Robert Downey Jr Is Giving Away His Entire Classic Cars Collection but There’s a Catch

Actor Robert Downey Jr. is giving away all of his classic cars and then giving the proceeds to green tech companies. But there’s a catch. Well, sort of. Before giving his collection away, he’s going to “reimagine” them in a new series he’s producing called Downey’s Dream Cars. 

What will the show do to the classic cars?

So how will he reimagine these classic cars? “I’m going to sweepstakes them and donate all the proceeds to green tech companies,” he said to the Hollywood Reporter. “Because this will be my legacy.” The show will run on the Discovery+ streaming platform, the second one for Downey.

So Downey’s plan is to highlight his pro-environment fervor in the classic car restoration segment. Each of his cars will get an “update” for future enjoyment. We expect this means converting them with electric propulsion. 

What classic cars does Downey Jr. have in his collection?

Among the cars in his collection is a 1965 Chevy Corvette, a 1974 BMW 3.0 CS coupe modified by SpeedKore, and a Ferrari California T droptop. There is also a 2009 Audi R8. Actually, he has a few of them, some of which were featured in his Iron Man movies. One of his favorites is a V10 Spyder. 

Supposedly, his Glen Green 1965 Corvette is a daily driver. Since he likes to remain private, not much is known about the car. Some say it has a 327 ci small block engine, while others claim it to be a 427 big block. Also, some descriptions label it a 1967, but if so it is sporting lots of 1965 and 1966 cues. 

Other cars include a modified 1970 Mustang fastback, a Nissan GT-R, and a Bentley Continental GT. Press releases say he’ll pick six from his collection for re-imagination. For some purists, they may cringe over the thought of swapping out gasoline engines for electric motors, but you need as many twists and turns for unscripted series like this. 

When does the series debut?

Besides modifying the cars, Downey will also showcase the future of mobility. Peppered throughout the buildup of his cars will be interviews with futurists that shed some light on what the future holds. They’ll look as far as 100 years from now to guide what is done to his classic cars for the show. 

“We are excited to bring audiences a series that shows the spirit of who Downey is and puts his passion for the environment center stage,” says Discovery’s chief brand officer Nancy Daniels. “That, and who better than Robert Downey Jr. to make eco-friendly cars look this good?” 

Yeah, the hype is much like what you would expect from movie executives. The series has a lot of Hollywood production companies behind it besides Discovery+. They include Downey’s own Team Downey, Boat Rocker’s Matador Content, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Though expected to premiere in 2022, it looks like this year is when you can start looking for it.