/10 1955 Buick Roadmaster
Leno loves this baby, openly calling it his Rosebud. Its one of his first cars, having bought it in 1972 when he was still a struggling comedian working as a mechanic to pay the bills. It was also the car he used to pick up his future wife on their first date and to top it off, drove it to his first appearance on The Tonight Show.
Leno has altered the car, giving it cutting-edge Corvette suspension and an engine, but he still loves its original feel. So while his garage may be packed with some beauties that would fetch a fortune in an auction, Leno will never part with a car whose personal value is priceless.
Leno Gets An Oldsmobile Lesson
Leno introduces Jeff Szafraniec, a mechanic and the owner of two 1991 Cutlass Calais Quad 442 W-41 models, one of which is an SCCA racer. Szafraniec walks Leno through General Motors’ history, including information on an experimental twin-turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 1,170 horsepower.
It’s a powerplant that never saw production. However, some technology made its way into a production vehicle, the Quad 442 W-41 variantonly 200 ever left the factory. With its 190-horsepower four-cylinder engine, these Olds could readily take on the Ford Mustang 5.0 of the day.
/10 1968 Lamborghini Countach
Only Leno could call a Lamborghini his everyday car. It has only 70,000 miles on the clock, but as the poster child for the companys efforts, the 1968 Countach remains a brilliant machine.
Leno did make a major alteration of getting rid of the rear wing, which he openly called stupid for robbing the Countach of aerodynamic power to enhance the speed. However, he didnt do much to alter the V12 that can still gain 370 hp and feel far faster. While he can be hit-and-miss with some Lamborghinis, Leno does enjoy this Countach as a regular ride.
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Timeslot Conflict And Return To The Tonight Show
In their new roles, neither O’Brien nor Leno succeeded in delivering the viewing audiences the network anticipated. On January 7, 2010, multiple media outlets reported that beginning March 1, 2010, Leno would move from his 10 p.m. weeknight time slot to 11:35 p.m., due to a combination of pressure from local affiliates, whose newscasts were suffering, and both Leno’s and O’Brien’s poor ratings. Leno’s show would be shortened from an hour to 30 minutes. All NBC late night programming would also be preempted by the 2010 Winter Olympics between February 15 and 26, moving The Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m., the first post-midnight timeslot in its history. O’Brien’s contract stipulated that NBC could move the show ahead to 12:05 a.m. without penalty .
On January 10, NBC confirmed that they would move Leno out of primetime as of February 12 and move him to late-night as soon as possible.TMZ reported that O’Brien was given no advance notice of this change, and that NBC offered him two choices: an hour-long 12:05 a.m. time slot, or the option to leave the network. On January 12, O’Brien issued a press release that he would not continue with Tonight if it moved to a 12:05 a.m. time slot, saying, “I believe that delaying The Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t The Tonight Show.“
Jay Leno’s Net Worth In 2022
In 2021, Jay Leno’s net worth amounted to around $450 million. And in just a year, it has risen to $600 million! He currently has a salary of $15 million annually. In addition, Leno also owns a garage containing his massive aforementioned collection of rare and vintage cars.
Prior to achieving widespread fame and fortune as the host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC from 1992 to 2009, Leno had a background in stand-up comedy. Leno wasn’t done with prime-time comedy after leaving The Tonight Show, as he had his own talk show for a year before he returned to The Tonight Show for four more years before leaving for good in 2014.
Hosting The Tonight Show earned him a very decent $320 million before taxes. Leno says he didn’t actually spend the money he earned from doing the talk show. Instead, he was living off the money he earned performing dozens of stand-up comedy shows each year as a side gig.
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/10 1963 Corvette Stingray Split
Usually, Leno is choosy about his cars, putting a lot of research into them before plunking down cash. But when he heard a 1963 Corvette Stingray was for sale, he bought it sight unseen.
He admitted later it needed a lot of work, but it was still important for him to own one of the best Corvettes ever made. The split window is a standout design, with Leno admitting he loved it since seeing one as a kid. Backed by its incredible speed, this is one impulse buy hes happy about until today.
Jay Lenos Face Burned In La Garage After Car Bursts Into Flames
Comedian taken to burn center but eye and ear are not severely damaged: I am OK
Jay Leno is being treated for burns at a Los Angeles hospital after one of his cars burst into flames in his garage over the weekend and seriously injured the comedians face.
Leno told Variety in a statement: I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.
The comedians agent, Steve Levine, told the Daily Beast: Thank goodness, Jay is OK.
The former late-night TV host, an avid car collector, was burned on the left side of his face and hands in a gasoline incident in his car garage this weekend, a Grossman Burn Center spokesperson told CNN. His eye and ear were not severely damaged.
He is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well- wishes, the statement said. He wants to let everyone know he is doing well and is in the best burn center in the United States.
