10 Most Incredible Rides In Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Car Collection
A star like Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t going to be messing around with subcompacts when there’s so much muscle to flex
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the biggest Hollywood stars ever, both in terms of popularity and overall muscle mass. He is known for his love of stogies and Hummers, but there’s much more to his hobbies, especially in the automotive department. To match his larger-than-life personality, he has an equally large car collection befitting the man who portrayed Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator.
Schwarzenegger’s monstrous rides are so alluring that lesser vehicles keep getting sucked into their gravitational pull. In 2022, a Toyota Prius rammed head-on into his GMC Yukon, and then, as TMZ reported, in 2023 a cyclist was struck, again by the Yukon, when she cut in front of Arnold. In both cases, Schwarzenegger was ruled not to have been at fault. Maritime law gives the bigger vessel the right of way, and that’s some common sense that should apply to the road.
Arnie achieved super-stardom through his strength and drive, so it’s no surprise that he likes driving vehicles with lots of power. The guy who took out Predator and the Terminatrix is simply not going to be scooting around in a Chevy Volt or a Kia Forte. Here is a look at the most muscular vehicles in the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion’s awesome collection.
Note: Arnold Schwarzenegger has an impressive array of rides, from supercars to motorcycles. He also owns several military vehicles including a Steyr Pinzgauer 6×6 all-terrain truck and an M47 Patton Tank. While those certainly qualify as muscular rides, they’re not designed for street use, so this list will focus on things the Hollywood superstar might be spotted driving in the Los Angeles area.
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Pumping Iron in Some Detroit Steel
Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been driven to be the best, whether it be bodybuilding or acting. He worked hard at both, but Hollywood stardom took a little longer to achieve. When he started getting recognition in the movie industry and making some money, he got himself a 1957 Cadillac, because, to him, it represented success.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 365ci V-8 |
| Engine Output | 325 horsepower, 400 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Four-speed automatic |
| 0-60 | 10.6 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 17.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 122 mph |
| Price | $7,286 (original) $649,000 (2013 auction) |
The classic luxury convertible wasn’t just a symbol of wealth, but an indication that Arnold had made it. He had a very modest upbringing in Austria but always had dreams of something bigger for himself. Nothing says you are a somebody like a classic Eldorado, especially to someone who grew up in the 1950s, like Schwarzenegger did.
9. Hummer H1 Slant Back
Going Commando
Arnold’s Hummers are almost as famous as his action movies and just as powerful as his rippled physique. He’s also the reason why they exist on the streets with civilians behind the wheel. Before it was a GMC Hummer, it was a military vehicle called the Humvee, manufactured by AM General, that was not for sale to the public.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 6.5-liter turbo-diesel V-8 |
| Engine Output | 215 horsepower, 440 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Four-speed automatic |
| 0-60 | 17.8 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 21.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 96 mph |
| Price | $39,500 (base model) |
While filming Kindergarten Cop, Schwarzenegger saw a U.S. Army convoy of Humvees rolling by and fell in love with them. He began pestering AM General to make a civilian version, and the company complied in 1992 with the Hummer. The first two Hummers off the line went to Arnie, and he would go on to acquire more because he couldn’t get enough urban assault vehicles to satisfy his primal need to conquer Los Angeles.
8. Dodge Challenger SRT8
Last Action Hero In Last ICE Challenger
Muscles were Arnold’s ticket to fame and fortune, and it makes sense that he owns a muscle car. It’s kind of weird that he doesn’t have more, but his Dodge Challenger SRT8 is certainly a fitting addition to his garage. Like Schwarzenegger, the Challenger is pure power, packing 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 |
| Engine Output | 425 horsepower, 420 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Five-speed AutoStick manumatic |
| 0-60 | 4.7 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 13.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 173 mph |
| Price | $37,995 |
Sadly the Challenger is part of a dying breed. Dodge has discontinued ICE muscle cars and action heroes are no longer ass-kicking physical specimens. In the most recent Batman movie, the title character was a sad emo guy who lives in his parent’s basement.
7. Tesla Roadster (First-Gen)
Arnie Wants a Total Recall of His Tesla
When the Tesla Roadster first came out in 2008, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Governor of California and wanted to help out a start-up company from his state, so he was one of the first to order the radical all-electric sports car. He however wasn’t all that happy with the EV, mostly because his large frame couldn’t comfortably fit into it.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | Single electric motor |
| Engine Output | 228 horsepower, 272 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | N/A |
| 0-60 | 3.9 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 12.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 125 mph |
| Price | $98,950 (base model) |
At the time, Gawker reported that Arnold was trying to return the Roadster to Tesla. Apparently, in those early days, Tesla was struggling, and they begged Arnold to hang onto the EV because if he brought it back, the bad publicity would have been devastating. There is no indication that Schwarzenegger ever got rid of his Tesla, so it’s probably gathering dust in the garage.
6. Porsche 997 Turbo Cabriolet
Open Skies and True Lies
People commonly refer to Arnold’s convertible Porsche as a 911, while others claim it’s a 997, so who is correct? It turns out both, because “997” is the internal company designation for the Porsche 911 generation manufactured between 2005 and 2013. It is also alternately listed as either a Carrera or a Cabriolet, but both of those are simultaneously true.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-6 |
| Engine Output | 572 horsepower, 533 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Seven-speed automatic |
| 0-60 | 2.8 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 11.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 199 mph |
| Price | $136,500 |
The only thing not in dispute is that it is a turbo and a fast one at that. Arnold kind of likes rolling slowly with the top down in many of his rides, but with this mighty German sports car, he could have outrun the AV-8B Harrier jet in True Lies. Speed is power, so this Porsche fits nicely in Schwarzenegger’s collection.
