50 Top Cars In Jay Leno’s Garage

The famed television host has long been associated with the coolest of cars. Throughout his 30+ years as a comedian, writer, show host, producer, and actor, Jay Leno always was associated with cool cars. He worked it into his material often, especially during his 17-year tenure as host of The Tonight Show on NBC. After that show, he started his own primetime offering called The Jay Leno Show. But finally, retirement came calling (and with all that money, why shouldn’t it). But not surprisingly, it wasn’t long until Jay Leno got back in front of a camera.

Jay Leno’s Garage is the appropriately-titled television series that is hosted by Leno as he takes you, the viewer, through his massive garage. Leno owns upwards of 275 vehicles. Some are plain as can be, others are simply outlandish. Most are a mix of antique, classic, rare, badass and sporty. All of them are awesome. Leno also contributes monthly to Popular Mechanics, a leading automotive magazine, about restoration, mechanical, or general vehicle tips. Or he’ll write about a very niche market that is unknown to most readers – like about his steam cars. Of which he has two.

The man is a legend on screen, and behind the wheel. Given that Leno now spends most of his time elbow-deep in engine grease, it’s safe to assume he’s loving life he’s set up for himself. All those cars, who wouldn’t be!? But even with all of the rides, we had to narrow it down. So we did. Here are our favorite 50 cars in the garage of Jay Leno.

Continue scrolling to keep reading.
Click the START NOW button below to view this article in quickview.

 

START NOW

50. 1981 DeLorean DMC-12

Yep, this is the original DeLorean from Back to the Future. Interestingly enough, movie execs scrapped the Ford Mustang in favor the 1981 DeLorean, even though they were offered a sizable check. And to think, if this car was not chosen, we could be looking at a time traveling Hotpoint refrigerator (that was the other option for the movie) that probably wouldn’t have made it into the top cars in Jay Leno’s garage.

49. 1928 Bugatti Type 37A

Don’t let the age of this classic Bugatti fool you.  This almost 100-year-old vehicle can easily do 100 mph on the San Fernando Valley highway. Maybe it has something to do with the flywheel to gearbox driveshaft that will chew up your shoe if left to its own devices.

48. 1950 Nash Ambassador

The coolest thing about this 1950 Nash Ambassador is it’s all original and unrestored. It features classic select-o-matic start, ultramatic transmission and weather eye (a revolutionary AC system). However, if you owned one in the 50s, dads probably would not let you date their daughter (guys who owned one were thought to be out for one thing and one thing only).

47. 1993 LCC Rocket

If you look close in L.A. traffic, you might spot the 1993 LC Rocket. This is one of the few cars Jay Leno actually takes out on the open road.  It only weighs 850 pounds and is powered by a 1000cc Yamaha engine at either 143 or 165 horsepower.

46. 1971 Mercedes Benz 280SE

Jay used to work at a Mercedes dealership so its no surprise one should end up in his garage. This one-owner beauty came to Jay’s garage via Las Vegas. The 3.5-liter coupe has 82,000 original miles, bad rubber seals, woodwork and a cracked windshield before Jay completely restored it!

45. 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Business Coupe

Though it’s touted as original and unrestored, there have been a few paint touch ups and tire changes (Jay purchased it fro ma man known only as Fred the Kingpin). However, this car comes from when power steering and brakes did not exist. It took pure muscle to drive these beasts, even if you were going to town to do business.

44. 1931 Shotwell

You are looking at a three-wheeled vehicle invented by a 17-year-old and it can chew up the road! Bob Shotwell built the entire car in his garage and its powered by a 4 cylinder cool air Indian motorcycle engine. Since the acquisition, Jay added an electric starter and fuel pump, and updated the cooling system so the vehicle can cruise around at 60mph!

43. 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint

Tuck a 260 cubic inch v8 engine in a small car and you are left with Leno’s 1963 Falcon Sprint. Leno also worked at a Ford dealership for a while as a teenager, where he developed an affinity for the Falcon. Leno’s Falcon has a 289 v-8, instead of a 260 v-8, allowing it to draw more power out of the 5-speed transmission.

