14 Weird Cars Michael Jackson Owned (5 Others He Might Have)

Even 9 years after his death, the King of Pop is still one of the best-selling artists of all time. His 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards and 39 Guinness World Records make him the King of Pop. Michael Jackson is known for his ultra catchy music, skillful dancing and groundbreaking music videos. He was a singer adored by fans around the world both before and after his death.

Michael Jackson first shone on stage in 1964 with his older brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, in their group The Jackson 5. Their recognizable hits "ABC" and "I Want You Back" made the younger Jackson a star. In 1971, Michael teamed up with Motown Records to record his first solo album. This launched a career of numerous successful records and singles, including "Bad", "Beat It" and "The Way You Make Me Feel". And who can forget the video for "Thriller"? This music video broke stereotypes and became the most expensive video ever made.

His death shortly before the This Is It tour in 2009 was mourned by millions around the world. The King of Pop left behind a legacy that no other artist has ever matched.

After his death, Michael left behind a garage full of cars. For someone who had only driven with chauffeurs since the 90s, he was well versed in all types of vehicles; big, small, old and new. After his death, the contents of his garage were riveted to the musician's fans and car enthusiasts. Let's take a look at 15 cars Michael Jackson left behind and 5 cars he used in the video.

19 Loyal to his car

When Michael Jackson took the stage, all eyes were on him; those tight black pants, a shiny military-style jacket and, of course, a silver glove. Screaming fans and aggressive paparazzi constantly annoyed. Michael appreciated the attention while performing, but over time, the attention in his everyday life became too much.

In 1985, the singer bought a Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL. He used the car on his short trips from his home in Encino to his recording studio in Los Angeles. 3 years later, Michael needed to escape his 24 year celebrity status. He moved from the San Fernando Valley to Los Olivos, where he settled at Neverland Ranch.

In the early 90s, Michael decided to stop driving in public, but remained true to his Mercedes.

The car went with him to Neverland, and its only purpose was to carry Michael around the territory of 2700 acres. I think it took too long to get from his private zoo to his amusement park. He kept the car for a few more years and then gave it to his aunt for her birthday. After his death, Michael Jackson's reliable Mercedes was auctioned off. The car was sold for $100,000 at the Musical Icons auction at New York's Hard Rock Cafe.

18 Driving Mr Michael

Obviously, Michael Jackson loved old cars. He kept several classic cars in his garage, not because he wanted to drive them, but simply because he wanted to own them. He understood the value of unique and unusual cars and sought them out to fill his garage.

One of the cars Michael assembled was a rare car with an unusual history. It was famous not because it was owned by a pop star, but because of its appearance in a certain movie. The 1954 Fleetwood Cadillac was recognizable as the one used during the filming of Driving Miss Daisy. By 1954, the Cadillac brand had been known as the "Standard of the World" for more than half a century. In '54, the 4-door limousine underwent a complete redesign, making the car more luxurious in appearance and improved in performance.

The Fleetwood's distinctive tail fins were reinvented and the car's overall size was increased, providing a more spacious ride for its wealthy passengers. The limousine was the first car to implement the use of safety glass. It also received a revolutionary new Hydramatic automatic transmission that increased power by almost 10% (to get Miss Daisy and Michael to where they needed to go a little faster).

17 Caddy Catastrophe

Although Michael Jackson did not perform as much in public after the early 1990s, he was still in high demand and had a place to be. He needed to publish records, doctor visits related to skin conditions, and harassment lawsuits (don't worry, if you lived under a rock, he wasn't charged). Since Michael was still active in the public eye, he needed to be transported somehow.

Jaco has used a fleet of Cadillac Escalades over the years. He said he chose large luxury SUVs because he felt safe in them. They were typically black, like most celebrity cars, and had very dark tinted windows to avoid constant paparazzi attention.

We saw Michael leave and arrive at various events in these Cadillacs. In January 2004, he pleaded not guilty to seven counts of child molestation and was acquitted. After a day of deliberations, Michael left the courtroom, greeting the fans outside. As the screaming crowd surrounded the large SUV, the dancer nimbly climbed onto its roof, dancing a hot second as the crowd went wild.

Shortly before his death, in the summer of 2009, Michael was at the Cedars-Sinai hospital. His driver lost control of the Escalade, crashing into an ambulance. Paramedics stepped out to photograph the damage as the King of Pop walked out of the hospital, jumped into an SUV and sped away.

