparking the birth of Buffalo Springfield. In 1974, while touring the Netherlands, Young impulsively bought a 1934 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake, later shipping it home to his ranch.
- Best Neil Young album? We asked you. And you said...
- The 21 greatest albums of 1974, the year rock lost its innocence
8. Keith Moon's Ferrari Dino
Yep, him again. Keith Moon’s 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT was a masterpiece of Italian design that met a tragically comedic end. Lacking a license or even some basic driving skills, Moon famously 'parked' the sleek sports car in a ditch near his home. Within weeks of purchase, the Dino was a crumpled wreck, perfectly embodying Moon’s high-speed, low-control approach to life and luxury.
9. Elton John's, er, fleet
At the height of his 1970s fame, Elton John owned a fleet of exotics, but his 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona' was a standout. Painted in Rosso Chiaro, it was the ultimate grand tourer: elegant, incredibly fast, and perfectly suited for a man who was then the biggest pop star on the planet.
10. George Harrison's racers
For George Harrison, cars were far more than mere trophies; they were a lifelong obsession with mechanical harmony. This fascination peaked through his intimate connection with Formula One, often spending more time in the pits with drivers like Jackie Stewart than backstage at concerts.
From his early Jaguar E-Type to his bespoke McLaren F1, Harrison gravitated toward machines that rewarded precision and engineering 'soul'. To him, a perfectly tuned engine mirrored a well-constructed raga: both required a delicate balance of tension and release. In the high-speed world of racing, the 'Quiet Beatle' found a rare, focused sanctuary.
- Beatles albums ranked: all 13 Fab Four LPs, graded and rated
- The shocking (alleged) incident that found its way into a Beatles song
11. Eric Clapton's Ferraris
Eric Clapton’s devotion to Ferrari is less a hobby and more a lifelong romance with Italian engineering. His collection has featured nearly every significant model, including the breathtaking 1960s 250 GT Lusso and the legendary 250 GTO. For Clapton, the screaming V12 engine offered a sonic purity that mirrored his own 'Slowhand' blues phrasing. His obsession reached its zenith with the SP12 EC, a one-off, multimillion-dollar custom built by Ferrari to pay homage to his favorite 512 BB.
12. Janis Joplin's Porsche 356c
Janis Joplin’s 1964 Porsche 356 C Cabriolet was the ultimate counterculture cruiser. Originally a dull 'Dolphin Grey', Janis had it transformed into a psychedelic mural titled 'The History of the Universe'. Covered in butterflies and astrological signs, it was her daily driver until her death. In 2015, the iconic car sold at auction for a record-breaking $1.76 million.
13. Nick Mason's Ferraris
Nick Mason didn't just collect cars; he curated a rolling museum of automotive history. While many of his peers burned through fortunes, Mason strategically invested his Pink Floyd royalties into 'blue-chip' racing machines. His crown jewel is the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most valuable cars in existence, which he famously used as collateral to fund the A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour.
For Mason, these cars weren't garage queens; he raced them at Le Mans and Goodwood, valuing their mechanical 'honesty' and functional beauty over mere status. To him, a vintage engine’s roar is as every bit as evocative as a Mellotron.
Here's a nice clip of Nick taking AC/DC's Brian Johnson for a ride in his Ferrari:
14. Elvis's 'Pink Cadillac'
Elvis Presley’s 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60, famously known as the "Pink Cadillac," remains the ultimate symbol of rock 'n' roll excess. Originally blue, Elvis had it repainted a custom shade called 'Elvis Rose' to gift to his mother. Though Gladys never drove, the car became a permanent fixture of his touring life, embodying the flashy, neon-soaked optimism of the Fifties and cementing the Cadillac as his signature brand.
15. Bruce Springsteen's 1960 Corvette
Bruce Springsteen’s 1960 Chevrolet Corvette functioned as a physical trophy of his musical breakthrough. Purchased in 1975 for $6,000 from a clerk at a Carvel ice-cream stand, it was the first 'real' car The Boss was able to buy after the massive success of that year's album Born to Run.
The car became a permanent part of the Springsteen mythos through several key details. A Tuxedo Black convertible with silver 'coves' on the sides, Bruce added Cragar wheels to give it a tougher, more customized 'hot rod' feel, moving it away from the pristine country-club aesthetic of standard 1960 Corvettes.
Photographer Frank Stefanko captured the iconic image of Bruce leaning against the car on a freezing day in Haddonfield, New Jersey, in 1978. Decades later, Bruce chose this specific photo for the cover of his 2016 autobiography, Born to Run. For Springsteen, the Corvette represented the transition from being a broke 'street rat' to an established artist. He often describes it as his 'pride and joy' that 'ruled Route 9'.
16. Rod Stewart's Lamborghini Miura
Rod Stewart’s passion for exotics is headlined by his Lamborghini Miura P400S, which he bought new in 1971. A connoisseur of Italian styling, Stewart favoured the Miura’s sleek, sensuous curves to match his rockstar persona.
17. Jeff Beck's Deuce Coupe
Jeff Beck was a true 'grease monkey' whose obsession with hot rods rivaled his mastery of the guitar. Unlike his peers who bought showroom exotics, Beck preferred building his own, most notably his 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe. Inspired by American Graffiti, he spent decades meticulously welding and tuning his collection. For Beck, the mechanical roar of a V8 was as musical as a distorted chord, and he famously found more peace under a chassis than on a stage.
