Yes, Jay did indeed buy the Blastolene special. You can find anything you want to know about that car at.....- Blastolene's Web Site
[ QUOTE ] My bad... [/ QUOTE ] Just busting your balls... HEY! That could my new handle "NutBuster" HAHAHAHA! Oh man, I kill me!!!
[ QUOTE ] Yes, Jay did indeed buy the Blastolene special. You can find anything you want to know about that car at.....- Blastolene's Web Site [/ QUOTE ] OH MAN!!! Go see that "Big Bertha" thing! It's even wilder!!! My kinda guys!!
Hot Rod's new issue has a great article on his '55 Buick Special with a 572 in it. The same car he nearly lived in when he first moved to L.A. as a young comic. I dig that he drives and enjoys his collection; he's got the dough and at least thinks it's worth it to pay people to keep them all in good running condition. One of my favorite jokes from him, from when he was sub host in the '80s: "Y'know, Oldsmobile is trying out this new slogan, 'This is not your father's Oldsmobile.' " "I know- I wrecked THAT one when I was 15..." It was cl***ic when he had the two Pauls on, not to long ago. They strolled in on their bikes, on stage, one of them premiering the Blackhawk chopper. As they sit down, Jay keeps looking anxiously over at the bikes, saying, "Well, my producers have told me I must interview the HUMANS before I check out the bikes..." Glad to see him featured in Hot Rod and R&C. Does a Letterman have any rods?
I beleive he drove that to the roadster show last year. We watched him in a food line waiting like everyone else. Poor guy could not even get a over priced hot dog and soda without getting mobbed.
I saw footage of him driving it at the Roadster show on that one "Rides", where they built the roadster. It looks HUGE! What's up Flatlandman? When are you coming to visit? 14 hours isn't that long.
[ QUOTE ] at the risk of revealing I watch TV, the latest installment of 'American Chopper ***emblers' features the attempt by the Family O' Dysfunction of building a chopper based on the Holiest of Holies, a Brough Superior, per Leno's request. watching Paulie's brain freezing up at the task was heartwarming. it seems if the bike isn't going to be based on a calliope or sports team or a canceled piece of military hardware, our boy has nothing to work from. I was giggling like a little girl at the prospect of their trying to build a bike based on a bike. must-see TV. [/ QUOTE ] Snork! Dan'l, you is my hero. More theme ideas for the American ****per goombahs: His 'n' Hers GI Joe & Barbie Sturgis Kroozers Amish buggy chopper ('The Barnraiser') Pokemon chopper Circus train chopper Family therapy chopper (psychiatrist couch sidecar?) ****py basic cable TV chopper
[quote What's up Flatlandman? When are you coming to visit? 14 hours isn't that long. [/ QUOTE ] Vegas baby Vegas! Tell that homo of a husband to cool off and go find a engine to put put in your car and we WILL build his straight 8 '30 P/U. Yes, Karl, you are a homo but that's OK. It's legal in your state. I'll phone you guys tonite.
Humboldt Cat asked: "Does Letterman have any rods?" He does have a mess of high performance Porsches (as does Jerry Seinfeld), and jokes about the speeding tickets he gets driving back to Connecticut after his show ends in NYC. A few years ago a friend of mine on Long Island bought a nice one owner early 80s Porsche 911. On a weekday night he was driving it up to Vermont at about 10 PM on some highway slightly North of NYC. There was hardly anyone on the road and he was doing about 80. Another Porsche came up next to him so he got on the gas taking it to about 100. He looked over an the other Porsche was still with him so he kept on the gas taking it over 125, but at that point realized that he couldn't afford and didn't want to deal with the State Cops and a 130 MPH speeding ticket, so he got off the gas, and got a good look at Dave Letterman giving him a wave as he accelerated away in his Porsche 930 Turbo. By the way, I read an article in an MC mag or some collector car mag in the maybe mid to late 80's where Jay Leno was interviewed at some car show. He was ragging on the guys "who cut up and ruined old cars to make them hot rods, when the could have restored them". Maybe with his purchase of the Blastolene and his big block Buick he has changed his mind a bit. I believe he had a 33 or 34 Ford with maybe a Y Block in it, when he was a teenager in Andover, M***.
Letterman also has a 900 series Volvo Wagon with a blown 5.0 Ford engine. It is the same set up as Paul Newman drives daily. Talk about a real sleeper.
[ QUOTE ] Engine is a air cooled '53 Packard out of a TANK! [/ QUOTE ] I heard they were originally considering a 2.8 V6 but decided to go with the v12 instead.
