The Chrysler Turbine is a unique kind of vehicle, and another one that Leno happened to get his hands on that exists only in a few more places on earth. The gas piston engine wooshes with a jet-like sound, and when it first hit the scene, people went nuts for it at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, where a line was wrapped around the block of those who were interested in testing it out.
There were only about 130 of the cars made during the early 1960s, although today, there are only nine left – and Leno’s the proud owner of one of them.
1954 Jaguar XK120M
Though the comedian owns more cars than most people could ever even dream about (literally,) his heartbeats particularly hard for a few – the Jaguar XK120 included. He first saw one of the cars when he was just nine-years-old and fell in love with it from that moment on.
The cars were built from 1948-1954, and Leno worked to buy his in the 1980s when he first started making the money he needed to do so. It was the first collector car he added to his 136-car collection. It’s no wonder it’s so special to him!
1917 Fiat Botafogo
Jay Leno’s crazy-loud 1917 Fiat Botafogo has a good reason for being so as it cruises down the streets. It likely has a lot to do because it’s equipped with a 21.7 A. 12 engine – just like those used in aircrafts in World War I. The car can hit speeds of nearly 147 mph, which is pretty decent for an older car.
However, when it comes to braking, drivers can run into issues. As anyone who’s driven the car before has come to realize, you need to give yourself a ton of extra room for slowing down to a stop; about a quarter mile’s worth.
Bugatti Type 51
Leno has always had a soft spot in his heart for Bugatti and has even said that Ettore Bugatti was one of the best manufacturers in the world in his youth. The world pretty much agrees that they built some of the best race cars of all time. When Leno talks about his Type 51 to his audience, you can tell that he has a deep love for it.
He explains the smooth sound of the supercharged eight-cylinder engine as one of his all-time favorites. And, unlike most of the other Bugattis in his garage, the Type 51 is more upscale, creating a great combination of sporty and luxury.
Leno ‘32 Bowtie Deuce Roadster
Leno has more sets of wheels than most people can ever even dream of. He likes to play with his toys, so he often makes changes and upgrades that make these rare vehicles worth even more money. Take his Bowtie Deuce Roadster, which has been nicknamed the Leno ’32 Bowtie Deuce Roadster.
Until he added this car to his collection, it lacked a specific something – a real hot rod, perhaps? Not anymore. He’s outfitted his ride with custom 18 and 20-inch aluminum rims, blue leather-trimmed seats, round taillights, a waterfall center console, and more.