Nick Mason is perhaps the most well known as the drummer of the iconic British progressive rock band Pink Floyd. However, a little less known fact is that he’s not only a rockstar even among celebrity car enthusiasts, but also has one of the most insane classic car collections. The fact that Nick Mason’s car collection is worth well over $70 million should give you an idea of just how special it is.
Updated January 2023: We’ve updated this article to reflect the most recent cars in Nick Mason’s collection, and the current value of the Pink Floyd drummer’s cars.
His crazy collection includes cars from the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Lotus too, just to scrape the surface. While most of these cars are truly vintage in every regard, the power potential of these cars are truly legendary, confirming their legitimacy as race cars, and not just old relics. Furthermore, Mason as a true enthusiast goes beyond just collecting and hoarding classic race cars to actually racing them, allowing them to do what they do best: showcase their performance potential in races. Even though Nick Mason’s Ferrari 250 GTO is worth $48 million all by itself, that doesn’t stop him from racing it, and using it as a daily driver.
Nick Mason owns about 40 or so sports cars, primarily comprised of vintage racing legends, although he does have a couple of modern sports cars. His car collection is priceless both in a historical and monetary sense, rumored to be worth almost double of his own net worth.
The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO “Pink Floyd”
As one of several Ferraris in his collection, Nick Mason’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is the most iconic and definitely the most valuable car in his collection.
There were only 36 of these cars built ever, with each of them getting hand-built. This car was built with racing in mind, housing a minimalist interior, no speedometer, and a quad-cam V12 engine to ensure that performance requirements were met.
Having paid $37,000 for the GTO in 1977, the car is now worth over $48 million, as indicated by the purchase of a similar ’62 GTO sold in the 2018 RM Sotheby’s auction. The car was instrumental in Pink Floyd’s success too, as the drummer had put it up as collateral for a big tour the band was doing. The Nick Mason Ferrari collection itself could be worth a nationwide tour in itself!
Nick Mason Has A 1957 Maserati 250F F1 Car
Another key red race machine adorns his vintage car collection, another insane rarity: a 1957 Maserati 250F.
“the 250F is the archetypal Grand Prix car”
Streamlined like a giant rocket, the performance capabilities of this machine got showcased in the Grand Prix of the 1950s. Mason himself said in an interview with another outlet that “The 250F is the archetypal Grand Prix car.”
The relatively small 2.5-liter straight-six engine underwent a couple of refinements through the history of the 250F allowing the Maserati to win several Grand Prix, establishing it as a key icon of 1950’s racing.
1996 McLaren F1 GTR Driven By Nick Mason At Goodwood
Completing the trifecta of red, racy cars in Mason’s collection explored in this article, we have the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR.
The McLaren F1 is an amazing track car by all standards, but its GTR variant is a step above. Mason had this car converted for road use, the first-ever race car that McLaren converted back for road use. The 6.1-liter V12 engine produced around 600 hp creating a vicious performance animal, now legal on the roads. However, great power can be difficult to control, with Mason crashing the GTR in an exhibition lap at the Goodwood Circuit in 2017. Thankfully, the car has since gotten repaired.
Nick Mason’s Rare Blu Pozzi Ferrari LaFerrari
One of the modern cars in Mason’s collection is a LaFerrari super car in the rare Blu Pozzi finish.
It is one of 499 LaFerraris ever made and finished in a unique color, making it not only an incredible rarity but absolutely gorgeous. One of the most powerful cars in his collection, taking into account the horsepower, the 6.3-liter V12 engine puts out a monstrous 950 hp. Interestingly, Mason doesn’t just enjoy driving it but enjoys being a passenger, provided the car is in capable hands. The sheer power, rarity, and consequent importance of such a car make it a perfect fit for Mason’s collection.
1959 Maserati Tipo Birdcage Racer In The Drummer’s Collection
Another key vintage racer in his collection is the 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage.’
This specific car is the last of the 6 of these cars ever produced, making it another rare car yet again. The tube-frame construction of this car makes it incredibly lightweight and combined with its 3-liter inline-four engine, a proficient race car. The construction was due to economic constraints but the car still performs exceptionally well regardless. Mason himself got himself quoted in Top Gear labeling the Birdcage as “[His] favorite drivers.”
The Oldest Car In Nick Mason’s Collection Is A 1927 Bugatti Type 35
As one of his oldest cars, the 1927 Bugatti Type 35 plays a significant role in his collection as an era-defining automobile.
“faster around the corners at Silverstone than a Porsche [911] GT3”
The idea of a 1920’s race car scares most folk, with very few people willing to race one of these cars. From the insanely thin tires to the 2.3-liter supercharged engine, this car seems dangerous in multiple regards. Terrifyingly, Mason states in an interview with another outlet that it is “faster around the corners at Silverstone than a Porsche [911] GT3,”
While the open cabin does little to alleviate concerns, the Type 35 won several events, making it a legendary Bugatti.
Nick Mason’s Car Collection In 2023
Nick was busy touring with his Saucerful Of Secrets band’s musical tours and there is promise of more to come in the future through 2023.
When he’s not behind the drum kit, he can be seen at high profile car-related events for example Goodwood in the UK. In 2022, his Ferrari Testarossa that he owned for three years was advertised for sale. It’s a 1989 model, painted from its original Blu Sera to Rosso Scuderia, with a surely stratospheric price tag to match both the car’s rarity and its provenance.
The drummer opens up the gardens at his Middlewick house for charity, for the public to view the famous Nick Mason cars in person. So if you ever find yourself in the UK, be sure to keep an eye out for what could be the best weekend in your life.
