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Jay Leno’s GarageJay Leno’s Garage has seen some insane cars. From the Tumbler from the Batman Dark Knight trilogy to some sought-after classic cars like the Jaguar XKSS, the garage has seen it all. It’s also seen its fair share of celebrity vehicles. Occasionally, a celebrity will bring their own car along for Jay Leno to gawk at.
Jay Leno has a wealth of knowledge and his own extensive car collection. So, this makes for great conversations and entertaining TV. His access to interesting personalities and celebrities also means that we get an insight into the daily lives of some of our favorite celebs. In this article, we’ll go through some of the coolest cars that have graced his show.
10 Chevrolet Camaro – Chris Evans
History has to start somewhere. Chris Evans’ first generation, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, is a mint example. A gift from his Marvel Co-star, Robert Downey Jr., the original Camaro boasts a 3.8-Liter straight six that makes 140 hp. Speedkore tuning has swapped it for 6.2-liter LS3 V8 making 430hp. Add a supercharger to that and this beast makes 730 hp.
BAER Extreme 6S calipers with 14-inch rotors replace the original drum brakes. Dubbed, “Captain America” the interior and exterior changes are drastic. The Captain America 3-spoke steering wheel, gray exterior paint, and a more intense front grill mix retro with modern.
9 Subaru WRX STI – Bucky Lasek
Bucky Lasek is a legendary skateboarder and car enthusiast. His love for Subaru is well-known. At a glance, this looks like an ordinary 2016 WRX STI. The original model has a 305 hp turbocharged 2.5-Liter Boxer 4 cylinder. Add Brembo brakes, a center limited-slip differential, and all the little things that make a WRX STI great.
The Team at AntSpek California installed a bigger turbo, added aero components, and a Cobb exhaust. An upgrade to the stock intake and hoses solves some reliability issues. Finally, exterior carbon fiber pieces make this a neat WRX STI that Bucky dailies and can take to the track.
8 Jaguar XKSS – Steve McQueen
The Jaguar XKSS is as rare a car as they come. During its original production run in 1957, only 16 were produced. Legendary racer, actor, and Marine Steve McQueen was one of few people to own one during its original run. The majestic exterior of the XKSS holds a 3.4-liter straight-six. The flowing exterior lines would inspire the E-Type. Mate that to a 4-speed manual and convertible fabric roof, and you’ve got a convertible for any winding road.
Steve McQueen passed away in late 1980. Almost 40 Years later, though, his legendary XKSS would end up on Jay Leno’s garage and is currently housed at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
7 Cybertruck – Elon Musk
Love it or hate it, the Tesla CyberTruck is here. Even during its concept stage, the vehicle had to show up on Jay Leno’s garage for both its notoriety and futuristic styling. A Tri-Motor drivetrain makes 805 hp. The estimated range of 500 miles is necessary for anyone working with their truck.
The exterior design is the most talked about. Elon Musk likened it to a car from blade-runner and the submarine car from James Bond. Its flat panels and sharp lines look like nothing else on the road today. That flatness has also been criticized as unsafe for both pedestrians and passengers in the event of a crash.
6 Hoonicorn – Ken Block
You would be forgiven for not knowing the Hoonicorn is built on a 1965 Mustang chassis. A staple of modern car culture. The Hoonicorn packs a 6.7-liter Roush-Yates V8 developed by Ford Performance and Ken Block. A wide body exterior and massive 295/35/18 Toyo tires add to the mean look.
The Hoonicorn makes 1400 hp. Everything about this car is centered around burning rubber. It was retired in 2021, but not before it appeared on Jay Leno’s garage, much to the delight of car fans everywhere.
5 SharkWerks Porsche 997 GT2 – Magnus Walker
Magnus walker is a well-known name in the car-restoration world. Out of the factory, the Porsche 997 GT2 is born for the track. The interior is gutted in favor of a roll cage and weight-saving. It has a twin-turbo flat-six boxer engine that makes 523 hp.
Of course, SharkWerks turn Porsches up to 11. They tweaked and tuned every component in this 997, from the suspension to the smallest bolt. These additions raise the power to 775 hp. The exterior has the iconic orange rear and front bumpers with a silver base coat.
4 Weistec Mercedes-Benz SLS Black Series – Graham Rahal
The Base Mercedes-Benz SLS is a ridiculous machine. It makes 571 hp from a 6.2-liter V8. Add the black series package and that pumps it up to 631 hp. Graham Rahal’s Indy car spirit was not satisfied with just that. The team at Weistec Engineering bolstered the internals and brought the power up to 825 hp.
The most notable feature of the SLS is the gull wing doors. The low-slung exterior adds to the sleek profile. Although Weistec didn’t add much to the exterior, the blacked-out wheels are another great piece on this beast.
3 Porsche 356 – Jerry Seinfeld
Before 911, there was 356. The Porsche 356 is the first car produced by the company. Like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld has his own collection of cars. The little 2-door, rear-engined sports car made 35 hp from a 1.1-liter air-cooled flat-four.
The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee stars’ green 356 is, unfortunately, a replica. He would only find out once he sold the vehicle to someone else. Still, this beautiful example glides around corners, with its bubbly exterior and immaculate interior.
2 Plymouth Barracuda – Richard Carpenter
Put a big engine in a big car. That is the essence of the Plymouth Barracuda. Richard Carpenter’s is an original, almost fully optioned example. Its 7.2-liter engine makes 390 hp. The Hemi version was too expensive for Richard. He has put a lot of love and time into his Barracuda, as it only has 40000 miles and has never been restored.
Prized by collectors for its muscular looks, the wide body stance gives it great road presence. The leather interior and power windows make it great to live with. However, it’s the black paint with red accents that give this model an evil look.
1 Volkswagen Samba – Gabriel Iglesias
Although Volkswagen is a German brand, the VW Samba is almost as much American as it is German. Gabriel Iglesias is a proud owner of one such Volkswagen. Also called the Type 2 (T1) or VW Bus, it packs an air-cooled flat-four engine, making around 25hp. There were many variations of this engine and vehicle, so the numbers differ from van to van.
Of course, this icon had to appear on Jay Leno’s garage at some point. The dual doors open to the outside, similar to the way suicide doors open. This makes it easy to enter the van. It’s also very usable as a camper. The twin windshield and iconic front facia make this a must-have classic.
Sources: Manufacturer’s Pages, Jay Leno’s Garage, Richard and Karen Carpenter, Sharkwerks , Hoonigan.
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