The most well-known car collector in the world, Jay Leno, owns about 181 vehicles. Why then does he not possess even a single Ferrari? Jay Leno finally admits in a recent interview that he likes Ferrari’s automobiles but thinks the dealership customer service is appalling.
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On a recent edition of “Cars and Culture with Jason Stein,” Leno discussed his non-ownership of a Ferrari and disclosed that the experience of Ferrari sales, which he claims is unfriendly to customers, is what turns him off rather than the sticker price of a Ferrari. Leno added, “I just never enjoyed dealing with the dealers.
“You should be treated like a customer because you are spending an amazing amount of money.” Leno gave instances of positive interactions with rival brands like McLaren but avoided going into detail about any particular unpleasant experiences he had in the past at a Ferrari shop. Leno does not appear to be on the famed Ferrari blacklist, either.
The cliché says that when it comes to having an unique Ferrari, “No, you don’t pick Ferrari. You are chosen by Ferrari.” Regardless of how rich you are or how well-known you are, Ferrari only chooses its clients if they truly share the brand’s values and are Ferrari enthusiasts. There are even speculations that in order to even be considered for the elusive list that receives the invitation to purchase items like the La Ferrari, you must have a specific number of Ferraris in your garage.
Even dealing with the Italian automaker was likened to dealing with BDSM by the former talk show personality.
The majority of people may recognize Jay Leno as the former host of The Tonight Show, but in our region, he is likely even more well-known for being a true and dedicated car enthusiast. He still keeps busy with his CNBC vehicle show, Jay Leno’s Garage, after leaving the talk show business, and is hailed as one of the world’s most active car collectors. Jay Leno owns 181 automobiles in addition to 160 motorcycles, according to a duPont Registry list published last year. The exact number of cars in Jay Leno’s actual garage undoubtedly varies regularly.
The late-night legend reportedly does not own any Ferraris despite having a sizable collection, and there’s a good reason for that: He abhors the requirements Ferrari dealerships place on buyers in order to be allowed to acquire a vehicle from Maranello. It’s a little-known fact that dealing with Ferrari can be challenging unless you’re a lifelong, paying Tifosi member with a long history of Ferrari ownership.
Leno remarked on Cars and Culture with Jason Stein that “Simply put, I’ve never enjoyed dealing with dealers. I don’t want to give a man $25,000 in a sealed envelope, you know. I’d prefer not to have to purchase two Mondials.” The Ferrari Mondial, a car made by Ferrari from 1980 to 1993, is used by Jay to illustrate his point, which tells me two things: first, Jay has held this opinion for literally decades, and second, Ferrari has been conducting business this manner for at least as long.
Then he contrasted Ferrari’s “prove your worth” strategy with its bitter competitor McLaren’s significantly more customer-focused outlook.
“The dealer service is one of McLaren’s smart features. I purchased my McLaren and paid the sticker price in full. The purchasing process was excellent. My MP4-12C was the car I owned for about six or seven months. They informed me by phone one day that there had been an increase from 592 to 617 horsepower. Do you desire the upgrade? When I inquired about the cost, they responded, “It’s free.”
He continues with another incident about how Leno was once talked out of purchasing carbon brakes by a McLaren salesperson who suggested that they might not be necessary for street driving, thus saving Leno $20,000. Jay contrasts the BDSM experience with the Ferrari dealership visit. It’s like when wealthy men visit a dominatrix and say, “Oh, she kicked the snot out of me, it was terrific.” I mean, some men are like that.
Leno does not, however, deny his admiration for the vehicles themselves. “They’re great vehicles. Just the fact that you’re spending so much money is not a criticism of the car. You ought to be treated like a client.”
It’s strangely heartening to realize that “screw car dealers” is a sentiment that can actually transcend tax rates, even though the ordinary car lover like you or I may not have anywhere near the amount of vehicles that Jay Leno does.
Jay Leno Owns 180 Vehicles, But There Is Not A Single Ferrari (And There Is A Funny Reason)
A man with Jay Leno’s net worth, connections, preferences, and online series would be expected to acquire a Ferrari. The retired late-night talk show presenter apparently owns an astounding auto collection that includes 180 automobiles and 160 motorcycles, but he refuses to embrace the Prancing Horse cult.
“Yes, I enjoy Ferraris. They’re great vehicles. Simply said, I’ve never liked dealing with dealers “Jay Leno reveals to Jason Stein of Cars & Culture.
“You know, I don’t want to hand a man $25,000 in an envelope. I don’t want to be told that I have to purchase two Mondials before I can purchase.” Before I say “Yes,” you must purchase two subpar autos. Just purchase the vehicle, you know?
“Then the thought that I keep it for two years and then return it to receive a certificate proving that it is in fact a Ferrari costs $25,000 more. I simply become weary of that.”
Jay Leno continued by contrasting his purchasing experiences with McLaren and Porsche with the burning hurdles you’d have to clear to give your hard-earned money to the illustrious Maranello-based company.
“The dealer service is one of McLaren’s smart features. I purchased my McLaren and paid the retail price in full “adds the comedian-auto fanatic.
