Legendary late-night TV host and automobile fan, Jay Leno has perhaps one of the world’s most exceptional car collections. A man whose enthusiasm seems to be more centered towards cars and bikes, Leno has collected the most impressive cars on the planet.
This collection honestly creates a treasured automotive history by featuring luxury sports cars to unique historical models in his garage. Through his very popular show, “Jay Leno’s Garage, he shares his love for these machines, giving the fans an inside look into his collection, restoration projects, and the interesting history of each vehicle.
So, if you were wondering, “How many cars does Jay Leno have?” this blog has the answer. Along with that, we put together a little something for you; this blog will also talk about some of the rarest, most expensive, and cheapest cars he has in his garage.
Who Is Jay Leno?
Jay Leno is an American comedian who hosted “The Tonight Show” for a total of 17 years between 1992 and 2009. He had become one of the most popular entertainers in late-night television during his time, with great observational humor.
His career hit the top when he became the permanent host of The Tonight Show in 1992. Leno’s time as host created a recognizable name for him, and the show earned him a loyal fanbase during the 17 years he hosted it.
He left briefly after a dispute with Conan O’Brien but returned to The Tonight Show in 2010 before retiring again in 2014, passing the seat to Jimmy Fallon. After leaving The Tonight Show, Leno continued his stand-up comedy and appeared on a variety of television shows.
Jay Leno is a passionate car enthusiast, aside from his career on television. He is known as an automobile enthusiast who has a huge collection of cars and motorcycles. His collection has all sorts of cars, from rare classics to exotic supercars and even vintage motorcycles. However, Leno’s interest is not just in collecting the cars but also in restoring and maintaining his vehicles.
He also started his own show, Jay Leno’s Garage, a popular web series on YouTube that really goes into the depths of his cars while interviewing various automotive experts and celebrities.
The Uniqueness Of His Collection
Jay Leno’s collection started way back in the 1970s. As he grew in the television industry and continued working in comedy, he was able to invest in rare and unique vehicles. His collection really started to come together in the 1980s, when he began acquiring vintage cars, motorcycles, and other rare vehicles. He didn’t just collect cars because of their value but because of their engineering significance and uniqueness.
From what we know, today, Jay Leno’s car collection worth is estimated to be somewhere between $50 million and $450 million, with more than 180 cars and 160 motorcycles in his garage.
Leno’s collection is global and widely popular and is admired for its range and value, as well as its diversity and historical importance. It is one of the largest and most spectacular collections worldwide that has garnered great interest among automobile enthusiasts around the globe.
The collection of Leno’s cars continues to grow, and he is actively involved in keeping them running and restoring them to perfect condition. He shares his passion with the public and gives them a look at behind-the-scenes of his car collection through his much-watched YouTube series.
A Peek Into Jay Leno’s Rare Collection
Jay Leno’s car collection size is quite big, as he started his collection in the 1970s when he bought his first car, a 1934 Ford, at the age of 14. Ever since then, he has this car in his collection. Other than this, the oldest vehicle by year is probably the 1906 Stanley Steamer, which he has kept for several decades.
The latest car Jay Leno bought is the 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, which cost $420,000. Not only this, Jay has some of the rarest cars, including steam cars back from the 1900s, classic cars, modern cars, luxury cars, sports cars, etc.
Let’s have a closer peek at some of the cars from Jay Leno’s car collection list.
Jay Leno’s Rare Cars
Jay Leno’s collection hosts many types of cars. Among these prized possessions are some of the rarest cars in the world, each known for its unique design and engineering.
Leno’s passion for rare vehicles is not just because of their value but is also about their history, craftsmanship, and rarity. His garage is a treasured collection of automotive gems that attract car enthusiasts and collectors from around the globe.
Here is a list of some of the rare cars Jay Leno owns:
- 1906 Stanley Steamer ($600): This was a steam-powered car that only cost $600 back in the day. Today’s current price is $200,000-$300,000, and we don’t have much information on how much Jay Leno bought his Stanley Steamer for. The Stanley Steamer is a unique car because, during its time, when steam-powered cars were becoming less liked, the Stanley made a world land speed record for the fastest mile, marking its place and significance in history.
