Jay, just fantastic, thank you. Here in the UK, most private car collections are hidden away and rarely seen in public. So thank you, not just for this video, but for all videos you create - you don't need to do it, but you do, and that benefits all car enthusiasts.
@@BrandMalone24 I think his 1930 Duesenberg convertible coupe - the car you see at the end of his more recent videos, including this one. edited to correct date (from 1932) 😕 ruclips.net/video/fjBRkuIUplA/видео.html
Just looking at this post brings back the smell of the rich, thick smell of that German leather of the period. It's the smell I grew up with, as my Dad had a 1957 MB 220S. He had found an old German mechanic working out of a one man shop in a broken down ancient garage with no sign...He was one of those guys who had to approve of you to work on your car. He'd come through the war and moved here following. He had worked for Focke-Wulf during the war. Just a genius. He replaced the SU's with Weber's, reground the cam, ported, polished and all the other stuff. I was five when he got it, and I taught myself to drive by sitting in that car for hours at a time, teaching myself how to clutch and shift...everything I could do without taking it on the road. When I was a little bit older, he'd sit me on his lap, starting way out in the country helping me develop the proper approach to driving a proper automobile. And he actually put the four on the tree where it properly belonged. I believe there's still a picture of it parked in front of a rest little pizzeria where we were having lunch. I gotta dig out some more pics of that car. One of the most pleasant of my childhood memories. When I find some I'll post 'em on my timeline.
I worked in a hot rod shop for 10 years. It was my dream job but I never really got much recognition for the work, it was always the shop owner who was recognized. No complaints loved it but now I am the shop owner (Highway 101 Rod and Custom) and when I get employees they will be recognized for their efforts. For now it's just me.
Jay the first time I saw That car I was 14 and Fell In LOVE with it. There were 2 Porsche Spyders and a Jaguar stored with it. The Cunningham I Loved. Great Restoration, Richard Watson.
Thanks for this presentation. You stated that 'most people have never heard of this car (maker)' and you'd probably be right. I tuned in to watch this video simply 'because' it was a Cunningham. When I was a young boy, I was really into building model cars. I would save my allowance, mow a few more neighborhood lawns, until I had enough to go to town and buy myself my next model car from the Hobby Shop. Once, after I'd set my heart on a particular car, I went to buy it (it must have been quite popular), because I was heart-broken to find that they had sold out of that one. I had money in my pocket, I'd made the trip into town, and I 'needed' another car to build. Looking through the remaining cars, the 'best' they had left-over was a 1953 Cunningham; you're right, I had "no clue" who or what it was, but it was the best of the "left-overs", so I bought it (this was probably 1962). I really put it together very nicely, but as it was cir. 1962, there was no Google to look it up and find out what it was or who made it. * Just, here, in your video, did I discover that it was an 'American' car, ...I'd always assumed it was some British sports/GT car; thanks for that added piece of 'knowledge'; [8~)
Hands down, the best car guy channel for your garage. Its dream tv. The wife and boys are out , you close the door, open a cold beer, and put a wrench to your unfinished project. .... listening to any Jay show. Here, he honours his guys, by letting the world/internet know that they are tradesman of a chosen craft. These fellows are special, and proud of their work. Its rewarding to learn, in other episodes, that every one of the Guys who gets a paycheck, on Friday....................has full access to the Big Dog Garage, and its every facility...anytime! Thats a perk any car guy, gearhead, or up-and-coming tinker with a dream, would want. For now, turn on the TV, in the garage, over the beer fridge, and be Jay. He makes your dreams come closer...............
One of the sexiest cars I've ever seen. A gorgeous, as authentic as possible restoration with no expense spared - lovely chaps just adoring their car, really nice to see. A super job done on a very rare automobile - cudos to Jay for this effort !
I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Cunningham a few times while very active in the Rolls-Royce owners club. One time at a meet at the 5 Crowns in Newport (?) Briggs Cunningham on one side and Phil Hill on the other helped position my '35 20/25 RR. We also sat with Dutch Darrin at lunch and heard him spin yarns of sailing with Errol Flynn. I organized a "slow drag" in the Cunningham Museum parking lot with Rolls-Royce automobiles. The museum rolled out their Silver Ghost to compete. The results were published in units of "Furlongs Per Fortnight". Fine memories indeed. Very nice to see the C3 on the road.
I just love LENO I never really watched too much of the night show only because I didn't watch those shows. I only saw Carson with my dad when I used to stay up back in the 70s and watch it because that was the only color TV in the house. But getting to know him on his RUclips channel you're just an awesome cool New England old school guy
I could never decide which is more interesting, the cars themselves or the people and circumstances associated with them. Also, on the past restoration blog, it just struck me in a humorous way how Jay went from his Ford Falcon straight into his Bugatti. It's the extreme diversity of his collection and his interests that are most appealing. I honestly think he feels as attached to many of his lower valued car as he does to the top ones. I admire that.
We flew to LA in February and driving out to Paradise Cove, Malibu for breakfast right next to us driving on the highway was Jay in this beautiful Cunningham. Fantastic looking car and Jay was obviously enjoying driving it - what a great example of how these treasures should be used and shown!
I met Briggs at his museum in Coasta Mesa back in 1973 or 74. BLMC had brought the very first MG ever made on loan, and I volunteered to help unload it and move it into the building. Got to talk with him for awhile. An experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
I really hope mister Leno knows how fortunate he is to have a crew of so very talented craftsmen around him, and pays them really well for their always very very beautiful work
"Happy is he who makes a living from his hobby." Jay, you don't make a living from your hobby, but you provide employment for those who would. Outstanding!
