As an award-winning talk-show host, ace comedian, best-selling author, in-demand public speaker, voice-over artist, philanthropist, and car collector, Jay Leno needs no further introduction. Considered as one of the most hard-working people in show business, Jay Leno’s work ethic has helped him amass a net worth of over $450,000,000. Leno even hinted that he hasn't touched a cent from the millions of dollars he got from his TV show with NBC, and it's obvious why.
But what's even more interesting about Jay Leno is his garage, where he showcases around 190 cars and 160 motorcycles. The exact figure of Leno’s car collection is a bit sketchy because he usually buys and sells, so his garage remains fresh. But it's not just the big numbers that blow the mind; it's also Leno’s buying decisions of opting for cars of historical and technical value. According to duPont Registry, Jay's car collection might be worth around $52 million, without considering future restoration value.
Taking a tour of Jay Leno’s garage, here are 10 cars he will never give up on.
10 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger
Don Yenko needs to be celebrated as much as other well-known muscle car designers for his work on the 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger. Jay Leno owns one of the 100 produced Yenko Corvair Stingers and dubbed it the “poor man’s Porsche” in that such a beautiful speedster was originally valued at only about $3,000.
The Corvair Stinger was Yenko’s first race car that came with special body accessories and engine modifications, prompting Leno to consider it as one of General Motors' best sports cars ever made.
9 1955 Buick Roadster
Taking a tour of Leno’s garage will not be complete without you being introduced to the 1955 Buick Roadster, which Leno endearingly calls his “Rosebud”. Far back in the 50s, the Buick Roadmaster was the talk of the town, but Leno added it to his car collection in 1972, when he was still a mechanic and an upcoming comedian.
Although the 1955 Buick Roadster is currently valued at about $33,500, it holds a lot of sentimental value for Leno because it is this exact car he used to pick up his wife on the first date.
8 1986 Lamborghini Countach
Although the 1986 Lamborghini Countach does not match the performance and handling of many sports cars in 2021, its wow factor will give any of them a run for their money. Jay Leno refers to his Lamborghini Countach as his "everyday car", which boasts of 60,000 miles.
While Leno managed to get the eye-catching sports car for around $100,000, the price has since tripled because of its rarity, so we are sure Leno is not letting go of it any time soon.
7 1968 Pontiac Firebird Sprint
Besides driving many of his cars, Leno also spends considerable time upgrading them to modern standards. Take, for example, the 1968 Pontiac Firebird Sprint, which now features improved rocker arms to provide wear resistance. The rare American beast, which comes with a six-cylinder engine, is described by Leno as the "most fun car to drive", thanks to its amazing performance and comfort.
Beyond the performance, and thrill of driving the Pontiac Firebird Sprint, Leno has invested time and money in upgrading this classic car, so it's very unlikely that he will give it up--at least not any time soon.
6 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupe
One of the perks of having a talk show running for decades is that you get to interact with many people and come across new things, like the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe, which Jay Leno discovered lying around in the California desert as far back as the 1970s. Being the third owner of the old race car, Leno considered it a special collection and embarked on a restoration mission by equipping it with a 3.0-liter engine.
Besides being a well-built automobile, the 300SL Gullwing Coupe holds a special place in Leno's heart because it's the first car to come with a direct gasoline fuel injection system, which makes it way ahead of its time.
5 2014 McLaren P1
Jay Leno was one of the first persons to take the 2014 McLaren P1 for a spin. Perhaps the fastest car in Jay's collection, the McLaren P1 was not just like any other purchase. The Beverly Hills-based dealership, McLaren organized a special event with a photo session for Jay Leno. This publicity stunt paid off big time for McLaren, as all 375 P1 hypercars were sold out in record time.
Barely a few weeks after taking possession of the hybrid hypercar for about $1.15 million, Jay did what he does best--restoring the P1 by adding about 1,000 miles on the odometer.
4 1994 McLaren F1
In 2017, Jay Leno mentioned that the 1994 McLaren F1 was his favorite car. It would surprise you to know the futuristic-looking F1 was actually made in 1994, and he took possession of it when it was valued at around $12 million. Since then, the price has almost doubled, with a particular McLaren F1 being auctioned for as high as $23 million. Although, Jay stated that the last offer he got for his McLaren F1 was $17.5 million.
The 1994 F1 racecar was McLaren's first car to be permitted as street-legal in the United States. Although Leno said he doesn't consider the F1 to be a race car, but a road car.
3 1931 Bugatti Type 51
Jay Leno has never hidden his admiration for iconic carmaker Bugatti. In a video he uploaded on his YouTube channel, Jay showed he knows basically everything about Bugatti's history as well as the ins and outs of the Type 51, which he considers as one of the best racecars in the world during the early 30s.
Jay believes the supercharged 8-cylinder engine of the Bugatti Type 51 has one of the best sounds in automotive history. The Bugatti racecar that was originally valued at around $12,900 is currently valued at over $4 million, so you can understand why it is perhaps the crown jewel of Jay's garage.
2 427 Shelby Cobra
Jay Leno cannot take you on a tour of his garage and not show you the 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra, which he challenged the Tesla's S P85D of Elon Musk to a car race. While replicas of the Shelby Cobras are present at many car shows, the original classic cars are pretty rare. In fact, Jay Leno’s Shelby 427 Cobra is one of 23 models made.
The Shelby Cobra is pretty loud when in action, making Leno describe it as "a lot of fun" even though it can only go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, unlike the Tesla S P85D that covers the same distance in 2.6 seconds.
1 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC
By now, you should know that Jay Leno usually goes for rare, elegant and expensive cars, and the 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC checks all these boxes. When we talk about rare, this supercar owned by Leno is a replica of the Type 57SC Atlantic, of which only four units were produced.
The luxurious antique car is perhaps the most valuable car in the world, with its current value placed at $40 million - $114 million. Jean, the son of Ettore Bugatti, designed the 1937 Type 57 SC himself, and many believe it's the first supercar to be made.