42. 1964 Honda S600

If you are looking for a small engine with a motorcycle-inspired engine and drive chain model, the 1964 Honda S600 is the answer. During the 1960s it was thought to be out of place on the highway among all of the muscle cars cruising around. The engine has been replaced for a beefier model (original 600cc to 1,000 cc counterpart) and all the mechanicals were reworked before Leno bought it.

41. 1967 Miura P400

Do you know who owned this 67 Miura P400 Italian sports car before Jay Leno? If you guessed Dean Martin you would be correct! This was the first vehicle given the name “supercar” which resulted in Ferrari stepping up its game.

40. 1969 Lotus Elan

Taken from a mechanically ugly, inside horrific state to its current pristine condition took 18 months. Jay is quoted during the project (2013-2014) as saying they wanted to create the ultimate Lotus. They did so while remaining true to form since the  Lotus features no electrical parts.

39. 1972 Mercedes 600 Kompressor

Known as the grandfather of the S Class, these things are a beast to maintain. The reason is just about everything in the vehicle operates off of a hydraulic-based system, even the windows. When they break, owners are required to shell out $11,500 to replace them.

38. 1913 Mercer Raceabout

Don’t let the tractor like disguise of the Mercer Raceabout fool you. It’s little 4.8 liters 4 cylinder engine could still clock 100 mph on the open road. As such, it was a popular pre World War I sports car for playboys who loved to race rival against the Stutz Bearcat.

37. 1952 MG TD Hot Rod

Here is a best in disguise for sure if you know how to read the cues. You can see it in the photo, but the rear tires of this 1952 MG are HUGE! It probably has something to do with the Leno Garage upgrade from stock 48 horsepower to 340 horsepower. WOW!

36. 2012 Tata Nano

What is known as the world’s cheapest car (~$3,400) now has a home in Jay Leno’s garage. The little 624cc powered car produces a whopping 38 horsepower. Yet, Jay’s version, given to him by Tata Motors, is considered to be top of the line because it has high-end accessory features like alloy wheels.

35. 2012 Tesla Model S

So Jay Leno may be one of the few people to ever perform a burnout in a Tesla. When he purchased his 2012 model, the video he made proved to even the toughest of petrol heads electric powered cars have their place in a garage, Plus, Jay says electric cars declutter the road with less stellar gasoline powered cars making for fewer boring commutes!

34. 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II

You are looking at a 1934 Rolls Royce with 1,000 horsepower. Seems like the Merlin v-12 engine really might be magical after all. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the 1,806 pounds of torque produced by that beast. Amazing.

33. 1906 Stanley Steamer Vanderbilt Cup Racer

It’s no secret Jay loves steam-powered vehicles. After a complete failure in 2007, the Steamer was rebuilt and came back better than ever with several mods for improvement. For instance, the manual brakes were replaced the manual drum brakes with hydraulic drum brakes from a Jaguar XK120.

32. 1918 Pierce Arrow Model 66

This was the last example to come rolling off the production line in 1916 and features a 14 liter inline v-6. Leno’s Pierce, like so many of his vehicles, remains unrestored. He drives this 100-year-old beauty around California all the time!

31. 1911 Packard Model 18

The difference between Jay’s 1911 Packard Model 18 and a 1932 Packard Bell involves one thing, human production. His 1911 is a pre-assembly line production, a time when cars needed human hands to produce them. As such, this solid automobile 4 banger (302 cubic inches 4 cylinder engine) produces a top speed of 60 mph with enough brass on board to excite a sailor!

30. 1959 Oldsmobile Super 88

Big, loud and monstrous, the Olds 88 could be said to be responsible for the baby boom (if you know what we mean). The 315 horsepower 314 cubic inch v-8 engine let out a roar as it went down the street. The extra large trunk and stylized tail lights make this Leno classic the king of the garage!

29. 2011 Morgan

Form 1910-1952, the three-wheeled Morgan was quite popular. However, after being production silent for half a century, they came back to life (this is a 2011 model). Jay loves them because they have build flexibility since they are classified as a motorcycle.