I got 3 cool Leno stories. I used to drop by Jr. Conway's paint shop from time to time and just check his stuff out and read magazines with him. The last time I went they had this big roadster there all in pieces, spred out on the floor. I jokingly asked Jr "Hey, what's with the big-***ed duece roadster over there." He said "You're half-right, it's Jay's DUESEnberg." I said "Jay who?" He looked at me like an idiot and said "Jay LENO." I laughed and said "It figures" and checked out the only dis***ymbled Duesenberg I'll probably ever see. Jr said "If you want to meet him, he should be here later to check on the progress?" Then I told him my second Jay Leno story... One friday night I slipped out of work early to drive my Shoebox to Taluca Bob's for the cruise. Now it's no short cruise for me to get there so I was really looking forward to having a good parking spot to unwind in after the rush-hour drive. It was still early when I made the final turn, and I'd never had a problem finding a spot in the parking lot before, so I was stoked to get in and parked for the evening, "before the crowds got there." When I made the final turn, I ran into the biggest mess I'd ever seen at a cruise... There were cars and people everywhere. I just couldn't fathom it. Why in the hell was everybody there that early? Just as soon as a path was made for me to pull in, I was hit by these 3 big ****ing spot lights and blinded. I froze just in time to have this horseless-carriage pull up next to me. The "driver" leaned over and in a rather high-pitched, and to my exasperated and overwelmed ears, whiney voice, said; "We don't want any of your MODERN cars here!!! Go park your HONDALEXUS' somewhere else. HaHaHaHaHaHa!!!" Well since I was in no mood for any bull-**** as soon as I realized I wasn't going to be parking within a block of Bob's that night, I just turned and gave the guy the best ****-Off! look I could muster and he drove slowly off. I peeled out of the parking lot after slowly making my way through the unnexpected throngs, and parked (sure enough) a block away. When I got back to the cruise my buddy said, "Did you see Jay Leno?" Then it all made sense... That annoying **** was JAY LENO! The third story actually involves that big roadster.... I took my wife, 2yearold daughter, and Dad to the LA roadster Show this year. After a good half a day at the show, the little one was ready for a break so we took her to a shady area at the back of the show to be fed and watered. As my dad and I walked away to a snack bar, I heard the "big ****in'" roadster pull in. I turned around to see Jay making an entrance and my wife and daughter running over to see the "pretty car" as my daughter puts it. Just as jay made the turn into the show, my wife and daughter emerged from the crowd that had gathered. When Jay sees my daughter (and my rather good-looking wife ) he stops the roadster, revs the engine and waves to my little, future hot rodder, like she's the celebrity and the only one at the show. She waves back and jay revs the big engine again and pulls away. That just might have been the defining moment in her future hot rod life. She askes me everytime I put her in the car if "I wanna go see the pretty cars." Which is usually followed buy gutteral hot rod engine noises that would put any boy to shame. I think Jay's a pretty cool guy, rich or not. I hope I get a chance to meet him face to face one day. Maybe appologize for that "****-Off" look...
[ QUOTE ] VERY cool pic! Those things are ****in' HUGE!!! What's the story behind it? [/ QUOTE ] I was under the impression that engine shown in the picture is what is powering Leno's ride. (The way I read it was that it was an engine out of a U.S. military "Patton" Tank, thus the oversized frame/body/wheel porportions of the Blastolene Special. I've never heard them mention Packard). Am I mistaken?
[ QUOTE ] I was under the impression that engine shown in the picture is what is powering Leno's ride. (The way I read it was that it was an engine out of a U.S. military "Patton" Tank, thus the oversized frame/body/wheel porportions of the Blastolene Special. I've never heard them mention Packard). Am I mistaken? [/ QUOTE ] I believe Packard built tank motors during WWII.
Think it'll burn rubber? Jay's Buick is very cool. Remember, walk softly, carry a big stick. In this case, a 572 ci stick! BTW, anyone ever try to get him on the HAMB?
I've seen him driving around here, never in the same vehicle twice. Got a really good idea where his warehouse is... Its the one I saw the steam-powered car pulling out of!
