We’ve tend to think of hybrid vehicles as a phenomena of the past two decades. Started by the 1999 Honda Insight and popularized by the Toyota Prius. However, former comedian and present full-time car-guy Jay Leno recently showed off a hybrid vehicle from his collection that’s a blast from the past.
His 1916 Owen Magnetic is an ultra-rare example of a pioneering luxury automobile. While the car had a standard six-cylinder engine up front, it used a patented “electric series hybrid drivetrain” in place of the usual gearbox. At the time, the company marketed the vehicle as “The Car of a Thousand Speeds".
Leno explains the mysterious inner workings of the Owen. “The gas engine powers an electric generator which drives the rear wheels. The advantage to this is, like most electric cars today, no need for a transmission. It’s very unusual … There’s no mechanical connection between the engine and the rest of the drivetrain … Think of a horseshoe magnet going around an armature and creating electricity, and that’s what powers this car,” he said.
Process of Restoration
Restoring the Owen was a major project for Leno and his team. The car was sourced from Norway where it had been sitting unused for over 50 years. It was in rough shape when it first arrived at his shop.
“It was pretty much all there, but the [woodwork] was all rotted. The original leather, it looked good but it was so brittle that it fell apart when you touched it,” he said.
During the process of restoration, Leno found that the original valve cover had become so porous over time that it was leaking oil all over the place. Remarkably, his team re-created a new aluminum part using laser scanning and 3D printing technology.
Driving the Owen
Leno goes on to describe how the car is operated. “Everything happens up here at the steering wheel,” he said while operating the multiple levers mounted to the car’s steering column.
“Let’s show you how we start it … Put your foot on the brake because you always start it in gear. Put it in high ... move this [lever] up to S … there’s no starter noise because it’s spinning the whole engine,” he said as the gas engine fires up. “Very nice.”
Once underway, the Owen moves convincingly through modern city traffic. “The acceleration is quite good, especially for 1916. It’s much smoother and quieter than a Model T.”
“This is really a fascinating automobile. I never realized how unique and complicated it was,” said Leno.
Source: YouTube