1917 Fiat Botafogo Special - Jay Leno's Garage

1917 Fiat Botafogo Special. 21.7-liter aero-engined behemoth! Check out this amazing car that was lent to Jay Leno.
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A new video every Sunday! Visit Jay Leno's Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more. Subscribe for more: full.sc/JD4OF8
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1917 Fiat Botafogo Special - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1917 Fiat Botafogo Spe...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage

[@G-Confalonieri]

As an Argentine I can recognize the ACA badge in the front (Automóvil Club Argentino) this means the car was a historical rally car and show car.

[@williamjohonson5459]

I have a 1958 Ducati 175 sport with that badge , it came from Argentina I'm glad I left it on there now : )

[@learqui]

Es de Pur Sang

[@Buttnut105]

Best part about this car is the styling. It just looks so damn cool. Those colors really make it too.

[@Z-Twinturbo]

I dont even see any more chrome on modern cars... just plastic

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Looked and sounded like a turd back in 1917, STILL looks and sounds like a turd 100 years on.......

[@metsot]

It's sheer beautiness.

[@UberLummox]

@@michaelmeliambro5117 And your daily driver is what?

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

@@UberLummox LOL try a 1970 Torino with a 429 "Cobra Jet".

[@FosterZygote]

"The brakes are terrible, but the horn's really loud" is going into my library of favorite phrases.

[@therainforest4314]

HaHaaa, that reminds me of the old joke where a mechanic calls the customer and tells him that he couldn't fix the brakes on his car, so he made the horn louder. ;-)

[@adampetten5349]

+Stephanie Ann 😂

[@MrTruth111]

lol Jay's got so much great one liners 'accident avoidance technology' comes to mind.

[@danielacosta7717]

Im going with “Im boiling hot even with this heavy coat on”

[@MrTruth111]

@@danielacosta7717 or ''when made of wood and on fire, driving 65 mph becomes interesting''

[@Kae-s0]

my favorite thing about Jay in some of these videos is that he doesn't act like he knows everything and that's respectable

[@FedericoLucchi]

Yeah, he doesn't look like a TV host but more like a nice guy who really loves cars. Great to watch!

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

But he DOES know damn-near everything about his cars; You can tell when people ask him questions, and unscripted, he gives all this info about the history, the engineering principles, the applications, etc, for virtually every part, for all this 200+ cars. Leno's like the opposite of most celebrity "car guys", who act like they know everything, but don't even know the engine size of their own cars.

[@HOSSMCGILLICUTTI]

That is just incredible to Me for 1917. I mean all those parts had to be cast, fit...No. Cast again, experimented with, hand forged. Overhead cam and 4 valves per cylinder! In 1912! 100 years later and it would still be a marvel to build.

[@Galf506]

Cool thing of plane engines is that they're always decades ahead of anything meant for road use!

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

and all hand drawn and hand made, no computer simulators, or CAD.....

[@OzcarMike641]

I agree. Those guys building things like this were true masters of the craft.

[@Dylanschillin]

@@Galf506 planes nowadays sometimes use honda K20's, same as in your moms 2018 civic

[@benjamins9121]

@@Galf506 Not only were they decades ahead but the quality was much better because if you break down you don't push it to the 7/11 you crash and die in a heap of flaming metal and wood! Large planes really couldn't coast back then with an engine failure.

[@T0BBi94]

Everytime I watch one of these older cars on Jay Lenos garage I always hope they will start up the motor and it would be awesome if they actually drove it. Then im always reminded when he says: "Lets take it for a ride" that it is Jay Leno and of course he will drive it :P

[@peterschmidt6571]

Rafael Lecuona there´s anotherone in germay!!!!,,try brutus sinsheim 45ltr bmw-bomber engine

[@TheSkilfingar]

Peter Schmidt wieso bearbeitest du's nicht und nimmst den falschen Link raus?

