John Cena's automobile collection rumbles like a royal

WWE star and actor John Cena’s wrestling catchphrase was ‘You can’t see me.’ Well, you can’t miss him in these motors…

But behind the cliché of a tough guy and his macho car collection there is a subtler truth: Cena really knows his motors. This isn’t just a bog-standard collection of Ford Mustangs and Dodge Chargers. In among his collection of more than 20 cars there are some really interesting, niche choices, that suggest Cena doesn’t just want something that makes a loud noise and goes like poop off a trowel. He’s into the artistry and beauty of these vehicles, which makes his collection particularly interesting.

Connoisseurs beware, however: there are a couple of stinkers in there that he’s hung onto for sentimental reasons. Tough guy with a heart – the clichés keep on coming! Here, then, are the cars that have played a significant role in the life of John Cena.

Chevy Corvette ZR1 (2009)

Mark Scheuern / Alamy Stock Photo

John Cena was the 73red person to receive a 2009 ZR1. If they can tell you what number you are, it tends to mean you’re buying something pretty special – they don’t do that for a Vauxhall Zafira. The ZR1 was the high-performance version of the Z06 and was as impressive under the bonnet as it looked from the outside. Built to take on the European giants such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, the ZR1 was the most powerful car that had been produced by Chevrolet and General Motors, with a 6.3-litre V8 supercharged engine producing 638bhp. This propelled the beast of a car from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and up to a top speed of 205mph.

Plymouth Road Runner Superbird (1970)

Matthew Richardson / Alamy Stock Photo

This is one of the most unique and polarising muscle cars ever made. A winged warrior like its rival, the Dodge Charger Daytona (one of which Cena also owns) the Plymouth also boasted a nose cone and looked like something out of The Jetsons (ask your parents). But its 7.0-litre V8 engine produced 425bhp and propelled it above 150mph – not bad for a road car made more than half a century ago. The Superbird wasn’t a huge success at the time, but collectors and enthusiasts have come to regard the car with respect and affection in latter years, making this something of a collector’s item. And with the enormous rear wing, you’re likely to get noticed. Particularly if, like Cena, your model is bright orange.

Buick GSX (1970)

In 1970, GM unveiled what many still maintain was the ultimate muscle car. The GSX was a souped-up GS and fewer than 700 were produced. Cena owns model number 656. The car boasted an absolute monster of an engine – the 510lbs ft torque capacity wasn’t beaten by another car until the Dodge Viper came along 33 years later. The huge 7.5-litre V8 engine allowed the GSX to go 0-60mph in 5.4 secs. And what’s cooler than having the ultimate muscle car? Having it in white, with a black and white racing stripe down the hood. Which, of course, is what John Cena has.

AMC Rebel ‘The Machine’ (1970)

Corvette InCenaRator

OK, we’re starting to drift into slightly iffy territory here. If you’re a ten-year-old boy, you might think this custom-made space-age creation is a super-cool glimpse into the future (Cena asked for a car that looked like it came from the year 3000). Anyone else might justifiably point out that it’s a bit daft. But perhaps we’re just being killjoys. After all, it has eight exhausts that shoot flames out of them. Of course, it doesn’t strictly need them – the engine is just a stock 5.5-litre Corvette, not the Space Shuttle – but you have to tip your hat to the wordplay in the name.

Lincoln Continental (1991)

Spot the odd one out. This car doesn’t exactly belong in the automotive hall of fame. It handles like an oil tanker and it’s not going to win any beauty pageants, but it still played a significant role in the life of John Cena because… he used to live in it. After leaving college, the young aspiring bodybuilder moved to the home of fitness, California, with just $500 and his father’s assertion that he wouldn’t last two weeks. But working in a gym and getting by on graft, good luck and living in the back of his car, he soon got his break in wrestling. And, ever humble and attached to his roots, he’s hung on to the car ever since.

Ford GT (2017)

This is undoubtedly the one car on the list Cena would like to forget. Not that there’s much wrong with the Ford GT itself. It’s entirely made from carbon fibre and its 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine produces an astonishing 647bhp, making it one of the most powerful V6s ever built. The problem was that the car was so rare and in such demand that buyers had to submit applications to get one and were required to sign a contract stipulating they would not sell the car within two years of delivery. Bizarrely, Cena promptly flipped his, selling it on almost immediately. Ford promptly sued and the issue was settled out of court.

Jeep Wrangler (1989)

Another one that doesn’t really appear to belong on this list is the 1989 Jeep Wrangler. But, again, in tune with his modest roots, Cena has vowed never to sell this car, because “This baby is the first thing I bought when I got a little smoke for myself from the WWE.” The Wrangler isn’t noted for being hugely reliable at the best of times and when Cena bought this one in 2001 it had more than 80,000 miles on the clock. And the engine only produces 126bhp. But we kind of love that he’s hung on to it anyway.