- 1928 Bugatti Type 37A ($8,777.13): This car was listed in French Franc back in the day for about 55,000 F, which makes it $8,777.13 in USD. We don’t know how much this car is worth today and how much Jay Leno bought it for. But this car is considered rare as it was a Grand Prix racing car and is a big part of Bugatti’s racing heritage.
- 1963 Chrysler Turbine ($55,000): The Chrysler Turbine was never a mass production car. Only 55 models were made, and even some of those were destroyed due to poor fuel economy. Jay Leno bought this car in 2008 for $100,000, and its value today is $540,000.
- 1990 Ford Shogun ($47,500): The Ford Shogun was never really produced by Ford itself, which makes it rare. It was a modification to the already present car, the “Ford Festiva.” Jay Leno bought this car in 1990 for $35,000.
- 2001 Blastolene Special ($350,000): This vehicle is considered to be rare as it features an American military tank engine and a custom aluminum body. Along with that, it also has a limited production number. Jay Leno bought this car in 2003 for $125,000.
Jay Leno’s Classic Cars
Jay Leno’s car collection is a great display of the love he has for cars, and some of the most iconic vehicles produced from the early to mid-20th century are well represented in his garage. These cars are valued because they are historical, fine examples of craftsmanship, and they never go out of style.
For Leno, classic cars are more than just owning them; it’s about the maintenance and restoration of these cars to their original state, for generations to come to see the beauty and significance attached to them.
His collection is a living tribute to the golden age of automotive design and thus makes it attractive for car enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Here is a list of some of his classic cars:
- 1924 Bentley ($4,000): This classic Bentley was only $4,000 back in the day. In today’s time, it costs anywhere around $200,000-$680,000. This car won the race in 1924 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and created Bentley’s dominance in the automobile world.
- 1925 Cadillac: This Cadillac’s price isn’t listed, but it is worth only $25,300 in today’s era. This car was highly known for its performance levels and its unique crankshaft that made the engine run smoothly like some of today’s models of Cadillac XT4 and SRX.
- 1938 MG: We don’t have much information on its price; however, this MG featured a Tickford drophead coupé, which made it special for its time.
- 1951 Hudson Hornet ($2,543 to $3,099): This Hornet was a great seller, especially for its “step-down” design. It only costs around $32,025 now.
Jay Leno’s Expensive Cars
Along with owning some of the rarest cars, Jay Leno also has a collection of expensive high-end cars. These cars represent some of the best-in-class car engineering and luxury that mankind has ever produced.
Here is a list of some of Jay’s expensive cars:
- 1967 Lamborghini Miura ($2.5 million): This specific model of Lamborghini is known to be an icon in the history of cars. It was recognized as the first true supercar and is known for its mid-engine layout.
- 1931 Bugatti Type 51 ($3 million): This Bugatti was built on the same base frame as the Type 37A and was featured in the Grand Prix race, making it expensive, as there are not many out there to buy.
- 1955 Mercedes 300SL ($8 million): The Mercedes 300SL was mainly known for its performance levels and “gullwing” doors. The price itself was so high that there were only limited buyers, and it was not produced in big numbers.
- 1994 McLaren F1 ($20 million): This specific McLaren is in such high numbers due to the fact it used high-tech materials like titanium, kevlar, magnesium, and gold. The car was also the first production car to use a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. This Jay Leno’s most expensive car was the first McLaren imported to the United States.
Jay Leno’s Race Cars
Jay Leno’s race cars are a true display of performance and luxury. His collection features some of the greatest race cars of all time. This collection of race cars showcases his love for performance, speed, and high-end engineering.
The list below showcases some of his race cars:
- Ford GT ($357,800–$649,800): Jay Leno has two Ford GTs, a 2005 model and a 2017 model. These models are highly known for their racing abilities, unlike the Mustangs that give 300 hp.
