“I have pretty eclectic taste in cars,” Tim Allen told GQ back in 2013. “I actually own the cars in my collection that I had as a kid.” And, for once, Allen isn't joking. Having discovered a knack for comedy as a kid – he was born Timothy Dick, so he had to do something – Allen started his stand-up career in the mid-1970s, supplementing his income with some drug dealing. He was, it has to be said, better at being funny than he was selling cocaine and after being busted for drug trafficking in 1978 he spent just under two-and-a-half years in prison.
Allen got his big break at the start of the 1990s when he starred in the American sitcom Home Improvement as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor. A ratings winner for much of the decade, Allen was paid more than a million dollars per episode by the time the final season aired in 1999 and he was offered $50m to keep the franchise going. He declined, preferring instead to concentrate on his film career (including Galaxy Quest, The Santa Clause and he has been the voice of Buzz Lightyear in all the Toy Story movies)… and also indulge his love of cars. Even though his father had been killed in an automobile accident, colliding with a drunk driver when his son was just eleven, it didn't put Allen off.
“A car crossed two lanes of traffic, flipped and landed on my dad's car,” he said in an interview. “I don't blame cars. My dad loved cars. I don't have many memories of my dad. The love of cars is all I have of him, really.” And he has the collection (of mostly Fords and Chevrolets) to prove it…
Ford Roadster (1933)
The original American hotrod, the Californian craze for modifying these hefty V8s really kicked in after the Second World War, so for a kid growing up in the 1960s they would have had an obvious appeal. As a consequence, during the filming of Home Improvement, Allen's 1933 Ford Roadster was used as a prop for the Toolman who was supposedly rebuilding it in his workshop and it was fitted with a 350 Motor City flathead. After the show finished, Allen kept the rebuilt hotrod and added it to his collection.
Ford Convertible (1946)
As one of the first manufacturer's to restart production after the Second World War, Ford kicked off the post-war era with an upgrade of the car they had launched in 1942. Again it came with Ford's legendary V8; Allen's version has been completely restored and looks stunning. If you think you recognise this model from the movies, you'd be dead right. Remember Biff's black convertible from Back To The Future ("C'mon, think McFly… Think!") when he chases Marty on his hoverboard? That was the Super Deluxe version.
Cadillac Sixty Special (1950)
In 1938, Cadillac introduced the Sixty Special and it was the luxury version of the manufacturer's top-of-the-range cars. Allen's version is the fourth generation and was in production from 1950-53, but he had it restored so that it runs impeccably while retaining the old-look rat rod-style. Cadillacs in the 1950s were also known for the double protuberances on their ornate chrome bumpers. These were known as “Dagmars” and were named after the American TV actress of the same name who was famous for… well, you can probably work that out for yourself. Different times.
Ford F100 (1956)
Ford's F-Series range of pick-up trucks have been a staple on American streets since 1948 and have been the bestselling vehicle in the States for more than 40 years. However, that isn't why Allen bought his. He simply went to a car auction in Arizona with his friends back in the day and took a shine to the big-wheeled pick-up because of the colossal Hemi engine sticking out of the bonnet, telling his friends that he would buy it just because of the bargain price – a veritable snip at $78,000. He liked it so much, last year he bought another custom truck, this time a 1953 FR100.
Chevrolet 409 Bel Air (1962)
“Well, I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes / For I knew there would be a time / When I would buy a brand-new 4-0-9.” Brian Wilson's homage to Chevrolet's legendary 409 engine appeared as the B-side on the Beach Boys' Surfin' Safari and probably tells you everything about Tim Allen's love for his Bel Air (below).
Effectively the machine that ushered in the era of the muscle car, this bubble top (so called for the expanse of curved glass at the front and back) came with a big-block V8 that would be a precursor to the Mustangs and Chargers in years to come.
Chevrolet Chevelle SS (1964)
Hot on the heels of the 409 came the Chevelle SS (Super Sport). Only available as a two-door, Chevrolet made 67,085 V8 SS models and they were fitted with vinyl bucket seats, a “deluxe” steering wheel and a Muncie four-speed transmission. Allen also owned a bright-orange 1966 Chevelle SS until it was sold at auction. A 1970 Chevelle made an appearance in one of the many Fast & Furious movies… We aren’t sure which one as they are pretty much indistinguishable.
Shelby Cobra (1965)
An automotive icon in every sense of the word, the Cobra was Carroll Shelby's creation that married the lightweight chassis of an AC Ace made in the UK to a monstrous Ford 300-brake V8. It was a Frankenstein machine that somehow worked brilliantly, taking the sports car world by storm. Allen has owned a couple of Cobras, but it is his S/C (semi-competition) version that is something very special. Built as a pure street racer, at one time it was the fastest road-going production car in the world, capable of going to infinity… but not quite beyond 185mph.
Ferrari 330 GTC (1967)
Another car that made a cameo in Home Improvement and ended up in Allen's big garage, the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari GTC two-seat Berlinetta made its debut at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show and only 600 were made. Featuring a four-litre V12 engine, the 330 went from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and had a top speed of 150mph and it appears in the legendary 1960s motor racing movie Grand Prix. However, Allen admits he may have made a mistake in that when he bought the 330, he also had the opportunity to buy a short-wheelbase 250 Ferrari at a bargain price that would have been worth millions today. Quick, get your tiny violins out for him…
Camaro 427 COPO (1968)
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Detroit's Woodward Avenue was the place where hotrodders used to race their creations and where engineers for the big manufacturers such as General Motors and Chrysler used to test their new hardware to see what they could do in the real world. Inspired by these displays of Detroit muscle, Allen bought a 1968 Camaro 427 COPO. COPO stood for Central Office Production Order and was a system used to “unofficially” boost engine components to improve performance. With improvements to the chassis, Brembo brakes and a new, even gutsier engine, this is an old-school beast with 21st-century sensibilities. And it looks incredible too.