5. Audi R8 e-tron concept
The Eraser Gets an E-racer
Because of the sheer amount of carnage Arnold’s characters unleash in his movies, and due to his birthplace, he has been called the “Austrian Death Machine.” With that in mind, it would be a shame if he didn’t have at least one killer Austrian street machine in his stable. Luckily, he picked up an Audi R8 e-tron on an impulse buy, like a normal person would grab some Skittles in the checkout aisle.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | Four electric motors |
| Engine Output | 313 horsepower, 830 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | N/A |
| 0-60 | 3.9 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 12.4 seconds (est.) |
| Top Speed | 214 mph |
| Price | $200,000 (est.) |
Back in his Governator days, Schwarzenegger stopped by the Audi booth at the Los Angeles Auto Show and got a personal tour of the new R8 e-tron electric vehicle. He liked it so much, he ordered one on the spot. This was a concept vehicle that would serve as the basis for Audi’s e-tron line-up, and according to CarHP, cost around $200,000. Reportedly Arnie’s was red, but there’s no confirmation that he named it Red Sonja.
4. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
Conan the Bavarian
All the vehicles in Arnold’s collection represent different facets of, not just his unique personality, but also his public persona. He’s got muscle cars and sports cars to represent his strength, he has off-road bruisers to symbolize his size, and then there’s his Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster just to make sure you don’t forget he’s exceedingly wealthy.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 6.2-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 563 horsepower, 469 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| 0-60 | 3.8 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 11.7 seconds (est.) |
| Top Speed | 196 mph |
| Price | $199,700 |
The SLS isn’t just a high-end luxury status symbol, it’s also one hell of a performance vehicle, with dragster-like quickness and race car quality handling. According to a TopGear interview, Arnold’s first car was an Opel Kadett and he paid 1,300 Deutsche Marks for it. Unfortunately, no Deutsche Marks to dollars inflation calculator exists, but the Opal was less than the six figures he dropped on the Mercedes convertible.
3. Custom Kreisel Electric G500
Terminator 3: Rise of the EV Machines
After spending so much time promoting single-digit miles-per-gallon Hummers, Arnold appears to be suffering from gas-guzzler guilt. Not only did he sell off most of his Hummers, he’s been acquiring EVs with claims he’s saving the planet from global warming. Also, according to CBS News, Schwarzenegger lent teenage climate activist, Greta Thunberg, his Tesla, but it was a Model 3, so we still have no idea what happened to the Roadster.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | Two electric motors |
| Engine Output | 482 horsepower, torque numbers unavailable |
| Transmission | N/A |
| 0-60 | 5.6 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 13.8 seconds (est.) |
| Top Speed | 113 mph |
| Price | $139,900 plus $1 million |
One of Arnie’s more impressive EV acquisitions is the custom Kreisel Electric G500. It is a Mercedes G-Wagen that Arnold paid Kreisel $1 million to convert into an EV. Arnold touted this ride as a clean alternative, but the amount of fossil fuel needed to produce the vehicle and convert it into an EV leaves a carbon tire tread that will take 50 years of daily driving to break even on.
2. Bentley Continental GT Supersports Convertible
Jingle With the Top Down
Of all the vehicles in Arnold’s collection, he loves Bentleys the most. He owns three of the British luxury automobiles: a Bentley Arnage, a Bentley Continental GTC, and his new fave, a Bentley Continental GT Supersports Convertible. While this ride is the epitome of luxury, it’s also a high-powered muscle car in a classy disguise.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 |
| Engine Output | 700 horsepower, 750 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Eight-speed automatic |
| 0-60 | 3.4 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 11.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 205 mph |
| Price | $328,000 |
With a twin-turbo W-12 engine, the Bentley Supersports can give a Dodge Challenger Hellcat a run for its money. This may be the most perfect Arnold car in Schwarzenegger’s collection. It’s big, fast as hell, and costs an ungodly amount of money. Plus it’s a convertible and as we’ve seen, Arnie is a rag-top man above all else.
1. Bugatti Veyron
The Super Predator Of Sports Cars
Arnold’s Bugatti Veyron could tie into many of his famous movies. It could be The Terminator because it takes out everything on the road. It could be the Eraser for the way it wipes every challenger from existence. It is however most appropriately the Predator, for how it stalks and kills anything foolish enough to get in its way.
Power, Performance, and Price
| Engine | 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 |
| Engine Output | 987 horsepower, 922 pound-feet of torque |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| 0-60 | 2.5 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 9.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 252 mph |
| Price | $1.9 million |
As insane, in a good way, as the Veyron is, Schwarzenegger sadly parted ways with it, saying, “Hasta la vista, Bugatti.” According to FandomWire, he sold the supercar, which he paid $1.5 million for, to a Nigerian businessman for $2.5 million. While that kind of sounds like an old-school e-mail scam, it wasn’t a Nigerian prince, and it was Arnold who ended up with a million bucks in his bank account.
Credits: Brian Anderson / Topspeed
