Inside James Martin’s £5 million car collection featuring personalized vehicles, a Ferrari and an iconic rally car – housed in incredible hand-painted garages on his Hampshire property

James Martin has lifted the lid on his incredible car collection, which is worth more than £5million and includes a classic Ferrari and Colin McRae rally car.

The 51-year-old TV chef, who recently stepped out with his new girlfriend Kim Johnson, is known as a petrolhead and has a huge collection of vehicles.

After starting out as a chef, James has become a household name after hosting both Saturday Kitchen and Saturday Morning.

But James is not only known for his skills in the kitchen, but also for his love of cars, which he keeps in a garage at his home in Hampshire.

The quaint car village is haunted by beautiful hand-painted garages, which he showed off during a 2022 appearance on Jodie Kidd’s show, Kidd in a Sweet Shop.

It is thought that James first fell in love with motorcycles when he was given a toy Ferrari 288 GTO as a young boy.

James now owns a real Ferrari, the 1965 275 model in silver, which underwent a major restoration, including the installation of a new engine.

James admits he still gets behind the wheel to take it for a spin, describing the classic supercar as ‘absolutely incredible’.

The car has also undergone a lot of restoration work, including the installation of a new roll-off engine.

Elsewhere in his collection is a beautiful Ford GT40, which he collaborated with three-time British touring car champion Jason Plato.

It even won the Whitsun Trophy at Goodwood Revival and competed in hill climbing in Switzerland.

James said: “It’s a great piece of kit. Not until you turn it on and until you drive it, there is nothing like it on the road. No.

“There’s nothing like this on the road. Nothing. The dealer said ‘here we go’, and I said ‘done, sold’. I’d never driven it before.’

Another in his collection is a Ford Escort that finished second in the 1969 Acropolis Rally.

He also owns a rare Mini Cooper previously driven by British world rally star Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen.

Another vehicle he drives a lot is this BMW 760Li, which singer Jay Kay told him to buy.

James said: ‘A lot of people buy RSA Audis and stuff like that, but the 760Li is absolutely mega – V12, 700bhp… Mega.’

James also owns an Alfa Romeo ATL which is currently being restored.

The video of James’ car collection comes after his split of 12 years from girlfriend Louise Davies was revealed.

The celebrity chef, 51, and the TV producer, 47, first started dating in 2011 after meeting on the set of Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

But a spokesperson for James confirmed they split in December 2023 and remain close friends.

It comes as James was seen browsing watches with personal trainer Kim Johnson in Mayfair on Saturday.

James cut a casual figure for the outing as he wore a black vest over a light blue shirt and dark blue jeans.

Personal trainer Kim, 38, dressed up in a black sweater and navy jacket for the outing, teaming it with a leather miniskirt.

Kim is the ex-wife of businessman Arun Nayar, who was married to actress Elizabeth Hurley from 2007 to 2011.

Their breakup was made public after it was discovered she had a romance with cricketer Shane Warne after the split.