It's nice to see someone doing something they really love. I never got the impression the tonight show was a passion. Interviewing entitled celebrities who have no personality or drive. Leno appears to be a down-to-earth person. That is more prevalent when he shares these garage series. I'd love to meet him one day. Very intelligent humane person. Keep recording these shows Mr. Leno.
Love these videos where Jay goes into the mark's history, and so cool to see a relatively obscure, unique car like this, especially a car we've seen in progress during the resto blogs. And the build details from George and Jim were great, too. Best JLG episode in a while.
Dear Mr. Leno, I have appreciated the videos you produce about the range of cars in your garage as well as the warmth with which you present those of the guests you host. Your attention to the details of the cars and demonstration of the craftmanship involved in the making of such a library of vehicles makes this channel a rare catalog. I have only one request. I would really like to hear these vehicles start. There's a lot of character in the process and sound of a car starting. From the cranks of the cars before electric starts, to the Dodge starters of the sixties and seventies, to the sound of a two-cylinder bike's kick start or a four cylinder electric start, what you present to the populous and preserve for posterity needs only this aspect. Thank you for not only holding these vehicles for the next generation but making them accessible, by way of dream, to the rest of this one.
I was so happy to see this video - my father had one of these that he restored in the 70's, and I remember him telling us about all the same problems that Jimmy Hudson did. He used to joke that the factory must have had a short man working on the right side of the car and a tall one on the left because the two sides were uneven! He kept the two-speed semi automatic, and the quad carb setup, and spent a lot of time making a reproduction of the bumpers that had been destroyed in an accident. Anyway - it was a great trip down memory lane, thanks so much for sharing!
I've had a long time fascination with the Cunningham, ever since I read about Briggs Cunningham's LeMans attempts. I finally saw one in person at the Gateway Museum here in Colorado. Fantastic to see one in running condition on the road. Beautiful Italian styling with solid American technology. It really doesn't get any better than that in the 50's.
I will echo what others have said about Mr. Cunningham. In the late 70's I used to work near his museum, and would sometimes go over @ lunch to see what they were up to. All the LeMans cars were there, & one lucky day Briggs had decided the C4R needed some exercise. No helmet, white hair streaming, he was tearing up the autocross layout they'd chalked out for the upcoming weekend. An image, and sound I'll never forget.
My Late Grandfather, Larry Auzene, Sr. had a garage in Burbank from '46 to '67 at Main & Alameda... Larry's Auto Repair. Like Briggs, He Specialized ln Getting More Horses out of the then new OHV 49 - on 331 Cadillac V-8 & 303 Olds... l still have his business stamp & stationery proclaiming at the top "CAD OLDS Specialists" Always used to Love hearing about Grandpa making a 'sleeper' Caddy faster with mechanical linkage he'd fabricate to replace the vacuum type on a dual quad Eldo, etc. Briggs exploits in 1950 at LeMans with "Le Monstre" & the stock bodied Coupe De Ville were always a source of pride, as were his Cunningham Sports Cars. Miss Briggs & His Collection...Briggs had a copy of my first car, (62 Pontiac Grand Prix maroon/maroon 8-lugs bought new & souped up by Grandpa Auzene which l got in 1979)..Briggs 62 421 Grand Prix had an under hood Latham blower...Man, it was REALLY Fast! Can Only lnagine What my Grandfather Auzene & Briggs Cunningham thought of Caddy returning to performance awhile back with the CTS-V...Still Vow to Own One! Thanks, Jay & Crew for Another Great Car Restored!
Jay, you're great for saving these beautiful cars. You really outdid yourself. Your restorers are wonderful craftsmen. Please pass along my compliments
Jay's appreciation for unique cars is so fantastic! He preserves cars that are important but not necessarily valuable. What he does is so important. Not only for our generation of car lovers but more importantly for the future. His love for, and more importantly his restoration work preserves out mechanical history. Thank you Jay for your love of cars and not your love of money. Commander and Chief of the more money than brains club!!!
Yeah and then ruined by painting it Burg. Heres a tip to everyone, there is NO CAR that looks good in Burg, not one, if you can think of one, your have ABSOLUTELY NO TASTE. It's the color of bloody diarrhea, I rest my case.
Sorry to disagree, however, the car is a three tone color - two shades of grey with burgundy. I'm not a fan of reddish cars either, but this one looks classy.
Luchace Fox hate to burst your bubble, but the burgundy and two shades of gray were what the car was wearing when it left the Cunningham factory in 1953.
@ Yeah, when you are in the car you can look at the whole state or country and figure out scenic routes and what sites to visit etc. with an actual map. Maybe highlite it! Where I work at an urban national park service site we ran out of free city maps and I said I would get some. An younger employee (above me, not my supervisor) said people can just use their phones, implying that maps were old fashioned things for old people who should get with modern ways. The supervisor nodded in agreement. I got the maps anyway on my own time. Guess what, people asked for them and took them and apparently found them useful. A map is a lot bigger than your phone and has transit on it also. And it doesn't need recharging.
...while this is true, it’s slightly myopic. Airplanes, VW Beetles from the 50s, 60s, VW Transporters, Saabs.... Many transportation implements (mostly European) had package trays for two important reasons: most importantly, it was a way of boosting profit a little, and they were sorta handy items.....
nelsona779 I believe close to 200, and he has another 100 to 150 motorcycles. But since he always has a ton of upcoming stuff going on, its hard to keep count. Jay will never sell a car, he wants to keep each and every one. He has a huge airplane hangar like construction where he keeps this magnificent collection!
