I miss TG and GT so much. No one has bothered to even replace these guys. The new lambo was shown recently (hybrid I think) and I wouldve loved to see Clarkson rip it around and see what he thinks.
@@MistaH1N1 No one is going to replace TG and GT, even TG can't replace TG. That is why nobody replaced them, they can't. Every other car show is going to be compared to TG and nothing holds up, because nobody is like the trio. That is why it was so successful: their chemistry. New-new TG had 3 restarts and still was struggling, every spinoff failed, every copy failed. People tried, to no avail. Except GT, because it's the three guys.
The fact that one can walk up to practically any of these vehicles and start them with next to no effort says volumes about Jay as a collector. So many rich guys collect cars and just treat them as static art pieces. Jay & his crew take pride in maintaining the collection in road-worthy mechanical condition as much as they do keeping them shined-up and showroom-ready. Huge respect for that. EDIT: Okay, just to clarify, I don't have a problem with collectors keeping cars as art objects or investments. It's their money and they can do what they want with it. Plus, it still preserves cars for the future. Even if they might need mechanical work from not being run, it's WAY better than letting them rot out in a field or barn. I'm not here to judge; I just appreciate Jay for being both a collector and a true gearhead.
That's the craziest thing for me... The guy just walks up to any vehicle and just start them and they run like clockwork. I have 3 cars and struggle to have them running properly all at once 😂
Also, that he remembers everything about them. Starting that Ace is no easy task, but Jay knows where every setting and switch is. Watching him do this with his steam cars is like ASMR.
Mr. Lenos cars spark perfectly as his own enthusiasm is sparked, but I wonder how well and probably very politely hidden the sparks of enthusiasm in the eyes of some of his very cool guests sometimes are. I can not get my head around it - I would imagine myself being much more like a Kid in a sweetshop, very embarrassing on camera for others to watch maybe - surely not as cool as under sedative medication.
The exact opposite of that AI loser that had a whole mansion emptied out to store his cars that he treated like toys and only had them to show of to other rich losers.
I was thinking, there is no way one of those aircraft engined cars could steer around the drive thru, and the exhaust would be a shock to the guy inside with headset
Julia Child was a Cordon Bleu trained chef and kept a road map in her car with all In-N-Out locations marked on it (she also stopped eating at McDonalds when they stopped frying their fries in beef tallow, but did until then).
I think the truly best part of Jay's collection, is that it's not really a collection in the same way that other people "collect" cars. The fact that he has over 150 cars and every single one of them starts pretty much on the button, and he knows all about each one of them is absolutely crazy. He's just walking around, sharing it with James, and he knows exactly what James will think is cool and knows the story to them all. This isn't just a collection. This is genuinely curated. A lot of effort went into this, and once Jay passes on, I really hope the collection stays together
@@bmrman95 I imagine the collection is set up as a company that he feeds money into. And his will has some sort of trust where he leaves a lot of money to maintain the upkeep of the collection for the foreseeable after he's passed. But that's just speculation
I kind of hope they all get sold off and keep brightening up the days of people seeing them out in the world. After Jays gone this amazing collection just becomes a museum. A car is only alive while its owned by a person that cars for it and drives it.
I genuinely appreciate the fact that Jay not only offered May a drink, but turned around to the camera crew and offered them drinks as well 13:01 I really hope I meet this guy someday
James May is dry with everyone. The personality you saw from both of them is their personalities. Would you rather them fake it so that you're happy about their interaction?
Jay Leno… a man with so many cool cars, he can tailor the tour to each guest… “Oh, you’re British and like planes? Let me show you these 25 vehicles I think you’ll like!” I feel like every tour I’ve ever seen Jay give was thoughtfully customized for what kind of stuff each guest would geek out over because he enjoys other people’s enjoyment of cool cars.
@@iamweave there is no chance he doesn't do that. He has no children to pass it along to, and that collection is his pride and joy. I could see him donating a few cars to other museums or passing some along to friends, but I think for sure most of the collection will end up being a museum, although his staff will probably be allowed to regularly drive those cars as he hates just having them just sit there.
Right? It's weird, so many comments are being like "James is being rude!". They are just two blokes, chatting about a shared interest, whilst Jay gives James a tour. It's an authentic interaction, rather than putting on a show.
Jay is such a strong guy. I hate to say it, but he really started showing his age the last couple of years since his burning accident, and then his motorcycle wreck where he broke both kneecaps. Now, with his poor wife fighting dementia, he's got so much on his plate, but these cars are what keeps him going for sure. Stay strong Jay!! Much love ❤
He's had a rough go. 2 accidents and his wife isn't well at all. He's had a lot on his plate, but he still works on his media entertainment and obviously with others. He's a legend in multiple areas.
It's pretty incredible watching how James slowly begins to understand exactly how badly Jay's mental faculties are eroding. My stepdad is having the same thing happening now and it's just happy and sad at the same time.
I don’t care what anyone says, Jay is the car guys car guy. He is such a humble man who collects because he actually loves and appreciates mechanical design. Jay is certainly showing his age, I hope he is with us for many years yet to come.
He fr is. He doesn’t just show famous people his garage, he’s had youtubers with like 250k subs and shown them around and you gotta ask, why? He’s not gaining anything out of that… It’s because Jay really just enjoys sharing his cars with fellow enthusiasts. He’s the car guy we all wanna be, 150+ cars and rich enough to spend all his time just showing other people them.
I really, really like talking with smart, old people. I spent my life teaching youngsters. I don't feel guilty at all for hogging the time of oldsters.
Exactly this! HOW does he remember how every machine works? I would get on my Moto Guzzi after a few months and wonder why it wouldn't start....oh yeah, turn the ignition on. Leno is a humble legend....as is May.
Yes I was wondering about that, as usually things have there own idiosyncrasy to be able to start up. Although maybe he only starts the ones that are easy.
For sure he just doesn't buy them and let them sit and get oily and unkept. He knows each one and keeps them up. Gosh that must be a fulltime job for him if you think about all the vehicles he has to keep in running condition.
Jay KNOWS these cars...he never fumbles with them. He just does what he needs to do to show what he wants to show. I hope there are plans for this collection in the future.
I agree, Jay is starting to show his age. I would assume he has a plan for the collection when the time comes. But like he said in the video, you need to drive the cars in order to preserve the cars. So just putting them in a museum to sit idle for 365 days of the year, isn't what he will be looking for.
That was my first thought as well. He approached that motorcycle with the yellow wheels and immediately fettled half a dozen different controls to make it start and idle smoothly. Truly passionate about his collection.
My genuine hope is that Jay's collection gets turned into a museum we can visit. Then the cars would be shared with everyone which I want to believe Jay would want to.
@@BigCityBoyyyy that would be cool, but you'd need someone who knows the history of each piece of the collection to really be entertaining. If you watched this video with no audio from Jay, this video would be mundane.
The collection is so large, even if you drive one a day you will probably be leaving vehicles sit for a year. An interesting business model for a museum might be to have all these cars on exhibition (as they are now) that anybody can visit any time. Then retain a handful of expert drivers on staff which drive a car or two for an hour or two every day, and have a lottery system for the public where you can apply to get a ride along. That way, each car will get driven periodically by people who understand and respect them, and as a member of the public you get an opportunity to ride in any number of the vehicles. The lottery system would keep the ridealongs at a sustainable level and give everyone an equal chance at the experience. I realize there are a handful of single-person vehicles in the collection, but those are the exception rather than the rule.
The dude is a legend. Not only does he work on his own rigs, he caught fire, survived, and then was in a motorcycle accident. And it’s like he’s not even faized
You forgot the matter of Jay spinning his Porsche Carrera GT at 160 mph -- without hitting anything -- _and_ getting upside-down as a passenger in a Top Fuel hotrod? It is the job of a comedian to laugh at death -- and be paid so well in doing so that he has the money to buy $300 million worth of automobiles. Did you know that this money did/does NOT come from his earnings as a past host of the _The Tonight Show_ ?
What you see is what you get with Jay. He has no side to him. Just a thoroughly decent, doen to earth guy who just happens to be able to own a shed load of vehicles.
@@PaulFellows3430 That's what I love about him. I am not a die-hard car guy, but I love people who are happy to show off what they have without being pretentious or "So much better than you."
I knew he was asking the camera crew but it almost felt like a personal invitation for a soft drink. I wouldn't have been surprised if the kitchen had been set up like a 1950s burger stand. It just seems like it would fit in.
@@joshuawharton9576 Nah he drives them himself. Though he does have a team to maintain them. Either way, it shows that he has a true passion for cars and motorcycles. He doesn't just collect them. He has them maintained and loves driving them.
