To put it bluntly, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr is a bit of a classic car nut. Not only that, he’s made it a mission to make his fleet of vintage vehicles as eco-friendly as possible, investing a lot of money and man-hours into the project.
Recently on social media, Downey declared that he was giving away 6 vehicles from his muscle car collection. The offer is open to people from the US, Canada and UK and you can find out how to apply here.
His father was a successful actor and producer, and Downey Jr. spent a lot of time on movie sets as a child. He was always fascinated by the cars that were used in the movies, and he dreamed of owning one of his own someday.
Classic cars are built with a level of care and attention to detail that is rarely seen in modern cars. Downey certainly admires the craftsmanship that has gone into building these cars, and he enjoys learning about the history of each one.
Like many enthusiasts, he also loves driving them. Classic cars are not just about looks; they also have a certain feel to them when you get out on the road. Vintage vehicles represent a time when things were different. They were a time when people took more pride in their possessions, and when they enjoyed the simple things in life.
In recent years, the Iron Man star has become more interested in making his classic cars more environmentally friendly. He founded the Footprint Coalition, a venture capital firm that invests in companies that are developing sustainable technologies. He has also started a personal project called Downey's Dream Cars, in which he restores classic cars and converts them to electric power.
The car giveaway includes:
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette, often referred to as a C2 as it was part of the second generation of Corvettes known as the Sting Rays, is an iconic piece of American classic car history.
Its distinct design, characterised by its sleek profile, pop-up headlights, and pronounced fender lines, has made it a favourite among classic car enthusiasts. For fans of the Corvette, this model offers an unmatched combination of performance and style that can’t be found anywhere else.
The 1966 Buick Riviera is a testament to American luxury and innovation and combines plenty of muscle with a high degree of sophistication. The 66 models showcased a redesigned front end with vertical clamshell hidden headlights, something which became the brands most defining features.
Under the bonnet, the Riviera was powered by a formidable 425 cubic inch Nailhead V8, which gave a mix of high-power performance that certainly matched the opulent design. If you’re looking for a car that defines the period and style, then you need to go no further than the Buick Riviera.
The Chevrolet El Camino was first introduced into the American market in 1959. It’s a car that occupies a unique niche in automotive history as it’s a cross between a coupe and a pickup truck. The first models were produced in response to the Ford Ranchero, combining style and comfort of a passenger car with the utility of a truck bed. For the American market, it was both practical and aesthetically appealing.
The production run spanned multiple decades and the El Camino saw various redesigns from its late-'60s SS versions with potent big-block V8s to the more sedate variants. It remains a distinctive symbol of American automotive design to this day.
Also being given away by Robert Downey Jr are a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE, a 1972 Chevrolet K10 Pickup and a 1972 VW Bus1985.
We can only imagine the amount of work that has been put into converting these amazing classic cars to electric vehicles. We’ve covered this in one of our previous blog posts – it’s not a job that can be undertaken lightly and there are huge logistical problems to overcome. Downey Jr obviously has a lot of money to do this kind of thing, something many of us can only dream of.
Read our post: How Easy is it to Convert Your Classic Car to Electric? And Why Would You?
If you own a classic car, there are plenty of things you can do to make it more fuel efficient apart from sticking in a battery. Regular maintenance, of course, makes a lot of difference. If you’re searching for a garage that knows vintage vehicles well, then White’s Bodyworks is a great option. Whether it’s for servicing or repairs or even complete restorations, we’ve got the team on board who can help.