The 72-year-old cancelled plans to attend a Las Vegas financial conference on Sunday after the incident, but details were not shared publicly at the time.
Leno was one of Americas most-watched late-night TV hosts, attracting about 4.8 million viewers to his five-nights-a-week show until he left in 2009 and was replaced by Conan OBrien.
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Jay Leno’s Financial Philosophies That Paid Off
Leno had several financial habits in his early years that served him well, and they helped him establish a good financial foundation to build his current fortune on. Ever since his first job, Leno started saving, believing that he should work multiple jobs or set up multiple income streams in order to become richer.
A rather clever move was the decision to live on lesser paychecks he made while sending the bigger ones straight to his savings account to keep for a rainy day. This philosophy remained with him into his more successful years. As mentioned earlier, Leno actually lived off stand-up comedy money while saving his talk show money.
He also never wanted to use credit cards, believing that if he avoided using them he wouldn’t end up in debt. That exact same principle also explains why Leno wouldn’t buy a house with mortgage loans, as he wanted to buy only when he had the full amount of money readily available.
He never took out a loan for any of his cars they were all paid for in full upon acquisition. By doing this, Leno not only avoided debt, but he also avoided having to pay interest, meaning when his rare and highly sought-after classics increase in value, the profits are all his.
Jay Leno Seriously Burned In Garage Fire After Vehicle Erupts In Flames
LOS ANGELES Jay Leno was seriously burned in a garage fire Saturday after one of his cars erupted in flames, he said Monday.
I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet, Leno, 72, said in a statement.
Leno was working when a flash fire started in a car, a representative said.
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After The Tonight Show
Leno has maintained an active schedule as a touring stand-up comedian, doing an average of 200 live performances a year in venues across the United States and Canada and at charity events and USO tours. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, and was a guest on the finale of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He appeared in a cameo role drilling and tormenting James Corden in a facetious boot camp for talk-show hosts on the premiere of The Late Late Show with James Corden. He declined an invitation to appear on Late Show with David Letterman despite speculation he would appear on the show’s finale.
Leno hosted a one-hour Jay Leno’s Garage special on CNBC, and the show has aired as a primetime series on the cable channel since 2015.
Leno also had a recurring role in the Tim Allen comedy series Last Man Standing since season 5, playing a mechanic, Joe Leonard, in a store operated by Allen’s character, Mike Baxter.
Leno has hosted the third revival of the game show You Bet Your Life since its premiere in fall 2021. It has been renewed for a second season.
Leno also does voice acting, such as The Crimson Chin on The Fairly Odd Parents from 2001 to 2016 and Billy Beagle of Mickey and the Roadster Racers.
Exploring An Oldsmobile Race Car
Oldsmobile models in the early 1990s were synonymous with large and plush highway cruisers equipped with V8s, but the brand adapted the Quad 442 W-41 into a potent racing machine. Thanks to a lightweight crankshaft and rods, the horsepower of the tiny but mighty engine increased to 240 hp.
Oldsmobile then made other modifications to help on the track. Air conditioning got stripped, along with sound-deadening materials on the floor. Engine performance and durability received extra support through an oil cooler.
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The Incident Allegedly Happened Sunday Burning The Left Side Of His Face
Update: In a statement to Variety, Leno reportedly confirmed he received serious burns from a gasoline fire but that he was okay, and would be back on his feet in a week or two.
Comedian and avid car collector Jay Leno is reportedly recovering from burns to his face, stemming from a fire at his garage in Los Angeles. The incident occurred Sunday, with TMZ reporting Leno having burns on the left side of his face. No other individuals were mentioned as being injured.
It is unclear at this time the extent of Leno’s injuries. TMZ calls the burns serious, or at least, serious enough to be admitted to the burn ward at Grossman Burn Center. It’s also unclear as to exactly what happened, with TMZ stating one of his cars burst into flames. The specific car, as well as the condition of other cars and his garage, are unknown. The report further states that Leno has canceled all his engagements for the coming week.
Jay Leno’s Garage:
Jay Leno’s Garage Boasts A Wide Variety Of Cars
Unlike many other collectors who focus on one brand or one type of vehicle, Leno’s passion allows him to collect any vehicle, making his collection one of the most diverse in the world. He has two turbine cars: a 1963 Chrysler Turbine and a custom-designed EcoJet. Leno owns multiple electric cars too, three of which date back to the early 1900s.
Not all of his vehicles are meticulously restored either, as Leno also modifies his vehicles. One example is his 1914 Detroit Electric, in which he gave a more modern feel with Bluetooth and air conditioning. He also has seven steam cars and many service trucks, in addition to seven race cars and 14 supercars. He also owns a 2006 Pratt And Miller Corvette, and he enjoys his prized 1972 Citroën SM Sedan of 35 years.