Definitely a huge plus. Also check out Dale from Wheels Through Time museum out in Tennessee, he has hundreds going back to the 1910's and every single one runs and rides. Fascinating
I thought his obvious lack of interest was quite disrespectful to Leno, especially considering most people would be blown away by that collection of classic vehicles.
Leno is a man WITH money that loves cars/bikes. This video clearly show he know everything about every piece in his collection and ACTUALLY drives them. A REAL collector
@@glenchapman3899well also he notoriously low balls and anonymizes. Selling Jay Leno a car that Jay leno wants should be like winning a contest. Instead he tricks his way into more cars while maintaining a mountain of gold coins.
Jay is an international treasure! He seems so lovely, and I've always admired his passion for old bits of engineering. I would love nothing more than to visit this place as a functional museum one day.
@@NOSUBSCRIBERSWANTED Then again considering that Jay is a decently wealthy individual, insurance rates are practically a walk in the palk with all those vehicles he can afford easily.
If people with money is taking care of motor history like this, letting it live on for coming generations I think it is great. Not really your stuff then, life is short and hard and wanderful.
Just seeing Jay sit there in an old car shooting flames and smoke out the sides as James looks on in Amazement is one of my favorite automotive moments ever.
@__PJ__ Both Jay and James are concerned about climate change, did you even watch this whole video? Both own multiple electric cars and see them as the future of transport - with petrol cars being used as enthusiast cars on weekends. What a small minded comment
I think what I love the most about this is knowing that James actually prefers new cars as he's stated previously, but that he still has enough knowledge and understanding to appreciate and respect Jay's collection
James may is very practical so it makes sense. New cars run better and have more creature comforts than old cars. So when he says he prefers new cars think of it as a driving experience. I reckon he likes to drive newer cars and own them as they’re typically better on the road and more refined… that being said he’s a motorhead and appreciates old cars clearly. But when he says he prefers new cars it makes perfect sense from a practicality sense
@@TheScrubmuffin69 The exact sentiment is that James May prefers to *drive* new cars, and thinks in general if you need a car to get around, it should be newer. The older cars are hobbies, things for people to own as an interest, something to spend your weekends with, not something to rely on to get to work. My Dad was a gear head and grew up in the 60's and 70's and he had a similar sentiment, he preferred to work on older cars because it was easier, everything was mechanical and worked in a way that was predictable by looking at it, BUT he certainly didn't prefer older brakes, old steering, old suspension, old internal combustion problems that would periodically mean he had to walk for tools or groceries. Those older cars were easier to work on yes, but they broke down considerably more often and were far less predictable, a modern car should be able to go 100,000 miles with nothing but routine maintenance, a '66 vette? You'd be in the garage at least every few weeks because it failed to start AGAIN, or it was making a ticking noise, or wouldn't stay running at idle and in gear, or something. Anyone who thinks old cars were just more reliable never truly lived with an older car. That said, they are way more entertaining, more fun to work on, and often represent some form of history you can touch and feel. But just don't rely on it to get you to the office every day, unless you're the boss and being late isn't a problem.
18:40 Talking about EV's. It brings me joy to hear two, big time, car dudes acknowledge that EV's have a place in this world. So many motor heads just immediately shout "get that electric trash out of here". EV's fill the roll of cars with automatic transmissions. I very briefly drove a manual in California rush hour. It was a truly terrible experience. Traffic averages about 7 mph.
That's not true. My Toyota gives my average driving speed and I consistently hit EIGHT miles per hour. So there! I used to have a manual and....not fun.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting this garage and meeting Jay. The part where he asks the camera crew if they want anything to drink is Jay. He’s such a nice person.
One time Leno shows up at the Rock Store on one of his motos. I'm up there on what you guys would call a "push-bike" after riding up there through the Malibu Hills. Me and couple of friends are sitting around surrounded by the Sunday moto folks as Leno rolls up, parks his moto, see us and proclaims "Healthy guys?!?!? Get the f__k outta here!" Sorry, no photos but I can get a friend to back up the story. Used to see Leno doing stand-up back-in-the-day at LA comedy clubs, long before he took over late-night TV. Yep, I'm THAT old!
Every time I see videos of Jay’s garage I’m almost as impressed with the wall decor as I am the cars themselves. For being a working auto garage, the place is as immaculately styled as a museum.
Jay has had local artists and his old crew from his TV host days do the art work in his collection. According to him, they can knock out full wall murals in only a few days. He really puts full effort into his museum.
Well, except Ferraris. He says he likes them but couldn't stand having to basically bribe a dealer or buy an entry level one to get what he wanted, so he doesn't have any. Disappointed he showed all of those aero-engined cars, but not his Hispano-Suiza. He posted a clip driving it not too long ago so I think he still has it, as he says, he never sells anything. He fudged the truth a bit on the V-12 Jaguar, I've seen an earlier video where he said he bought it that way and had the guy one whose car it was who did the work. Also that's a Series III bonnet, not a Series II, and with the headlights covered over which they would not have been originally. ua-cam.com/video/22NTet2n-Sg/v-deo.html
@@donquixote63 I like his quote from Pebble which was in the Live stream the year he was guest, but was clipped out later, "Show me a Ferrari owner on his first wife and I'll get one!" He is right and still on his first wife iirc.
The real classics in that garage are Jay and James!. Great to see them together. My Uncle talked tractors and farm vehicles in the same manner and mannerisms that Jay has. At 94 all still stored in his memory, which he easily recollected. Amazing man. Unfortunately he passed shortly after my last visit. He was pinned under his Farm-all when a creek bank collapsed. He died using his favorite machine. When I caught this video Jay reminded my of him. Thanks Jay. miss you and your show.. Al the best!
I hope he didn't suffer too long, my grandfather was 90 in 2015, and he had all the knowledge of getting things fixed on our farm gone with him, especially all the water pipes underground around the fields, not a clue where some of them run 😂
I have a new appreciation for what Leno has done.At first I thought he was just a rich guy that could afford to collect them . But you can tell how connected he is to this hobby and how much he appreciates each nuance of the different vehicles.
He uses his hobby to help other people, employing people, advancing awareness of other people’s businesses, quick to highlight good products, the lot. And impressively ready to adopt high tech like 3d scanning and printing to save an old car. A collector’s collector, and very open with it for all. I’m also impressed with the variety from restomods to original unrestored. He really collects very hard indeed!
In 1971 I began working for an auto/heavy truck repair shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. (nice combo, eh?) On my first day I believe the owner, my boss, wasn't really certain what to do with me yet so he sent me across the street to see an elderly gentleman. It was one of my most fortunate life experiences. This gentleman was nearing his '80s. He had been a mechanic all of his working life. Somewhere in New York he operated a gas station and made most of his living repairing and maintaining cars. Apparently his business was near an affluent area. At the ripe old age of 15 I had little exposure to 'significant' automobiles of the past. But I had enough sense to recognize what was of interest in design and mechanics. It's been a while. You'll have to excuse my fractured memory. The most impressive car, to me, was his Dove Gray (with thin red and white pinstripes, similar to what Lincoln would later have on it's 'Signature Series' Cartier Mk IV.) It was a two door, with a rumble seat, Marmon 16 DHC (my term, not his or Marmon's) boattail. It was MASSIVE! And gorgeous. It was his singular pride and joy, even though he had quite the collection. While growing up both my parents worked for Ford and I pretty much grew up in Lincolns and T-Birds. As such, I readily recognized and appreciated the deep red leather, wide roll and tuck front seat! It's almost impossible to find a leather Davenport to equal it. He came by these cars, in his words, from his customers. When they grew tired of them, could no longer or didn't want to 'afford' the maintenance they needed, etc. they would deed them over to him and his retirement was based on the pleasure of restoring them. And he did a wonderful job! The cars I can recall: I recall one in particular, as my new boss loved Corvairs. This sizeable car had its engine in the back. It was also air-cooled and a six cylinder. But it was a lot larger than any Corvair and quite a bit older in body style. And most of the Corvairs I had ever seen were pretty ragged, this car was showroom. For the life of me I can't recall what he said it was... But I do know today! He had a little number, a pale yellow roadster. If I recall correctly he claimed it could beat the pants off of a Stutz Bearcat (and he had one of those as well so he should know.) It was a Mercer Raceabout. Haven't seen one since. Just ahead of the Mercer was another, a not quite so old 'runabout', with 'Invicta' on its badge. I asked about it but he didn't have much to say about it (or maybe, and most likely, I don't recall much past that.) The next car was one I had slight knowledge of - a Cord 810. Who can't be impressed by its coffin nose? For me, though, it fell flat on its face once you went past the windshield. But I digress. There was probably six or so more cars in the warehouse but it's been a long time ago for my increasingly easy to fracture memory. I do recall talking with him about Granatelli's turbine car losing the Indy 500. His response was my first introduction to an adult having a 'conspiracy theory', calling the 'failure of a $6 transmission bearing' as being "total bullsh*t." To him, and probably many others, it was the only way to explain what really occurred. And it also served to direct my future ability to understand and employ 'colorful' language. Thanks for allowing me to tell the story, it's been decades since I've known anyone that might appreciate hearing it. Oh, by the way... It was about 4 p.m. when I made my way back to my new job. My boss had a, "I guess I did that to myself' look on his face and told me he'd see me in the morning. The next day he assigned me my first professional repair - replacing the timing chain on a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 389 Tri-Power. Pontiac timing chain replacements became a common part of my professional life for the next few years...
