First Turbocharged Car: 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire | Jay Leno's Garage

Considered to be the first production car to be turbocharged, this Oldsmobile Jetfire has been meticulously restored by Eric Jensen.
From classics to supercars, restoration projects to road tests, Jay Leno's Garage is the place where Jay shares his passion for all things automotive. Check out the Garage for videos, blogs, games, photos and more, updated daily.
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First Turbocharged Car: 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire | Jay Leno's Garage

[@philmay7834]

This is how you know Jay is a true auto enthusiast. He seems more exited and appreciative of this car than some others I’ve seen on his episodes costing 50 times what this is probably worth. Maybe that’s why I like him. He’s such a down to earth guy…………not a pretentious bone in his body!

[@paulwoodman5131]

I've been following his KZbin channel for a couple years now, doesn't talk much I don't believe I've ever seen his face either so it was good to see his car appreciated.

[@greggcollins4215]

The less expensive cars are usually the more interesting cars.

[@JadeDragon407]

True that. Jay is one of the few celebs I'd love to meet in RL; he's always come off as the kinda fellow you could hang out with even if he didn't know you from Adam; respect him and he'd respect you and all's good.

[@floridaboiwoody]

Well said, I was thinking pretty much that while watching. And tanks to Jay.

[@DistortedApricot]

i think the fact that he still wears all denim says it all

[@bobkerr8887]

Thanks Jay for doing this car! I have known Eric and his Dad since Eric was a wee lad. Great folks! He knocks it out of the park with every restoration he does. I am lucky to have ridden in that car but at the time there was something sticking and a month later Eric says you need another ride! I found the problem! And when he says his wife's car is just like it, well you do see double in his garage! Those 62-63 Olds were so totally ignored by car guys for so many years it was crazy! Eric has really turned that around and more of them are being fixed up now and that is only recently. Not like there was that many left floating around. By the way, that exhaust is all NOS original GM parts and they have the cutest little diameter tail pipes you ever saw! Makes for that nice crackle sound!

[@johnsmulders8535]

Thanks for the information Bob. We can see the time and effort which has gone into this unique vehicle. Meticulous job.

[@jiveturkey9993]

Those cars(without the turbo) were rare 35 years ago. You guys did a damn good job on that car. That thing is a jem.

[@EbonyPope]

What's the weird noise when accelerating?

[@murrijuana2842]

It sounds terrible.

[@caprise-music6722]

@@murrijuana2842 what?! It sounds genius!

[@ScottsafriendofGod]

No wonder everyone loves Jay, he is the quintessential host. There isn't an ounce of jealousy in Mr. Leno all he did was honor Eric for the fantastic job he did, what a great wife he has. The world would be a better place if everyone treated others the was Jay does. Thank you

[@michaelschneider-]

@Scott Fraser. .. +1. .. Agreed, to the power of ten. .. Cheers

[@neddanson7162]

Unless you're Conan hahaha

[@nelsonportes8842]

And what the wife has to do with that ?

[@alexloomis2398]

If I had his money I'd be beyond nice and zero need for jealousy

[@ScottsafriendofGod]

@alexloomis2398 I've seen a lot of rich folks treat other people with contemp. Jay is not the norm... he's kind and respectful.

[@versatile3373]

I've been a car guy my whole life and this is the first time I hear of this car. This is an amazing part of car history.

[@k20nutz]

I'm an olds fanatic and have owned multiple 425 super rockets and I've never heard of this.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Well this was my daily driver in the 1960's as a GMI co-op student... same exterior colors but mine had two tones of red interior... forgot what a cute car it was... love the twin tail lights like a '68 Charger... melted the pistons down when the Turbo Rocket Fluid ran out one time around 60K miles... ... automatic transmission also gave trouble with kickdown valve sometimes jamming up and not allowing gas pedal to go down... top speed of 98 MPH when hydraulic lifters pumped up at only 4600 RPMs and front of car would drop down... max about 4 psi boost... was also available with 3 or 4 speed stick... 4 speed is a Saginaw with 3.11:1 1st gear, not a "T10"... no boost in 1st gear because of turbo lag... 2nd gear felt as strong as 1st because of full boost available in 2nd... I converted over to 3 speed manual with stock semi-centrifugal clutch... drop clutch under 2500 RPMs and clutch slipped at first until RPMs went up... drop clutch above 2500 RPMs and rear tires slipped... see this one with boost turned up to peg the boost gauge: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKvaZopnp7eApck

[@maddhatter3564]

first for me as well, the lines look familiar tho. when i was 18 back in 86 i knew a guy with an early 60s olds that looked similar, im thinking the name was rocket?