[@peterschmidt6571]

Mathias Braun sindelfingen war auch falsch.es ging um den bmw bombermotor in dem sinsheimer"brutus"45liter hubraum.der von leno hat knapp die hälfte.habs bearbeitet...ohne link.die"brutus"videos findet jeder in youtube oder google.

[@VasantKamal]

yeah tobbie you are right there is an another Canadian collector his name is BAR & he only shows his shiny bike without even knowing how it sounds- thats why we love leno so much everything he has they all run

[@julianv.5848]

HEY, JAY??? WHAT KIND OF DEEL HAVE YOU DONE WITH BARACK OBAMA,TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILES ON THE ROAD LEGALLY, WITHOUT NUMBER PLATES AND TO STILL BE ABLE TO PASS EMISSION REGULATIONS.....? IN THE UK YOU WOULD GET LIFE IN JAIL, IF YOU TOOK THE BOTAFOGO OUT ON A PUBLIC ROAD, WITH! NUMBER PLATES AND LIGHTS....

[@dunxy]

That's not a car, its a work of freaking art , with an aeroplane engine! I love it on a level words cannot express :)

[@UberLummox]

10-4 to that!!!

[@karinaalarcon7803]

Y es otra obra argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

[@isaacwright9573]

Amazing how quiet this monster engine works.

[@PedroPaiva]

I loved the sound

[@tmytco7664]

How does Jay remember how all of his cars work when he goes to drive them? Fascinating!

[@andynichols3464]

Jay draws his magical powers from the denim.

[@56squadron]

I own a few classic cars plus my daily driver and my wifes, and I can't even keep them straight - where's 1st... where's reverse... which side is the gas cap on... etc.. I don't know how he remembers it all.

[@Lucia-kk4kn]

It was named Botafogo after a legendary argentinean race horse ( you can see a horse picture on the cockpit' s right side .)

[@tonycavez]

Botafogo is a Portuguese word means 'throws fire' and it's also a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro

[@euroc159]

@@tonycavez Yeah, but in this case it's specifically referred to the name of the horse, nothing to do with bresil

[@gundam116]

Love this car! Looks like an old fighter plane

[@UberLummox]

@@MrBonki123 I don't know WWI planes, but it's coachwork is more like a fuselage than any car I've ever seen. Or can recall at least.

[@sirlancelot836]

Jay looks like some kind of mad scientist driving that thing :-)

[@ToulKorkMan]

People used to say, this is the best car show on the internet and quite honestly I used to be skeptical of that when competing with top gear, motor trend, drive and the sorts. I see the light now, this is THE BEST car show on the internet! Keep doing what you are doing Jay!

[@Greengulchleaves]

This and the 32 Alfa Romeo are officially my all time favorites of yours

[@mattlerwin]

saw you out driving this today Jay, looks great on the road!

[@TrueBlueEG8]

Excuse my french, but that is fucking beautiful.

[@DeathBringer769]

Merde.

[@TrueBlueEG8]

Deathbrewer no no no 😁

[@saintkevin5286]

Exhaust My French , But I agree

[@TheAslakVind]

Jay, I love you! You share this pre WWI beasts, steam cars. You really try to get people interested in mechanics. Love your passion!

[@Fifty8day]

I’m going to say it , this vehicle is the best looking car in the world. That engine is a work of art.

[@bfmcarparts]

A 1500 rpm max reading tachometer? Cool!

[@FedericoLucchi]

Airplane engines never rev high. The propeller is linked directly to the crank without any gearing, and a big propeller like they used on this engine would spin around 1000 rpm. Thus they needed high torque at low rpm.

[@robketchens2271]

The fact that you take the time to share your oh so fortunate life and hobby with everyone makes me wish there were more Jay Leno's in the world. Watching and listening to the great stories you tell about these awesome vehicles is truly a pleasure. Having a museum is one fortune and a great kindness for you to share but to learn every detail about the history of each work of art and at your own cost of time and money, then, share this is an amazing gift to the world, present and time eternal. A hell of a legacy Mr. Leno.....