There is a book published in the early 60s,by Ralph Stein,called The Great Cars. And he loved Invicta cars. He published a second coffee table book I have never read. You should see if your library system has a copy,or look for a used copy on the various used book sites. Invictas were fast cars for the period,with a terrifying tendency to swap ends at speed. That is what I remember from the book. Cheers.
Finally Jay Leno meets someone that deserves the same level of respect. Two fine gentleman, completely different at the same time as being so very similar.
I’ve always though he seems mildly autistic, he has that hyper passion for vehicles and, if you indulge him, he is so capable and willing to explain the in depth history of any vehicle he has. I would absolutely love to tour his shop with him.
@@Dr.TJ_EckleburgI thought this myself, he is probably jet lagged as he only got in country the night before however yeah the vibe was a bit weird. I’m noticed Jay’s body language change a bit when he noticed James wasn’t all that interested in some things
Jay Leno is such an amazing human being. Please please please. When jay eventually passes(I wish that day could never come) don't let his garage get sold off to the highest bidder. This garage needs to preserved and grow with all the historical vehicles that we have. It's such an amazing garage.
This reminds me as a child visiting my friend and he shows me all his toys with all the excitement. Literally no difference, amazing to see those two in one place talking about cars.
It is also fantastic When Cameron shows up with something his grandfather bought and they take it for a spin - even if they have to commandeer an airport street to do it.
I agree. He isn't like other car collectors that just buy a car and let it sit in the garage forever. I always love that Jay can just walk up to any car, truck, bike, or whatever vehicle it is and it'll start right up.
If you live or work in the valley, you will spot Jay in one these on a regular basis. Super approachable too, Jay is not scary or trapped by his celebrity.
@camaro25 let's not forget that he has a fleet of mechanics too that keep the cars in that condition. Would be nice not to worry about a dead battery or old gas and just be able to drive them.
Older generation Brits don't pride themselves on having a stiff upper lip for nothing. Things can get rowdy here though, they announced recently they may change the official measure of the British pint. My father raised an eyebrow for the first time in a decade and apparently my neighbour even grumbled.
Talk about a dream team. What a special treat. Thank you James & Jay. If you two wanted to make a show together it could quite possibly be the greatest of all time.
This is clearly one of the few times where we've seen James truly overwhelmed, and the result makes us more interested in these vehicles than we otherwise would have ever been. Amazing work!
James wandering around nonchalantly whilst thinking, I don't like old cars, meanwhile Jay tries to summon enthusiasm with the recurring, It's quite fast actually, commentary.
I think he just doesn't like them in the sense that he wouldn't want to own one to drive and deal with the headaches. I'm sure he likes them in the sense of admiring the old engineering solutions and such.
@@dyingearth may would be better explaining thos. Cars are better now than they ever were. Although a Lambo Espada looks fantastic, driving it is rubbish.
@@xtnuser5338 yeah you want to drive the new cars and look at the old cars, those cars are incredible, just walking around cranking up and hearing and seeing 80 or 100 year old cars is an insane privilege, and I mean..you look at wealthy people and they're all sporting the most expensive wrist watches while iphones exist, honestly you'd think those watches would no longer sell, practically obsolete since that phone does everything but people still appreciate craftsmanship and all the mechanical workings
Jay is a great dude. I mean, dude goes hard for cars, great sense of humor regardless of political affiliations. Legend. I'm a bit of a May fan but kinda let down with he's reaction to the things Jay was stoked about, especially the Merlin.
With all these vintage priceless automobiles in this incredible garage the most valuable treasure is actually its owner. Jay Leno is an American national treasure.
1:02 - incredible how Jay knows so many backstories of his vehicles. it seemed that he was a little bit dissapointed that James didnt share the same amount of passion for it 😄
The love and respect Jay has for all of his machines is absolutely amazing. He earns the right to care for them, you can tell how deliberate he is about what he has. I envy his passion.
What a joy seeing this. I've met Jay several tmes at a motorcycle stop near Malibu, a few times it was just he and I must say he is the most humble, kind, warm guy truly a gentleman with no ego or arrogance at all. I'm not saying this to gloat about "meeting a star/celeb" rather to be appreciative of such a good guy whom others may not have the chance to get to know... not all celebs/rich people are total narcisistic a-holes
I grew up watching Captain Slow and grew up in the generation of muscle tuner and imports. I’m almost 34 now and James and Jay are by far the most knowledgeable car people I’ve come across. I saw this pop up and had to tell the older generations who introduced me to you gentleman. Im only three minutes in and cannot wait to watch this. I would REALLY love to see a series with James and the restoration guys. I could literally watch it for days straight. “James May Restorations : at Jay Lenos Garage”
This is why I think people love jay he has this amazing car collection obviously worth a lot of money and he doesn't push it in people's face like look what I got he's just happy to share his passion with People
The Grand Tour gentlemen each had their own specialties. James May's was automotive history, and he's very good at it. Glad to see him touring Leno's Garage.
The only comedian that uses his entire fortune to support his real passion. Maintenance, insurance, employees, and many warehouses of collectible vehicles.
On CNBC website Jay Leno mentions that he always had two jobs since he was teenager. He has his stand up comedian gig along with writing auto/motorcycle articles. Rumor has it that he did not touch money he received from NBC's Tonight Show.
I've been waiting for this!! I posted 6-7 years ago on Jay's page that he should try to get Jeremy, James, and Richard there to take a tour and someone from Jay's page wrote back and said everyone's too busy, but Jay has the invitation always open. I'm glad at least James made it. Although James wasn't a great guest for Jay, he was worse than his usual grumpy self. I'm thinking he was overwhelmed to even be in Jay's Garage around his massive collection on the first place.
Mike Fernie really nailed it when he said that yes, May and Clarkson still are interested i cars, but not in the same way as Hammond. And it kinda shows here. Yes, there is a dep appreciation of cars and the collection, but its not the same energy that Hammond would show in a visit to Leno. Taking nothing away from May, I really enjoy him as a presenter.
He lost some weight.Got some new pants, he looks good. What I love hearing from Jay is how he was so thrilled to see a car when he was a child. The best news is that his Chrysler Turbine is fixed as I believe it it the only one that's driven.
May seems to appreciate engineering more than the entire package. He definitely perked up talking about aircraft engines in vehicles. He's truly an AV geek.
@@Poorschedriver Yeah, May seems to enjoy cars and other mechanical items on a philosophical/artistic level, whereas the other two focus more on the tactile experience of driving and the history behind certain models.
Leno made the classic enthusiast mistake of showing British cars to the British, because he doesn’t get to geek out to satisfactory levels over the particular cars he is into with local visitors.
This is my favorite Leno interview/garage tour ever. Capt. Slow is my favorite. I love how Leno kept mocking the British accent. I love these two guys. Probably my favorite two car geeks ever.
With all of his cars around it's so easy to forget that Leno has been a world-class comedian and TV presenter for decades. He's got a fantastic sense of humor for sure.
"mocking the British accent" - as in all the major countries, the range of accents is huge. Accent mocking among friends of various nationalities and even from different regions in the same country is good teasing fun. Have you seen A Fish Called Wanda? John Cleese's mocking of Kevin Kline's Americanness is hilarious.
May and Jay. Quite the combination. Thanks for the greatly entertaining content. The fact that all Jay's collection actually run and drive is truly amazing.
I've met Jay 3 times over the years at Newcomb's Ranch, which is a bike/car hangout on top of Angeles Crest Highway. He has always been gracious and very approachable. Love him. He is an LA institution.
Its probably fair to say that Jay stands head and shoulders above any other car collector in the world, not only because the collection is what it is, but because he is who he is.
Great vast collection, everything runs and a is driven, excellent knowledgeable staff doing the mechanics and painting, Jimmy doing the metal work, I have been following jay for decades and a humble man and a great ambassador for everything mechanical ❤❤❤
I have never watched Jay Leno on TV and had no opinion of the man. After watching this video I like the man and his unpretentious attitude, often a rare attribute for those of wealth. It is a marvellous collection, a major collection of motoring history covering many rare and expensive vehicles. I hope it remains always intact and maintained for future generations. It is a unique assembly of power and design, often reflecting both the engineering and the design art of its time.
he wasn't born into wealth that is the difference. He started out blue collar as a mechanic. He is extremely knowledgeable about cars. So yeah, he appreciates what he's earned and the cars he's restored himself! As a comedian he never really did it for me, but that is a personal taste.