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Rare Oldsmobile On The Road
While Leno wants to take the racer on the road, he sets off in the street-legal edition of the Olds instead. Almost immediately, Leno remarks, “I like driving this thing.” It’s a car with just the right horsepower for a zippy but not overpowered drive. Undoubtedly, a weight of only 2,500 pounds helps in the performance department.
As Leno and Szafraniec banter about, there’s also discussion about this Oldsmobile’s uniqueness, a vehicle built during General Motors transition to a mainly front-wheel-drive manufacturer. Szafraniec comments that when he brings his Olds to car shows, it stands out among the more common examples seen at these events.
Leno sums up his experience by saying it’s “not really fast by modern definition, but it feels fast” and adds that this Olds is “the ultimate sleeper.”
/10 1955 Mercedes 300sl Gullwing Coupe
It took years, but at last, in 2010, Leno got his hands on one of the most exclusive Mercedes-Benz models ever made. The 300SL Gullwing Coupe is famous for those gorgeous gullwing doors that have been replicated but never quite duplicated for a car.
After buying it, Leno restored the car to its former glory and has been seen racing it. He even got a chance to drive the oldest 300SL Gullwing ever made on a special track. While that one is out of reach, Leno is more than happy to have at least one of these exclusive models in his sizable collection.
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Jay Leno Treated For Burns From Garage Fire
Leno has an estimated 180 cars and 160 motorcycles at his garage adjacent to Hollywood Burbank Airport, according to duPont Registry, a marketplace and publication for rare and classic auto collectors.
Leno was burned on his face and his hands, said a spokesperson for West Hills Hospital & Burn Center, the home of the Grossman Burn Center, where Leno was being treated.
“He is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well wishes,” the statement said.
The Burbank Fire Department said in a statement Monday that it responded to a medical emergency in the area of Leno’s garage at 12:28 p.m. Saturday. The patient, whom the department didnt publicly identify, was taken to a hospital.
Its not clear which vehicle was involved. Many of Lenos vehicles, including steam-powered models and a jet-powered car, predate contemporary safety and efficiency standards.
The garage, which employs mechanics and support staffers to maintain and restore vehicles in the collection, is also the location of his Big Dog Productions company.
In July, duPont Registry estimated that Leno’s car collection was worth a little more than $50 million and that his total net worth was about a half-billion dollars.
Leno, the former host of NBCs Tonight Show, canceled a Las Vegas performance scheduled for Sunday night, People reported.
Leno’s injuries and recovery werent expected to affect his CNBC show, which recently completed airing its seventh season.
/10 1932 Morgan Three
Among his various TV guest roles, Leno popped up in an episode of The Simpsons. Homer finds a Morgan Three-Wheeler when cleaning the garage and takes it for a spin. Leno happens to be visiting Springfield, sees him, and buys the car on the spot.
Leno does own a real version and loves how the five-speed gearbox works like a Miata. Its not a powerful car and loves to tell the story of how he thought he was cruising at 60 mph only for a cop to say he was only doing 37. Its a quirky car, but its still one of Lenos favorites.
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Jay Leno Has The Rarest Of Rare American Cars
A fuel-injected Chrysler from 1958 that shouldn’t exist? That’s only where things start.
Lots of ultra-wealthy car collectors take an easy path, spending huge figures on limited-edition cars in exchange for a slot in their favorite carmaker’s one-off program so that they can spend even more. The Jay Leno method is a touch more complicated, as on top of the cash, his vast collection demands patience and a skillful team of experts.
It’s hard to keep a track on the evolution of Leno’s garage, but his detailed restoration blogs on his YouTube channel help. The latest update begins with a 1965 Jensen C-V8. This rare fiberglass-bodied British car hides a 383ci Chrysler V-8 under what seems to be the period’s most complicated hood-locking mechanism. For safety, it also has four-wheel disc brakes.
On September 28, 1957, Chrysler announced electronic fuel injection for the 1958 model year. It intended to use the Bendix Corporation’s Electrojector system to push its Rambler Rebels, the Chrysler 300Ds, Dodge D500s, DeSoto Adventurers and Plymouth Furys into the future, but the technology never worked right, and was quickly cancelled. Rumor has it that 23 fuel-injected 1958 300Ds left the factory, most of which got recalled immediately so the Electrojector system could be replaced with four-barrel carburetor, and some shameful de-badging could take place.
The Top 20 Strangest But Coolest Cars In Jay Lenos Garage
Jay Lenos Garage is full of the most wicked, most quirky, and just downright strangest cars ever manufactured. Some of them are legal to drive on the highway while others have yet to hit the markets. Either way, youll want to take a look at these 20 cars, which range from funky to epic, antique to futuristic.
See which one tops your personal list. Just dont get carried away because these cars are rare finds. Check it out!
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