[@thomaspowers5845]

I wish GM would have kept these concepts and improved on them. Instead they played with toys and let Ford beat them up with the common Mustang.

[@orwellknew9112]

There will be a time in the future when Jay is gone that he will be a legend. There’s no doubt. He’s just a remarkable person and really a treasure. We’re lucky to be around at the same time to witness his passion for the automobile and the history behind it. He’s like a combination car enthusiast, historian and comedian, all wrapped up in denim.

[@davidoldbikes799]

Let’s enjoy every moment we have in life, including fantastic hobbies like this.

[@magardunoe]

Therefore, CAR culture has to be INSTITUTIONAL - not dependent one one only person - many supporters in every generation -

[@peanutbutterisfu]

I wonder what’s gonna happen with his stuff when he’s gone. It’s too bad he never had any kids would have been cool for him to pass down all this history not just for the value but to teach the kids about all the stuff so people can learn about all of it.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

OK...but do not talk to Conan or David about his abuse of corporate power when it came to the TV shows!

[@Winterstick549]

​@@curbozerboomer1773 Get over it. They made up, it's all good.

[@Scott_From_Maine]

What a perfectly sized car, trim on the outside, roomy inside, no unnecessary weight.

[@johnchildress6717]

And very nice looking.The front of the car is styled very nicely.

[@MichaelSellers5691]

It is a beauty.

[@m.e.g.a.n.l.e.i.g.h]

I remember my dad telling me about this car when he and his dad ordered a new super 88 and went to Krause Oldsmobile in Milwaukee WI to order his new 63 super 88 Oldsmobile. The owner and my grandfather were friends and he tried to get my grandfather to order one of these. The old man wouldn't budge. Super 88s for ever. Memories

[@gwen7231]

My Dad retired from General Motors many years ago and this was the time when he was still working there. Dad said that Oldsmobile was dubbed the experimental car in it's day. Oldsmobile was the first in many features. The seat belt, cruise control, experimental engines amongst several other things. And yes the Oldsmobile was the first domestic vehicle to have a turbo.😊

[@edeco50]

1949, with Oldsmobile offering the Rocket 88. This was the first muscle car

[@Winterstick549]

I thought Ford offered the first seat belt, no?

[@RockandrollNegro]

@@Winterstick549 Nash was the first American manufacturer to offer seatbelts, in 1949. Ford was the second, in 1955. Oldsmobile was the first GM marque to offer it, in 1965.

[@Winterstick549]

@@RockandrollNegro Thanks, I didn't know about Nash.

[@user-ov4mk9ox8y]

that vacuum cruise control sucked............not literally. it wasnt adopted! but thanks for the confirmation; yes, Olds was the experimental stage Not all features made it.

[@gtoger]

Hit me up if you'd ever like to feature a 1992 Pontiac Firehawk. We had to convince the dealer it was actually a thing that exists. The salesman said "No son, you mean Fire BIRD." I said "put RPO B4U in your computer." The salesman said "I'll be darned." Maybe that's why they only sold 27 of a planned run of 250. Oh, that and it cost more than a Corvette and took 9 months to get.

[@floridaboiwoody]

I would like to see that review.

[@damionlee7658]

That's a car we'd never see being towed away!

[@AOGDC10]

You should've given him a link to your video. Here ya go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/onSrlZutbqZlhsU

[@moosecat]

I worked for a Pontiac dealership in NY in 1993 and 1994...oh, yeah, they DO exist!!! PS: love the #drumbeats and the videos of cars getting towed!!!

[@Wargasm54]

I’m pretty sure they sold more than 27. There were a few in my town in the early 90’s? Unless they made them for a few years. The ones I saw were all red with a yellow “Firehawk” logo on the sides.

[@jonathanbarker831]

I could listen to these two talk forever. Jay is so humble and can truly talk to anyone. His passion for cars comes through with every word and you can tell how much both of them love this car and how special it is. What a fantastic episode. It reminds me of my dad and his friends talking while turning wrenches on their old cars

[@vitofnib]

very interesting conversation, humble polite

[@stephencurry8552]

Obviously you know very little about Leno. I bet you are a Drumpf supporter. Typical white-male-illiterate republican.

[@escstudios2068]

@@vitofnib Very technical video

[@briansmith6954]

@@stephencurry8552 get out of here you racist troll.