As the other comment stated, Jay (like Madonna and David Letterman) came from working class backgrounds and generated generational wealth. I always remember a quote from Madonna who said she still knows how to ride the bus if she had to. Jay never talks bad about anybody unless he is making a joke and he took all the commentary/abuse about the Tonight Show return from other established TV host without retaliating, which shows his true class and highlighted the insecurities of the other tv hosts .
People like Jay maintaining the past are to be treasured.....old workhorses never die..... hope the younger generation grows old faster maintaining the old❤
I've seen countless Jay Leno tours of his garage with many different people/you tubers etc. This is the first one where I can appreciate the size of the collection.
Jay Leno is an amazing man, his dedication to automotive restoration and collecting is impeccable. Thank you James for delivering us this mind blowing video log👌
sometimes you see an old person and all the stuff they own and you think, he doesn't need this stuff, he doesn't even use it, how did he even get it all? but yeah they worked their butts off for decades and used and replaced this stuff many times over and appreciate and know everything they own, it's an insane collection and to get a tour like that is very lucky
i could watch a 2 hour version of this. I'm mostly interested in long form content ( shocking i know in today's media consumption) but watching these two talk about anything is so interesting, they've got a lot to tell from their knowledge and experience
This video has the energy of when the grandpa from your father's side of the family meets the grandpa from your mother's side of the family
😂
And I'm absolutely loving it😂
You would think James was being given a tour of a knitting museum. What an absolute bore he is.
@@joeyservo dont have to watch him if you know he's gonna be boring.
@@jmps8639 Captain Obvious is here everyone
All impressive but does he have a Dacia Sandero?
I miss TG and GT so much. No one has bothered to even replace these guys. The new lambo was shown recently (hybrid I think) and I wouldve loved to see Clarkson rip it around and see what he thinks.
anyway....
@@MistaH1N1 it is indeed a shame they dont make real fun car shows like TG or GT ...
If they were legal in the US to buy, I'd own one in a heartbeat. Thanks James.
@@MistaH1N1 No one is going to replace TG and GT, even TG can't replace TG. That is why nobody replaced them, they can't. Every other car show is going to be compared to TG and nothing holds up, because nobody is like the trio. That is why it was so successful: their chemistry.
New-new TG had 3 restarts and still was struggling, every spinoff failed, every copy failed. People tried, to no avail. Except GT, because it's the three guys.
The fact that one can walk up to practically any of these vehicles and start them with next to no effort says volumes about Jay as a collector. So many rich guys collect cars and just treat them as static art pieces. Jay & his crew take pride in maintaining the collection in road-worthy mechanical condition as much as they do keeping them shined-up and showroom-ready. Huge respect for that.
EDIT: Okay, just to clarify, I don't have a problem with collectors keeping cars as art objects or investments. It's their money and they can do what they want with it. Plus, it still preserves cars for the future. Even if they might need mechanical work from not being run, it's WAY better than letting them rot out in a field or barn. I'm not here to judge; I just appreciate Jay for being both a collector and a true gearhead.
That's the craziest thing for me... The guy just walks up to any vehicle and just start them and they run like clockwork. I have 3 cars and struggle to have them running properly all at once 😂
I had the same thought when he casually stopped by that stunning motorcycle and started it up just like that. My jaw dropped.
Also, that he remembers everything about them. Starting that Ace is no easy task, but Jay knows where every setting and switch is. Watching him do this with his steam cars is like ASMR.
Mr. Lenos cars spark perfectly as his own enthusiasm is sparked, but I wonder how well and probably very politely hidden the sparks of enthusiasm in the eyes of some of his very cool guests sometimes are. I can not get my head around it - I would imagine myself being much more like a Kid in a sweetshop, very embarrassing on camera for others to watch maybe - surely not as cool as under sedative medication.
The exact opposite of that AI loser that had a whole mansion emptied out to store his cars that he treated like toys and only had them to show of to other rich losers.
2 guys admiring a great collection. No script, no dramatization. Just dudes being wholesome sharing their passion for vehicles. Bravo
This is the best of youtube. No silly music, no THIRD party product placement. Just good honest infotainment.
Gin!
don't forget that gin bro
Terrible Gin photo and 5 mins of Coca Cola, finished with surf guitar music..
@@tcttvradio if you think surf guitar is product placement, then i'm Mandela reincarnated.
@@ivorharden wow read your post then, read my comment and come fix yourself nelson lol..
I love how Jay Leno has one of the most expensive car collections in the world, yet can still recommend In-N-Out Burger as one of the best in the area
I was thinking, there is no way one of those aircraft engined cars could steer around the drive thru, and the exhaust would be a shock to the guy inside with headset
Dude definitely seems like the type no matter how much money he has, he eats the same as he did when he was 20.
Only a person who has not had a Double Double would understand In-N-Out Burgers... Yummy on every finger.
I only visited Cali once. Had the world famous burger at Mel's drive in. I find it hard to believe anything is better.
Julia Child was a Cordon Bleu trained chef and kept a road map in her car with all In-N-Out locations marked on it (she also stopped eating at McDonalds when they stopped frying their fries in beef tallow, but did until then).
I think the truly best part of Jay's collection, is that it's not really a collection in the same way that other people "collect" cars. The fact that he has over 150 cars and every single one of them starts pretty much on the button, and he knows all about each one of them is absolutely crazy.
He's just walking around, sharing it with James, and he knows exactly what James will think is cool and knows the story to them all. This isn't just a collection. This is genuinely curated. A lot of effort went into this, and once Jay passes on, I really hope the collection stays together
Who will inherit this wonderful collection. Plz dont sell it mavis😢
@@bmrman95 I imagine the collection is set up as a company that he feeds money into. And his will has some sort of trust where he leaves a lot of money to maintain the upkeep of the collection for the foreseeable after he's passed. But that's just speculation
I kind of hope they all get sold off and keep brightening up the days of people seeing them out in the world. After Jays gone this amazing collection just becomes a museum. A car is only alive while its owned by a person that cars for it and drives it.
He has it written in his will. The collection will be inherited by his adopted son, Doug Demuro.
Jay makes the collection. Without him, the meaning is lost.
I genuinely appreciate the fact that Jay not only offered May a drink, but turned around to the camera crew and offered them drinks as well 13:01 I really hope I meet this guy someday
Gracious host
Absolutely, be a whole lot of a nicer world with more people like Jay in it ❤
The amount of chemistry these guys don’t have together is astounding.
😂
You can tell from Jay's "joke" about brits obsession with a proper Merlin
That's exactly what I was thinking. I was so excited but together it just didnt work.
James May is dry with everyone. The personality you saw from both of them is their personalities.
Would you rather them fake it so that you're happy about their interaction?
@@youWoNtLikeMe04 I’m not saying either of them are bad at what they do, I am absolutely a fan of both. They just have no chemistry together.
The two best-dressed presenters in auto journalism history, together at last.
Jay in his classic full denim outfit if only james had his classic striped jumper.
together (again) at last
Thought it was a walk off when I seen the video….
The sarcasm is strong with you.
I was impressed at how new Jay’s jean pants looked.
Jay Leno… a man with so many cool cars, he can tailor the tour to each guest… “Oh, you’re British and like planes? Let me show you these 25 vehicles I think you’ll like!” I feel like every tour I’ve ever seen Jay give was thoughtfully customized for what kind of stuff each guest would geek out over because he enjoys other people’s enjoyment of cool cars.
"Hi Jay, I am Azerbadjani and I like a specific type of rubber tree from Samoa"
"Ah, okay, hmm, I got 4 cars you should see!"
Kevinrush, that made me laugh because u r 100% correct.
Ha Ha Im from New Zealand Has Jay ever heard of a Treka
@@bbillbill3919 He probably has one that runs well and another waiting for restoration.
I know, but imagine thinking you have to tell James May the specs of a Merlin. He could tell you that in his sleep!
Two absolute legends. Could never get tired of these two chatting together.
Jay Leno's knowledge of everything in his collection is amazing. His garage is one place I would love to visit.
I am hoping after his passing it will be preserved and turned into a proper museum. Hopefully not too soon though.
Was thinking the same thing…
Two irelevant white males
@@iamweave there is no chance he doesn't do that. He has no children to pass it along to, and that collection is his pride and joy. I could see him donating a few cars to other museums or passing some along to friends, but I think for sure most of the collection will end up being a museum, although his staff will probably be allowed to regularly drive those cars as he hates just having them just sit there.
