Known around the world as “Mr. Las Vegas,” Wayne Newton has been one of the defining entertainers of Las Vegas for more than six decades.
Newton first began performing in Las Vegas as a teenager and eventually became so closely identified with the city that his name became almost synonymous with the Las Vegas Strip. Along the way, he built an extraordinary collection of memorabilia, Arabian horses, exotic animals, musical instruments, aircraft, and classic automobiles.
For decades, much of that collection was housed at Newton’s famous Las Vegas estate, Casa de Shenandoah.
The sprawling ranch became almost as famous as Newton himself. Over the years, it included multiple residences, extensive horse facilities, lakes and ponds, exotic animals, Newton’s private aircraft, and a museum-like collection of Hollywood memorabilia and celebrity automobiles.
In 2015, Casa de Shenandoah was opened to the public as a tourist attraction, giving visitors the opportunity to tour portions of Newton’s former home and view his collection.
That chapter has since ended.
Casa de Shenandoah closed to the public in 2018 and was later sold. Newton and his wife no longer live on the property, and the estate is no longer operated as the Wayne Newton museum and attraction it once was.
Even so, the cars once displayed there remain one of the most fascinating parts of Newton’s collecting history.
His collection has included automobiles connected with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Rolls-Royces formerly owned by Johnny Cash, Steve McQueen, and Liberace.
Newton’s collection also included a highly customized Mercedes-Benz 380SL, several classic Rolls-Royce automobiles, a rare Bentley, and a 1933 Hudson Essex-Terraplane.
Wayne Newton’s reported car collection includes a 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, a 1933 Hudson Essex-Terraplane 8, a 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow formerly owned by Johnny Cash, a Rolls-Royce formerly owned by Steve McQueen, a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Custom Roadster, a 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, and a vintage 1934 Bentley Cabriolet DeVille.
Wayne Newton’s car collection is listed below.
Wayne Newton’s highly customized 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Roadster.
Newton’s 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL may be one of the most unusual cars he ever owned.
The car was dramatically redesigned by Niko-Michael Coachworks in New York, transforming the familiar Mercedes SL into a one-of-a-kind custom roadster.
The body was extensively modified, the removable roof was converted into a retractable hardtop, and the car received gold-plated exterior trim, custom body panels, gold BBS wheels, and a rear-mounted spare tire.
Underneath all that custom bodywork, the car retained its original 3.8-liter fuel-injected V8 engine and four-speed automatic transmission.
The Mercedes spent years on display as part of Newton’s collection and showed fewer than 2,000 miles when it was later offered at Barrett-Jackson’s 2021 Las Vegas auction.
It ultimately sold for approximately $84,700.
1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
The 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is one of the classic luxury automobiles long associated with Wayne Newton’s collection.
According to displays from the Casa de Shenandoah years, the Rolls-Royce was given to Newton by his brother Jerry during the early years of Wayne’s career.
The Silver Cloud represents the more traditional side of Newton’s collection — formal, elegant, and unmistakably British.
Wayne Newton’s 1933 Hudson Essex-Terraplane 8.
1933 Hudson Essex-Terraplane 8
Newton’s collection also included a 1933 Essex-Terraplane 8, one of the more unusual American cars in his garage.
Hudson introduced the Terraplane line during the early 1930s, and the lightweight cars developed a reputation for strong performance.
The eight-cylinder Terraplane was especially noteworthy because the straight-eight version was offered only for the 1933 model year.
Its combination of unusual styling, performance, and rarity makes the Terraplane a natural fit in a collection filled with cars that have interesting stories.
This 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was originally commissioned for country music legend Johnny Cash.
1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Long-Wheelbase Saloon
One of the most historically interesting cars associated with Newton’s collection is this 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow originally owned by Johnny Cash.
The car was ordered by ABC Television as a gift to Cash in recognition of the success of The Johnny Cash Show.
It was custom-built with special details, including Cash’s “JRC” initials in gold on the rear doors.
The car was later sold at Barrett-Jackson’s 2014 Las Vegas auction and subsequently became one of the celebrity-owned Rolls-Royces displayed as part of Newton’s collection.
Unlike the later Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, which did not enter production until the late 1990s, Cash’s car was a 1970 Silver Shadow powered by a V8 engine.
That distinction is important because the earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the car as a Silver Seraph.
This vintage Rolls-Royce was formerly owned by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen and later became part of Wayne Newton’s collection.