[@401RISaint]

Same

[@scotthendricks7813]

Not only are we loosing these old classic pieces of history but we are also loosing the guys who know so much about them. I love sharing the passion for old cars with guys like this. Great work as always Jay! You are a true classic!

[@TomSpeaks-vw1zp]

And with people like Biden & AOC etc. these cars will be lost to history and so will our beloved car shows.

[@HAPPYFUNTIMEx2]

Love how Jay really pays attention to this guy. When he has these people from big car manufacturers, he doesn’t seem as enthused.

[@sirstrongbad]

Those people are mainly there to sell a product or brand, whereas folks like this are fellow enthusiasts.

[@goodphotoideas]

Eric sounded like a very relatable guy, and certainly knowledgeable of the Jetfire.

[@jeffpiatt3879]

This is great stuff! I had no idea that GM had a water/methanol injection system or even a turbocharged car- in 1962. Hope to meet Jay Leno in person some day.

[@captaintoyota3171]

Theres so many amazing cars. Smokey Yunik built a non intercooled 60mpg fiero in the 80s with water inj. Lots of stuff major manuf dont release or let get big

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Don't know if your familiar with aviation, but the US was using turbos on planes during WW2 and some water injection.

[@PGHammer21A]

@@captaintoyota3171 The predecessor to the Buick Regal T-type - and as much as am "ambusher" as the T-Type would be later. And I LOVED the music from the "not your father's Oldsmobile" ads of the 1980s - which (in Oldsmobile's case) was the 442 and Hurst/Olds.

[@travislostaglia8861]

Ford had a super charger in 1957 on the 312 v8 available in any ford car

[@jlwilliams]

Didn't these have a flexible driveshaft, too, or am I thinking of another car?

[@tkreitler]

The dedication it took to learn all of this car's quirks and how to restore it is admirable.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed! True love of the car

[@midlifemotox]

Eric saved a piece of history that is WORTH saving. Most people today place little value on history, and that will be our demise. Great video.

[@michaelschneider-]

@Jerome Jerome ... +1. .. Agreed. .. Eric Jensen knocked his Olds Jetfire project out of the park.. 10/10, 10/10, 10/10 .. A perfect score!

[@Fnorden]

An amazing rare piece of 60s automotive history.

[@terry94131]

Delightful episode Jay, and hats of to Eric for such a remarkable restoration of a remarkable car. I ran across a Jetfire back around 1970 when I was searching a junkyard for a power steering pump for my college Mustang. As I recall, there was a lot of talk about the engine being "fussy," requiring special Rocket Fluid (LOL), special anti-freeze, premium fuel, etc. And of course, the simple solution (in the sixties, anyway) was simply more cubic inches.

[@rogersmith7396]

It reminds me a lot of my Turbo Saab. Saab went with 9:1 compression and 11 psi boost. Has the same vacume guage. It gets 40 mpg. When the turbo hits you pass other cars in a flash.

[@grrwuff4099]

"There's no replacement for displacement..." LOL

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed :)

[@kevinrice4909]

And I agree

[@pete1729]

I had heard of these cars, and read that they were considered a failure. However this functional, streetable, and relatively affordable all aluminum turbocharged V-8 is an unqualified success. The styling is first class, too. You can tell Jay really enjoyed the thing on the road. I think the mistake was having to rely on a complicated anti-detonation system and that proprietary "rocket fire fuel'.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed on that

[@xaenon]

Didn't the have a really high scrap rate with that engine? I remember hearing something about a high number of castings had to be rejected because of porosity issues, and some of this extended into warranty nightmares with new cars.

[@pete1729]

@@xaenon This sounds familiar and quite likely. I guess I have the luxury of hindsight on this one. If I had been an engineer on this project or a buyer of one of these cars I'd probably feel different. I'm looking at a car that has been entirely sorted out over a number of years, and it's fantastic from this perspective.

[@garybulwinkle82]

ROCKET FIRE FLUID

[@jessebrook1688]

Without the turbocharger, that V8 was Britain's performance option for decades. I'm glad that it had a second life, because it's got a cool exhaust note. The car suffers a bit from GM's finance-regulated design, but overall, it's a unique piece of early 1960s engineering.

[@amp1195]

this might be the coolest car i've ever seen! never even heard of it before, absolutely beautiful!

[@benjaminvalenzuela3948]

I have seen a number of interesting cars pass through Jay’s channel, but I find this car to be one of the most interesting he has ever showcased. I love the styling of this car. And you have to appreciate the fact that this was the first turbocharged production vehicle. Just an amazing piece of history.