@@geoffletkemann653 It would be a good extension to the Petersen.
There is something so soothing about their quiet considered conversation, comfortable pauses, great interaction! What a great duo!
Right? It's weird, so many comments are being like "James is being rude!".
They are just two blokes, chatting about a shared interest, whilst Jay gives James a tour. It's an authentic interaction, rather than putting on a show.
They also just old and don’t talk like they used to
Jay is such a strong guy. I hate to say it, but he really started showing his age the last couple of years since his burning accident, and then his motorcycle wreck where he broke both kneecaps. Now, with his poor wife fighting dementia, he's got so much on his plate, but these cars are what keeps him going for sure. Stay strong Jay!! Much love ❤
If you hate to say it, don't say it. That's my advice.
@@frankb5603 It's just a figure of speech. Relax..
Was thinking that myself.
The aging really speeds up later in life.
He's had a rough go. 2 accidents and his wife isn't well at all. He's had a lot on his plate, but he still works on his media entertainment and obviously with others. He's a legend in multiple areas.
Jay's Brough room almost left James speechless... Jay Leno and Capt Slow...What a combo. We need more of this.
It's pretty incredible watching how James slowly begins to understand exactly how badly Jay's mental faculties are eroding. My stepdad is having the same thing happening now and it's just happy and sad at the same time.
@@MFWb00bi3sno jay is fine.
@@MFWb00bi3shis mental capacity is all there
@@VodPJ24uEgkkZTI thought the same
It felt like neither of them wanted to be there
@@MFWb00bi3s I was thinking it was the other way round.
I don’t care what anyone says, Jay is the car guys car guy. He is such a humble man who collects because he actually loves and appreciates mechanical design. Jay is certainly showing his age, I hope he is with us for many years yet to come.
He fr is. He doesn’t just show famous people his garage, he’s had youtubers with like 250k subs and shown them around and you gotta ask, why? He’s not gaining anything out of that…
It’s because Jay really just enjoys sharing his cars with fellow enthusiasts. He’s the car guy we all wanna be, 150+ cars and rich enough to spend all his time just showing other people them.
I agree,he is an American Icon 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I love how his passion for vehicles and his experience as a presenter dovetail perfectly in this video. He knows precisely what to show James.
I love comedy and cars. He's a much better car guy than comedy guy, given the his history with Conan.
I really, really like talking with smart, old people. I spent my life teaching youngsters. I don't feel guilty at all for hogging the time of oldsters.
Amazing thing is that he walks up to any vehicle, starts it and knows exactly how to keep it running. Legend. Always amazed by you Jay!
and he blows himself up too .. thats always spot on..
Exactly this! HOW does he remember how every machine works? I would get on my Moto Guzzi after a few months and wonder why it wouldn't start....oh yeah, turn the ignition on. Leno is a humble legend....as is May.
Yes I was wondering about that, as usually things have there own idiosyncrasy to be able to start up. Although maybe he only starts the ones that are easy.
its a show folks they show case the ones they want and and do a trial run so too speakk no mystery like a sound check next question..
yeah he knows all his cars, he restored many of them so he knows them intimately well.
Jay Leno's car collection is legit better than most museums. It's actually incredible what he's done.
Leno is a fantastic steward of our automotive culture. We're lucky to have him.
Agree 100%! 👍
He's doing the Lord's Work
May he live forever and a day!
Shame it's not open to Joe public, or is it?
I wonder what happen to his collection when he passes? It would be such a shame to see it just sold off.
Jay just doesn't talk the talk he absolutely walks the walk! He knows, works on, and drives these amazing vehicles! Respect.
That's what he is paying for.
It's because he's never had a friend. Machines are all he knows.
For sure he just doesn't buy them and let them sit and get oily and unkept. He knows each one and keeps them up. Gosh that must be a fulltime job for him if you think about all the vehicles he has to keep in running condition.
Jay KNOWS these cars...he never fumbles with them. He just does what he needs to do to show what he wants to show. I hope there are plans for this collection in the future.
I agree, Jay is starting to show his age. I would assume he has a plan for the collection when the time comes. But like he said in the video, you need to drive the cars in order to preserve the cars. So just putting them in a museum to sit idle for 365 days of the year, isn't what he will be looking for.
That was my first thought as well. He approached that motorcycle with the yellow wheels and immediately fettled half a dozen different controls to make it start and idle smoothly. Truly passionate about his collection.
My genuine hope is that Jay's collection gets turned into a museum we can visit. Then the cars would be shared with everyone which I want to believe Jay would want to.
@@BigCityBoyyyy that would be cool, but you'd need someone who knows the history of each piece of the collection to really be entertaining. If you watched this video with no audio from Jay, this video would be mundane.
The collection is so large, even if you drive one a day you will probably be leaving vehicles sit for a year.
An interesting business model for a museum might be to have all these cars on exhibition (as they are now) that anybody can visit any time. Then retain a handful of expert drivers on staff which drive a car or two for an hour or two every day, and have a lottery system for the public where you can apply to get a ride along. That way, each car will get driven periodically by people who understand and respect them, and as a member of the public you get an opportunity to ride in any number of the vehicles. The lottery system would keep the ridealongs at a sustainable level and give everyone an equal chance at the experience.
I realize there are a handful of single-person vehicles in the collection, but those are the exception rather than the rule.
His collection is so impossible for me to wrap my mind around. For many years I'm just blown away.
The dude is a legend.
Not only does he work on his own rigs, he caught fire, survived, and then was in a motorcycle accident. And it’s like he’s not even faized
He loves his stuff
When a guy doesn't party and never had kids...
Don’t forget he also rolled a guys drag car once.
You forgot the matter of Jay spinning his Porsche Carrera GT at 160 mph -- without hitting anything -- _and_ getting upside-down as a passenger in a Top Fuel hotrod?
It is the job of a comedian to laugh at death -- and be paid so well in doing so that he has the money to buy $300 million worth of automobiles. Did you know that this money did/does NOT come from his earnings as a past host of the _The Tonight Show_ ?
@@rickfazzini22 He was the passenger in that car.
It's criminal this is only 20 mins. I could watch these old geezers talk for hours.
Geezers? Hey listen, 74's the new 60. Or something like that
May is barely 60. he just looks older 😂
They sound painful to be around.
❤❤❤❤❤
❤❤❤❤❤
I love how down-to-earth both of them are, including Jay asking the camera crew if they want something to drink too. We need more videos like this!
What you see is what you get with Jay. He has no side to him. Just a thoroughly decent, doen to earth guy who just happens to be able to own a shed load of vehicles.
@@PaulFellows3430 That's what I love about him. I am not a die-hard car guy, but I love people who are happy to show off what they have without being pretentious or "So much better than you."
what a great show this would be
I knew he was asking the camera crew but it almost felt like a personal invitation for a soft drink. I wouldn't have been surprised if the kitchen had been set up like a 1950s burger stand. It just seems like it would fit in.
down to earth billionaires...sure . no such thing
I'm not into cars at all but Jay's enthusiasm for cars is infectious. Unbelievably impressive selection.
The most impressive part is that he can walk up and start any one of them. Keeping them ready to go and knowing how to operate each one is incredible.
Probably pays someone to take them out for a run keep them alive
push to start
@@joshuawharton9576
It is a collection of hundreds, can't be done alone.
@@joshuawharton9576 Nah he drives them himself. Though he does have a team to maintain them.
Either way, it shows that he has a true passion for cars and motorcycles. He doesn't just collect them. He has them maintained and loves driving them.
Definitely a huge plus. Also check out Dale from Wheels Through Time museum out in Tennessee, he has hundreds going back to the 1910's and every single one runs and rides. Fascinating
Here James seems to mostly exude the enthusiasm of a married man being dragged around IKEA on a Saturday afternoon 😂
I thought his obvious lack of interest was quite disrespectful to Leno, especially considering most people would be blown away by that collection of classic vehicles.
He's always been pretty monotonous and drowsy.. but deffo could have shown more interest or inquired more.
Yeah it was quite astonishing coming from a man who spent the better part of his adult life co-hosting a car show.
He did say he flew in the night before.
@@CosmicTeapot yeah, but he didn't have a script this time.
Leno is a man WITH money that loves cars/bikes. This video clearly show he know everything about every piece in his collection and ACTUALLY drives them. A REAL collector
If one is not sure to get to heaven then a safer bet can be to embark on creating heaven right here.
I remember when he was asked about his collecting, He said the secret is 1 wife means 200 cars lol
@@glenchapman3899 “better to come home smelling of transmission fluid than cheap perfume”. Never a truer word said!
