You'll never guess these celebrities drove such humble first cars

  • Like most of us, celebrities have to start out life with their first car
  • However, we could assume that the rich and famous start out with supercars
  • This list proves the exact opposite – with some seriously humble beginnings

Published on Apr 20, 2025 at 1:32 AM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara

Last updated on Apr 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

Celebrities – like us – have to start out in life with their first car.

For most people, it represents freedom, independence and a big step on the path to adulthood.

We often assume that celebrities start out with supercars such as Ferraris or Lamborghinis.

However, these celebrities were just like you and me – and they had very humble origins.

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Celebrities started out with something vintage?

You probably know Jay Leno as the fast-talking former host of The Jay Leno Show.

You probably also know him as one of the biggest gearheads in the celebrity world.

And he got his first start with a 1934 Ford pickup truck – yes, you read that right.

It actually ended up being the case that Leno’s first restoration project would also be his first car.

When he was 14 years old, the young Jay Leno bought the pickup truck in New England for $350.

Leno and his dad were at a gas station in Reading, Massachusetts, and they bought it on the spot.

It took the young Jay Leno around two years to complete, but he did, indeed, complete it.

Apparently, Leno traded his first car in for a Datsun 1600 – a decision he still regrets to this day.

Tom Cruise got his start in a Dodge – no, not that one

Tom Cruise is one of the most famous movie stars of his (or any) generation.

However, few realise that the silver screen superstar had a pretty rough upbringing.

At the age of 18, Cruise got his parents’ approval to move from New Jersey to New York City to pursue acting.

And he made the fateful journey in a 1.6 liter, second-hand Dodge Colt.

Far from some of the more iconic cars in his collection, the Dodge Colt was a re-badged Mitsubishi Gallant.

It just goes to show that even the biggest stars can come from the most humble origins.

Vin Diesel landed himself an absolute bargain

It might surprise you, but even Dominic Toretto himself started out small(er).

In fact, Vin Diesel’s first car came from a New York City auction – and it cost him just $175.

The budding actor had managed to snag himself a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Of course, there was a small catch – it was a blind auction, so Diesel couldn’t inspect it before buying.

And, as you’ve probably guessed, it broke down on him within a week.

Instead of abandoning it, however, Diesel paid to have it fixed – and it certainly didn’t put him off muscle cars.

Future celebrities do not, in fact, start with a Nissan Skyline

When you think of the late Paul Walker, the Nissan Skyline is probably the first car that comes to mind.

And of course, there’s a very good reason for that – Walker absolutely adored them.

As you know, the late actor made the cars iconic due to the Fast and Furious film franchise.

But Walker’s first car wasn’t a Skyline – in fact, it wasn’t even sporty at all.

In fact, Walker’s first set of wheels was a 1986 Ford Ranger pickup truck.

The Ranger often finds itself overshadowed by its bigger brother, the F-150.

But the Ford Ranger is a truly excellent pickup truck in its own right, and certainly not to be sniffed at.

Paul Walker himself certainly didn’t want to forget about it, cuh – in an interview, he recalled how much he loved it.

He reminisced that the Ranger, ‘had a shell on the back and a carpet kit’, and that ‘it was good in high school.’

Johnny Depp drove a muscle car masterpiece

Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow himself once had a first car, too.

And it wasn’t just any car – it was an old Chevrolet Nova.

Little is actually known about the Nova – other than the fact it was one of the first cars owned by Depp.

Reports have also claimed that it was his home for a while when things were tough.

We hope he still has it, and that it is kept in a garage for preservation.

And there you have it – proof that celebrities, like us, have to start somewhere on their car journey.

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Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.