I dunno about that. The Musket video is one of my favorites and isn’t a Jay vehicle. Jay does an awesome job on everything imho, and is very respectful of people and machines.
I love that you restore and introduce the public to vintage as well as leading edge cars. Many older cars are from my generation that I didn't have the opportunity to explore. So a big thank you for reminding us of our history, and it's evolution , C.K.Hof
I really enjoy the dual nature of reverence and ridicule. Too many car shows just worship the subject and ignore the flaws. With innovation and vision also comes compromise and stubbornness.
beautiful car. Love that hemi rumble. sounds like you got the exhaust just right. glad the car came to somebody who could restore it to driving condition for the world to see.
This is a nice car, but darn, it has a lot of weird quirks as it came from the factory. However his crew does wonderful work and in the end.....Jay is a man who really (really ! ) loves his cars and it shows in every video he makes. His videos are the standard.
beautiful car. This is why I love Jay's collection. Its full of real gems, not every new Ferrari or lamborghini that's just come out like other celebs seem to collect
I enjoyed that you included some of your employees in this video. I would like to see a video just about them. Privacy is of course an important issue these days but you need not include any last names etc. They are a very talented bunch of guys.
This is one of my favorite cars now... what a story and what a beautiful vehicle. Just wow... gorgeous. That chrome accent that goes around the hood all the way around the back is an elegant design element. I don't have the words. It's just beautiful. Thanks Jay.
What a beautifully designed car. The color fits the style and age of the car perfectly. Your modifications from the original have done nothing but enhance the vehicles appearance and mobility. Job well done indeed.
Jay My dad nd his twin brother had the privilege of working for briggs in the winter of 1949-50. He worked on some ford sprint cars and built fordillacs and a lincollac. HE said Briggs made $33,000 a day back then just off of what he had inherited from the swift meat packing fortune. HE also said he was a great guy, very personable. I have often thought of writing an article about his experiences that winter. My father will be 88 this July. Great job on the restoration.
The Cunningham Family made its money from real estate, investing and land holdings that allowed his children their lifestyle. His father fronted money to the guys that started Proctor and Gamble. Although in Chicago area, his family was not involved in Swift Meat Packing. He also help found the racing body that is now SCCA. Quite a guy.
@@aufrichtigforty6296 I agree. If possible, this would be a great interview. If not, it would be a terrific article to read. It's cars like this that tell us about the great history of the period and the folks who made this dream come true. Thanks!
One of the most beautiful restorations I've ever seen out of his shop, with a story behind it. In particular, I have never seen a cooler instrument panel. Literally just leaps out at you! Gotta be one of the tastiest cars I have ever seen! This guy had the pull at MB to have the car delivered by Rudy Carraciola! (Look it up, That way you're really be impressed! Evidently he had that kind of pull everywhere! A real man's man in every good sense of the phrase...
The first model car I ever had was a Cunningham Phantom. It was in about 1958 and it was the coolest car I had ever seen. I quit building model airplanes and started building cool model cars after that.
My favorite episode so far! Love seeing the guys that work on the restorations. The air cleaner is one of the finest examples of metal work I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing Jay!
I have never heard of the Cunningham C3, but boy oh boy, I am glad I have now seen such a beauty. Thanks Jay and your team to put such a beautiful car back on the road. Hard to believe it was made in 1953!!
1954 My Dad bought a brand new house for $16,000. So for the money that Car cost in 1953 must have been outrageously expensive. Thanks for the History Lesson. Keep up the good work.
In 1953 a Ford or Chev was about$1800. You could buy a Buick for $2000 and a Cadillac cost $4000 and up - you could buy a Cadillac 75 limousine for $6000. So yeah, $9000 and up for a car was a heap of dough. You could buy a BRAND NEW house for $7500 in one of the new suburbs across the country.
Spot on. My parents' small new ranch cost $8,000 in 1958 (and $1,000 of that was for a fireplace with the exterior brickwork). The next year I bought a used 1954 Lincoln in showroom shape for $1,000. A Rolls Royce was $10k. So no one amortizing a mortgage with fingers crossed would have been researching a Cad, a Royce, or a Cunningham in 1953.
never seen one of these,ive been around cars all my life,jay is so easy to listen to and he knows his stuff ,i would to meet him for a long talk about cars ,what a stunning car !!!!!!!
One of the nicest cars in the collection by far. I was a little saddened to see the bumper delete though. For me that was a defining external feature, that without it just makes it look like another Vignale bodied car from that era. All the other mods were for practicality and as a car that will get used rightly so. Though tire choice regarding tread pattern I think a Michelin XVS ( 235/70/15 may be a little wide?) or a Dunlop CR65 may have been more in keeping rather than the XWX ? Great to the the crew on camera explaining their contribution as well. Thanks for sharing it on youtube as that is probably the only way someone outside the USA would be able to see one. Cheers
That car's got soul. The underneath is a work of art. I like how the mufflers and pipes run the outside of the frame rails. It's got the Healey front end look. Thanks Jay, nice one..
I liked all the gauges from time ago. One could see a problem developing, not just a "Check Engine" light like today. BTW our 2014 Subaru Outback has 17" wheels.
