LOOKING for the LOOK; Finding the next cool car gets harder every day.

Byline: PHIL BERG

RALPH LAUREN

FASHION DESIGNER

At least each week, world-renowned fashion designer Ralph Lauren visits his cars, about half of his collection of 70-some peacefully parked in sight of the ocean on Long Island. The cars are all ready to drive, and often he'll emerge from the secluded cluster of three garages in one of three '96 McLaren F1s, an '88 Porsche 959 or a Ferrari F40 and rack up some miles across the back roads.

"Once you drive the McLaren, it's over,'' Lauren says. "It's like no car I've ever driven. The McLaren is like Star Wars-a hovercraft. I feel like I'm not touching the ground. It's an experience I've never had before.

"Strangely enough, I really don't like to drive the cars when people are around,'' he admits. "As it turns out, I don't really want to be seen in the cars. There's a part of me that likes the privacy, so the more garish the car, the less I want to drive it. On weekends, depending on the weather, I love the Jaguars, the XK120 or XK140. I love the Mercedes Gullwing and roadster and the Porsches.'' In addition to the remarkable 959, he has a Carrera GT, as well as a diminutive 356 Speedster and a 550 RS Spyder.

The street-going Ferraris reside in their own Long Island garage, the Porsches and Mercedes are parked two feet apart in a 10-car workshop, and the Jaguars enjoy a smaller shake-sided home of their own. They all see a lot of road use from Lauren. But he doesn't ignore driving the race cars when he has a free weekend, according to Mark Reinwald, who is tasked with keeping the rare machines in perpetual running order. Reinwald drives each car every six weeks to ensure that they are all in shape. Reinwald sends the cars cross-country for museum tours and shows, the farthest being an Italian concours event.