16 "Bad" limousine

Precisioncarrestation.com, Pagesix.com

Michael went from black to white, which was a shocking transformation at the time. Michael also admitted to having had two rhinoplasty surgeries and cosmetic chin surgery (creating a dimple).

With these changes came extensive unusual behavior. Michael seemed to be constantly on the news for one event or another; buying a pet monkey named Bubbles, sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow down the aging process, and a successful collaboration with Disney on the release of Captain EO.

The King of Pop (now referred to in the media as Wacko Jacko) didn't release an album for five years and finally released Bad. The album seemed to be successful, with 9 hits including "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Dirty Diana". But at the Grammys in 1988, the artist was treated with disdain. In the same year, his autobiography "Moonwalk" was published, in which he spoke about the abuse he was subjected to as a child.

Since the star tried to go even further into his seclusion, he bought another limousine. Lincoln Town Car 1988. This limousine was considerably more conservative than the others, with a subdued gray leather and fabric interior. The intention remains the same; travel in luxury and seclusion. The car was also sent to Julien's auction after his death.

15 Jimmy from Jackson

By the time of his death, Michael Jackson had accumulated a debt of almost half a billion dollars. While he was still alive, he sought out Julien's famous auction to clear Neverland of his belongings and help continue to fund his lavish lifestyle. More than 2,000 items were sent to the auction. A team of 30 people collected and indexed items from the life of stars for 90 days.

Some of his items up for auction included several recognizable costumes, décor and art from his home, statuettes from award ceremonies, and his infamous silver glove. Well, one of his infamous silver gloves (there actually were about 20 of them). One crystal-encrusted glove was sold for approximately $80,000. But, according to Julien, it was "the greatest auction that has ever been."

After all this gathering and categorization, the often unpredictable star brought the entire event to a halt when his production company sued Julien, claiming that the auction was not sanctioned by the King of Pop. Now most of the auction values ​​are in 5 warehouses in Southern California.

One of the auction items never sold was Michael's 1988 Jimmy GMC. The rough, half-ton gas-guzzling High Sierra didn't cost much, even though it belonged to a superstar. Incredibly coveted in his life or death, a four-wheel drive car would sell at auction for less than 4.

14 Tours in abundance

Even at a young age, Michael Jackson spent most of his life on the road. Now, this may not be the ride most people are used to; filled with pit stops at tourist traps and hot dogs at gas stations. However, Michael was as much of a road warrior as any other frequent traveller.

In 1970, Michael joined his family for the Jackson 5's first national tour. The brothers' popular troupe broke records in many cities.

A concert in Buffalo, New York, even had to be canceled due to threats to the life of a young pop singer. After the concert was canceled, 9,000 fans received their ticket refunds.

But like all good stars, the show must go on. Michael has done 6 tours in 6 years, spreading his music around the world, with shows in the Philippines, Australia, South America, Hong Kong and the UK. All this journey to a ripe old age of 18 years. And the tour didn't end there. After reaching adulthood, he continued his reign, completing a total of 16 tours in his life.

Now, if you are a celebrity like Michael, your tour bus will be fully equipped and as comfortable as possible. In 1997, the famous singer used the Neoplan Touring Coach. The luxurious bus included leather sofas, a bedroom and bathroom made of porcelain, gold and granite. The carriage was a luxury worthy of a king.

13 Roadster reproduction

Many of the cars in Michael Jackson's garage were of no value on their own. These weren't the traditional collectibles you see in the garage of the ultra-rich. If it didn't belong to one of the most famous singers in the world, some of his cars would be of no value today. However, Michael knew what he liked and kept his collectibles in perfect condition.

One of the cars sent to Julien's auction was a replica of a 1909 Detamble Model B roadster. The bright green open-top car at the turn of the century used a manual-start engine (unlike other cars in the singer's garage). The old school car was a reproduction, hence the custom paint job, which included a code of arms and the famous initials of Michael Joseph Jackson on the side of the doors.

I don't think Michael ever used this machine to get to and from recording sessions. Perhaps Michael never drove a car at all. But in any case, the pop singer's estate should have brought in between $4,000 and $6,000. If the auction took place, you could own part of Michael's estate for less than a few thousand dollars. What will your friends think when they see this car in your garage?