@@glenchapman3899well also he notoriously low balls and anonymizes. Selling Jay Leno a car that Jay leno wants should be like winning a contest. Instead he tricks his way into more cars while maintaining a mountain of gold coins.
the fact that he knew every hood opening on every car really shows he loves and knows cars
Jay is an international treasure! He seems so lovely, and I've always admired his passion for old bits of engineering. I would love nothing more than to visit this place as a functional museum one day.
Not a garage but a museum of motor history. Absolutely amazing. Best man for the job - James May.
Not a museum. Everything there is regularly used.
@@NOSUBSCRIBERSWANTED Then again considering that Jay is a decently wealthy individual, insurance rates are practically a walk in the palk with all those vehicles he can afford easily.
If people with money is taking care of motor history like this, letting it live on for coming generations I think it is great. Not really your stuff then, life is short and hard and wanderful.
He could definitely charge admission to this place
James May is starstruck!
Just seeing Jay sit there in an old car shooting flames and smoke out the sides as James looks on in Amazement is one of my favorite automotive moments ever.
Imagine idling in that and some hippy whines about climate change... all you have to do is rev it and it would be up a tree in seconds lol
@__PJ__ Both Jay and James are concerned about climate change, did you even watch this whole video? Both own multiple electric cars and see them as the future of transport - with petrol cars being used as enthusiast cars on weekends.
What a small minded comment
I was a bit concerned about the exhaust oil going on the Rolls that they just discussed but Mr Leno knows how it all works...
I think what I love the most about this is knowing that James actually prefers new cars as he's stated previously, but that he still has enough knowledge and understanding to appreciate and respect Jay's collection
I find it extremely hard to believe that James said that
@@TheScrubmuffin69He actually did. I've watched it somewhere on YT, but don't remember the video title.
James may is very practical so it makes sense. New cars run better and have more creature comforts than old cars. So when he says he prefers new cars think of it as a driving experience. I reckon he likes to drive newer cars and own them as they’re typically better on the road and more refined… that being said he’s a motorhead and appreciates old cars clearly. But when he says he prefers new cars it makes perfect sense from a practicality sense
0:38 hard to believe.. "is it supercharged?" really!? I mean Leno just said it has 6 Weber carburators.. you can see 12 air inlets in front of you..
@@TheScrubmuffin69 The exact sentiment is that James May prefers to *drive* new cars, and thinks in general if you need a car to get around, it should be newer. The older cars are hobbies, things for people to own as an interest, something to spend your weekends with, not something to rely on to get to work.
My Dad was a gear head and grew up in the 60's and 70's and he had a similar sentiment, he preferred to work on older cars because it was easier, everything was mechanical and worked in a way that was predictable by looking at it, BUT he certainly didn't prefer older brakes, old steering, old suspension, old internal combustion problems that would periodically mean he had to walk for tools or groceries.
Those older cars were easier to work on yes, but they broke down considerably more often and were far less predictable, a modern car should be able to go 100,000 miles with nothing but routine maintenance, a '66 vette? You'd be in the garage at least every few weeks because it failed to start AGAIN, or it was making a ticking noise, or wouldn't stay running at idle and in gear, or something.
Anyone who thinks old cars were just more reliable never truly lived with an older car.
That said, they are way more entertaining, more fun to work on, and often represent some form of history you can touch and feel. But just don't rely on it to get you to the office every day, unless you're the boss and being late isn't a problem.
18:40 Talking about EV's. It brings me joy to hear two, big time, car dudes acknowledge that EV's have a place in this world. So many motor heads just immediately shout "get that electric trash out of here". EV's fill the roll of cars with automatic transmissions. I very briefly drove a manual in California rush hour. It was a truly terrible experience. Traffic averages about 7 mph.
That's not true. My Toyota gives my average driving speed and I consistently hit EIGHT miles per hour. So there! I used to have a manual and....not fun.
Everyone complaining about chemistry is just used to fake editing/tiktok videos. This was great
I’ve had the privilege of visiting this garage and meeting Jay. The part where he asks the camera crew if they want anything to drink is Jay. He’s such a nice person.
Pictures or it didn’t happen. Fact check the random internet poster.
No pics. They had a sign on the exterior of a building next to the entrance. You think Aaron is running around with his selfie stick?
One time Leno shows up at the Rock Store on one of his motos. I'm up there on what you guys would call a "push-bike" after riding up there through the Malibu Hills. Me and couple of friends are sitting around surrounded by the Sunday moto folks as Leno rolls up, parks his moto, see us and proclaims "Healthy guys?!?!? Get the f__k outta here!"
Sorry, no photos but I can get a friend to back up the story. Used to see Leno doing stand-up back-in-the-day at LA comedy clubs, long before he took over late-night TV. Yep, I'm THAT old!
Is it A-A-ron?
A man whose mediocre talent earned him enough money to buy nice toys is treated as if he's a motoring guru. Pathetic.
Every time I see videos of Jay’s garage I’m almost as impressed with the wall decor as I am the cars themselves. For being a working auto garage, the place is as immaculately styled as a museum.
Jay has had local artists and his old crew from his TV host days do the art work in his collection. According to him, they can knock out full wall murals in only a few days. He really puts full effort into his museum.
A man whose mediocre talent earned him enough money to buy nice toys is treated as if he's a motoring guru. Pathetic.
yea i was lookin at them
Jay's garage is honestly just a petrolhead's dream, he has everything you'd ever want from all eras. Timeless.
Watching them repair the cars and manufacture new parts would be cool.
Well, except Ferraris. He says he likes them but couldn't stand having to basically bribe a dealer or buy an entry level one to get what he wanted, so he doesn't have any. Disappointed he showed all of those aero-engined cars, but not his Hispano-Suiza. He posted a clip driving it not too long ago so I think he still has it, as he says, he never sells anything. He fudged the truth a bit on the V-12 Jaguar, I've seen an earlier video where he said he bought it that way and had the guy one whose car it was who did the work. Also that's a Series III bonnet, not a Series II, and with the headlights covered over which they would not have been originally. ua-cam.com/video/22NTet2n-Sg/v-deo.html
@@donquixote63 I like his quote from Pebble which was in the Live stream the year he was guest, but was clipped out later,
"Show me a Ferrari owner on his first wife and I'll get one!"
He is right and still on his first wife iirc.
Even a SHOgun!
@@donquixote63 well yeah even someone like Jay Leno doesn't want to or is forced to deal with their BS so he just said no thanks
I'm in my mid 20s... grew up watching those 3. Growing Older, i realised May is actually the best one.
25 yo here, seen Top Gear (2-22), finally caught up with Grand Tour, and will stand by the fact May’s the best.
I couldn’t stop saying “Jaaaaaaags” when he got to that section
i kept saying ..."in the world"
I kept hearing, "Hammond you idiot." Ha ha.
I couldn't help but "borrow" a painting from my neighbors during that portion
It still has the burgle kit in the boot
Everytime I see a Jaaaag on the street I have to say "Jaaaaaag"
The real classics in that garage are Jay and James!. Great to see them together. My Uncle talked tractors and farm vehicles in the same manner and mannerisms that Jay has. At 94 all still stored in his memory, which he easily recollected. Amazing man. Unfortunately he passed shortly after my last visit. He was pinned under his Farm-all when a creek bank collapsed. He died using his favorite machine. When I caught this video Jay reminded my of him. Thanks Jay. miss you and your show.. Al the best!
Sorry for your loss. That is heartbreaking.
classics of what exactly ….!? Poor YOU..!? 🤭
I hope he didn't suffer too long, my grandfather was 90 in 2015, and he had all the knowledge of getting things fixed on our farm gone with him, especially all the water pipes underground around the fields, not a clue where some of them run 😂
I have a new appreciation for what Leno has done.At first I thought he was just a rich guy that could afford to collect them . But you can tell how connected he is to this hobby and how much he appreciates each nuance of the different vehicles.
Have you never seen Jay Leno's Garage? He began as a car mechanic and never gave it up.
That is the difference, he is a car/motorcycle guy who became rich and built a collection, not a rich person who has expensive cars as status symbols.
He uses his hobby to help other people, employing people, advancing awareness of other people’s businesses, quick to highlight good products, the lot. And impressively ready to adopt high tech like 3d scanning and printing to save an old car. A collector’s collector, and very open with it for all.
I’m also impressed with the variety from restomods to original unrestored. He really collects very hard indeed!
@@abarratt8869I’d suggest it’s not his hobby, but perhaps his passion?
You must be new to Jay Leno's Garage..lol
Ohh, James' style, discrete use of familiarity, and personality, all first class! Yes, he's the guest and a great listener, too!