VW Karmann Ghia (1971)
Italian styling meets German efficiency with undeniably cool results. Using Volkswagen's Beetle chassis and ultra-reliable mechanical components, German coachbuilder Karmann worked with Italian stylists Carrozzeria Ghia to create this cult classic. And if you needed further proof of the car's inherent hipness, the Karmann Ghia is the car Brad Pitt's character drives in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Apparently, Quentin Tarantino chose that car because his dad drove one during the 1960s in LA.
Chevrolet Nova (1971)
Described by Allen as the sexiest car he owns – and by Allen's wife as a “guy magnet” – this rebuilt Chevy Nova actually caught the actor's eye when he was driving one day. He flagged down the owner and offered to buy it from him on the spot. Unsurprisingly, multimillionaire Allen managed to persuade the driver to part with his Nova and the car subsequently was given a role in the movie Zoom (and may or may not have been the best thing in it). A 1970 Nova also appeared in another Tarantino movie… Death Proof.
Ford RS200 (1986)
This is one car that Quentin Tarantino has never included in one of his movies. Allen's exceptional Ford RS200 is a bona fide racing classic and was a Group B rally car with a serious pedigree. With an ultra-lightweight composite/fibreglass body and a chassis designed by legendary motor racing engineer Tony Southgate, the RS200 also featured a turbocharged Cosworth engine and although it was good enough to win the British Rally Championship in 1986, Group B was banned that same year. Further on the downside, this mid-engined machine is not road legal in the United States so Allen can't actually drive it on public roads.
Chevrolet Impala SS LT5 (1996)
At the height of his Home Improvement fame in the mid-1990s, Allen used his celebrity pull and “car guy” credentials to convince Chevy to create a bespoke Impala for him. Partnering with then Chevrolet Speciality Vehicles manager Jon Moss, the pair added a modified Corvette ZR1 LT5 engine into the SS giving it a whopping 6.3 litres, producing 446bhp. Custom components abounded, turning this car into a wolf in err… a rather dull and unattractive sheep's clothing. But if anyone is wondering, should you roll up on the “Tim Allen Design Impala” at the traffic lights, don't even think about going for it when the lights go green.
Porsche Carrera GT (2004)
Created by Porsche initially with a view to competing at Le Mans, an FIA ruling forced the Germans to abandon their competitive plan, but not their designs for the Carrera GT. A technologically advanced mid-engined supercar, it came with a V10 605bhp 5,733cc lump that was capable of hitting 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and had a top speed of 205mph. Only 1,270 were produced, of which 644 were delivered to the United States, including Allen's version. However, when the Toolman sold his in 2019, it had less than 3,000 miles on the clock... so although he loved the car, he obviously didn't love driving it that much.
Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator (2006)
Whatever convinced Chevrolet to call their pick-up truck the Intimidator? Well, first their was the engine… a 6.0-litre V8 that produced 345bhp. Then there was the move to switch from four-wheel drive to two-wheel rear-drive. And finally there was the limited-edition release in 2006 of a version honouring the late, great Nascar racer Dale Earnhardt Sr. All of these factors encouraged Allen to snap one up.
Ford Mustang (2008)
When Ford introduced a redesigned Mustang in 2005, it was welcomed by modern muscle car fans with open arms… but there was a large Highland-green elephant in the room: would there be an anniversary version to celebrate the Mustang's most famous movie role? Well, duh! Forty years on from Steve McQueen's classic car chase, Ford announced a special edition “Bullitt” Mustang for 2008 with a 4.6-litre V8, producing 315bhp and Allen signed on the dotted line faster than you can say, “Do you really need another car, Tim?” Well, he did and became one of the lucky 5,773 owners. However, despite putting nearly 6,000 miles on the car, Allen sold his Mustang on eBay in 2011.
Nissan GT-R (2013)
When the Nissan GT-R was launched in 2007, it is safe to see the whole world caught it's breath. The successor to the epic Skyline GT-R, it announced its arrival by smashing the lap record at the Nürburgring and, with its hand-built 3.8-litre engine and impeccable handling, quickly became the driver's drive of choice. Shame it was a Nissan really. Allen bought one in 2013 and used it as his daily drive for years. He then realised it was a Nissan and sold it. The Takumi craftsman who built the engine for Allen's GT-R in Yokohama must have been most upset.
Ford GT (2018)
Thanks to the Matt Damon/Christian Bale movie Le Mans ‘66, everyone knows the Ford GT backstory now – how the GT40 was built in the 1960s to take on Ferrari and did so, spectacularly – and how it was given new life at the start of the 21st-century to celebrate Ford’s centenary. Well, the second generation Ford GT was released in 2018 and Allen didn't need asking twice. Despite costing nearly half a million dollars, Allen made sure he was the recipient of one of the 250 cars Ford release every year and uploaded his first drive to his YouTube channel, with the car fresh off the delivery truck. Are we jealous? No, you are.
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