Great work by real masters. I was amazed how much more hp you got with new heads and porting/polishing. Jay, don't forget about your 54 Dodge wagon. You did this one quite a few years ago but now is no longer available. :)
That dash IS a beautiful piece. The red is perfect. You have excellent taste, Jay, from one end of the timeline to the other. A Cunningham...I haven't even seen a picture of one in decades. Thanks, Jay
Who did your wheels? Vendor please... Bob Lacey at Vintage Wheels does some of the older stuff, cast at American Racing wheel plant.. but .. I can imagine you scanned an original into CAD, massaged the file to proportion of 15" and 3D printed a pattern for the casting house.. Please tell us the story on the wheels too. Some of us want to know. Beautiful and so functional. The right way in my opinion.. Nice recreation of the trim.. tough work and well fitted! Thanks for introducing some of the staff.. as you often do. cool of you to share the glory with the hands-on fab guys.
Thank - You Jay for this impressive restoration and upgrade. It really shows your love for automobiles. Not only is this car serious eye candy but also has performance that impresses and endures. It literally looks like some kind of candy you've just unwrapped and started to devour. Lots of fun!
A truly impractical car, but it's great that Jay has saved it. The scale is odd to me, it's quite tall. It's a lot of car for one bench seat. But the jewel-like quality of the interior components is something we'll never see again.
Impractical ls a Smart Car...A Cunningham ls Something that brand new was at Home at Palm Beach as well as at Sebring or Nassau...Mild to Wild...Best of All..All Cunninghams are still around!
Absolutely love this car loved it when u showed us it before the restore u and your guys did a great job but wheels r true looking but spokes would be great also those taillights r so sexy its one of my favorites no bumpers great idea just needs air conditioning and me to own it O i agree with the other guy need the volume kicked up but thanks Jay another great one
Hello Jay, you might not even read it, but try to google Tatra 2500JK....only 1 in existence :) awesome homemade czech car by a guy who yoused to work for Tatra car and truck manufacturer. The one is very well hidden, but perhaps you could persuade him to show it to the world
One of my favorite things about this channel is Jay telling us about how good things used to be back in the day. "Only a 2 speed automatic but back then that was amazing. It had 220hp but let me tell you that was a lot for back then. It had a 2 speaker system which was a big deal back then."
Yes, Mr. Cunningham was a man of first class taste. Between 1950 and 1953 Vignale was still one of the Ferrari House designers. The 195 Inter and 212 Inter Coupés from Giovanni Michelotti have similar lines in smaller scale. :)
The future Jay Leno Automotive Museum is going to be one of the great Wonders of the World.
Beautiful sentiment. I totally think you’re right
Jay is a Legend in his own time I love the man.@@Stryper101
George is awesome and also has one of the best jobs in USA
@@rickwhite3181 yup that’s true. Very well said
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Cunningham right in the early '80s. Amazing man.
No matter how bad my day might be, I can always recover with one 22 minute JLG video. This one is spectacular.
Thanks Jay. I built a Cunningham model as a kid in the 1960's but really never knew anything about the car. Now I do!
Jay is providing jobs for guys who know and obviously love their work. Excellent.
A long forgotten marque. Cunningham was a true enthusiast who collected, built and raced.
Jay, just fantastic, thank you. Here in the UK, most private car collections are hidden away and rarely seen in public. So thank you, not just for this video, but for all videos you create - you don't need to do it, but you do, and that benefits all car enthusiasts.
Well said Glenn
i have always loved the big ole hemi in a light foreign cat. daimler dart anyone.
Mainly because as soon as you drive a mile on UK roads they're caked in mud lol
@Seraph909 haha nice, which of Jay's cars do you suppose he would drive through the gates?
@@BrandMalone24 I think his 1930 Duesenberg convertible coupe - the car you see at the end of his more recent videos, including this one.
edited to correct date (from 1932) 😕
ruclips.net/video/fjBRkuIUplA/видео.html
Just looking at this post brings back the smell of the rich, thick smell of that German leather of the period. It's the smell I grew up with, as my Dad had a 1957 MB 220S. He had found an old German mechanic working out of a one man shop in a broken down ancient garage with no sign...He was one of those guys who had to approve of you to work on your car. He'd come through the war and moved here following. He had worked for Focke-Wulf during the war. Just a genius. He replaced the SU's with Weber's, reground the cam, ported, polished and all the other stuff. I was five when he got it, and I taught myself to drive by sitting in that car for hours at a time, teaching myself how to clutch and shift...everything I could do without taking it on the road. When I was a little bit older, he'd sit me on his lap, starting way out in the country helping me develop the proper approach to driving a proper automobile. And he actually put the four on the tree where it properly belonged. I believe there's still a picture of it parked in front of a rest little pizzeria where we were having lunch. I gotta dig out some more pics of that car. One of the most pleasant of my childhood memories. When I find some I'll post 'em on my timeline.
I like how Jay says "our shop" instead of "my shop"
I worked in a hot rod shop for 10 years. It was my dream job but I never really got much recognition for the work, it was always the shop owner who was recognized. No complaints loved it but now I am the shop owner (Highway 101 Rod and Custom) and when I get employees they will be recognized for their efforts. For now it's just me.
It's not like Jay's doing all the work, and he takes humble in pronouncing that honesty! I think Jay appreciates the working guy.
Jay seems to be a very genuinely nice person.
He does, Leno, possess a reasonable grasp of the language and knows a good team, as well, from his TV days.
lol true, :)
but there is also a royal our, when a king doesnt say I but our:)
Jay
the first time I saw That car I was 14 and Fell In LOVE with it. There were 2 Porsche Spyders and a Jaguar stored with it. The Cunningham I Loved. Great Restoration, Richard Watson.
Love it when you show a car in YOUR collection...seems more personal...Kodos to you and your crew!
Doug what is kodos?