12 Pop Star Police Bike

In 1988, Michael Jackson released the full-length feature film Moonwalk. The hour and a half film did not use a standard narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. Instead, 9 short films were used in the film. All of the shorts were actually music videos for his Bad album and he used excerpts from Moonwalker for his live performances.

One thing you'll notice about Moonwalker is the use of motorcycles and cars as a recurring theme and focus of short storylines. One of them was the Harley-Davidson FXRP Police Special. Could it be that Michael's acquaintance with this cop Harley in 1988 led him to buy another motorcycle 13 years later?

We may never know if the motorcycle in the movie influenced his purchase, but Michael ended up buying a 2001 Police Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Harley was due to go up for auction in 2009, and pictures of the motorcycle in Michael Neverland's driveway were released. The bike was painted in the standard black and white police livery and fitted with the traditional red and blue lights. At auction, this police motorcycle would fetch a maximum of around $7,500. Do you think he came with one silver motorcycle glove?

11 Fire Marshal Michael

After moving to Neverland Ranch and starting his Heal the World charity, Michael Jackson became obsessed with inviting children to enjoy the attractions of his 2,700-acre estate. He bought the property in 1988 for about $19-30 million. With the purchase came Michael's custom additions.

The Neverland train station was built to mimic the entrance to Disneyland, and the rest of the property is what you'd expect from a theme park designed by a boy who didn't want to grow up. The amusement park included two railroads, beautiful art gardens, a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel and an arcade. But having your own theme park and having kids there comes with safety issues.

Michael Jackson converted a 1986 3500 GMC High Sierra into a bright red firetruck. The truck makeover included the addition of a water tank, hoses, and flashing red lights. Thank God there was never a fire in the house. The power of the car was only 115 horsepower. Towing around a tank full of water would take some time. We can assume that any resulting fire would have caused damage before the arrival of the converted fire truck.

10 Chariot MJ

Michael Jackson was special in many ways. He had a charisma that captivated fans, family and other celebrities. His talent and interesting personality set him apart from any other singer, perhaps ever. And his death made him even more infamous. For such a unique person, he had a particularly odd taste in vehicles.

If you walk into the garage of a wealthy pop star, you are likely to see a lot of traditionally valuable and expensive cars. You can see a collection of classic American muscles. Or maybe a range of European supercars. Either way, Michael's unconventional personality comes through in the types of vehicles he has chosen to purchase.

One of the most unusual vehicles that took up space in his garage was not a car at all, but a horse-drawn carriage. The red and black open carriage accommodated four passengers plus the driver. In true style of the star known for his music, Michael outfitted the carriage with a CD player (those shiny silver discs that were popular in the late 90s and early 2000s) and a sound system. This upgraded wagon was auctioned for around $10,000. Can you imagine the music star roaming Neverland behind two live horses and jamming to one of his platinum albums?

9 Personal cart for the king

In 1983, psychologist Dan Keely wrote a book in which he introduced the world to the term "Peter Pan Syndrome". Although it is not a recognized diagnosis in the medical field, its characteristics are the perfect description of the King of Pop. Peter Pan syndrome usually refers to men who were very withdrawn as children and in turn never fully matured. Kylie recognized this inability to grow up and handle adult responsibilities in many of the boys he treated.

Michael Jackson had a self-proclaimed fascination with J. M. Barry's fantasy tale. He was quoted as saying, "I'm Peter Pan. He personifies youth, childhood, never growing up, magic, flight. Over the years, Michael has shown his childish qualities and love for a fantasy tale. A quick Google search turns up a lot of Michael Jackson as Peter Pan. Even at his aptly named home, Neverland Ranch, the King of Pop had an assortment of Peter Pan themed décor.

What does this have to do with cars? Well, it's not so much a car as it is an electric golf cart. A boy who couldn't grow up used a cart to move around his Neverland Ranch. The cart was built by Western Golf And Country and had a very unusual custom paint job on the hood with Michael dressed as Peter Pan and a Jolly Roger flying nearby.

8 Exciting car

through classic ride app video

Michael Jackson has always been at the forefront of music. His singing style was iconic, with legendary vocal gasps, raucous screams and passionately sung lyrics. His dance was innovative. He was the man who invented the moonwalk. Nothing more needs to be said.

