Robert Matthew Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, may not be a name that immediately comes to mind. However, if you grew up in the 1990s, you probably found yourself singing along to his hit song “Ice Ice Baby” whenever it played on the radio. This iconic hip hop single was the first of its kind to reach the top of the Billboard charts.
“Ice Ice Baby” became his trademark, a song he wrote at the young age of 16 after a memorable weekend with his friends. Despite his efforts with other songs like “Play That Funky Music” or “Hooked,” Vanilla Ice never managed to recreate the immense popularity and hype of his breakout hit.
In 1993, the artist took a break from music and delved into the world of jet skiing and motocross racing, stepping away from the spotlight. However, it seems that Vanilla Ice is doing well. Recently, he has been spotted cruising around in his Avorio-painted Ferrari F8 Spider, which bears a striking resemblance to the color of vanilla. How fitting!
While he doesn’t know the exact mileage of his Ferrari, Vanilla Ice estimates it to be around 500 miles (805 kilometers). Surprisingly, he rarely drives it, but he describes the car as “sexy.”
To customize his Ferrari, Vanilla Ice visited the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, where he was thoroughly impressed. However, he was not allowed to use his phone or film anything, as the Italians were quite strict about maintaining secrecy. During his visit, he was surprised to discover real-life ducks, a lake, and trees in the engine-building room, creating a unique ecosystem that provided oxygen to the space. “I even got to eat where Schumacher eats; he’s my hero,” Vanilla Ice shared. It’s worth noting that Michael Schumacher, a legendary Formula One driver, severed ties with La Scuderia in 2009 after a failed comeback attempt to replace the injured Felipe Massa.
Despite his Ferrari adventures, Vanilla Ice still considers his Ford Mustang as his number one favorite. He affectionately refers to it as his “5.0 baby.” In reality, his Mustang is a 4.9 that Ford labels as 5.0 for a more appealing name. This third-generation, white-painted, Fox-body convertible Ford Mustang has been in his possession since the 1990s. Recently, the car underwent a four-year-long restoration process, culminating in its completion in 2021. To commemorate the occasion, Vanilla Ice shared a photo from 1990, taken just before “Ice Ice Baby” skyrocketed to the top of the charts.
It’s clear that Vanilla Ice’s love for cars, both his Ferrari and his beloved Mustang, continues to drive his passion for life and music.