Steve McQueen’s Rolls-Royce
Wayne Newton’s collection also included a Rolls-Royce previously owned by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen.
The connection makes this car especially interesting because McQueen remains one of the most famous celebrity car enthusiasts in American history.
During the years Casa de Shenandoah operated as a museum, Newton’s McQueen Rolls-Royce was displayed alongside other automobiles with strong Hollywood and entertainment-industry provenance.
Newton’s collection also included a Rolls-Royce associated with Liberace, adding another unmistakably Las Vegas connection to the garage.
Wayne Newton’s vintage 1934 Bentley Cabriolet DeVille, reportedly purchased in the United Kingdom after one of his performances in London.
1934 Bentley Cabriolet DeVille
Another standout in Newton’s collection is this vintage 1934 Bentley Cabriolet DeVille.
Newton reportedly purchased the rare Bentley in the United Kingdom after performing in London.
The prewar Bentley adds another completely different flavor to his collection, combining old-world British luxury with the craftsmanship and styling of the 1930s.
The distinctive “VEGAS 3” license plate was displayed on one of Wayne Newton’s Rolls-Royce automobiles.
A license plate reading “VEGAS 3” seems particularly appropriate for the man known as “Mr. Las Vegas.”
The personalized plate appeared on one of Newton’s Rolls-Royce automobiles displayed during the Casa de Shenandoah museum years.
A silver 1959 Rolls-Royce from Wayne Newton’s extensive collection of vintage luxury automobiles.
Newton’s collection featured several Rolls-Royce automobiles over the years, reflecting his taste for traditional luxury cars as well as vehicles with connections to other famous entertainers.
Wayne Newton’s 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.
1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II
Another confirmed car from the Wayne Newton Collection is this 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.
The two-tone Rolls-Royce is finished in Walnut over Porcelain White and rides on traditional wide whitewall tires.
It is powered by Rolls-Royce’s 6.75-liter V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Equipment includes power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air conditioning.
The car was later offered at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction as part of a group of vehicles from Newton’s personal collection.
Wayne Newton’s Career: More Than Six Decades of “Mr. Las Vegas”
Wayne Newton began performing professionally as a child and arrived in Las Vegas while still a teenager.
By age 15, he and his brother were performing multiple shows a night in Las Vegas, beginning a relationship with the city that would eventually span more than six decades.
Newton later became a solo star with songs including Danke Schoen, Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast, Red Roses for a Blue Lady, and Years.
Over the course of his career, he earned several nicknames, including “Mr. Las Vegas,” “The Midnight Idol,” and “Mr. Entertainment.”
His official biography credits him with performing more than 25,000 shows in Las Vegas and appearing live before more than 40 million people.
Newton has also recorded more than 160 albums and has appeared in television programs and films, including Vegas Vacation, Licence to Kill, and more recently the television comedy Hacks.
He has also been a longtime supporter of U.S. service members and veterans through decades of USO appearances and charitable work.
And unlike many entertainers whose Las Vegas careers eventually became part of history, Wayne Newton is still performing.
In 2026, Newton continues appearing at the Flamingo Las Vegas with his Up Close and Personal show, which combines music with stories and memories from his extraordinary career.
He also continues to perform selected shows outside Las Vegas.
After more than 65 years in the city, the title “Mr. Las Vegas” is no longer simply a nickname. It has become part of Wayne Newton’s legacy.
What Happened to Casa de Shenandoah?
One important part of this article has changed considerably since it was originally published.
Wayne Newton purchased the first portion of the property that became Casa de Shenandoah in 1966 and gradually expanded it into one of Las Vegas’ most famous private estates.
The property eventually included multiple residences, extensive horse facilities, exotic animals, ponds, aircraft, memorabilia, and a large automobile collection.
Newton and his wife sold the property in 2010 and moved away from the estate several years later.
Casa de Shenandoah eventually opened to the public in 2015 as a museum and tourist attraction featuring Newton’s memorabilia, animals, horses, and automobiles.
The attraction closed in 2018.
The property was sold again in 2019 and has remained privately owned. By 2026, it is no longer operated as a Wayne Newton museum or public attraction.
So while visitors can no longer tour Casa de Shenandoah to see Newton’s cars, the collection remains an interesting part of the history of one of Las Vegas’ most famous entertainers.
The Wayne Newton car collection was once displayed at Casa de Shenandoah in Las Vegas, Nevada. The estate is now privately owned and is no longer open for public tours. Read more about Casa de Shenandoah >>>