What really made Michael stand out as a multifaceted artist was his groundbreaking music videos. He released hit after hit, and the videos that accompanied them were not only entertaining, but shocking and inspiring. The thriller has been called "a watershed in the history of music". In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry and named "the most famous music video of all time".

The 14-minute music video was an opportunity for Michael to indulge his horror cravings. The monstrous effects, choreography and vocals were mesmerizing. If you look back at the first few minutes of the video, you'll remember that a very American version of Michael drives into frame in a white 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible. Like in real horror movies, the car chugs to a halt. Michael deliberately explains that he ran out of gas... and that's the only glimpse of the car we see in the video. However, it's the perfect choice for this retro piece of the 80s hit. The Bel Airs were beautifully made, with their closed headlights and exaggerated fins. It was a cult car for a cult video.

7 Misunderstood Matador

When a celebrity is as big as Michael Jackson, controversy is bound to arise. The King of Pop definitely got his share. He was always in the public eye and everything from his personal life to his lyrics and dance moves was scrutinized.

In 1991 Michael's eighth album Dangerous was released. The album was accompanied by 8 short films, one for each song. "Black or White", the first track, was accompanied by a particularly controversial short.

The video was released to a heavily offended audience due to the last 4 minutes of the song. At the end, Michael transforms from a panther into himself and then goes outside and destroys the car. He was seen dancing on the hood of an AMC Matador. He also brutally smashes car windows and hits Matador with a crowbar.

According to Hagerty Insurance customers, the Matador has earned a reputation as one of the "worst passenger cars of all time". The four-door version, like the one used in the short, was considered one of the ugliest car designs. His lack of desirability may be the reason they decided to destroy him.

The destruction of the car, the rotation of the pelvis and the capture of the crotch caused many networks to re-edit the video, removing the final part of the story. Michael apologized, stating, "It upsets me to think that Black or White could influence any child or adult to engage in destructive behavior, be it sexual or violent."

6 Cosmos Michael

www.twentwowords.com, oldconceptcars.com

In 1988, with the release of Moonwalker, "Smooth Criminal" was born, a hugely successful song and video that won several Music Video Awards. It was inspired by The Godfather with a gangster theme. One of the most memorable moments in Michael's "Smooth Criminal" video and live performances was the use of an ingenious anti-gravity tilt.

In the 40-minute video clip of "Smooth Criminal" (the song is only about 10 minutes long), the pop star uses some wish and star magic to transform into a futuristic flying Lancia Stratos Zero.

The space age style car was created by the Italian car company Bertone in 1970. The car was originally a concept, but Marcello Gandini and Giovanni Bertone wanted to create something more than a proof of concept. They took the engine from a salvaged Lancia Fulvia HF and put it in the low, sleek, futuristic body of the Stratos Zero.

In Transformers The Musical… I mean “Smooth Criminal”, the aerodynamic design of the Stratos Zero spaceship and the sound effects of the roaring engine help Michael escape from the gangsters. He successfully defeats the bad guys and saves a group of kids. There is nothing surprising; with a bit of Disney-style magic, Michael is the hero and the kids are saved.

5 pop star and pepsi

nydailynews.com, jalopnik.com

Michael Jackson didn't just star in his own music videos. The versatile star has also appeared in several commercials, starting with Alpha Bits and the Jackson 5 in 1971. When he was at the height of his career, during the Bad era, Michael signed a commercial contract with one of the largest soft drink companies in the world. Peace, Pepsi.

The multi-part series of Pepsi commercials was not without its problems. In the published footage, you can see with your own eyes what terrible experiences the pop star went through during the filming of one of the scenes. In the intro, Michael had to dance on stage to the explosion of pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, the timing for the special effects was disrupted, causing Michael's hair to catch fire. As a result of the accident, the singer received second and third degree burns to his head and face. This sparked a major lawsuit against the soft drink brand.

However, Michael has finished filming the commercials and in Part 80 we see the perfect escape car from the 1986s. Pepsi chose the 2017 Ferrari Testarossa Spider as their hero car. This is not an official Spider, in fact only one has been released. But the California reproduction company's custom work was incredibly accurate. The car has been bought and sold several times and as of 800,000 the asking price was just under $XNUMX.