I just love Jay. I especially loved the “well then you’re f**ked” line 😂😂
"But that's the fun of it 😁"
In 1971 I began working for an auto/heavy truck repair shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. (nice combo, eh?) On my first day I believe the owner, my boss, wasn't really certain what to do with me yet so he sent me across the street to see an elderly gentleman. It was one of my most fortunate life experiences. This gentleman was nearing his '80s. He had been a mechanic all of his working life. Somewhere in New York he operated a gas station and made most of his living repairing and maintaining cars. Apparently his business was near an affluent area. At the ripe old age of 15 I had little exposure to 'significant' automobiles of the past. But I had enough sense to recognize what was of interest in design and mechanics. It's been a while. You'll have to excuse my fractured memory. The most impressive car, to me, was his Dove Gray (with thin red and white pinstripes, similar to what Lincoln would later have on it's 'Signature Series' Cartier Mk IV.) It was a two door, with a rumble seat, Marmon 16 DHC (my term, not his or Marmon's) boattail. It was MASSIVE! And gorgeous. It was his singular pride and joy, even though he had quite the collection. While growing up both my parents worked for Ford and I pretty much grew up in Lincolns and T-Birds. As such, I readily recognized and appreciated the deep red leather, wide roll and tuck front seat! It's almost impossible to find a leather Davenport to equal it.
He came by these cars, in his words, from his customers. When they grew tired of them, could no longer or didn't want to 'afford' the maintenance they needed, etc. they would deed them over to him and his retirement was based on the pleasure of restoring them. And he did a wonderful job! The cars I can recall:
I recall one in particular, as my new boss loved Corvairs. This sizeable car had its engine in the back. It was also air-cooled and a six cylinder. But it was a lot larger than any Corvair and quite a bit older in body style. And most of the Corvairs I had ever seen were pretty ragged, this car was showroom. For the life of me I can't recall what he said it was... But I do know today!
He had a little number, a pale yellow roadster. If I recall correctly he claimed it could beat the pants off of a Stutz Bearcat (and he had one of those as well so he should know.) It was a Mercer Raceabout. Haven't seen one since.
Just ahead of the Mercer was another, a not quite so old 'runabout', with 'Invicta' on its badge. I asked about it but he didn't have much to say about it (or maybe, and most likely, I don't recall much past that.)
The next car was one I had slight knowledge of - a Cord 810. Who can't be impressed by its coffin nose? For me, though, it fell flat on its face once you went past the windshield. But I digress.
There was probably six or so more cars in the warehouse but it's been a long time ago for my increasingly easy to fracture memory. I do recall talking with him about Granatelli's turbine car losing the Indy 500. His response was my first introduction to an adult having a 'conspiracy theory', calling the 'failure of a $6 transmission bearing' as being "total bullsh*t." To him, and probably many others, it was the only way to explain what really occurred. And it also served to direct my future ability to understand and employ 'colorful' language.
Thanks for allowing me to tell the story, it's been decades since I've known anyone that might appreciate hearing it.
Oh, by the way... It was about 4 p.m. when I made my way back to my new job. My boss had a, "I guess I did that to myself' look on his face and told me he'd see me in the morning. The next day he assigned me my first professional repair - replacing the timing chain on a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 389 Tri-Power. Pontiac timing chain replacements became a common part of my professional life for the next few years...
Thanks for that. Hi from the UK.
Great story 👏
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing. You have a great way of telling a story. I wish it were longer.
There is a book published in the early 60s,by Ralph Stein,called The Great Cars. And he loved Invicta cars. He published a second coffee table book I have never read. You should see if your library system has a copy,or look for a used copy on the various used book sites.
Invictas were fast cars for the period,with a terrifying tendency to swap ends at speed. That is what I remember from the book.
Cheers.
Honestly this type of content is amazing. Just visiting other petrolheads and just having a walk & talk video is great. Love it.
Finally Jay Leno meets someone that deserves the same level of respect. Two fine gentleman, completely different at the same time as being so very similar.
What I enjoy most about Jay is he loves showing his cars to others who love and enjoys cars.
I’ve always though he seems mildly autistic, he has that hyper passion for vehicles and, if you indulge him, he is so capable and willing to explain the in depth history of any vehicle he has. I would absolutely love to tour his shop with him.
I like the fact that Jay likes various things from the industrial revolution as well.
NO WAY! Love seeing James with Leno!
I wish he looked more interested or engaged
@@Dr.TJ_EckleburgI thought this myself, he is probably jet lagged as he only got in country the night before however yeah the vibe was a bit weird. I’m noticed Jay’s body language change a bit when he noticed James wasn’t all that interested in some things
@@L_J_D23 I honestly think he just doesn't want to look at cars anymore.
@@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg James clearly needs a script...
I like them both. It seemed chemistry was lacking. Hard to judge though from a short video.
It is simply jaw dropping that he can walk up to any vehicle and just start it.... amazing dedication from Jay and his team.
Jay Leno is such an amazing human being. Please please please. When jay eventually passes(I wish that day could never come) don't let his garage get sold off to the highest bidder. This garage needs to preserved and grow with all the historical vehicles that we have. It's such an amazing garage.
I love how he knows all of his cars, like it's the only car he has. And I love the minimal edit of the video, leaving the silence between stops.
And no junk music.
agreed, the silence and no music adds to the experience.
@@gangsterbroccoli Most Harry's Garage videos have great interest and no music.
And people keeps commenting how they're awkward well real life people talk like this. There's no edits in real life
This reminds me as a child visiting my friend and he shows me all his toys with all the excitement. Literally no difference, amazing to see those two in one place talking about cars.
What I love about Jay is the fact that he drives all of his vehicles. He doesn't buy them and let them sit.
It is also fantastic When Cameron shows up with something his grandfather bought and they take it for a spin - even if they have to commandeer an airport street to do it.
I agree. He isn't like other car collectors that just buy a car and let it sit in the garage forever. I always love that Jay can just walk up to any car, truck, bike, or whatever vehicle it is and it'll start right up.
If you live or work in the valley, you will spot Jay in one these on a regular basis. Super approachable too, Jay is not scary or trapped by his celebrity.
@camaro25 let's not forget that he has a fleet of mechanics too that keep the cars in that condition. Would be nice not to worry about a dead battery or old gas and just be able to drive them.
Agreed!
I would be floored by the tribute to the American RAF pilot with the proper Merlin engine. Man, Brits are stoic.
Older generation Brits don't pride themselves on having a stiff upper lip for nothing. Things can get rowdy here though, they announced recently they may change the official measure of the British pint. My father raised an eyebrow for the first time in a decade and apparently my neighbour even grumbled.
Talk about a dream team. What a special treat. Thank you James & Jay. If you two wanted to make a show together it could quite possibly be the greatest of all time.
Jay and Donald were pretty good....
This is clearly one of the few times where we've seen James truly overwhelmed, and the result makes us more interested in these vehicles than we otherwise would have ever been. Amazing work!
James wandering around nonchalantly whilst thinking, I don't like old cars, meanwhile Jay tries to summon enthusiasm with the recurring, It's quite fast actually, commentary.
I understand that he likes them, but he knows they drive shitely
@@yescharliesurfsEvery cars in Jays hanger runs to the best of modern technology can makem
I think he just doesn't like them in the sense that he wouldn't want to own one to drive and deal with the headaches. I'm sure he likes them in the sense of admiring the old engineering solutions and such.
@@dyingearth may would be better explaining thos. Cars are better now than they ever were. Although a Lambo Espada looks fantastic, driving it is rubbish.
@@xtnuser5338 yeah you want to drive the new cars and look at the old cars, those cars are incredible, just walking around cranking up and hearing and seeing 80 or 100 year old cars is an insane privilege, and I mean..you look at wealthy people and they're all sporting the most expensive wrist watches while iphones exist, honestly you'd think those watches would no longer sell, practically obsolete since that phone does everything but people still appreciate craftsmanship and all the mechanical workings
Jay is a great dude. I mean, dude goes hard for cars, great sense of humor regardless of political affiliations. Legend. I'm a bit of a May fan but kinda let down with he's reaction to the things Jay was stoked about, especially the Merlin.
Shoutout Lucy Brown for her efforts on this American adventure. Nice meeting ya'll in San Diego!
Is she behind the camera?
With all these vintage priceless automobiles in this incredible garage the most valuable treasure is actually its owner.
Jay Leno is an American national treasure.
Two absolute legends hanging out and talking shop. Thank you for filming it for us!
1:02 - incredible how Jay knows so many backstories of his vehicles. it seemed that he was a little bit dissapointed that James didnt share the same amount of passion for it 😄
Came to comment this. It's really cool how much he remembers about how he got them, the people and their stories.
I could watch and listen to this forever, 2 fantastic knowledgable blokes, chatting away about some unbelievable machinery…..give us more, please.