28. 1932 Morgan

Here we see Jay in one of the original three-wheeled Morgan bikes. The Morgan engine is water cooled, using a thermosiphon instead of a fan. If that sounds familiar its because the Model T ford uses the same type of cooling system.

27. 1969 Miura S

This 1969 Lamborghini Miura S isn’t just your average everyday Italian supercar. It is thought to be one of the most beautiful designs ever created by the Bertone Design House. Originally unveiled at the Geneva car show, it features a 4-liter v8 engine pushing out 370-375 horsepower.

26. 1963 Jaguar E-Type

This is perhaps one of Britain’s most iconic sports cars. However, Leno’s car is a bit lighter since the body panels have been replaced with aluminum. The total restoration took 3,000 hours and resulted in a car that weighs only 2,200 pounds, despite a 35-gallon fuel cell and roll cage.

25. 1915 Hispano-Suiza

So you want a pre-war car with an aircraft engine you say? Leno’s 1915 Hispano-Suiza answers in an eclectic manner with its gearbox taken from a 1919 bus and its transmission from an old garbage truck. Yet nothing compares to the 18.6-liter engine that generates 300 horsepower with low revs on the street!

24. 1958 Imperial Convertible

Jay’s Imperial Convertible is one massive vehicle (one of the largest you could purchase in 1958). The car was known for its decidedly forward look, as well as the massive 392 Hemi under the hood. From 1955 (its debut) to 1958, the Imperial would grow to a massive weight of 5,600 pounds!

23. 1989 Bentley Turbo R

Who says nothing good (except music) came out of the 80s? The Bentley Turbo R originally debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 1985 before making it across the pond to the states in 1988. At the time it was the 4 door sedan on the road with a top speed of 145mph coming from its 6.75-liter beastly v-8 engine.

22. 1966 Lincoln Continental

Leno loves this car because it is all original and only has a few scrapes and dings that keep it from reaching immaculate status. One of only 21,347 convertibles ever made, it is a true show stopper. Gear heads will love the 462 cu inch v-8 nestled under the hood and its subsequent marriage to a three-speed tranny.

21. 2012 McLaren MP4-12C

When Jay first got the McLaren, he went nuts, and for good reason. When they built one for him he was invited across the pond for a test drive around the track and fell in love. The car has a “normal” mode for town driving and is one of the few supercars Jay owns that does not scrape his driveway when he pulls in.

20. 2010 Mercedes SLR McLaren

Jay happens to be the first owner of this particular model McLaren SLR. It also happens to be the fastest sports car he has ever driven (beating out the Porsche model by 3-4 miles per hour). We know this because he was invited to a race track in Spain to test drive one before he purchased it!

19. 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi

While searching for an Aston Martin DB5, Leno came across this Maserati in a storage locker. He purchased it for $25,000 with the odometer showing almost 100,000 miles. Surprisingly, the engine fired strongly on all cylinders so the v-6 never had to be rebuilt!

18. 1950 Mercedes Transporter

This Mercedes Transporter takes cab forward to a whole new level. However, could you imagine going 106 mph behind the wheel? It was a purposeful move by the Mercedes race team who used the truck to transport race vehicles back to headquarters for tune-ups between races.

17. 427 Shelby Cobra

There are several clips of Jay online driving this beauty. It’s an obvious favorite of his and the crowds that flock to street lights for him to sign autographs until the light turns green. However, it is perhaps best to know for its race match up a couple of years ago with an all-electric Tesla!

16. 2017 Acura NSX

This is one of the few hybrid supercars to join Jay’s garage. The hybrid engine pumps out an impressive 573 horsepower. It also features a hybrid all-wheel-drive system which is very similar to the Porsche 918 Spyder.

15. 1975 Plymouth Duster Hemi

With 1,000 horses under the hood, Jay’s Plymouth Duster Hemi is a sight to behold. The original 426 v-8 was stuffed into the body of Duster. It was the creation of Paul Annunziata after he won $10,000 from a first-time lottery play.