[@CGPacifica]

Man that thing is amazing! I love the aesthetic and the presence it has.

[@craighill2589]

Amazing. My Grandfather owned a garage in San California where he worked on Pierce Arrows and others of the day. He joined the Army and was a mechanic for the Army air corps. He would have loved this story.

[@joevs21001]

Absolutely incredible. I have such a love for these early 1900's era of what I consider the "giant" cars. These machines had incredible craftsmanship. And it WAS craftsmanship. It wasn't like today's cars being a giant hunk of plastic with 30 mini computers throughout the entire car controlling everything. This was a true MACHINE. It would be an all time dream to find a "barn find" of something like this and restore it back to it's former glory and drive it around. PERFECTION.

[@peterlewis7292]

Thank you Mr. Leno for you time to show us your wonderful collection, I recently watched a lecture from The Brookland Museum UK about Duncan Pittaway's S76 Fiat the beast of Turin, extremely interesting and Mr Pittaway is utterly bonkers as he regularly takes it for a spin down the British highways and byways. It would be a wonderful thing if you could bring over your Fiat to the Goodwood festival of speed along side the other Edwardian vehicles. Many thanks again. Rgds, Peter.

[@gabrielseth2666]

I just love the engineering, and quality of these beautiful cars. I have watched almost all of these vids, and I think this car is one of my overall favorites... There is a soul in these old cars that seems to come thru the passion of those who build them, quite unlike modern production cars, which are, in a word, disgusting.

[@dose2two]

+Gabriel Seth exactly how i feel

[@gabrielseth2666]

your'e right, it is. I am all for technological advancement, but the rule of thumb in industry these days is to make something as cheaply as possible, and sell it for as much as possible for maximum profit margin, which leads to the use of inferior parts and materials, foreign labor, etc. there just isn't the same pride of craftsmanship, or attention to detail as there used to be, and the cars they make nowadays don't retain their value. Its not so much the cars that are disgusting as the business practices which produce them.

[@murpyeddie1139]

we need to outlaw the massproduction of things like cars and patents. there would be car builders in every city today like it was back in the day with carriages and ship builders in most harbours. that would be bad for big international businesses but great for everyone else. this would be so good for the economy. the law today is definetly arranged to prevent this.

[@gabrielseth2666]

There are Some good things that come out of mass production, and I don't think outlawing it would necessarily solve the problem, however, being passionate about something other than quarterly gains is a good place to start. An important thing to remember is that every dollar we spend is a vote that we cast in support of the products, and services, methods of production, and distribution that are involved in that purchase, and that those big companies were "bought" into existence by people. That being said, if you value, believe in, or wish to support a more diverse and dynamic economy, the best thing anyone can do is to be conscious of who and what they are really supporting when they spend their money. The carriages and ship builders you mentioned were an important part of establishing local economies, and as long as people understand the value of supporting those kinds of grassroots industries, maintaining a healthy local economy is something we can all be capable of attributing to.

[@fockewulf2352]

except that is all they are concerned about profit while wages stay the same everything else from cost of living to production profit has sky rocked, now the manufactures and banks own you , but you are right if you want a change stop buying the crap they build and signing your life away to a bank. with a cost of at least 40, grand for a vehicle now i would buy a hand made morgan before giving my money to the big manufactures at least i would be supporting craftsman rather than the mass production computer driven assembly lines of today

[@nigelcarren]

In 1996 in England I finished building a 1500cc ladder-frame car that I loosely styled on this 'The Bellini Special' (KSK362). I raced it across the Sahara in 1997 as part of the 'Liege Agadir Liege' rally (I came last but I finished, which is more than the Porsche and the Lotus team did) so it was mechanically proven. But after watching this, I see that the builder had the foresight to vent the bob/boat-tail, so that air could escape and essentially flow through the car and out of the body. I didn't think to to this which is frustrating as I know that if I had I would have been able to break the 100... 96 was the most I got out of it even with both aero screens down and my head in my lap. This aerodynamic effect is called 'parachuting'... I have just decided. GREAT video Mr Leno thank you, from a guy who once killed a Locust with his front teeth. 🏆🇬🇧

[@tc19948]

Thanks for this great series Jay, good to see these fabulous machines demonstrated. Shame we don't seem to get your shows here in UK. More strength to you, Sir!

