1956 Chevrolet 210
Not every NFL star drove luxury - some drove “classic”. The Chevrolet 210 was actually a mid-range car back when it was released in 1956, but its gorgeous 50s aesthetics and design were still gorgeous three decades later.
1979 Porsche 911 Turbo
A groundbreaking model that has since become an icon, the 911 Turbo was Porsche’s first-ever production car to feature a turbocharged engine. It represented the epitome of style and performance, much like the famous NFL players who enjoyed it.
1983 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S
With a 4.8-liter V12 engine at its heart, the Countach 5000 S was a genuine supercar with exceptional torque at lower RPMs and a lavish interior fit for a king. Naturally, plenty of NFL stars and other athletes would have wanted one of these in their garages.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Speaking of the Camaro, it should come as no surprise that this vehicle - along with several other classic muscle cars - could often be spied in the parking spots of famous NFL players. It pretty much secured its classic status the moment it was released, and is still an icon to this day.
1985 Mercedes-Benz 500 (S‑Class)
It shouldn’t come as any surprise to see brands like Mercedes-Benz on this list. It’s always been the benchmark for class in cars, and the 500 S-Class took it to a new level with its grand and stately appearance, which seemed tailor-made for royalty.
1985 Subaru XT
Incredibly distinct for its time, the XT aimed to “uplift” the Subaru brand with its sleek, futuristic design and aviation-style elements. Indeed, it was certainly a good-looking vehicle and came with turbocharged options to boot.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette C3
Alongside the Camaro, the Corvette remains the most iconic car Chevrolet has ever produced. It was every kid’s dream to one day drive one of these, and many NFL players likely got the chance to fulfill that dream in the '80s and '90s.
1979 Ford Mustang GT Fox Body
Unlike the original Mustang, the GT Fox Body, released in 1979, was a much more affordable vehicle, yet also highly modifiable. It still featured the iconic shape and overall style of its predecessors, and was hugely popular in drag races across the country.
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
That’s right - the Firebird Trans Am was so popular that we had to include it twice. The ‘79 model year, in particular, was iconic for its screaming chicken decal that blazed across screens nationwide when it was featured in Smokey and the Bandit.
1983 Dodge Shelby Charger
The Dodge Charger made a full comeback in 1982 as a more practical vehicle than its predecessors, but the Shelby variant released the next year brought performance standards back to the fore. It had sporty handling and exclusive cosmetic features that made it something of a status symbol.
1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
Not every NFL player was interested in pure speed and performance standards - they had to deal with those things for a living, remember? The ‘77 Fleetwood Brougham, for example, wasn’t exactly a top-tier performer, but it was stately, luxurious, and commanding on the road.
1980 Lincoln Town Car
Although it was ultimately smaller than its predecessors, the Lincoln Town Car of the 1980 model year still made a grand statement when it was out on the road. It featured the distinctive “Malaise-era” styling of the time, and was a rather stately piece of work.
1991 Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class
Again, it really shouldn’t come as any surprise to see a Mercedes-Benz here on the list. The ‘91 S-Class was the ultimate show of wealth, an incredibly advanced and robust luxury car that featured memory seats, soft-close doors, and advanced climate control for ultimate comfort on the road.
1986 BMW 7 Series E32
Sitting right alongside Mercedes-Benz is none other than BMW - the other rich people's vehicle brand. The 1986 7 Series E32 was a gorgeous full-size luxury car, which, though boxy in appearance, was absolutely stunning to behold.
1980 Rolls‑Royce Silver Spur
The Rolls-Royce brand still carries a certain level of prestige today, but it was in its heyday in the 80s. The Silver Spur was an incredibly beautiful grand tourer that would look right at home in the garages of lords, senators, and - yes - NFL players, too.
1983 Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 from 1983 was the last model year for the third-generation 911s, which introduced the beloved 911SC. This one also came in convertible configurations, perfect for cruising the highways with the wind in your hair.
1984 Ferrari Testarossa
Debuting as the 512 BB’s replacement, the ‘84 Testarossa had luxurious and elaborate styling to match its sweet-sounding name. Designed by the one and only Pininfarina, this was definitely a vehicle any rich athlete would have wanted to get their hands on.