[@markzieg3593]

Me too! New favorite episode.

[@ec120pilott2]

Geeze ... yeah, you don't want to get " sued up the ying-yang! " Jay always cracks me up. Great review of this car and Eric is one of those quiet, impressive dudes you only meet in special situations like this. Straight answers to every question you had for him. While you were talking in the garage I felt like just the 3 of us were standing there in the presence of his special car. Well done Eric & Mr. Leno and thanks for educating us. I am sure I am not the only one who had never heard of the Jetfire cars.

[@kin0689]

I found one of those engines in a salvage yard... one cylinder full of dirt. Rebuilt it over the winter (minus turbo) and swapped it into a 71 Vega wagon. With an M20 Muncie it was a superb car. I fabbed everything including the oil pan.

[@pigeonsil240sx]

probably used close to a large t3 turbo like in the later thunderbirds.

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

I mean at the end of the day its a 215, without the turbo its just a Buick 215 that went on to power everything British Leyland.

[@dougt5357]

Too funny! I just made a comment that the 215 was an engine that got swapped into Vegas!

[@davidhuff2688]

I put one in a 72 vega. Loved driving it!

[@johnstewart6920]

Love seeing Jay talk to a real car guy they are both right at home (and would talk about cars if they lost or gained everything)

[@warrenjones744]

Jay's appreciation of others efforts is is wonderful. He is always so enthusiastic when someone brings in a cool car and excited to drive it.

[@loucostabile]

Love the details in this video. WELL DONE!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Hey Lou! Yeah.....ain't this car something!?!?! I'm 60 yrs old, and I've never seen one. Still love your channel by the way Lou......longtime subscriber......and you do a great job showing all of those beautiful classic cars. Greetings from Melbourne Fl.........Steve.......

[@RussXDX]

congrats at 100k subs Lou. I’ve been subbed since 20k and have enjoyed every video!🤘

[@FASIGMAN]

ARE you brain dead........I am trying not to be old.......

[@kadimsilahtar]

Hey, hi Lou, I am a fan of your channel.

[@SgtSteel1]

No explanation of that tapping sound though, what is that? edit: example of what I'm talking about at 28:21

[@Offthbadan]

The styling of this car is totally underrated along with the Skylark and Tempest. Really wish their was more love for them.

[@roscoefoofoo]

Absolutely. Very handsome cars. Trim and quick looking. Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs from '61 to '64 were some of America's best-looking cars ever. And this one's a beautiful color, too.

[@martinliehs2513]

The owner is a class act. Love the simple shape and compact body on this Olds. GM truly had some of the most innovative designs in this 1960s. Some of them were half baked at the time, but many technologies that were explored reappeared in the 1980s and 90s thanks to advances in electronics.

[@r.a.monigold9789]

I was 16 in 1962 and just got a job at the TEXACO next to the restaurant where I worked a month earlier. It was a part of town where freshly minted Boeing engineers lived. Saving rent money, they bought "exotic cars" - couple of MGAs, 2 Jaguars, a 356 Coupe, an Austin Healey 100, and a brand new Oldsmobile Jetfire. A crowd used to follow him around and each stop at "my" TEXACO he let ME service the "under hood". A year I later moved to a gas station owned by the same guy. My first day, I got a ride in a Chrysler Turbine ! !

[@ATomRileyA]

What a great car, the owner was great too. Glad that people save and keep cars like these running.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Love to hear their stories :)

[@481brighton]

This is why I love watching Jay Leno's garage. I remember reading about these cars back in the 60's as a kid. But, now we actually get to see one. And it's great that Jay asks the questions about the small details and nuances about these cars. The owners obviously know these details, which tells a story about the cars. Jay's passion for cars has deepened my appreciation about many different vehicles. Thanks for sharing Jay.

[@anthonygordon9483]

I remember reading about Jay Leno's garage in car magazines in the early 90's. Dude is a car fanatic. Im a lettermen fan but if you got a chance, look up leno on lettermen, he use to talk about cars and how many he owned before he even had money. That is why I love and respect Jay.