[@chrisrefaei]

Jay leno"s Garage is the best show on KZbin No other show comes close to the amount of content that he puts out with each one of his episodes. Its not just about the cars, its also about the amazing people that are behind the making of these works of art and amazing machinery, and the history of it all, and he grasps each and everyone of those points every time. Great Series Jay, keep up the Great work. I just wanted to let you know all of us enjoy your work and this hobby, thanks for sharing!

[@larrylucas1234]

Thanks Jay I love to watch these over about every 6 months or so. We enjoy watching you appreciate and love your cars.

[@marcdurso6411]

Thanks, Jay! Living vicariously through your car collection!

[@timothyyates6311]

The more I watch these videos by Jay and his team on the aero engine cars the more I respect and admire what all of his team do. Also it has got to take serious balls to drive one of those things on the road with such confidence. Hats off to you and all of your team Jay. X

[@Derporsche]

Thanks, Jay.... It's awesome that you preserve and present these cars for all to enjoy.....!

[@garageadz]

What an absolutely incredible machine. Thanks for taking the time to share this with everybody Jay, you are an idol amongst car people :)

[@WarFivevyone]

Jay is at his best soon as that engine is fired up you can hear the Torque little rpm required the whine of the trans the miss fire on the open road when more fuel pressure is required this is the first time have felt like i was along for the ride the production cameras documenting tin work movement at certain frequency top work, Jay 10/10

[@jasonargone9777]

Mr. Leno always does the job right, the car is interesting and runs great and him, the squire gentleman behind the wheel.

[@UberLummox]

One bolt on this car is far more interesting than that white "32 Ford" Boydster-looking eye sore next to it. A kenetic masterpiece!

[@aserta]

The whole time he went for a drive i was smiling like a kid. This is great.

[@ElCaPiTaNelalelu]

Hate to tell Mr. Leno that he is wrong, but the last worldspeedrecord that was set on a puplicroad was actually the Mercedes Benz W125 "Rekordwagen" from 1938, witch set its record on January 28th on (where else) the Autobahn between Frankfurt und Darmstadt. And the record that was set by Rudolf Caracciola at 432.7 Km/h (268.87 Mph) is still there to be broken up until today.

[@lucastobias]

Hate to tell that is in 1917 no in 1938 and what was doing in 1917 Mr Mercedes maybe the handjob

[@ElCaPiTaNelalelu]

Splendid commentary right there.

[@unairadm]

cant get enough of your videos! its so cool how you take these old cars for a ride which other people would put in a museum. and you let us be part of all this, you´re awesome!

[@diederikbotha1028]

Thanx for sharing your cars with us . Magic . From South Africa . May you continue for a long time Jay .

[@mariusdavidescu4252]

this is a beast, if you make a mistake, you are dead, a true man car.

[@DeathBringer769]

A dead man.

[@ChunkyMonkaayyy]

Crazy that someone died in that car and Jay still drives it like, why not. Wow.

[@jimf5160]

while racing at Watkins Glen a few years ago...I was parked next to a 1920s race car with a Curtiss aircraft air cooled V8 with exposed valve train...amazing to see the mist off the engine when he started it on a cool morning.

[@MultiMonitorComputer]

Wow, this thing is an amazing piece of art by itself! I absolutely love the one big light in front and the coppers, leather. Beautiful

[@danielshute1409]

Any car, any era jay you are the best at giving the history. Real talent for all things with mechanicalness : )

[@NickWeissMusic]

I love that Jay goes through the startup process, really cool to see what life used to be like. That 22 liter monster purrs like a kitten! Really cool stuff.

