In Jay Leno’s first career, he was a stand-up comic. His second career was as a talk-show host. The income he earned over 40 years of those first two jobs allowed him to amass one of the world’s great collections of automobiles. This hobby has led to the third phase of his career: Jay Leno’s garage.
It’s a YouTube channel, a CNBC show, and a set of car care products and other swag (among my various ratty weekend t-shirts is one from Leno’s Garage).
It looks like a lot of work managing a collection like that: It is intimidating, expensive, and time-consuming. You need a full-time mechanic on staff. Every time you take a car out for a ride, you have to consider the financial ramifications of that mileage and depreciation. Just keeping that many car batteries charged and all of those tires from getting flat spots or bubbles is a full-time job.
Classic cars are like tattoos: One is either too many or not enough.
I cannot imagine ever doing that. Despite myself, I have accumulated a few cars that are now worth more than I paid for them. During the pandemic lock-down, I entertained myself by buying and selling a few (Sold: MB SL, and BMW M235i). (I am loathed to sell any of what is still around). But if I am going to keep with my hobby, I have to find a better way to house these. I see how others have allowed this to get out of hand and run amuck, and I want to avoid that fate.
Still, If I were to imagine having more than a few cars in my garage — not as investments, but as machines, I would happily take out for a spin, depreciation be damned — I imagine it might look something like this:
1. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
2. 1963 Aston Martin DB5
3. 1963 Corvette Stingray Split Window Coupe
4. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
5. 1972 Ferrari 246 Dino
6. 2003 BMW Z8
7. 2005 Ford GT
8. 2016 Bentley Continental GT V8-S
9. 2017 Ferrari California T 70th Anniversary
10. 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT RTrucks
1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40/43
1958 Land Rover 109 Series II 4×4
1987 Freightliner Unimog 419Others
1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster
1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Cabriolet by Dubos
1957 BMW 507
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe
1962 Porsche 356B Twin Grille Roadster
1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello
1983 Ferrari BB 512i
2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast
That’s my fantasy garage . . .
