Top 100 Collectors 2022

About the Top 100 list

The American fashion entrepreneur Ralph Lauren is the front-runner among the global collectors of classic cars. This is the result of the ranking of the "Top 100 Classic Car Collectors 2022" published annually by "The Key", the magazine of "The Classic Car Trust" (TCCT).

For the fifth time, "The Key" magazine, published by "The Classic Car Trust" (TCCT), publishes the annual list of the Top 100 of the world's largest collectors of classic cars. The collections included comprise 3831 automobiles with a total value of around 10.5 billion dollars. The first place in the 2022 ranking is occupied by the US fashion designer Ralph Lauren, who was also named "Collector of the Year 2022" for his unique "D.A.D. Garage" in Westchester County in the US state of New York.

This year's top collector owns one of the most valuable collections of engineering and design icons from the 20th century, which now comprises around seventy automobiles. Ralph Lauren's passion for classic cars once began with a Mercedes 280SE 4.5 Cabriolet from 1971, a Porsche 930 built in 1979, or a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe built in 1955, and today his collection also includes a rare Bugatti 57SC Atlantic Coupe from 1938.

Ralph Lauren has worked his way up to the top of the Top 100 over the years. In 2018 and 2019, he was still in fifth place on the list; in the following two years, he was top three, before now managing to make the leap to the top of the podium. As number one among the top collectors on the current list, Ralph Lauren joins illustrious predecessors Miles Collier (Top 1: 2018; Top 4: 2022), Fred Simeone (Top 1: 2019; Top 5: 2022) Evert Louwman (Top 1: 2020; Top 2: 2022), Arturo Keller (Top 1: 2021; Top 3: 2022).

Increasing interest in Asia Overall, the international scene of Classic Car collectors is still dominated by the USA and Europeans: in the top 10 of the Top 100, there are eight Americans, one Dutchman and one Swiss in the 2022 edition, and there are 59 Americans and 32 Europeans in the entire list. However, it should also be noted that interest and collectors' activities in classic cars are increasing in the Asian region, in India, Hong Kong, Thailand and also in South Africa. And this interest even represents a cross-generational trend: Even if the majority of collections are still in the hands of the founders, around 15 percent of the top 100 collectors now belong to a second or third generation. When it comes to brands, Ferrari and Porsche are particularly popular among collectors: every fourth classic car collectible comes from the Italian carmaker, every tenth from the German one.

How the ranking came about The list of the Top 100 Collectors in The Key has been in existence since 2018. We now have five years of experience in the evaluation of classic cars and the resulting collections.

An important criterion for ranking a collection is its financial value: For this purpose, around 200 000 data from more than a thousand auctions of Classic Cars over the past thirty years were analysed. In addition to the purely pecuniary focus, every Classic Car and every collection also has a historical value, which is also included in the Top 100. There are cars that once belonged to celebrities, won races or collected design awards. Sources for this information are digital channels, but above all also comprehensive historical documentation of cars and collections, often provided directly by the collectors. One in five of the vehicles listed in the Top 100 ranking represents outstanding historical value in the world of classic cars: for example, the GT40 that won Le Mans in 1966.

Rallys as a reference Every collection has a reputation among collectors that is nourished by the gems that have been collected. We have also tried to capture this phenomenon, which is difficult and impossible to assess scientifically, for the Top 100. We used the twenty most important rallies, races and events for classic cars as a reference: for example, the Concosro d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the Mille Miglia, the Goodwood events, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance or the Le Mans Classic and others - we evaluated all available information on these and incorporated it into the Top 100. From all these evaluations, including a subjective coolness factor, a score was determined that ultimately decided the collector's place within the Top 100.

About the rating

The list of Top 100 Collectors in The Key has been in existence since 2018. So we now have five years of experience in evaluating Classic Cars and the resulting collections - this year they include 3831 automobiles.

One primary factor in determining a collection's economic value is its financial worth. To ascertain this, we have scrutinized approximately 200,000 data points from over one thousand classic car auctions held in the past three decades. Based on average prices, the vehicles owned by the top 100 collectors are estimated to have a cumulative value of $10.5 billion in 2022. Among these automotive masterpieces, 62 percent are housed in North and South America, just under one-third in Europe, and the remaining vehicles in other parts of the world.

Apart from the strictly monetary aspect, each classic car and collection possesses a historical value that is also taken into account in the Top 100 ranking. These vehicles may have once been owned by celebrities, achieved victories in races, received design awards, or even discovered serendipitously in a barn—all of which make them unique, as each classic car has its own tale to tell. Our sources for this information include digital channels and, more importantly, extensive historical records of automobiles and collections. Increasingly, collectors are generously providing us with these records—already the case for every third collector in the 2022 edition. This allows us to utilize precise data and demonstrates that our meticulously assembled list is now acknowledged as a benchmark in the classic car collector community.

For instance, we can now report that one in five vehicles featured in the Top 100 ranking holds exceptional historical significance in the realm of classic cars. Examples include the GT40 that triumphed at Le Mans in 1966 and the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Art, which Ralph Lauren once hailed as "the most beautiful car in the world."