[@Korokukanas]

Thanks again Jay!!! We all love how you can share this great knowledge and history.I really do appreciate these videos and always look forward to whatever your showcasing.I just cant explain to my friends and family the Rich history and automotive experience you provide.Amazing !!!!!!

[@ebutboy1]

Hey Jay, Really like your way of reviewing cars. At last somebody that knows their stuff and can impart their enthusiasm. Wonderful treasure-trove of reviews of all ages of cars. Thank you so much. PS I have a 1994 Bentley Brooklands as a restoration project. It certainly takes time.

[@Chris.Davies]

100% pure awesome. It actually looks like what Steampunk tries to look like! So great of Mr. Leno to keep and maintain these cars, and show them to us. We'd never know they even existed otherwise.

[@varanid9]

Wow, this is one of the two most awesome looking cars I've ever seen; the other one is whatever was behind it when Jay pulled out and can be seen when he's getting out of it.

[@User0000000000000004]

Anybody else notice that in every video of Jay driving a car when he makes the left turn from Clybourne onto San Fernando he always crosses over the white line from the outside lane to the inside lane and back again? I'd hate to be next to him making that turn when he's driving something like this! You'd just bounce right off of it.

[@05front]

Jay I am a huge fan. I appriate that you take the time out and make these videos. Thank you for your work and thank you for sharing your collection with us.

[@robsteries]

And the belly of this car, so sexy! Always makes me think of the WWII Mustang P51 fighter planes. Love it!

[@d.j.9961]

That raw steel car to the right of this car, is beautiful! They all are, some just more then others!!! Jay leno's garage is a paradise!!!!

[@randyfroysland2892]

Thank you Jay It's nice to see these old machines run

[@johnsodl]

What an amazing car! Thanks for keeping it alive.

[@HeavensGremlin]

Great to watch this video again. A great car and Jay is such a gas too. We have a barn full of old aero-engines and are seriously thinking about creating something for the occasional run to the boozer. This thing really just sounds so MAGIC....... :-) Thanks Jay...!

[@Reptube2012]

Who would not like to have a vehicle like this...simply beautiful.

[@kurtstory9466]

What a beast--glad I could see it in motion! It takes a certain amount of bravery to drive a vehicle with inadequate brakes.

[@aleramone23]

Jay is amazed to talk of the accident that killed the last owner. its kind of funny.

[@looking2learnim909]

Wow that's what you got out of that? Everyone dies and at least he went out the way most enthusiast would want to go, doing what they love. I lost a friend that way, driving his Packard, and another scuba diving, pursuing their passions!! Smiling as you step into the next life. Beats the hell out of cancer or???? I hope people remember me with a laugh, and having something I did deemed worth their consideration and restoration as I conceived it. An honor!

[@patrickchubey3127]

Where else but in Jay Leno's garage would you get to see an astonishing car like this.

[@spaceturtle9184]

So incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Jay.

[@hughjardon5869]

I love the sound of those huge straight cut gears in the transmission.

[@katanamd]

Love these old cars. More please!

[@bryanhoward358]

Thanks Jay for saving these amazing cars!!

[@whalesong999]

Total displacement in cubic inches: 1,324. Love the patina effect and seeing the castings around the valves and camshaft.

[@SirRespect]

I got big respect for Jay leno, hes successful and does what he loves with his cars, doesn't baby them by trailiering them everywhere, and actually drives them, doesn't just let them sit in the garage.

[@rubeclayton8233]

Excellent Engineering.!! .. Great Story of the cars History.!! Thanks Jay.!!

[@ArjanKampherbeek]

Amazing car Jay. Much respect for the collection you have.