#Kudos
Otter Lego Mocs You mean you DIDN'T vote for KODOS?????..😨😨😨 shame on you. Homer Simpson would be very disappointed in you...
All Hail Emperor Kang! I jest but agree with Doug. Much more intimate review when Jay knows the machine so well. Passion.
Abortions for some, miniature American Flags for others.
Thanks for this presentation. You stated that 'most people have never heard of this car (maker)' and you'd probably be right. I tuned in to watch this video simply 'because' it was a Cunningham.
When I was a young boy, I was really into building model cars. I would save my allowance, mow a few more neighborhood lawns, until I had enough to go to town and buy myself my next model car from the Hobby Shop. Once, after I'd set my heart on a particular car, I went to buy it (it must have been quite popular), because I was heart-broken to find that they had sold out of that one. I had money in my pocket, I'd made the trip into town, and I 'needed' another car to build. Looking through the remaining cars, the 'best' they had left-over was a 1953 Cunningham; you're right, I had "no clue" who or what it was, but it was the best of the "left-overs", so I bought it (this was probably 1962).
I really put it together very nicely, but as it was cir. 1962, there was no Google to look it up and find out what it was or who made it. * Just, here, in your video, did I discover that it was an 'American' car, ...I'd always assumed it was some British sports/GT car; thanks for that added piece of 'knowledge'; [8~)
Hands down, the best car guy channel for your garage. Its dream tv.
The wife and boys are out , you close the door, open a cold beer, and put a wrench to your unfinished project. .... listening to any Jay show. Here, he honours his guys, by letting the world/internet know that they are tradesman of a chosen craft. These fellows are special, and proud of their work. Its rewarding to learn, in other episodes, that every one of the Guys who gets a paycheck, on Friday....................has full access to the Big Dog Garage, and its every facility...anytime! Thats a perk any car guy, gearhead, or up-and-coming tinker with a dream, would want.
For now, turn on the TV, in the garage, over the beer fridge, and be Jay. He makes your dreams come closer...............
One of the sexiest cars I've ever seen. A gorgeous, as authentic as possible restoration with no expense spared - lovely chaps just adoring their car, really nice to see. A super job done on a very rare automobile - cudos to Jay for this effort !
I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Cunningham a few times while very active in the Rolls-Royce owners club. One time at a meet at the 5 Crowns in Newport (?) Briggs Cunningham on one side and Phil Hill on the other helped position my '35 20/25 RR. We also sat with Dutch Darrin at lunch and heard him spin yarns of sailing with Errol Flynn. I organized a "slow drag" in the Cunningham Museum parking lot with Rolls-Royce automobiles. The museum rolled out their Silver Ghost to compete. The results were published in units of "Furlongs Per Fortnight". Fine memories indeed. Very nice to see the C3 on the road.
Daryl Butcher 5
Hello, enjoyed you comments very much. I wanted to read the results of the "Slow Drag" but cannot find it. Is there a site ? Thanks, Phil
Furlongs per fortnight 😁
I'll have to remember that one!
I used to visit the Cunningham museum when I was a young man. It was very impressive. Mr. Cunningham was the ultimate sports gentleman.
I just love LENO I never really watched too much of the night show only because I didn't watch those shows.
I only saw Carson with my dad when I used to stay up back in the 70s and watch it because that was the only color TV in the house.
But getting to know him on his RUclips channel you're just an awesome cool New England old school guy
I could never decide which is more interesting, the cars themselves or the people and circumstances associated with
them.
Also, on the past restoration blog, it just struck me in a humorous way how Jay went from his Ford Falcon straight into his Bugatti. It's the extreme diversity of his collection and his interests that are most appealing.
I honestly think he feels as attached to many of his lower valued car as he does to the top ones.
I admire that.
We flew to LA in February and driving out to Paradise Cove, Malibu for breakfast right next to us driving on the highway was Jay in this beautiful Cunningham. Fantastic looking car and Jay was obviously enjoying driving it - what a great example of how these treasures should be used and shown!
I met Briggs at his museum in Coasta Mesa back in 1973 or 74. BLMC had brought the very first MG ever made on loan, and I volunteered to help unload it and move it into the building. Got to talk with him for awhile. An experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
Went to the museum too, must have been in the 70's.
Cool what was it like
I really hope mister Leno knows how fortunate he is to have a crew of so very talented craftsmen around him, and pays them really well for their always very very beautiful work
Jay, It looks like you have some amazing guys working with you. Not just skill-wise but really good guys in general
Difficult to comprehend how one individual could amass such a collection. Unreal.
"Happy is he who makes a living from his hobby." Jay, you don't make a living from your hobby, but you provide employment for those who would. Outstanding!
and continues to pay his Guys thru this C-19 era....Jay Leno. Nuff said.
It's nice to see someone doing something they really love. I never got the impression the tonight show was a passion. Interviewing entitled celebrities who have no personality or drive. Leno appears to be a down-to-earth person. That is more prevalent when he shares these garage series. I'd love to meet him one day. Very intelligent humane person. Keep recording these shows Mr. Leno.
Love these videos where Jay goes into the mark's history, and so cool to see a relatively obscure, unique car like this, especially a car we've seen in progress during the resto blogs. And the build details from George and Jim were great, too.
Best JLG episode in a while.
Glad to see the guys who restored the Cunningham! Glad you preserved this pice of history and example of American ingenuity!
