Jay Leno's £30 million garage

Vijay Pattni looks at the cars of one of the world’s biggest petrolheads: Mr Jay Leno.

“If he paid as much attention to his studies as his comedy, he could be a big star.”

Oops – looks like Jay Leno’s junior school teacher got it slightly wrong because the big man is one of the world’s biggest and most recognisable television stars.

Despite bearing an uncanny resemblance to American cartoon hero Roger Ramjet (Google it), Jay’s passion for all things auto kicked off when he was just 14.

Forget contending with pimples, Jay was getting his hands dirty (steady) restoring a V8-powered 1934 Ford truck. And you thought you were clever because you changed your wiper blades…

He then realised he was destined for two things in this world: cars and comedy. Working nights as an entertainer and spending his days building up his car know-how, Jay shot to fame when, in 1992, he took over from Johnny Carson and hosted ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.

Since then, he has become one of America’s top-rated comedians – he even had US President Barack Obama appear on his show.

But aside from wooing Presidents and making people laugh, he makes every petrolhead across the globe swoon with child-like glee. Put simply, he is a massive car nut.

From classic American muscle cars to our very own British-built McLaren F1, Jay has the kind of garage which only exists in a heaven where Jeremy Clarkson reigns supreme and petrol is the drink of choice.

And how’s this for a finale? Jay was recently in the UK doing a host of car-related stuff, including launching the new Jaguar XJ at an exclusive London event just weeks ago.

But while he was down, he also managed to fit in a quick lap around everyone’s favourite airfield…as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

Yes – the Top Gear team have secured a petrolhead paradise for their last show on Sunday, as Jay Leno will go head to head with Jeremy Clarkson (on the sofa) and The Stig (in the Lacetti).

And to celebrate this coming-together of motoring’s most eminent personalities, we give to you, humble Auto Trader reader, the stuff of dreams.

Behold: the magnificent car collection of Jay Leno.

Click below to view our image gallery:

You think that's a cool car collection? Then check out the Sultan of Brunei's garage (some of it anyway):

Check out Jay Leno at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance: