Rugby

Cheslin Kolbe's Car Collection: Nissan Skyline, 2 Mercedes and a Land Rover Defender

Published 21 Sep 2026 at 12:59 PM

by Ncube Harrison

3 min read

Kolbe owns a modified 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R inspired by Paul Walker's Fast and the Furious role, which he calls 'The Mona Lisa of Cars'
The Springbok winger expanded his Nissan fleet in 2026 after becoming a brand ambassador for Nissan South Africa
Kolbe's garage also includes two Mercedes-Benz models and a Land Rover Defender, with the German SUVs valued at over R3.4 million combined

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Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe is just as passionate off the rugby field as he is on it, and his garage is proof of that. The Springbok winger, widely regarded as one of the most electric backs of his generation, has spent years quietly building a car collection that most athletes could only dream of. His love for cars began in childhood and has never slowed down.

Kolbe's crown jewel: The Nissan Skyline

The centrepiece of his collection is a 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, a car he has nicknamed "The Mona Lisa of Cars." His fascination with the model traces back to watching the late Paul Walker drive one in the original Fast and the Furious film. Kolbe eventually made that childhood dream a reality, acquiring and heavily modifying his own R34.

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His Nissan story, however, stretches back even further. His very first car was a Nissan 200STi, which he has kept rather than sold. Sitting alongside it in his garage is an old-school Datsun 1600 SSS, another vintage piece he clearly cannot part with.

Watch the clip below.

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The Nissan chapter of his collection grew again in 2026 when he signed on as a brand ambassador for Nissan South Africa. The partnership came with a brand-new Navara Pro-4X pickup, a rugged, practical truck that sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from his modified R34.

Watch the clip below.

Kolbe’s taste in cars extends well beyond Nissan. His collection also features a Mercedes-Benz GLE AMG, a high-performance SUV reportedly worth around R1.8 million, alongside a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé valued at roughly R1.6 million. Combined, the two Mercedes-Benz models account for more than R3.4 million in luxury vehicles.

Then there is the Land Rover Defender, bringing a completely different character to the garage. Known for its rugged design and off-road credentials, the Defender adds a practical edge to a collection otherwise packed with performance and luxury.

While Kolbe’s 2026 campaign was interrupted by a broken jaw suffered against New Zealand, his passion away from rugby shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, the Springbok speedster’s garage appears to be keeping pace with his ambitions on the road.