Restoration Blog

Stories of cars brought back to the original glory, including some of Jay's personal favorites.

Videos

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan 26R, Update 9

Jay and Jim Hall walk you through the latest progress on the... View »

Restoration Blog: 1962 Daimler SP250, Update 3

Check out the latest installment of the Daimler restoration; Jay's cleaned up... View »

Restoration Blog: 1962 Daimler SP250, Update 2

The chassis has been straightened and painted, the engine taken apart and... View »

Restoration Blog: 1962 Daimler SP250

Jay found this rust-free one-owner car in a field, and couldn't wait... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan 26R, Update 6

In this latest installment of what's become known as Mr. Hall's Opus,... View »

Restoration Blog: 1910 Model O-O White Steam Car, Update 3

You may recall the O-O steamer was already restored and running fine.... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan 26R, Update 5

The engine is almost in place! Jay and Jim Hall walk you... View »

Restoration Blog: 1935 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Update 5

Now's your chance to see the block up close and in pieces!... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan 26R, Update 4

You wanted to know what was happening, so Jay and Jim are... View »

Preservation vs. Restoration

Jay's buddy McKeel Hagerty stops by the garage for a discussion on... View »

Restoration Blog: 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi, Part 2

In this chapter, you'll see how invaluable a dynamometer is for engine... View »

1935 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Update 4

You've been asking about it, so Jay wanted to let you know... View »

Restoration Blog: 1931 Henderson KJ Sidecar

Maybe you didn't know it, but Jay's Henderson Police Special was on... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan 26R, Update 3

An oil tank is so much more than just a tank... Join... View »

Restoration Blog: 1906 Stanley Steamer

What do you do when you want your steamer to go faster?... View »

Restoration Blog: 1909 White Steam Roadster Update 2

What began as a rusty-looking pile of parts is actually starting to... View »

Restoration Blog: Doble and White Steam Cars

Jay gives you a look at his progress on the 1909 White... View »

Restoration Blog: 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi

Jay's made another incredible barn find! You'll fall in love with this... View »

1924 Bentley Twin Turbo, Update

After 26 years of burnouts and slam shifting, Jay finally cracked a... View »

Restoration Blog: 1935 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Update 3

Fenders, leaf springs, headlights, and brake drums have all been put on... View »

Restoration Blog: 1910 Model O-O White Steam Car, Update 2

Water, weather and time have done a number on this beautiful steamer,... View »

Restoration Blog: 1935 Frazer Nash TT Replica, Update 2

Jay's latest barn find is all in pieces, but the restoration is... View »

Restoration Blog: 1910 Model O-O White Steam Car

In this first restoration blog installment, Jay's got this elegant White steamer... View »

1906 Advance Steam Traction Engine

Lovingly restored by Jay's friend Orman Rawlings, this 104-year-old steam-powered vehicle weighs... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan, Update 2

Join Jay and Lotus man Jim for a look at the reinforced... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie, Ultimate Edition

Finally! It may be the third time Jay's said this, but yes,... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie, Update 7

It's never been done before! John Hotchkis has updated suspensions for your... View »

Restoration Blog: 1935 Frazer Nash Chain Gang

Jay's made an exciting barn find, so we're kicking off a new... View »

Restoration Blog: Bugatti Type 35 Replica

Somehow, Jay blew a piston on this exquisite replica, so he enlisted... View »

Restoration Blog: Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine, Update 2

This icon once powered a 1945 deHavilland Mosquito combat plane, but after... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Lotus Elan

Jay begins restoring this classic in hopes of making it "stupid fast."... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie, Update 6

Jay's almost - but not quite - ready for finishing touches on... View »

Vintage Corvette Chassis

When master restorer Mike McCloskey got his hands on this 1961 Corvette,... View »

Spray-On Chrome

Restoring a classic car, and don't know how you're going to deal... View »

Duesenberg on the Dyno

In one of the most ambitious Big Dog undertakings ever, Jay and... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie, Update 5

It's hard to believe in this day and age, no one's making... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie Update 4

Dustin Burr of Wilwood Engineering stops by with a custom brake package.... View »

Restoration Blog: 1924 Ace Motorcycle

Once known as the Duesenberg of motorcycles, this 1924 Ace has seen... View »

Restoration Blog: 1915 Hispano-Suiza Aero Engine Car Part 2

The engine and transmission are back in place.... View »

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe

Phase one of the restoration is done and the Gullwing is finally... View »

Update: 1966 Ford Galaxie PT.3

Jay and his team are closing in on the finish line! Peek... View »

Update: 1966 Ford Galaxie PT.2

Check out another chapter in the rebuild of this classic 7-liter, as... View »

Update: 1915 Hispano-Suiza Aero Engine Car

Rebuilding this massive 18.5 liter V-8 engine from 1915 means custom piston... View »

Restoration Blog: 1966 Ford Galaxie Update

An update on the ongoing restoration of Jay's childhood favorite. This Ford... View »

Update: 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupe

Join Jay and the Big Dog Garage team for another installation on... View »

1924 Ace Motorcycle - Part 3

Be careful or you'll break your leg.... View »

1924 Ace Motorcycle - Part 2

A little heartbreak.... View »

1924 Ace Motorcycle - Part 1

The perfect recipe for disaster.... View »

Photos

1906 Advance Steam Traction Engine Restoration - Photo Gallery

Here's a photo history of an incredible restoration, courtesy of the men... View »

Jay Leno's Garage merchandise The Tonight Show

Collections

additional posts

Super Cars
Super Cars

Quite simply, the finest, fastest and fiercest cars on the road, from both today and yesterday. More »

Skinned Knuckles
Skinned Knuckles

Real life stories that proves sometimes working on cars is a labor of love--and pain. More »

Steam Cars
Steam Cars

Developed around a century earlier than internal combustion engines, these heavyweights held all the early land speed records. More »