[@dramatyst5661]

It makes me happy that he loves Hondas too 🙂

[@EarthSurferUSA]

This owner does not know how much power the engine makes with boost. He claimed 185hp naturally aspirated, (which I can believe, and pretty good for a 215ci v-8 of the day), and then explains how 40% more power from the Turbo charger adds up to 400hp. If he knew math, he would know 40% added to 185 is 259hp, (I bet it was fun to drive.), and he would have known "1hp added for every ci" was a myth. Has a nice collection of cars. Not sure how much he really knows about them.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I think I misunderstood him. I think he meant 215 hp total, (one for every ci). But that is only about 15% more power with the boost. Either way, the guy looks like he did pretty good with out knowing any math. :)

[@oldsjetfire8975]

@@EarthSurferUSA The Oldsmobile claimed numbers were over the 215 2 bbl engine. The 4 bbl engine stated in the video was the 185 hp

[@JF-xq6fr]

My God, This is one of my favorite cars and episodes. And if you want to hear the text book perfect Southern IN dialect, this is it. Lastly, you can tell Jay would LOVE to add this ride to his collection. Thanks for such a nice episode.

[@mikesmithey1892]

I just wanted to know how many people know that when Jay passes away. He is donating his entire collection to the Smithsonian. Which they are already got the plans and ready to build the entire Warehouse attach to the museum to hold on his cars.

[@marcodebarkingville1827]

I'm thinking Jay would add it to his collection in a heartbeat if it became available. That exhaust note when the turbo kicks in sounds like nothing else.👍

[@ComputerLearning0]

I also think Jay would snap one of these up in a heartbeat if one came available because they're so rare.

[@maureensagestefan1928]

Drove one the day of my high school graduation, compliments of my dad. Looking back, I think he may have been nuts! He still has a couple in the garage. He contributed a bit to this restoration ... Jetfire Guys are rare, and a close knit group; Dad is one of the originals (his first new car was a 62 Jetfire). Fantastic car, fantastic that it's getting some recognition!

[@oldsjetfire8975]

Very true! We are a small group and still keeping the Jetfire model alive. Who is your dad?

[@maureensagestefan1928]

@@oldsjetfire8975 John Sage

[@badcornflakes6374]

Awesome memories

[@oldsjetfire8975]

@@maureensagestefan1928 You dad rocks and ranks right up there with Jim Noel, Ken Denneson, Jim Perkins and Bruce Sweeter that kept these cars alive and protected for decades. If not for the dedication of these guys, the Jetfire model may no longer exist today. Actually, the upper radiator hose mentioned in this video was made off of an NOS hose your dad provided for the project.

[@maureensagestefan1928]

@@oldsjetfire8975 the hose is what he mentioned while we watched the much anticipated video the first time. Watching it with him was very cool and is a treasured memory! Cool that you kept him posted, it was frequent dinner table conversation. He won't take any credit for his jetfire wisdom... But he knows so much and instilled in me and in his grandsons, a love for the magnificent (62) Jetfire! So glad you brought it into the light! Thank you very much for that! You are the face of Jetfire and a fantastic one for sure 😃 Now to get his into shape!!

[@jameskeyes1131]

I got a ride in one of these - same color - when I was 15 years old. The local Olds dealer,, who was friends with my parents, gave me and my mother a ride in it and went out on a deserted road to check it out. Terrified my mom but I was in the back with a big grin on my face. I subscribed to all the car mags and knew all about it. Nice looking little car that went like hell when you punched it. Had a Corvair but not a turbo one. Back when GM was a good and adventurous company.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Jay is right on point about how so many motorists refuse to do even the most basic maintenance. And I agree about over-restored cars that just LOOK good. They often don't adjust the lash in the steering box, they don't replace the window regulators if they are worn, they don't replace the seat springs, so that gorgeous car still drives like the old jalopy that it was before it was restored.

[@GlynnWilsonAustin]

I was 15 when the Jetfire was introduced and even at that age, I was intrigued. I remember seeing a new one in an Olds dealership and I was so impressed. In 1962, this car was like a step into the future. The only other car that I saw as a kid the impressed me even more was the Chrysler turbine car. Jay Leno's car productions take me back to a time in my life that was magical.

[@DejaView]

When Chrysler had their turbine car program going & had loaned them out for the public to try I remember seeing one parked on the street right here in our town, which was rather unexpected in a small town. I was also very "tuned in" to cars as a child. Chrysler had a display for these at the '64/'65 NY World's Fair. They were giving out booklets, which I still have somewhere. Apparently in some booklets there was a ticket for a ride in one. You never saw a little kid as mad as I was when I lost the ticket.!! 😭

[@scottmayfield9314]

I wonder what that sound is? Sounds like a beehive.....