Coolest collab ever. Wish it’d lasted 3 more hours.
@@NOSUBSCRIBERSWANTED I’m afraid you’re out of work. The building doesn’t allow dust apparently 😂
Exactly what I was thinking. Hours. Make it a series. A season in every building. They seemed to get along well too
you're kidding right?
Jay Leno is the GOAT of car collectors. What a collection. Just the wall art alone is incredible. Id love to visit that place. Incredible.
The love and respect Jay has for all of his machines is absolutely amazing. He earns the right to care for them, you can tell how deliberate he is about what he has. I envy his passion.
Just two blokes, enjoying each others knowledge on their favourite subject. Marvelous.
What a joy seeing this. I've met Jay several tmes at a motorcycle stop near Malibu, a few times it was just he and I must say he is the most humble, kind, warm guy truly a gentleman with no ego or arrogance at all. I'm not saying this to gloat about "meeting a star/celeb" rather to be appreciative of such a good guy whom others may not have the chance to get to know... not all celebs/rich people are total narcisistic a-holes
Thanks nice to know his persona is not just when the camera is rolling.
Nobody cares, this isn't about you. Sound familiar?
@@bwofficial1776 Who hurt you?
@@bwofficial1776 his story was about Jay. Think much pal?
I grew up watching Captain Slow and grew up in the generation of muscle tuner and imports.
I’m almost 34 now and James and Jay are by far the most knowledgeable car people I’ve come across.
I saw this pop up and had to tell the older generations who introduced me to you gentleman. Im only three minutes in and cannot wait to watch this.
I would REALLY love to see a series with James and the restoration guys. I could literally watch it for days straight. “James May Restorations : at Jay Lenos Garage”
This is why I think people love jay he has this amazing car collection obviously worth a lot of money and he doesn't push it in people's face like look what I got he's just happy to share his passion with People
The Grand Tour gentlemen each had their own specialties. James May's was automotive history, and he's very good at it. Glad to see him touring Leno's Garage.
Holy sh... when he turned on that bike the amount of enthusiasm from May almost drains my soul
Maybe jet lagged?
Is that gow british people show enthusiasm?
They don't call him Captain Slow for nothing
Why did he even bother going?
May isn't a "car guy" between Clarkson and Hammond, so he is fine, he still fun to watch
The only comedian that uses his entire fortune to support his real passion. Maintenance, insurance, employees, and many warehouses of collectible vehicles.
Yeah, he is the first comedian that spent money on things he likes. In fact, he is probably the first human to ever do so
On CNBC website Jay Leno mentions that he always had two jobs since he was teenager. He has his stand up comedian gig along with writing auto/motorcycle articles. Rumor has it that he did not touch money he received from NBC's Tonight Show.
I heard leno was in fact the first comedian to ever spend money.
@@long-long. This is true, no other comedian has made any money to spend.
@@edwardclark8808He's confirmed that several times.
All of them street legal and drivable! Superb! These are second to none level of car collection. Kudos Jay
I've been waiting for this!! I posted 6-7 years ago on Jay's page that he should try to get Jeremy, James, and Richard there to take a tour and someone from Jay's page wrote back and said everyone's too busy, but Jay has the invitation always open. I'm glad at least James made it. Although James wasn't a great guest for Jay, he was worse than his usual grumpy self. I'm thinking he was overwhelmed to even be in Jay's Garage around his massive collection on the first place.
Mike Fernie really nailed it when he said that yes, May and Clarkson still are interested i cars, but not in the same way as Hammond. And it kinda shows here. Yes, there is a dep appreciation of cars and the collection, but its not the same energy that Hammond would show in a visit to Leno. Taking nothing away from May, I really enjoy him as a presenter.
He lost some weight.Got some new pants, he looks good. What I love hearing from Jay is how he was so thrilled to see a car when he was a child. The best news is that his Chrysler Turbine is fixed as I believe it it the only one that's driven.
Hammond would be drooling over Vincents
May seems to appreciate engineering more than the entire package. He definitely perked up talking about aircraft engines in vehicles. He's truly an AV geek.
@@Poorschedriver Yeah, May seems to enjoy cars and other mechanical items on a philosophical/artistic level, whereas the other two focus more on the tactile experience of driving and the history behind certain models.
Leno made the classic enthusiast mistake of showing British cars to the British, because he doesn’t get to geek out to satisfactory levels over the particular cars he is into with local visitors.
This is my favorite Leno interview/garage tour ever. Capt. Slow is my favorite. I love how Leno kept mocking the British accent. I love these two guys. Probably my favorite two car geeks ever.
With all of his cars around it's so easy to forget that Leno has been a world-class comedian and TV presenter for decades. He's got a fantastic sense of humor for sure.
"mocking the British accent" - as in all the major countries, the range of accents is huge.
Accent mocking among friends of various nationalities and even from different regions in the same country is good teasing fun.
Have you seen A Fish Called Wanda? John Cleese's mocking of Kevin Kline's Americanness is hilarious.
May and Jay. Quite the combination. Thanks for the greatly entertaining content. The fact that all Jay's collection actually run and drive is truly amazing.
Two absolutely sympathetic human beings that are actually worth listening too. Both Jay and James are beautiful people.
Jay after working hard for decades is living the dream. Tinkering, fixing and enjoying his passion.
Thanks for clarifying
Only the stunt men work hard in Hollywood.
I've met Jay 3 times over the years at Newcomb's Ranch, which is a bike/car hangout on top of Angeles Crest Highway. He has always been gracious and very approachable. Love him. He is an LA institution.
This is my favorite video with Jay. It’s just him chatting with a peer and genuinely wanting to show cool things he loves.
Top Gear/Grand Tour & Jay Leno's Garage - two of my all time fav car shows... and now they're here together, once again ♥
Its probably fair to say that Jay stands head and shoulders above any other car collector in the world, not only because the collection is what it is, but because he is who he is.
It finally happened, Always wanted to see the trio on Jay Leno's Garage
Great vast collection, everything runs and a is driven, excellent knowledgeable staff doing the mechanics and painting, Jimmy doing the metal work, I have been following jay for decades and a humble man and a great ambassador for everything mechanical ❤❤❤
I'll never not be impressed with Leno. He's knows his stuff and he loves to share his collection with people.
If you took a shot of gin every time Jay said "It's quite fast" you'd be dead.
Jay likes his speed!
I'll have to try, then
But then a 400hp turbine bike might actually be „quite fast“
Jay "It's quite fast, pulls nicely" Leno
I'm going to try this later
I have never watched Jay Leno on TV and had no opinion of the man. After watching this video I like the man and his unpretentious attitude, often a rare attribute for those of wealth. It is a marvellous collection, a major collection of motoring history covering many rare and expensive vehicles. I hope it remains always intact and maintained for future generations. It is a unique assembly of power and design, often reflecting both the engineering and the design art of its time.
he wasn't born into wealth that is the difference. He started out blue collar as a mechanic. He is extremely knowledgeable about cars. So yeah, he appreciates what he's earned and the cars he's restored himself! As a comedian he never really did it for me, but that is a personal taste.
As the other comment stated, Jay (like Madonna and David Letterman) came from working class backgrounds and generated generational wealth. I always remember a quote from Madonna who said she still knows how to ride the bus if she had to. Jay never talks bad about anybody unless he is making a joke and he took all the commentary/abuse about the Tonight Show return from other established TV host without retaliating, which shows his true class and highlighted the insecurities of the other tv hosts .
People like Jay maintaining the past are to be treasured.....old workhorses never die..... hope the younger generation grows old faster maintaining the old❤
No.1 car collector in the world and with such an eclectic collection. Nice informal stroll around the "garage" with two very fine raconteurs.
Jay has to be one of the coolest motor enthusiasts! Truly appreciates everything in his collection and isnt afraid to use them!
I've seen countless Jay Leno tours of his garage with many different people/you tubers etc. This is the first one where I can appreciate the size of the collection.
Jay Leno is an amazing man, his dedication to automotive restoration and collecting is impeccable. Thank you James for delivering us this mind blowing video log👌
These two gentlemen should talk about cars on camera more often, just awesome.
The best part is every single vehicle runs and Jay drives all of them. Jay's collection is special.
sometimes you see an old person and all the stuff they own and you think, he doesn't need this stuff, he doesn't even use it, how did he even get it all? but yeah they worked their butts off for decades and used and replaced this stuff many times over and appreciate and know everything they own, it's an insane collection and to get a tour like that is very lucky
i could watch a 2 hour version of this. I'm mostly interested in long form content ( shocking i know in today's media consumption) but watching these two talk about anything is so interesting, they've got a lot to tell from their knowledge and experience
I never cease to be amazed at Jay's collection. Its truly something special