It would be hard to find anyone in the world with as much passion for cars as Jay Leno. The former chat show host has one of the most incredible classic car collections in the world, and his team has helped restore some awesome cars from absolute wrecks to showroom glory. But Jay gets all of his cars out on the road on a regular basis. His collection is located in Burbank, California, and with the state now in lockdown, he is still getting some great content onto YouTube for us on his Jay Leno’s Garage channel.
The Coupe Version Of The Hornet
One of his latest uploads from Jay and the team focuses on the 1953 Hudson Hornet. This is the coupe version, a rigid example and the kind of Hornet that won fame in NASCAR and became synonymous with that era, with its unique step down design. You step into the car, with it sitting much lower than a conventional car. It featured, at the time, the most powerful six-cylinder engine in the United States, this one producing 170 horsepower.
The Hornet has a personal connection for Jay. He owned one when he was in college, and it got stolen. He kept going to the impound lot and though it had been found, the cop did not tell Jay that, because after 60 days, he could then claim it for himself. Another cop tipped Jay off, and he got his car back, though he sold it later on. But he missed it, and that’s how he came to buy this one 25 years ago. It had just 1500 miles on the clock, Jay and his team restored it to factory condition.
Three-Speed Gearbox And Comfortable Ride
With three-speed gearbox with overdrive, and an incredibly comfortable ride, it epitomizes the post-war era of American automobiles. The engine in Jay’s Hornet coupe only really required painting and cleaning up, and basic service. Jay also shows some large posters in the garage, original Hudson adverts that he has then had his Hornet added into. And one shows that step-down design, with the step-in being lower than the frame, creating an interesting design and explaining why the Hornet handles so well with its low center of gravity.
Source: YouTube