Magnus Walker // 📸 : Kurt IswarienkoOther photos Magnus Walker’s Urban Outlaw exhibition at the Petersen Museum. photos courtesy Petersen Museum.
In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, where gritty industrial facades meet the burgeoning arts district, an unlikely automotive oasis thrives. Here, Magnus Walker, the self-styled “Urban Outlaw,” has carved out a niche that defies conventional wisdom about car collecting, fashion, and the American Dream.
Walker, with his chest-length beard and finger-thick dreadlocks, cuts a striking figure against the backdrop of pristine Porsches. At first glance, he seems more likely to be found at a heavy metal concert than a high-end car show. But appearances, as they say, can be deceiving.
Born in Sheffield, England, in 1967, Walker’s fascination with Porsche began at the tender age of ten.
A visit to the 1977 Earl’s Court Motor Show with his father sparked a lifelong obsession with the iconic 911 model. Like many childhood dreams, it might have remained just that—a fantasy relegated to the back burner of adult responsibilities. But Walker had other plans.
In 1986, at the age of nineteen, Walker made the bold decision to immigrate to the United States. Armed with little more than determination and a penchant for nonconformity, he set out to chase the elusive American Dream. His journey would take him from a summer camp instructor near Detroit to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, where he would eventually find his calling.
Walker’s path to success was as unconventional as his appearance. Drawing on sewing skills learned from his mother, he began customizing and selling clothing on Venice Beach. His unique style caught the eye of rock musicians, and soon his designs were in high demand. This venture evolved into a successful fashion brand that Walker ran with his late wife, Karen Caid Walker.
As his clothing business flourished, Walker and his wife invested in real estate, purchasing a run-down factory building in LA’s Arts District. This decision would prove fortuitous, not just financially, but as the future home of Walker’s growing Porsche collection.
With financial success came the opportunity to indulge in his childhood passion. Walker purchased his first Porsche, a 1974 911, in the 1990’s. What started as a single car soon grew into an obsession. Today, Walker’s collection boasts over forty Porsches, most of them air-cooled 911s from the late 1960s to mid-1970’s.
But Walker is no ordinary collector. His approach to these automotive icons is as rebellious as his personal style. “I don’t build white glove, Pebble Beach show cars,” he asserts. Instead, Walker’s Porsches bear his distinctive touch—drilled-out door handles, trunk lids with horizontal slats, and paint jobs that blend Union Jack and Stars and Stripes motifs.
Walker’s rise to prominence in the automotive world was as unexpected as it was meteoric.
In 2012, a short documentary titled “Urban Outlaw” catapulted him into the spotlight. The film showcased not just his impressive car collection, but his philosophy on life and cars.
“Cars need to be driven,” he insists, embracing the scratches and scars that come from use as badges of honor.
This attitude resonated with car enthusiasts worldwide. Suddenly, Walker found himself a reluctant influencer, his unique style and approach to Porsche collecting inspiring a new generation of enthusiasts. He’s since been featured on popular shows like “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “Jay Leno’s Garage,” and even appeared as a character in the video game “Need for Speed”.
Despite his fame, Walker remains grounded. He still lives in downtown LA, starting his days with a coffee from one of the many local shops before diving into a schedule that might include anything from Instagram Live events with Ferrari to calls about his YouTube show, “The Next Big Thing with Magnus Walker”.
His warehouse, once the home of Serious Clothing, now serves as a shrine to Porsche. The 26,000-square-foot space houses not just his car collection, but a treasure trove of automotive memorabilia. It’s a gearhead’s paradise, where the scent of oil and leather mingles with the unmistakable aroma of history.
Walker’s influence extends beyond collecting. He’s become a brand unto himself, collaborating on everything from Hot Wheels cars to sneakers inspired by his beloved Porsches
His book, “Urban Outlaw: Dirt Don’t Slow You Down,” published in 2017, further cemented his status as a counterculture icon.
Yet, for all his success, Walker remains an enigma. He’s a self-described “lone wolf” and “one-man army,” eschewing management agencies and preferring organic collaborations
.This independence allows him to stay true to his vision, even as it sometimes puts him at odds with the more traditional elements of the Porsche community.
As he enters his fifties, Walker shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to add to his collection, always seeking to make each car better than the last6. His passion for Porsche remains undimmed, driven by the same curiosity and drive for knowledge that led him to collect in the first place.
In many ways, Magnus Walker embodies the spirit of the cars he loves—unconventional, powerful, and unapologetically unique. He’s a reminder that the American Dream is alive and well, even if it sometimes comes packaged in dreadlocks and tattoos rather than a three-piece suit. In the heart of Los Angeles, the Urban Outlaw continues to blaze his own trail, one Porsche at a time.