Naturally, every collection holds a certain status or reputation among collectors, influenced by the treasured items amassed within. Although challenging and virtually impossible to evaluate scientifically, we have made an effort to capture this essence for the Top 100.

We utilized twenty of the most significant classic car rallies, races, and events as reference points, including the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, Mille Miglia, Goodwood events, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Le Mans Classic, and others. All available information from these events was assessed and integrated into the Top 100 ranking.

Finally, as the team behind the annual The Key list, we are ardent admirers and enthusiasts of classic cars, pouring our heart and soul into this work. Staying objective in the presence of these awe-inspiring automotive masterpieces we encounter daily proves to be an almost impossible, nearly inhuman, task. Beyond the data and statistics, we have cultivated a connection, perhaps even a love affair, with each collection we evaluate over time, leaving an indelible mark on us. Consequently, we have allowed ourselves to introduce a fourth criterion to our Top 100 collectors list, which we have named the "coolness factor." While unapologetically subjective, this factor is wholeheartedly devoted to the classic car, its collectors, and their esteemed collections.

Ralph Lauren doesn’t cherish one car over another, but rather the entirety of his perfectly curated and jealously guarded collection that contains some of the world’s most celebrated treasures. He is always ready to fire up each car and drive for his own authentic pleasure. It’s no coincidence that the pavilion where they are stored is called the Garage; everything is always ready for maintenance and use.

USA

Ralph Lauren

The refined taste of Evert Louwman is instantly transmitted the moment you set eyes on his great Museum in The Hague, or Den Haag, in Netherlands. For those who visit, it is a dive into history narrated by a family with a very particular relationship with the automobile. This is one of the reasons why the cars of the Museum can often be seen at track events and important rallies driven by Louwman himself or his daughter.

Netherlands

Evert Louwman

Arturo Keller jealously preserves his extraordinary collection of which he is justifiably proud. He adores awards and recognitions, as does his wife, Deborah. A rare book documents the Jewels in Keller's collection, one by one.

USA

Arturo Keller

Miles Collier calls himself an automotive archaeologist in his unmissable book published in 2022. His Revs Institute and his collection are exemplary in the way they show how every car can be brought back to its original status and appreciated in every detail. This cultured approach is amplified by seminars and documentation that always guides Collier's choices.

USA

Miles Collier

It will be impossible to separate the superb collection of sports and competition cars collected by Fred Simeone, from the face and profound passion of a man who left this world far too soon. His collection is now held and managed by his Foundation to ensure that the cars are never dispersed, while maintaining the precious historical succession in the Philadelphia Museum that houses them.

USA

Fred Simeone

Those who have raced in cars know that the car, when engaged in a race, offers quite special and decidedly unforgettable sensations. These lie at the heart of William “Chip” Connor’s passion for collecting, and his cars confirm this. His passion is also strengthened by a life spent between Japan, Hong Kong and the USA, which has allowed him to appreciate many of his jewels from different standpoints. One of them is the Ferrari 250 GTO.

USA

William "Chip" Connor

The pride of being Italian led Laurence Auriana to create a truly exemplary collection of cars born and built in the bel paese. He collects almost exclusively racing cars. which he uses at the main international historic car races, driven by his dependable driver, Joe Colasacco. Auriana himself follows his cars and his driver with enthusiasm and understandable trepidation. But the satisfaction it brings makes it all worthwhile.

USA

Laurence Auriana

Albert Spiess interprets the role of the collector to perfection: he takes on a theme, for example Lamborghini, and then collects all the models, including concepts and Formula 1 variants, before then starting another one with a similar journey. Bugatti is among them, but it will certainly not be the last. His wife Rita plays a significant role in his meticulous work, and often represents him at events.

Switzerland

Albert Spiess

Some cars, like a Ferrari 250GTO or an Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, have racing in their DNA. So do the many others that are part of David MacNeil’s superb collection. His love of racing, however, does not stop him from participating in Concours d’Elegance and other events where his cars always play a leading role.

USA

David MacNeil

#10

With only a few exceptions, one in particular being the legendary Bugatti Atlantic Tipo 57 SC, one of the two in existence shared with Peter Mullin, Samuel Robson Walton’s collection consists of significant racing cars.All are cars that he himself has driven and drives on the track with professionalism and unrivalled commitment. This is a living and much-loved collection whose most significant pieces can often be seen at the great international competitions.

USA

Samuel Robson Walton

#11

It is pure refinement that characterizes Peter Mullin’s collecting style. His collection, which has become a private museum of considerable appeal, develops around the originality that historically characterizes French cars. Together with the magnificent Bugatti Atlantic, which he co-owns with Samuel Robson Walton, Mullin's collection celebrates the entire history of France and the car, from the “flamboyants” of the 1930s to the post-war revolutionaries.

USA

Peter Mullin

#12

After a very successful professional career, Richard Workman is now able to devote a significant part of his life to collecting. His recent acquisition of one of the 36 Ferrari GTOs and the numerous special or one-off cars strengthen the prestige of this cultured collector. His latest acquisition was a rare Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Spider.

USA

Richard Workman