14. 2015 BAC Mono

What do you do when you want a Formula-style race car added to your collection? Snag the 2015 BAC MONO and tear up the road. Made for pure driving enjoyment, there are no audio components to speak of, just pushrod suspension, a carbon chassis, and 280 horsepower to drive this single-seater full blast!

13. 1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe Fuelie

The signature iconic split window is a dead giveaway to the identity of Jay’s 1963 Corvette Coup Fuelie. However, a true Corvette enthusiast will also know the hood, wheel covers, mirrors, and screws are also 1963 only items. Jay’s is one of the 2,610 equipped with fuel injection to boost the engine up to 360 horsepower!

12. 2017 Ford GT

Since it debuted at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, Jay wanted this car. However, he had to go through the intensive application process just like everyone else despite his longtime connections to Ford. yet, even he didn’t get the optional $10,000 titanium exhaust system which makes the car 10 pounds lighter overall.

11. 1910 White Steam Car Model

Jay bought this beauty from an individual who had it since 1960. A lot of the parts needed attention because in order for steam cars to work properly there must be no leaks. Jay’s team refabricated an entirely new burner plate and condenser in order to get the car moving again.

10. 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

Combine a 7 liter overhead valve 8 cylinder engine for 385 horsepower and 135 mph of pure speed to get the ’66 Oldsmobile Toronado. Jay customized his replacing front bench seating with bucket seats to make room for the chassis torque driveline tunnel. As a result, a Corvette transaxle was placed underneath to help with front to rear weight distribution.

9. 2017 Audi R8 Spyder

This particular Audi is unique for a couple of reasons. Production skipped form 2015 to 2017 where the Spyder was brought back with a large v-10 engine. Also, the Spyder only comes with an automatic transmission (however, it is 7 speed to help distribute the incredible 610 horsepower under the hood).

8. 1909 Stanley Steamer

This 1909 Stanley Steamer is by far one of Jay’s rarest vehicles. A closer look reveals the car is entirely made of wood (except for the metal hood). The vehicle works very similar to your home’s hot water heater and takes about 20 minutes to get it up and moving.

7. 1969 Lamborghini Espada

At one point this 1969 Lamborghini Espada was his only car. It now has somewhere north of 100k miles on it.

6. Blastolene Special

The Blastolene Special is one of the more famous conversions by auto enthusiast Randy Grubb. You wouldn’t know it, but the car had a former life as an M47 Patton Tank! As such, it has a 190-inch wheelbase and weighs a healthy 8,500 pounds (4 1/2 tons, yikes!).

5. 1963 Chrysler Turbine

This car was featured at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Chrysler did a test program for the vehicle afterward where families were given the car to drive so long as they recorded things like mileage, handling and such. The turbine on the back made a nice noise, but ultimately drivers were turned off because the car used hard to find diesel instead of leaded gas because it would erode the turbine fins.

4. 2014 McLaren P1

Jay was the first person to score the 2014 McLaren P1 in the United States at least. This particular McLaren features hybrid drive technology and has an electronic speed governor… at 217 mph. it also possesses much of the forward technology which it borrowed from McLaren’s Formula 1 racing program

3. 1955 Mercedes 300SL

This was a forward-thinking vehicle with fully independent suspension, a tubular frame, fuel injection, and gullwing doors. Jay’s crew tuned up the engine and left the interior and exterior alone. This way he says he could pull up to fast food restaurants and not worry if someone leans against it.

2. 2006 GM EcoJet

The GM Ecojet made an appearance at the 2006 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas as a concept car powered by a jet turbine engine, fed by biodiesel. Jay has both a motorcycle and pickup powered by jet turbines so why not add a car to the garage mix? The turbine powered car runs an impressive 150 mph.

1. 1994 McLaren F1

What is your 1994 vehicle worth if you had to guess? Well, Jay’s McLaren F1 is reportedly worth a cool $12 million. He says while he doesn’t have a favorite car this is the first one he would try to save from imminent disaster if he had too.