Dear Mr. Leno, I have appreciated the videos you produce about the range of cars in your garage as well as the warmth with which you present those of the guests you host. Your attention to the details of the cars and demonstration of the craftmanship involved in the making of such a library of vehicles makes this channel a rare catalog. I have only one request. I would really like to hear these vehicles start. There's a lot of character in the process and sound of a car starting. From the cranks of the cars before electric starts, to the Dodge starters of the sixties and seventies, to the sound of a two-cylinder bike's kick start or a four cylinder electric start, what you present to the populous and preserve for posterity needs only this aspect. Thank you for not only holding these vehicles for the next generation but making them accessible, by way of dream, to the rest of this one.
Mark Mouck
WELL SAID!!
I agree.
I love the way you crafted this comment and completely agree with you.
So glad to see that car is finished! So fantastic that you were able to save a *very* rare piece of automotive history!!
I was so happy to see this video - my father had one of these that he restored in the 70's, and I remember him telling us about all the same problems that Jimmy Hudson did. He used to joke that the factory must have had a short man working on the right side of the car and a tall one on the left because the two sides were uneven! He kept the two-speed semi automatic, and the quad carb setup, and spent a lot of time making a reproduction of the bumpers that had been destroyed in an accident. Anyway - it was a great trip down memory lane, thanks so much for sharing!
David Willison what happened to it?
I've had a long time fascination with the Cunningham, ever since I read about Briggs Cunningham's LeMans attempts. I finally saw one in person at the Gateway Museum here in Colorado. Fantastic to see one in running condition on the road. Beautiful Italian styling with solid American technology. It really doesn't get any better than that in the 50's.
I will echo what others have said about Mr. Cunningham. In the late 70's I used to work near his museum, and would sometimes go over @ lunch to see what they were up to. All the LeMans cars were there, & one lucky day Briggs had decided the C4R needed some exercise. No helmet, white hair streaming, he was tearing up the autocross layout they'd chalked out for the upcoming weekend. An image, and sound I'll never forget.
My Late Grandfather, Larry Auzene, Sr. had a garage in Burbank from '46 to '67 at Main & Alameda... Larry's Auto Repair. Like Briggs, He Specialized ln Getting More Horses out of the then new OHV 49 - on 331 Cadillac V-8 & 303 Olds... l still have his business stamp & stationery proclaiming at the top "CAD OLDS Specialists" Always used to Love hearing about Grandpa making a 'sleeper' Caddy faster with mechanical linkage he'd fabricate to replace the vacuum type on a dual quad Eldo, etc. Briggs exploits in 1950 at LeMans with "Le Monstre" & the stock bodied Coupe De Ville were always a source of pride, as were his Cunningham Sports Cars. Miss Briggs & His Collection...Briggs had a copy of my first car, (62 Pontiac Grand Prix maroon/maroon 8-lugs bought new & souped up by Grandpa Auzene which l got in 1979)..Briggs 62 421 Grand Prix had an under hood Latham blower...Man, it was REALLY Fast! Can Only lnagine What my Grandfather Auzene & Briggs Cunningham thought of Caddy returning to performance awhile back with the CTS-V...Still Vow to Own One! Thanks, Jay & Crew for Another Great Car Restored!
Jay, you're great for saving these beautiful cars. You really outdid yourself.
Your restorers are wonderful craftsmen. Please pass along my compliments
Jay's appreciation for unique cars is so fantastic! He preserves cars that are important but not necessarily valuable. What he does is so important. Not only for our generation of car lovers but more importantly for the future. His love for, and more importantly his restoration work preserves out mechanical history. Thank you Jay for your love of cars and not your love of money. Commander and Chief of the more money than brains club!!!
The Cunningham is FINALLY FINISHED!!
digitalrailroader yes indeed long project
Yeah and then ruined by painting it Burg. Heres a tip to everyone, there is NO CAR that looks good in Burg, not one, if you can think of one, your have ABSOLUTELY NO TASTE. It's the color of bloody diarrhea, I rest my case.
The car looked better in plain white.
Sorry to disagree, however, the car is a three tone color - two shades of grey with burgundy. I'm not a fan of reddish cars either, but this one looks classy.
Luchace Fox hate to burst your bubble, but the burgundy and two shades of gray were what the car was wearing when it left the Cunningham factory in 1953.
Thanks for restoring this car. And much credit to the guys at the garage that do the work. They don't get the spotlight enough.
Jay, that netting is common in boats for stowage. Considering Cunningham's yachting background, it's not so surprising to see it in his cars.
Good place for a map.
It was a good place for maps in 1953. They're obsolete these days.
I always have a map with me in the event my electronics fail. :)
@ Yeah, when you are in the car you can look at the whole state or country and figure out scenic routes and what sites to visit etc. with an actual map. Maybe highlite it! Where I work at an urban national park service site we ran out of free city maps and I said I would get some. An younger employee (above me, not my supervisor) said people can just use their phones, implying that maps were old fashioned things for old people who should get with modern ways. The supervisor nodded in agreement.
I got the maps anyway on my own time. Guess what, people asked for them and took them and apparently found them useful. A map is a lot bigger than your phone and has transit on it also. And it doesn't need recharging.
...while this is true, it’s slightly myopic.
Airplanes, VW Beetles from the 50s, 60s, VW Transporters, Saabs....
Many transportation implements (mostly European) had package trays for two important reasons: most importantly, it was a way of boosting profit a little, and they were sorta handy items.....
STUNNING - that dashboard! Omg.
when Jay Leno's Garage is about Jay Leno's Garage, the videos are 10 times more entertaining.