Ok, here is my Jay Leno story... So I'm standing in line at industrial metal supply on a friday afternoon, I turn around and its Jay standing in line behind me just like the rest of us blokes, In his ratty popular mechanics coveralls. He was holding a couple chunks of billet with his greezy hands. The first thing I thought was 'he's a lot shorter in real life.' The first thing I said was "whacha gonna use that for?' "The fire truck" was his response. We then started to talk about his bikes, his jet bike in particular. We paid for our stuff and walked out into the parking lot together sill talking. I mentioned in my real life I a photographer and really would like to photograph his cars somtime. He says yeah you got a card? I went to grab a card out of my pocket only to realise I was also wearing my shop clothes... With NO cards on me! DOOH! He just smiles and say don't worry about it, we'll see each other again, we run in the same circles right? I like Jay he's just a regular gearhead like the rest of us. But with a better sense of business. I believe his colection supports his collection, not the networks. He gets paid well but not that well. FS
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I was under the impression that engine shown in the picture is what is powering Leno's ride. (The way I read it was that it was an engine out of a U.S. military "Patton" Tank, thus the oversized frame/body/wheel porportions of the Blastolene Special. I've never heard them mention Packard). Am I mistaken? [/ QUOTE ] I believe Packard built tank motors during WWII. [/ QUOTE ] The way I heard it, that was Packard last gasp at life, as a goverment contractor before the doors closed in the late '50s. GM also built some I think. I could be way off...
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I was under the impression that engine shown in the picture is what is powering Leno's ride. (The way I read it was that it was an engine out of a U.S. military "Patton" Tank, thus the oversized frame/body/wheel porportions of the Blastolene Special. I've never heard them mention Packard). Am I mistaken? [/ QUOTE ] I believe Packard built tank motors during WWII. [/ QUOTE ] Being far from a know-it-all especially WWII. I only know what I have found out: Cadillac built the engines to power the smaller tanks (one for each track) and several other types of weaponry. Can't figure out how to make links so for you cut and pasters: http://www.100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1940/cad43s.htm
the storie I heard about leno is that if a car he is interested in buying has been owned by a celeb he wont even look at it another was that his most prize duesenburg was sold to him by a fan for next to nothing because she knew he would take care of the car the way it deserved to be cared for
fatsporty wrote: He gets paid well but not that well. Last I heard, it was estimated that Jay Leno was paid 17 Million dollars a year for hosting the Tonight Show.
Good article. Mirrors what I have thought for a time now. I also recall articles about JL when he was on his way up, and he doesn't seem to have changed much on the inside other than having the money to do what he wants. And isn't that what we all want anyway?? Don't be pissed at him for following his dream AND acheiving it. Cosmo
[ QUOTE ] Last I heard, it was estimated that Jay Leno was paid 17 Million dollars a year for hosting the Tonight Show. [/ QUOTE ] I don't think that would be piss in a bucket compared to the collections value and restoration/maintanace and employee salaries. Just think if you spend that much time in the garage, it cost a lot to keep the wife happy
Leno has money but the big difference is , Jay is a car guy. The way he talks about them , the specs, the p***ion is not scripted. Jay talks like a car guy. He simply loves any and all cars I am glad to see all of the machines Jay and his crew is saving with Jay's money. IF you watched the show with the tank motored car.. did you notice the floors of the shop?? They are all marked up and worn from heavy use. I have chatted with some motorcycle people that have run into Jay while he is out on one of his antique bikes on the weekend. He can talk motorcycles with the best of them
I saw Leno drive that Blastolene car into the Blessing of the cars last summer. Man, that thing is un****in real... it's in proportion... it's m***ive, but it looks "right". Anyhow, I didn't get to talk to him or nothin, but he was really friendly with everyone around it seemed. I actually thought he looked taller in person, and thinner. He walks extremely fast... I guess to keep a crowd from forming around him! I really, really wanted to hear that baby run some more.... man....
My favorite Leno car story comes from one of his monologues..... He starts by saying how he got a new (to him) 50's cl***ic, I wanna' say a Buick convertable. After spending all Saturday afternoon going through it and tinkering with it, he talks his wife into going down to Hollywood for a Pizza Pie. He adds that the things runnin' great, he and the Mrs are having a ball and all a sudden comes up to a road block of sorts until the cops recognize him, make an opening in the barrier, and wave him through. In inimitatable style, Leno (try to picture him delivering this), brags to his wife about the spoils of fame and jokes about being a recognizable celeb (the man strikes me as down to earth, so I tend to believe this whole shtick). Only now he starts to realize that he's in a parade. As he and the wife are yuckin' it up an laughing this one off, he starts to realize there are a bunch of drag queens, men holding hands with other men, and crew cut sporting womemn making out with other crew cut wearing woman...... Come to find out, Jay happened upon a gay pride parade and was let into the precession as the mistaken master of ceremonies. Not sure if this is entirely factual, but truly one of the funniest bit's I have ever heard, I'm sorry I can't do it justice....
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] anyone ever try to get him on the HAMB? [/ QUOTE ] Who said he wasn't already? [/ QUOTE ] Since this guy has a sense of humor, I would not be surprised if he introduced himself as a young kid with a Camaro, or something like that...
The Jalopy Journal
