Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up about his first car and laughs at his choice all these years later
- Arnold Schwarzenegger is a secret petrolhead
- He reminisces on his first car, laughing at his choice
- He still holds a lot of fondness for the car and stands by his choice
Published on Feb 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Feb 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the former Governor of California, a bodybuilder, and an actor, but he is also a secret petrolhead, particularly favoring the German brand BMW.
While being interviewed, the Terminator opened up about his first ever car purchase, why it was funny and how much it meant to him.
Growing up in rural Austria in 1947, Arnie would only see up to three cars a day, so he was over the moon when he came to America and saw the smorgasbord of car choices.
Even though he sees the irony in his choice, he stands by it and still loves classic BMWs to this day.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and his love of the classic BMW
In a recent interview with BMW Group Classic, beloved celebrity, and former politician Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his love of cars and the story surrounding all the cars he’s had in his life.
Growing up in a small town in Austria in 1947, Arnold would see mainly post-war military vehicles and only up to three ‘normal’ cars every day.
Arnie still has an affinity for military vehicles, purchasing the tank he trained with and converting it to make it road legal.
One of the cars that sparked his love of all things automotive was a local doctor’s BMW, which would pass by his house every day, and that love stayed with him, even when he moved to America in 1968.
The irony of his choice
The Terminator came to America in 1968 and after winning the first of his seven Mr. Olympia titles in New York, he started making a lot of money.
He decided to spend his newly-earned money on his first-ever brand-new car.
He decided to rely on his old favorite, the BMW.
He fell in love with the BMW 2000, but didn’t have enough money for it, so paid on the spot for the next best thing, the BMW 1600.
“I was the typical German,” he said, buying a German car the second he got to America.
He laughed at the irony of his choice, but you can tell from the interview that he still holds a lot of fondness for the BMW.
Arnie is now known for being one of the first people to take up EVs in a big way and loves investing in electric transport, saying ‘Hasta La Vista, Baby’ to petrol-powered vehicles to help the environment.
As for the classic BMW, we’re sure he’ll be back.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