1975 Jaguar XJS
The original Jaguar XJ set the standard for what a luxury grand tourer should be, while the XJS further refined its sleek, butter-smooth aerodynamic design sensibilities and effortless handling, making it a genuine breeze to drive.
1970 Range Rover Classic
Of course, not every athlete and NFL star wanted something so obviously luxurious. Many would have also wanted something practical that could take them off-road if needed, and that left pretty much just one option: the original Range Rover from 1970.
1973 Chevrolet Suburban
The ‘73 Suburban was the first model year of the seventh generation of the iconic nameplate. Rugged, reliable, spacious, and with immense towing capabilities to boot, this was the SUV athletes drove when they meant business on the road.
1971 Oldsmobile 442
Among the classic muscle cars of the '60s and early '70s, the Oldsmobile 442 was a sleeper hit, not quite as popular as its competitors, but still a formidable performer in its own right. Naturally, in a profession where performance is everything, we’d be more surprised if there weren’t any NFL stars who didn’t have one of these in their garage.
1987 Buick Grand National GNX
A limited edition version of the ever-popular Buick Grand National, production of the GNX was limited to a meagre 547 units, which made it a luxury status symbol as well as a genuine monster of a performer while on the road.
1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60
Toyota may not be the most prestigious brand out there, but the ‘81 Land Cruiser definitely felt like something special when it was released. It was a much more personal vehicle with its improved comfort features, and was immensely popular all over the world, including places that would never have heard of the NFL to begin with.
1981 Mercedes‑Benz 600
Let’s take a look at a few people known to have owned a 600: style icon Coco Chanel; songwriter extraordinaire John Lennon; and the King of Rock himself, Elvis Presley. Of course, NFL stars would have wanted in on the action.
1985 Chevrolet Impala
The final model year of the long-running Impala nameplate before its retirement (and eventual resurrection), the ‘85 Impala may not have been as beefy or powerful as its predecessors, but it was still a beloved vehicle all the same.
1981 BMW 5 Series E28
Whereas the 7 Series was pretty much all luxury, the BMW 5 Series was a refined blend of luxurious comfort and uber sporty handling - everything an NFL star in the 80s could have wanted in a vehicle.
1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1983 reintroduced the world to the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The SS variant was a more performance-focused vehicle, affordable while still being a genuine menace on the roads.
1980 GMC Jimmy
Don’t let its quaint name fool you: the GMC Jimmy from 1980 was a huge, rugged luxury SUV known for its removable rear top and incredible off-road performance powered by a roaring V8 under the hood.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda
One of the original pony cars from the '60s, the Barracuda actually debuted a full two weeks before the Mustang. While it ultimately wasn’t as popular as that vehicle, it was still a highly sought-after collector’s item, particularly among athletes who could no doubt relate to its emphasis on top-tier performance.
1981 Maserati Biturbo
Although the Biturbo was intended to be a more accessible vehicle than other Maserati vehicles in terms of price, make no mistake: owning one of these was still a statement of wealth and status.
1968 Rolls‑Royce Phantom VI
The last of its kind, the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI exemplified Rolls-Royce’s traditional custom coachbuilt work, lush in its execution, luxurious to drive, and commanding on the roads wherever it went.
1980 Cadillac DeVille
Like our previous entry, the 1980 Cadillac DeVille was the last of its kind (i.e., large, traditional, body-on-frame Cadillacs). It was a classy vehicle that, while not necessarily a top performer, nevertheless made a statement wherever it went.
1990 Lamborghini Diablo
The successor to the legendary Countach, the Diablo lived up to its name with its hell-raising performance capabilities. Just like the Lambos of today, owning one of these back then was more or less an elaborate way of saying that you’d made it in life.
1974 Lamborghini Countach
While we’ve already given the 5000SS its due, we simply must pay our respects to the original Countach, too—the car that pretty much defined what a Lamborghini should look like for decades to come, and which was immensely popular with all kinds of athletes.
1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The third generation of the iconic Firebird Trans Am nameplate began with this 1982 model, which brought with it a much more aerodynamic design and a lighter frame. It’s most famous for its appearance in the “Knight Rider” TV show, which aired in the 1980s.
