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20 Everyday Rides Jay Leno Is Proud To Own

Cameron Eittreim October 25, 2021

9: 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

The 1961 Corvair Rampside is perhaps one of the most unique and controversial car models ever built. Leno has a Corvair Yenko Coupe and a Corvair Pickup truck, both of which shared the nameplate. Leno purchased his Corvair Rampside for $600 14 years ago and proceeded to do a full restoration (via Motor Authority).

The current truck is a two-tone red paint job with an all-original engine and interior. Leno is particular about not washing his cars, so the paint job has stayed almost perfect. The effect of the Corvair Rampside is both comical and seemingly usual for the 1960s. Leno has many extravagant cars, but the 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside might be the most unique.

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8: 1957 Imperial

If you know about Chrysler, then you know that the Imperial is the top of the mountain. This was the top-of-the-line luxury car Chrysler sold in the 1950s. The Imperial was so important to Chrysler that it was marketed as a particular brand. Imperial would compete against the likes of Lincoln and Cadillac for large sedan dominance (via Hagerty).

The 1957 Imperial had a completely electronic transmission that you’d shift by pressing a different button. Another first was the Imperial used a switch for the turn signals instead of a stalk on the steering wheel. It was these unique features that made the Imperial one of the most luxurious and monumental cars on the road.

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7: 1961 Chrysler 300G

The 1961 Chrysler 300G was known as “The Bankers Hot Rod” and there is a good reason for that. Crammed under the hood is one of the most powerful Hemi engines of all time. Long before the likes of the GTO and other muscle cars, there was the 1961 Chrysler 300G. If the 300 naming seems familiar, it’s because Chrysler has adopted that philosophy to the present day (via Classic Cars).

Leno hasn’t done a lot to his 300G other than swapping out the exhaust for a cast iron setup. The black paint and original chrome all look beautiful, even by today’s standards. There is no denying that the Chrysler 300G is perhaps one of the most iconic cars in the Chrysler heritage. The principal styling and over-the-top performance were a solid foundation for the brand.

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6: 1958 Continental Mark III

Leno has a massive car collection, one of the largest in the country. His taste in vehicles ranges from the Dodge Viper to this 1958 Continental Mark III. This massive example of a Lincoln is the reason why cars from that era were dubbed “land yachts.” Leno is the third owner of this 1958 Continental Mark III. He purchased the car in Anaheim, California (via Hagerty).

1958 was also the first year for FM radio in automobiles, and the FM tuner was connected to the outside of the transmission. The 1958 Continental Mark III was the most powerful luxury car you could buy that year. Lincoln has since fallen off its perch in the luxury car segment, but the Continental will still go down in history.

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5: 1988 Porsche 959

Leno and Jerry Seinfeld have a few things in common. They are both comedians and both own a few Porsches. Unlike Seinfeld, who has a massive collection of Porsches, Leno only owns a few. But one Porsche he owns is the 1988 Porsche 959 in a beautiful red color. The 1988 Porsche 959 is known as sports car royalty, and there’s a good reason for that (via Car and Driver).

The performance of the turbocharged engine is still iconic to this day. The styling of the 959 was the first real departure from the traditional Porsche styling. Everything about the car was modern and well-appointed at a time when the segment was evolving. Leno has managed to keep his collection in excellent standing with this beautiful 1988 Porsche 959.

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4: 1957 Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette is by far one of the most iconic sports cars of all time. If there is one brand that GM can always return to, it’s Corvette. Leno purchased this car from the original owner who had ordered the car brand new when he was a G.I. in the Army. The styling of the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette was in line with the GM dream cars of the same era (via GM Authority).

The performance was top of the line, as this was the first year the brand was serious about racing. The four-speed transmission was a brand new option for the Corvette. The only car that could compete with the Corvette was the Cobra, which came later on. Leno has managed to keep his 1957 Chevrolet Corvette in pristine condition.

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3: 1950 Plymouth Suburban

Long before GM had adapted the product name of “Suburban,” Plymouth sold one. The 1950 Plymouth Suburban was a unique car designed for the “everyman.” The inline-6 was a fairly common engine that was superbly reliable. Just about anyone could work on the 1950 Plymouth Suburban without a mechanic (via Hemmings).

Innovative features like a fold-flat rear seat were far ahead of their time. The fact that the 1950 Plymouth Suburban is a two-door was also unique. Leno purchased this Plymouth from the original owner, Leonard Kolodziejski, who passed away in 2016. The car was kept in immaculate condition and is a true testament to the quality that Plymouth once was.

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2: 1964 Pontiac GTO Convertible

There was a time when the Pontiac brand was the focal point of the youth movement. The GTO was as much an automotive icon as the Mustang and the Chevelle. Designed by legendary automotive engineer John Delorean, the GTO was a massive success. Selling the thousands in its first year, the GTO broke almost every sales record imaginable (via Motorious).

Pontiac also got a nice bump in publicity when Car and Driver put the 1964 Pontiac GTO up against the Ferrari GTO and it won. Marketing in the 1960s was a lot different than it is today, and the GTO was a success in just about every way. Leno has taken pride in his GTO model and continues to be a Pontiac aficionado.

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1: 1989 Ford Shogun

No, this isn’t a Ford Festiva you are looking at, it’s the Ford Shogun. This is a Ford Festiva with a Ford Taurus SHO engine crammed into the backseat. The lightweight design and extreme performance gave the car some of the most awe-inspiring driving characteristics ever (via Drive Tribe).

But not to be outdone, Leno added Nitrous to the setup as well. Other than adding the NOS, most of the car is all factory. There is still a factory tape player and the paint is still in the same condition as when he purchased the car in 1989. You might think this is just an everyday hatchback, but in Leno’s case, you’d be very wrong. It’s interesting to observe that Leno has such a diverse selection of cars including this Shogun.

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