[@rickytemplare]

wonderful machine, the tail end is unique, the sound is pure music

[@johnmccann3964]

So awesome, thanks for the tour

[@dainwon]

seeing super cars and muscle cars get reveiwed by jay is cool but bonkers stuff like this is my favorite type of reveiw to watch

[@Expatriate1977]

I love this! I would love to have one! And thank you Jay for driving these cars like they were meant to be! You do the designers justice and that I respect. I never agreed with anyone who thought cars should be parked and gawked at. Drive them! That is the only way to really enjoy them!

[@xentryst]

really enjoyed this one Jay. I like that you described what it would be like to actually have geared up to drive this beast when it was new.

[@puertousbmonkey]

I can imagine Fangio seeing this as a child thinking " that's what I wanna do"

[@albertseabra9226]

Unbelievable Car, a Fabulous Driver, a Fantastic Vídeo!

[@richvizzi8598]

Jay is a great historian. Thanks for sharing some great automotive history.

[@daspec]

It must be a real sight to drive in LA traffic and see Jay casually passing by in a 100yo car ^_^

[@AudiophileTubes]

WOW! What a visually gorgeous and sleek looking classic!

[@wassamattau860]

That was all kinds of cool!!! Thank you for posting this great video.

[@ralphlazio505]

The ride and motor is sooo quite. It’s amazing for such a huge displacement

[@the1realanalogman]

Astounding! Thanks Jay!

[@jclemme1]

I love the joy in old guys doing their thing 😊

[@stephencivic1989]

If there is one thing Jay Leno loves more the burnouts is when he can cruise down the road with his arm out the window. Can't say I blame him, I'm forever driving my 2018 Honda Civic down the highway with my arm hanging out.

[@irishiz1258]

Jay, love the sound of that exhaust!

[@gjg62]

Simply amazing. I want a job in this garage even if it's sweeping the floor.

[@commiessuckballs2287]

That thing is awesome! I dig the look.

[@Bounty_Hunter84]

Starting to get addicted to these videos. If i had the dosh i'd invest in old cars love em.

[@kevinhoffman6592]

There goes that crazy Jay driving them crazy car . That was cool thanks for ride glad you got through it alive .

[@AKhellbindeR]

Man, i love these videos. Cant belive they dont have any more views. Its just a matter of Jays channel suddenly getting some exposure, and any car guy is gonna be all over these videos. Amazing.

[@TheCratheeweathel360]

Oh,and by the way would just like to say thank's Mr. Leno for another highly educationall and entertaing video !

[@lwarneka10]

I wish you had a program on TV but, I love the unusual items I have seen on your youtube. show. I like the down to earth attitude of Jay!!!!!!!!

[@Agarthalien]

It is Adolphe Scandroglio the creator of this monster on 4 power-driven wheels of plane. Really brilliant the duplicat of the model, thank you Jay!

[@logan2000vett]

I LOVE SEEING HIM GET OUT IN THE TRAFFIC AND RUN HIS TOYS AND DOESN'T MIND GETTING ON THEM U ROCK JR...

[@pilotdon50]

Love the sound of the non-syncro straight cut gearbox.

[@motanelustelistu]

This is awesome.Look,sounds,weighs and even have 1 headlight like a locomotive ...

[@flashmanpt]

I hope Jay Leno lives to a ripe old age. Seeing this particular car, though, made me think....if his collection is ever broken up, nearly any one of his cars would be "the" prized piece for any automotive museum. Or maybe someday The Jay Leno Motor Museum. His garage has to be unrivalled in the world. I actually met him once, nearly 30 years ago, and he's just as nice and geniune as he is in these videos.

[@Hughjarce153]

Amazingly smooth for an aero engine of that period. I was expecting it to be some kind of intractable monster like Jeremy Clarkson drove, the 46 litre BMW Brutus bomber.

[@rolanschneider5182]

Great colors, great design and great sound angine.

[@wildmandazza]

Thanks Jay , simply wonderful !

[@Bruningable]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!