Vic Vil how many cars does Jay Leno own
nelsona779 I believe close to 200, and he has another 100 to 150 motorcycles. But since he always has a ton of upcoming stuff going on, its hard to keep count. Jay will never sell a car, he wants to keep each and every one. He has a huge airplane hangar like construction where he keeps this magnificent collection!
I dunno about that. The Musket video is one of my favorites and isn’t a Jay vehicle. Jay does an awesome job on everything imho, and is very respectful of people and machines.
I love that you restore and introduce the public to vintage as well as leading edge cars. Many older cars are from my generation that I didn't have the opportunity to explore. So a big thank you for reminding us of our history, and it's evolution ,
C.K.Hof
I really enjoy the dual nature of reverence and ridicule. Too many car shows just worship the subject and ignore the flaws. With innovation and vision also comes compromise and stubbornness.
Jimmy is awesome and has one of the best jobs in USA
Loved the car as much as the history lesson!
Another beautiful diamond from Jay Leno's oversized jewelry box. What a beautiful car this is. An Italian lady with an American heart ... splendid!
So excited to finally see the Cunningham!
Great to meet the garage crew and know the people who did this restoration.
gorgeous gorgeous work. Your Restorations are the most interesting of all the videos
Brillant Italian design by Vignale and a powerful Chrysler engine: what can one desire more than this masterpiece ?
beautiful car. Love that hemi rumble. sounds like you got the exhaust just right. glad the car came to somebody who could restore it to driving condition for the world to see.
That car is absolutely stunning. I never even knew they existed till today. Much love! ❤️❤️❤️
This is a nice car, but darn, it has a lot of weird quirks as it came from the factory. However his crew does wonderful work and in the end.....Jay is a man who really (really ! ) loves his cars and it shows in every video he makes. His videos are the standard.
Finally she's done! Congrats Jay, on another great car, another great video!
The Cunningham is beautiful Jay!
beautiful car. This is why I love Jay's collection. Its full of real gems, not every new Ferrari or lamborghini that's just come out like other celebs seem to collect
Very cool restoration. The guys who work for you are amazing craftsman!
That’s a really good looking car!
I enjoyed that you included some of your employees in this video. I would like to see a video just about them. Privacy is of course an important issue these days but you need not include any last names etc. They are a very talented bunch of guys.
This is one of my favorite cars now... what a story and what a beautiful vehicle. Just wow... gorgeous. That chrome accent that goes around the hood all the way around the back is an elegant design element. I don't have the words. It's just beautiful. Thanks Jay.
Impressive car...fantastic work by all involved!
The passion really comes through on Jay's own cars. Such a pleasure to watch! Great to hear the mechanics too!
This channel is absolutely brilliant
What a beautifully designed car. The color fits the style and age of the car perfectly. Your modifications from the original have done nothing but enhance the vehicles appearance and mobility. Job well done indeed.
Jay My dad nd his twin brother had the privilege of working for briggs in the winter of 1949-50. He worked on some ford sprint cars and built fordillacs and a lincollac. HE said Briggs made $33,000 a day back then just off of what he had inherited from the swift meat packing fortune. HE also said he was a great guy, very personable. I have often thought of writing an article about his experiences that winter. My father will be 88 this July. Great job on the restoration.
Your dad's reminiscences should feature in one of Jay's interviews.
The Cunningham Family made its money from real estate, investing and land holdings that allowed his children their lifestyle. His father fronted money to the guys that started Proctor and Gamble. Although in Chicago area, his family was not involved in Swift Meat Packing. He also help found the racing body that is now SCCA. Quite a guy.
@@aufrichtigforty6296 I agree. If possible, this would be a great interview. If not, it would be a terrific article to read. It's cars like this that tell us about the great history of the period and the folks who made this dream come true. Thanks!
One of the most beautiful restorations I've ever seen out of his shop, with a story behind it. In particular, I have never seen a cooler instrument panel. Literally just leaps out at you! Gotta be one of the tastiest cars I have ever seen! This guy had the pull at MB to have the car delivered by Rudy Carraciola! (Look it up, That way you're really be impressed! Evidently he had that kind of pull everywhere! A real man's man in every good sense of the phrase...
It would seem that his entire life embodied the good meanings that can be attached to the word class.
The first model car I ever had was a Cunningham Phantom. It was in about 1958 and it was the coolest car I had ever seen. I quit building model airplanes and started building cool model cars after that.
My favorite episode so far! Love seeing the guys that work on the restorations. The air cleaner is one of the finest examples of metal work I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing Jay!
When car i restored by Jay and the big dog garage you know it's done right.
Marauder252 Huh?
These are my favorite videos where its just you and showing your personal cars. Jay you are awesome!
"These are anti lock brakes. You have you lock your knees" LOL
I have never heard of the Cunningham C3, but boy oh boy, I am glad I have now seen such a beauty. Thanks Jay and your team to put such a beautiful car back on the road. Hard to believe it was made in 1953!!
1954 My Dad bought a brand new house for $16,000. So for the money that Car cost in 1953 must have been outrageously expensive. Thanks for the History Lesson. Keep up the good work.
In 1953 a Ford or Chev was about$1800. You could buy a Buick for $2000 and a Cadillac cost $4000 and up - you could buy a Cadillac 75 limousine for $6000. So yeah, $9000 and up for a car was a heap of dough. You could buy a BRAND NEW house for $7500 in one of the new suburbs across the country.
Spot on. My parents' small new ranch cost $8,000 in 1958 (and $1,000 of that was for a fireplace with the exterior brickwork). The next year I bought a used 1954 Lincoln in showroom shape for $1,000. A Rolls Royce was $10k. So no one amortizing a mortgage with fingers crossed would have been researching a Cad, a Royce, or a Cunningham in 1953.
