The Toyota Prius may have popularized the concept, but hybrid cars existed long before the now-ubiquitous Toyota hatchback. The Owen Magnetic featured on this episode of Jay Leno’s Garage dates to 1916—about 80 years before the Prius launched. It’s important to remember that, at the turn of the 20th century, battery-electric cars were quite common. …
Tag archives: Jay Leno’s Garage
Jay Leno drops the top on a 1967 Hoffman Citroen 2CV convertible
The Citroën 2CV (or Deux Chevaux) is France’s equivalent to the Ford Model T or Volkswagen Beetle—an iconic car built in massive numbers that helped mobilize an entire nation. Of the millions of 2CVs built between 1948 and 1990, this one stands out thanks to an aftermarket convertible, err, conversion. This episode of Jay Leno’s …
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1953 Hudson Hornet cruises in to Jay Leno’s Garage
In the early 1950s, the hottest American performance car didn’t come from Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler. Featured on Jay Leno’s Garage, this 1953 Hudson Hornet represents the automaker’s brief moment in the performance spotlight. Hudson’s “step-down” design gave the Hornet a lower center of gravity, which improved handling. It also allowed for a lower …
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