Like every major city in the world, the super-wealthy usually live in an elite neighbourhood, and others hang out to see them and their collection of cars. London has Mayfair — home to the rich and famous. Mayfair exudes elegance, opulence, and refinement, most notable by the cars that reside in the area. But what are the must-see cars in Mayfair?
Top 5 Cars Seen in Mayfair
Here are our top five cars you can see in Mayfair on any given day. The type of cars an everyday person would only imagine owning from entering car competitions and having trust in the universe to manifest their dreams into reality.
1. Porsche Panamera
The Porsche Panamera is an unmistakably luxurious sports car. In recent years, wrapping these cars in funky and unique designs has become a popular trend. One Porsche Panamera owner took it to the next level and wrapped their vehicle in black velvet. The plush modified sports car was spotted on Bond Street in Mayfair.
2. Bugatti Centodieci
This car is one of the rarest modern cars you may see around Mayfair. Bugatti only produced 10 of them, so you’d be lucky to see one roaming through the streets of London. Better yet, none of the 10 looks the same, so if you spot one, it’s incredibly unique. One of the owners is professional football player Cristiano Ronaldo, who occasionally flaunts his Bugatti Centodieci in Portugal. One of these cars was spotted in June 2023 in Chelsea, just 2 miles from Mayfair.
3. Ferrari LaFerrari
The Ferrari LaFerrari is a little less rare, with roughly 500 in circulation, meaning you’re more likely to come across one of these sports cars in Mayfair. It comes in a variety of shining colours, including red and yellow. Some celebrity owners of this model include Dwayne Johnson, Justin Bieber, and Gordon Ramsey. A few years ago, a yellow Ferrari LaFerrari was spotted in Mayfair by a Reddit user, and just last year, a Mayfair Ferrari dealership received a red version of the car.
4. Pagani Zonda Hp Barchetta
This car is another prime example of a limited edition car, with only three cars in the unique collection. In 2022, one of these cars was damaged in an accident, making a sighting of this car even more rare. One of these £13 million cars was spotted on Bond Street in Mayfair a few years ago in a parade of head-turning vehicles.
5. Mercedes Maybach Exelero
This car is so rare; there’s only one model currently owned by Mechatronik. The slick Mercedes Maybach Exelero is huge in popular culture. You may have seen it featured in Jay-Z’s ‘Lost One’ music video or various television programmes like Cobra 11. Due to its use throughout popular culture, you may see it in and around London at some point.
Mayfair: The History of Money
Mayfair was not always the glamorous home to the wealthy and the luxury vehicles it is today; it was once full of cattle and considered a backwater.
In 1660, Mayfair was an unwanted area of muddy fields swamped by the River Tyburn. King James named this part of London Mayfair in 1686 after granting permission to hold a fair on the site. At this time, Soho and Whitehall were addresses of choice for the aristocracy. It was not until 1710 that Sir Richard Grosvenor and the Earl of Scarborough built Grosvenor Square and Hanover Square in Mayfair, respectively. By 1720, the former fields were transformed into a vast building site, and the increasingly wealthy upper middle classes came to Mayfair.
Cars did not arrive in Mayfair until 1894. The UK’s first car began development in 1892. While entirely unsuitable for the muddy sewage-ridden roads, cars were considered a fad that would not last. There were many short-lived attempts to manufacture cars in the UK. It was not until Ford Motors arrived in the UK in 1908 that owning a car became commonplace — and the rest, as they say, is history.
Modern Mayfair
Today, if you visit Mayfair, seeing celebrities in the Palm House Bar or enjoying St James Park is not unusual. Where there are wealthy people and celebrities, there are beautiful cars, and Mayfair is no exception.
Behind Selfridges, expect to see a New Porsche 911 ST or Porshe Panamera. A rare Ferrari Monza Sp2 was spotted in Mayfair and made its TikTok debut along with another not quite as rare Ferrari that stopped to admire its richer cousin.
If you prefer a classic, plenty of Rolls-Royce cars cruise the streets in Mayfair regularly. If you don’t believe us, check out this YouTuber who walks around taking videos.
Super Car Rallies
London is home to several Supercar Rallies — the most famous being the Gumball 3000. Gumball is an aspirational lifestyle brand and international celebrity motor rally in London. British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper founded the brand in 1999 to combine cars, music, fashion, and popular culture.
Since then, the rally has featured several notable drivers and even more famous cars. Driver celebs like Lewis Hamilton, David Hasselhoff, Xzibit, deadmau5, Usher, Tony Hawk, French Montana, and members of The Jackass Crew took to the roads to show off their skills and drum up content for social media man fans.
Gumball 3000 returned to Europe with a European Tour. The rally changes the start and finishing points every year, and recently, London (Battersea Power Station) was the second stop-off point. The rally began in Edinburgh before heading to London, then crossing the finish line in the coastal resort of Porto Montenegro.
The rally partnered with several automotive brands to act as support vehicles for crew and staff travelling on the rally and celebrity and sponsor cars and events along the rally. Automotive brands partnered with Gumball include Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Nissan, Aston Martin, and Koenigsegg.
While you might not imagine that London has the space to accommodate such a vast array of supercars, it’s true to say that where there’s wealth, there will always be beautiful cars for those who can afford them — or those who can afford the parking costs at least.
The Supercars of Mayfair
London is a hub for supercars, and Mayfair is the perfect place to spot them. With its upscale neighbourhoods and high-end shopping streets, Mayfair is where supercar owners go to see and be seen. From Bond Street to Park Lane, you can expect many beautiful cars showcasing the latest and greatest in automotive engineering. And while these cars may come with hefty price tags, the owners are willing to risk a parking ticket to show off their prized possessions. So, next time you’re in Mayfair, keep your eyes peeled for the flashiest and fanciest cars around.