4 Retro Trip

In the early 2000s, Michael Jackson was in scary-looking territory. However, his unusual appearance does not seem to have affected his popularity or success. When you're a talented star like Michael, the looks may draw some attention, but it really comes down to the art. The King of Pop was a consummate artist and he continued to release hit after hit even into the new millennium.

In 2001, the singer released the song "You Rock My World". The song was from his 10th and final studio album before his death. The album topped the charts worldwide, and the song became one of his last hit singles, reaching the Top XNUMX on Billboard. The thirteen and a half minute video clip featured several other celebrities in addition to the pop singer (Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando, to name a few).

While the video isn't focused on any particular hero car, we do see glimpses of old classics to reinforce the retro style of the story's theme. In the first minute of the film noir, we see Michael and Chris eating at a Chinese restaurant and gazing at a hot young woman from the window. Shown in the foreground is a 1964 Cadillac DeVille convertible. We only see the car in a few shots, but its intimidating looks and unrivaled luxury make it a great choice. The car foreshadows the gangsters that Michael faces in the rest of the video.

3 Suzuki Love

Michael Jackson considered Japan to be one of his most devoted and unreserved fan bases. That's why he chose Japan as his first public appearance since his acquittal in 2005. The superstar once said, "Japan is one of my favorite places in the world to visit." His lucrative relationship with the Asian country dates back many years and even extends to a commercial contract with Suzuki Motorcycles.

In 1981, the music sensation teamed up with Suzuki to promote their new line of scooters. The Japanese moped was named "Suzuki Love" and their slogan was spelled out in an easily recognizable raucous falsetto: "Love is my message."

These commercials came at a time when Michael was at the top of the hits from Off The Wall. His song "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" became the first solo hit in which Michael had complete creative control. In addition, it was the first single in 7 years to reach number one on the Billboard Top 1. And after only a few months on the air, the song was recognized as a hit, getting gold and then platinum status.

In one of the commercials, we see Michael dance his own unique choreography, the likes of which no one else could ever beat. He even did some spectacular twists on the throttle, just to show that he understands he's selling a scooter, not a dance move.

2 Limousines Galore

When you think of celebrities, you think of limousines. Driving in luxury to an awards show, sipping champagne on the way to a press meeting, buying prescription drugs at the local drugstore... So it's no surprise that Michael Jackson often spent time in limousines. They may not be the best way to dodge the paparazzi, but we didn't expect anything else from the King of Pop.

Well, Michael Jackson didn't just ride in rented limousines, he had 4 of his own. They were the highest level of luxury. One in particular had a particularly gaudy custom interior chosen by Michael himself. The 1999 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph was as luxurious as it gets, with a bright blue interior, rich walnut wood accents, leather and 24 carat gold stitched details. At an auction in 2009, after his death, Seraphim was worth between $140,000 and $160,000.

Another of his four limousines was a 1990 Rolls Royce Silver Spur II. This long, elegant ride was almost as gaudy as the previous one and was also adapted for the pop star. It's all about the contrast: bright white leather and rich black trim. The already tinted windows added extra privacy from the paparazzi with thick white curtains. The limousine had a full bar, perfect for a cocktail to help cure.

1 A van for a king

Michael Jackson's career continued to grow after the end of the 80s. He was already very successful and famous all over the world, but the early nineties continued to catapult him to stardom. In 1991, Michael renewed his music contract with Sony, breaking the record with a $65 million arrangement. his album, Dangerous, came out and received many awards and honors.

In 1992, we saw Michael expand his philanthropic ventures by founding Heal The World. This charity further strengthened his love and adoration for children, as well as his desire to help children in need. Through philanthropy, he brought underprivileged children to his famous Neverland Ranch to enjoy the magic Michael had to offer (don't get me, I mean roller coaster and petting zoo). He also used the charity to send money to needy children in war-torn and impoverished countries outside the US.

Just like the unusual personality of Michael Jackson, the star had a craving for unusual cars. Shortly thereafter, Michael bought a 1993 Ford Econoline van. An ordinary-looking 90s van was fitted with a few celebrity modifications to accommodate a boy who didn't want to grow up and the kids he entertained. The van had a leather interior, TVs for each passenger, and a game console.

Sources: truemichaeljackson.com, motor1.com, imcdb.org, wikipedia.org.