This was a car for the multimillionaire class. And there was a lot less of them back then than there are today.
Wow, you keep outdoing yourselves. Rolling Italian Art with an American twist! Such a beauty. Many thanks!
Such great stuff, always enjoy watching Jay showing his collection. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
never seen one of these,ive been around cars all my life,jay is so easy to listen to and he knows his stuff ,i would to meet him for a long talk about cars ,what a stunning car !!!!!!!
Glad to see her done Jay! Looks fantastic 👍👍
The Cunningham is wonderful to see, and to have its details laid out for us is great fun!
One of the nicest cars in the collection by far. I was a little saddened to see the bumper delete though. For me that was a defining external feature, that without it just makes it look like another Vignale bodied car from that era. All the other mods were for practicality and as a car that will get used rightly so. Though tire choice regarding tread pattern I think a Michelin XVS ( 235/70/15 may be a little wide?) or a Dunlop CR65 may have been more in keeping rather than the XWX ? Great to the the crew on camera explaining their contribution as well. Thanks for sharing it on youtube as that is probably the only way someone outside the USA would be able to see one. Cheers
Only one important thing missing -- they should all learn to pronounce Vignale correctly. It's veen-YA-lay. The 'g' is silent. How hard is that?
Single color for me.
@ NoahVale Ha! Yes, despite Jay's Italian heritage, he has trouble with other Italian names and marques.
That car's got soul. The underneath is a work of art. I like how the mufflers and pipes run the outside of the frame rails. It's got the Healey front end look. Thanks Jay, nice one..
That dash is amazingly cool.
I liked all the gauges from time ago. One could see a problem developing, not just a "Check Engine" light like today.
BTW our 2014 Subaru Outback has 17" wheels.
this is truly the kind of best videos Jay is doing, his cars, the work of the boys on it, in depth explaining of history .More please
Revolutionary styling for 1953
This is why I love this channel. Never even heard of this car before, and I'm not the best with cars earlier than the 60s
Great work by real masters. I was amazed how much more hp you got with new heads and porting/polishing. Jay, don't forget about your 54 Dodge wagon. You did this one quite a few years ago but now is no longer available. :)
Jay, can you repost the video that you did on that 54 Dodge station wagon?
That dash IS a beautiful piece. The red is perfect. You have excellent taste, Jay, from one end of the timeline to the other. A Cunningham...I haven't even seen a picture of one in decades. Thanks, Jay
Who did your wheels? Vendor please... Bob Lacey at Vintage Wheels does some of the older stuff, cast at American Racing wheel plant.. but .. I can imagine you scanned an original into CAD, massaged the file to proportion of 15" and 3D printed a pattern for the casting house.. Please tell us the story on the wheels too. Some of us want to know. Beautiful and so functional. The right way in my opinion.. Nice recreation of the trim.. tough work and well fitted! Thanks for introducing some of the staff.. as you often do. cool of you to share the glory with the hands-on fab guys.
Thank - You Jay for this impressive restoration and upgrade. It really shows your love for automobiles. Not only is this car serious eye candy but also has performance that impresses and endures. It literally looks like some kind of candy you've just unwrapped and started to devour. Lots of fun!
A truly impractical car, but it's great that Jay has saved it. The scale is odd to me, it's quite tall. It's a lot of car for one bench seat. But the jewel-like quality of the interior components is something we'll never see again.
Impractical ls a Smart Car...A Cunningham ls Something that brand new was at Home at Palm Beach as well as at Sebring or Nassau...Mild to Wild...Best of All..All Cunninghams are still around!
Jay has a dream team working in his shop. Each best in their field.
Absolutely love this car loved it when u showed us it before the restore u and your guys did a great job but wheels r true looking but spokes would be great also those taillights r so sexy its one of my favorites no bumpers great idea just needs air conditioning and me to own it O i agree with the other guy need the volume kicked up but thanks Jay another great one
Johnny Yanni I was thinking the same thing I would like to see what it would look like with the wire wheels
Thanks Jay for showing this car, I have heard from these but never have seen one. And I guess 6yrs later is still better than never.
Beautiful dashboard!
WOW!!! Thank you for featuring the finished 1953 Cunningham. Totally awesome, and yes that dashboard is fabulous.
Hello Jay, you might not even read it, but try to google Tatra 2500JK....only 1 in existence :) awesome homemade czech car by a guy who yoused to work for Tatra car and truck manufacturer. The one is very well hidden, but perhaps you could persuade him to show it to the world
The engine sound from this car is amazingly cool. Deep and powerful, without ever getting raucous.
I love the old cars......works of art! Now, mostly just plastic blobs.
One of my favorite things about this channel is Jay telling us about how good things used to be back in the day.
"Only a 2 speed automatic but back then that was amazing. It had 220hp but let me tell you that was a lot for back then. It had a 2 speaker system which was a big deal back then."
That's a rare bird, but what a looker for 1953!
Yes, Mr. Cunningham was a man of first class taste. Between 1950 and 1953 Vignale was still one of the Ferrari House designers. The 195 Inter and 212 Inter Coupés from Giovanni Michelotti have similar lines in smaller scale. :)
Amazing finish on the paint. You can see the mountain reflected in the paint almost like a mirror.
Hello Jay,
I believe magnesium can be X-ray'd to check its structural integrity.
At 60 years old they are museum pieces, their life is about 6 years not 60!
One of my favorite of Jay's videos. Excellent work restoring this unique example of automotive history. Kudos to "the guys".