‘I DON’T REALLY think in terms of “acquiring” cars,’ says Phillip Sarofim. ‘I think about their preservation and restoration, with an eye to the future. That’s what’s important to me.’
We’re standing in a garage-warehouse somewhere in Los Angeles, where the bulk (but by no means all) of Phillip’s collection is housed. And, as Phillip shows me around, he is able to recite chapter-and-verse about every single car. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as knowledgeable about a personal collection of this size other than Jay Leno – who, it turns out, is a good friend.
Phillip is not one of the more familiar Californian collectors. He rarely give interviews and, when we meet, he comes across as very self-effacing; even a little shy. He’s comparatively young, too: just 37 years old. Of course, he is very wealthy and yet he’s determined not to let that fact define him: he views his good fortune as a force for good, and it’s impossible not to be impressed by his philanthropic attitude.
‘I run a planet-positive investment firm, Trousdale Ventures,’ he