- McLaren P1 ($1 million): Jay also has two McLaren P1s, a 2014 and 2015 model. Jay was the first person to drive a P1 other than the people of McLaren itself. Jay was also the first person to have a P1 delivered to in the United States. One of the cool features is that these models look like Lamborghinis.
- 1988 Porsche 989 ($225,000): This car was bought by Jay in the late 1980s. At that time, this was the only production car that could reach 200 mph.
- 2007 Hydrogen BMW ($100,000): This great German car was a limited-production luxury sedan that could run either on hydrogen or gasoline.
Jay Leno’s Cheapest Cars
Jay Leno is what you would call a true car enthusiast. He doesn’t collect cars for their worth and value but for their capabilities and performance levels. He has all sorts of cars, including some cheap ones too.
- 2012 Tata Nano ($2,700): Jay Leno had this car imported specially from India, as he liked what this car meant for small Indian families and the sentiment it held over them.
- 1955 Buick Roadmaster Restomod ($24,900): This 2-door Riviera hardtop was actually only $350 when Jay Leno bought it.
How Does Jay Leno Take Care Of His Car Collection?
Jay Leno takes excellent care of his large car collection with the help of his super-trained and expert team. Each car is maintained and restored to its original glory. Each automobile stays in top condition through a combination of regular servicing and full restorations.
In addition to all this, Leno uses the latest technology and equipment for proper care of his collection, like using specialized tools for tasks like brake fluid flush and climate-controlled storage to protect his cars. He shares all his vast knowledge about car care with his audience through his popular show, Jay Leno’s Garage.
Jay Leno has also launched his own line of car care products that he personally uses for all his cars. This launch was made in 2017 by the name of Jay Leno’s Garage, just like his show. The product line has a variety of products such as:
- Car Polish & Waxes
- Detailing Sprays
- Tire Cleaners & Dressings
- Car Care Kits
- Specialty Tools
- Wheel & Tire Care
If you wish to buy these products, you can do so by heading to Jay Leno’s Garage website or other retailing websites like Walmart and Amazon.
Other than maintenance, to protect his collection, Jay Leno has 44/7 onsite security patrols, perimeter security, access control, and constant video surveillance and monitoring.
What Makes Jay Leno’s Garage Important?
Jay Leno’s collection is important and unique because it holds some of the rarest and most historical vehicles. Some of the cars in his collection date back all the way to 1906. Other than cars, he also has over 160 motorcycles.
All the vehicles Jay has collected are for their remarkable craftsmanship and capabilities. Some of these vehicles may not even be that expensive, but they probably hold sentimental value, which is why they’re in his garage. Jay Leno deeply respects the history of each vehicle.
The value of his collection is also increased due to the fact he constantly maintains and restores these vehicles for future generations to appreciate. If you’ve ever wondered about Jay Leno’s cars for sale then the answer is no, his collection is not for sale.
Where is Jay Leno’s car collection located?
Jay’s collection of cars and motorcycles is located at a garage at 3160 N. Damon Way, Burbank, near the Burbank airport. All his vehicles are stored safely with security that is constantly on the lookout.
Jay Leno’s car collection tour is only available if you win a private tour from a charity or contest. Private tours are from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm and will not be available on weekends or holidays.
What is the rarest car Jay Leno Has?
Jay Leno has a wide range of rare cars in his collection. One of the rarest cars of Jay Leno’s is the 1994 McLaren F1, which is also the most expensive car he has.
One of the other rare cars Jay Leno has is a Bugatti Type 37A, which was part of the Grand Prix race. Another rare car is the Stanley Steamer, which was steam-powered and set a world land speed record back in the day.
Conclusion
To top it all off, Jay Leno’s collection is really awe-inspiring and truly showcases his love and passion for automobiles. His collection includes all types of cars from every category, ranging from cheap, rare, classic, expensive, luxury, and much more. This proves that Jay is a man who recognizes a car for what it is, and not just for its worth.
So, how many cars does Jay Leno have? With over 180 vehicles, his diverse collection is a testament to his appreciation for all types of automobiles, from historical treasures to modern marvels.