“I owned my MP4-12C for six or seven months before they called to say that there had been an update from, say, 592 horsepower to 617. The purchasing process was excellent. Do you desire the upgrade? How much does it cost, I asked? It’s free, so just come on in, they said.”
“I brought it in and mentioned that I wanted to purchase the carbon-fibre brakes just like when I bought it. Do you track the car, the salesman asks? I generally travel the streets. Don’t purchase the carbon fiber; save $20,000, he says. You don’t require it. I inquire, “You sure?” “I guarantee it,” he says. Steel brakes really perform better on public roads because you don’t need to warm them up before using them. And it cost me $20,000 less.”
“Porsche sent two mechanics to show me how to jack up the car, the jacking points, and how to put blocks in it when I purchased my Porsche Carrera GT. They also sent me a jacket, a book on the automobile, and a set of pencils and pens. You know, I felt like a customer up until the automobile arrived.”
It’s similar to when wealthy men visit a dominatrix and say things like, “Oh, she kicked the snot out of me, it was amazing.” I mean, some men think like that.
“Although [Ferrari] are wonderful automobiles, the fact that you’re spending so much money on one is not a criticism of the vehicle itself. You ought to be treated like a client.”
Watch the episode of Jay Leno’s Garage featuring the 2021 Ferrari SF90 and Jay Leno’s explanation of why he won’t buy a Ferrari below.
Why didn’t Jay Leno buy a Ferrari?
Although Jay Leno is a well-known figure in Hollywood, what truly sets him apart from other celebrities is his extraordinary care for rare automobiles and motorcycles. Leno has access to about any type of vehicle one could desire to drive, including Baker Electrics, steam cars, and the McLaren F1. Ferrari, though, is one brand that he does not carry in his garage, and he has now clarified why.
Simply expressed, Leno detests the process of purchasing a Ferrari, noting the traditional practice of requiring a new Ferrari buyer to acquire several less expensive vehicles in order to access one of the flagship stallions. The experience he compares it to is somewhat excessive because it’s such a serious problem: “It’s comparable to wealthy men seeing a dominatrix. Oh my God, she really kicked the heck out of me! That’s fantastic; some guys adore it. I don’t.”
Not because he disapproves of the Italian brand’s goods: “They’re fantastic vehicles; I just saw the SF90; I just never enjoyed doing business with dealers.” He continues by describing his positive interactions with other brands. One of his favorite manufacturers, McLaren, once convinced him to forego a $20,000 carbon brake package since it wouldn’t improve his driving. He recalls that they also upgraded his MP4-12C’s power output, for free, from 592 to 617 hp.
He also has complimentary things to say about Porsche. He didn’t even need to go to the dealer to pick up his Carrera GT, for example. It arrived accompanied with a jacket, a book about the vehicle, and some stationery. The fact that Porsche also dispatched a few mechanics so they could walk him through, among other things, how to put the car on a lift, is probably the finest part.
Leno pokes fun at the custom of returning the vehicle to Ferrari after a few years to obtain a certificate of authenticity from them by saying, “You’re spending an unbelievable amount of money, you should be made to feel like a customer.” It’s challenging to contest his viewpoint because he is arguably the pinnacle of automotive guys.
Which makes of vehicles does Jay Leno drive?
He owns 160 motorcycles and perhaps 180 vehicles totaling millions of dollars. A $12 million McLaren F1 and even an armored Daimler Ferret Scout are among Jay Leno’s collection of automobiles.
Jay Leno, does he own a Bugatti?
Bugatti Type 37A from 1928 There were only 76 supercharged Type 37As produced in total, thus Leno’s nearly 100-year-old example may be one of the few remaining. In the past, the Bugatti Type 37A was used in events like the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Jay Leno, does he own a Shelby Cobra?
According to The Drive, Carroll Shelby was unable to homologate the Cobra 427 in time for the 1965 racing season. In order to make 23 of them street legal, he detuned them and fitted a muffler, windshield, and indicator lights. As Shelby Cobra 427 Competitions, these were offered for sale. And one of them is the one that is presently in Jay Leno’s garage.
However, Hagerty notes that the narrative of how it came to be in Jay Leno’s possession is interesting to read. It was initially purchased by the then-governor of South Carolina’s son for track and street driving. The Shelby was then sold to a number of SCCA racing owners, one of whom turned it over on the racetrack in 1970. However, before that, according to RM Sotheby’s, it was the only Cobra 427 to take home two national championships.
In 1977, a new body and a few extra safety modifications were added to the restoration of the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition. After thereafter, the Cobra participated in a few vintage racing competitions before finally finding a previous owner. He gave it more TLC by replacing the engine, cleaning the interior and exterior, and rebuilding the suspension and transmission. Finally, it sold for $2,255,00 at an RM Sotheby’s auction in 2016.
Surprisingly, Jay Leno owns a replica of a Shelby Cobra 427 but none of the original models. He didn’t agree with this specific scenario, though. He’s merely providing it with a short-term residence outside of the California flames that are currently raging. And he has been having a great time driving it.
Its unadulterated, visceral quality is what he values most about it. No protection exists; not even windows. Directly beneath you, the side pipes screech, heightening the excitement of the incredible acceleration. This Shelby Cobra 427 still bites hard, to put it simply.