Car Collector

Jay Leno's cars

Dedicated comedian and host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno has been collecting classic cars for as long as he can remember, and has amassed one of the greatest car collections in the world. He doesn't just have knowledge of cars, but a passion for them. Out in the magical realm of Southern California is Leno's Big Dog Garage - a 17,000 square foot custom-built garage spread across three warehouse-sized buildings. A garage this size is necessary when you've got a collection of about 80 cars and 80 motorcycles.

The Collection

Everything from McLarens and Lamborghinis to Duisenbergs and Hornets, Leno has it all - not as museum pieces but as vehicles he enjoys driving. His collection covers 100 years of automotive history, his oldest cars being the 1906 Stanley Steamer and the 1906 Baker electric car and his newest, a 2006 Corvette. Some of his rarer finds include a Bugatti Atlantic, a Monteverdi and a turbine motorcycle.

But Leno's favorite car is likely 1955 Buick. This was not only his first car, but it was also the car that brought him to California. While he was a struggling comic in Los Angeles, his Buick also served as an apartment-on-wheels. He spent many nights sleeping in his parked car in the alleyways next to comedy clubs. This car may look stock but it's been modified to pack an additional 500 horsepower, and like all of his other cars, he still takes it out for a spin every now and again. In fact, Leno drives one car from his collection to work each day.

Leno's Classic-Car Hunting Tips

Leno says that hunting for an old car is no different than going antiquing with your wife on a Sunday afternoon. If you go out looking for old cars with no particular model in mind then you're more likely to find a car that you really like. You'll never know what you'll stumble across. He says that the best finds are the ones that have an interesting story.

Take his 1941 American LaFrance fire truck as an example. It was bought new by Warner Brothers to be used as their studio truck. In the '50s it was donated by the studio to the City of Burbank where it sat around for decades. One day the Burbank fire chief called up Leno and asked if he wanted the old truck. Leno accepted and became the first registered owner of the antique fire truck. He says that you have to be open to weird vehicles that have interesting stories.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

If you love your car, you’ve got treat it right – stock will never do for your hot wheels! Whether it’s for performance or just for the look, aftermarket parts can turn that car you just brought home into your own pimp ride.