2025-09-12T09:59:02Z
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Palmer Luckey, celebrated both as the original creator of Oculus and as the visionary cofounder of the defense technology company Anduril, has curated a private vehicle collection that is as extravagant as it is unusual. His acquisitions range from rigorously engineered military machines to whimsical relics of popular culture, collectively forming a fleet that reflects his personal passion for engineering, nostalgia, and experimentation with transportation. Among these assets are a Navy Special Operations boat, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, and, perhaps most charmingly, a 1967 Disneyland Autopia car. More recently, he expanded this trove with the purchase of a Jetson One, a futuristically conceived personal aircraft designed to embody the aspirations of individual flight. In various interviews, Luckey himself has also mentioned his ownership of a 1969 Ford Mustang convertible, a Tesla Model S, and even a vehicle once used in Disneyland’s historical rides. Taken together, these choices demonstrate his ability to traverse land, sea, and air in remarkably diverse and frequently eccentric modes of transport.

To understand Luckey’s acquisitive tendencies, one must also acknowledge his professional trajectory. In the world of advanced technology, he made his name as the energetic inventor who pushed virtual reality gaming into the mainstream by building cutting-edge headsets. Later, in his defense-sector role, he turned his attention toward the creation of unmanned aerial systems and related military applications. Yet outside of his official business pursuits, Luckey has consistently indulged in building or acquiring unusual and ambitious gadgets, from portable gaming consoles such as the ModRetro Chromatic (designed to run old Game Boy cartridges) to fully functional watercraft and aircraft. His parallel inclinations toward both engineering innovation and playful collecting converge most visibly in his remarkable garage, hangar, and dock.

Among the most formidable of his possessions is the **Mark V Special Operations Craft**, a fast assault boat once operated by the U.S. Navy. As Luckey explained during his appearance on Bloomberg’s *The Circuit*, this vessel carries more than 5,000 horsepower, making it—in his words—the swiftest craft the Navy has ever constructed. Designed for elite missions, it was primarily employed for Navy SEAL insertion and extraction, situations demanding high speed, durability, and stealth. Luckey proudly notes that the craft originally came equipped with a powerful M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun, and while he conserves the genuine weapon, he typically attaches replicas in its place. This mixture of authenticity and discretion illustrates both his appreciation for military engineering and his consideration for the sensibilities of neighbors, some of whom reportedly admire the spectacle while a few others remain less enthusiastic about such a war-ready presence in their community.

Aircraft also play a significant role in Luckey’s collection. He disclosed that his fascination was inspired by childhood experiences along the coast, where he observed Marine helicopters practicing maneuvers and Navy vessels conducting drills offshore. These images, deeply imprinted on his mind, ultimately influenced him to acquire not just one aircraft but an entire group of six, among them the iconic **UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter**. As a rugged utility helicopter, the Black Hawk is renowned for both battlefield resilience and multipurpose adaptability. Luckey himself shared photographic evidence of ownership on social media, underlining how personal nostalgia transformed into tangible possession.

In stark contrast to these military machines stands a symbol of playful Americana: the **1967 Disneyland Autopia car**. Conceived by legendary designer Bob Gurr in collaboration with Walt Disney, these miniature cars were constructed for use on Disneyland’s Autopia ride, a long-beloved attraction that grants children the thrilling illusion of operating a real automobile. Luckey’s particular vehicle is remarkable not only for its provenance but also because it appears to be the only complete and fully functional Autopia unit located outside the confines of any Disney park. Retaining its original mechanical components—gearbox, wheels, and engine—his car embodies both historical authenticity and collector’s pride. Amusingly, during an interview, the small vehicle abruptly malfunctioned and required a quick, improvised repair with nothing more than a flathead screwdriver, a reflection of both the object’s vintage nature and Luckey’s technical resourcefulness.

Luckey’s affinity for military history extends further to his ownership of a **1985 ex-Marine Corps Humvee**. According to accounts, he used this formidable truck during his tenure at Facebook, where his nontraditional mode of commuting once resulted in heightened attention from authorities. After police were contacted about the imposing vehicle in the corporate parking lot, Luckey was asked to relocate it. Despite these logistical obstacles, his attachment to the Humvee highlights his appreciation for pragmatic military designs and their rugged presence on civilian roads. He later shared images of this vehicle publicly, underscoring how even professional life in Silicon Valley did not sever his connection to militarized machines.

Moving to more conventional automotive indulgences, Luckey recounted to CNBC in 2018 how he rewarded himself after Oculus was acquired by Facebook, selecting a **1969 Ford Mustang convertible** and a **Tesla Model S** as celebratory purchases. To him, the vintage Mustang offered the pure delight of open-top, classic automotive design, while the Tesla embodied forward-thinking technology and environmental innovation, which he described as arguably the most complete automobile in production worldwide. Yet even these more standard vehicles posed challenges, particularly when it came to storage. In 2024, he initiated legal proceedings against the construction contractors responsible for his garage’s car-lift system, citing unsafe mechanical flaws. Reports indicate he personally endured being trapped within the lift, a symbolic reminder that even extreme wealth cannot entirely shield one from the frustrations of malfunctioning infrastructure.

The scope of Luckey’s collection expands still further into the aquatic domain. He has been reported to own **multiple submarines** and **a fleet of motorcycles**, all carefully registered under specialized limited-liability companies, with evocative titles such as Luckey Arms, Luckey Air Transport, and Luckey Ground Technology. The creation of these entities illustrates not only his penchant for variety but also a systematic approach to managing and organizing assets across different domains of mobility.

Among the newest and most futuristic additions is the **Jetson One personal aircraft**, a small-scale eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing craft) that brings the long-dreamed concept of ‘flying personal vehicles’ closer to practical reality. Initially unveiled in 2021, it represents a significant step toward democratizing flight for private individuals. Although Luckey ordered his model in 2023, delivery was slightly delayed; ultimately, Jetson commemorated the handover by awarding him branded “wings.” Despite the aircraft’s novelty, Luckey required less than one hour of training before confidently taking to the skies, a fact that the company itself interpreted as proof of his unusual familiarity with complex machinery and instinctive grasp of advanced technology. He has even hinted in recent months at the potential acquisition of yet another maritime craft—specifically, a U.S. Coast Guard CB-OTH—suggesting that his collection remains in active, ongoing expansion.

Altogether, Palmer Luckey’s array of vehicles paints a portrait not only of affluence but of a mind fascinated by the meeting of history, technology, and personal experience. From formidable tools of war to nostalgic Disney relics, his repertoire signifies both childlike wonder and serious engineering respect. This juxtaposition defines Luckey himself: a technologist deeply immersed in futuristic invention, yet equally captivated by the mechanical icons of past and present transportation.

Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/palmer-luckey-vehicle-collection-cars-boat-helicopter-2025-9