[@tommurphy4307]

1963 studebaker avanti

[@DejaView]

@@tommurphy4307 Excellent thought. One very impressive car, ESPECIALLY considering it didn't come from a mainstream manufacturer. The R2 & R3 engines were quite a wonder in their time. Just watched a video about them. I think they were billed as the world's fastest production car at the time. And what other car almost 60 yrs later still looks like something out of the future! The Olds Jetfire here was a decently quick car I suppose, but I'm sure the Avanti had it beat by a mile. I haven't checked prices but I'm sure the Avanti was a bit lofty, especially for the younger crowd.

[@myjizzureye]

Great story, cured my insomnia instantly.

[@Youhaveaname]

"Lot of cars are restored for auctions or just for show." Thank you, Jay. It drives me insane looking at restored cars running for $100k+ and people letting them sit in their garage under a cover gathering dust. It's meant to be driven. "But it will depreciate the value" Forget the value man. It's a car. Drive it while you still can.

[@DblIre]

Mechanical things are meant to be USED. I've seen the same thing with airplanes. I remember one 1946 Taylor craft airplane at our airport that never flew. It ended up just rotting away in the gravel-floored hanger.

[@michaelschneider-]

+1 .. Much admiration goes out to Eric Jensen. .. Man O Man he dogged this Oldsmobile Jetfire project; To the nines, I must say. .. Eric's level of commitment is bloody outstanding. .. A working case of the 1962 GM Oldsmobile division engineering & vehicle offerings. .. "15-inch wheel option" .. What-a hoot! .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado

[@marioeid930]

As a mechanic and car guy for 20+ years ive never heard of this car, pretty amazing, great episode Jay 👏

[@m0j0rising]

Beautiful car. Thanks to Eric for his loving restoration and Jay just for his passion in bringing these historical vehicles to everyone's attention. Loved this episode.

[@L0cust]

Saw one in my friend’s backyard when I was a kid back in the 80’s. He told me his dad told him about the rocket fuel that kicked in when you stepped on it. I remember the boost gauge and the woodchuck that had broke through the floorboards and set himself up with a real nice home.

[@TheSticlizard]

My first car I bought was an 1962 Oldsmobile Cutlass f-85 in the summer of 1971. Same color as the one in this video 215 aluminum V8 with 4 on the floor. . Bought it for $200.00 Had a fire in the cabin and burnt the wiring. Spent the weekend rewiring her and worked like a champ. Ran her all over the San Joaquin valley Tulare and Corcoran CA. Had racing on the weekends out in the country then cruise main. Even got a week suspension for not parking her in the HS parking lot. Sold the girl the day before I left for the service. By the time I got leave out of boot camp she was totaled. Damn I had fun with her.

[@markzieg3593]

Yah baby! I think this episode is my new favorite-definitely outpaces the Chrysler Turbine jet car episode. I’d never heard or knew anything of the Olds jet fire. So cool. I’m hooked. Spinning at 90k rpms! Cra-zee cray engineering went into that car. Great owner/great refurbishment job from Eric. Sooo knowledgeable.

[@kurtmardis2244]

I wish my dad was still around to watch this. He bought a brand new 63 Jetfire with the 4 speed. I know he was drag racing it but I don't remember what times he was running. That was all before I came along. I know he was looking at a 57 Thunderbird that was for sale for $3500 so he decided to go with the new car for right around $3000. That's what I love about this channel!

[@mike88g1]

Bs

[@trnzamcharlie4090]

I had the sister car to this. A '62 Buick Skylark with the 215 cu in V8 (no turbo of course), with the 2-speed air-cooled Dual Path automatic trans. It was a wonderful car, but parts were super hard to get, even back in 1990. The level of dedication to keep this Olds running is admirable! Thank you, Eric and Jay!!

[@BuzzLOLOL]

My neighbor had the '62 Skylark convertible in burgundy with 200 HP 11:1 4 bbl. V8 and 4 speed manual... The Jetfire was my daily driver in the 1960's as a GMI co-op student... same exterior colors but mine had two tones of red/orange stripes interior...

[@user-oz4kd8tn4m]

My Grandma had a '63 Jetfire. My Dad picked it out for her and he was into cars so it probably wasn't by accident. This would have been around 1970-74. I drove it many times as a teen and maybe until around 20 years old. The car had skinny little tires and an automatic transmission, white exterior and tan inside. It truly looked like a typical Grandma car. But damn...put the pedal down and it did feel like a rocket! Compared to other cars I had driven it was night and day. Having just learned about the special fluid, it surprises me now that the turbo even worked, but have no doubt that it did. Guess Grandma didn't put her foot in it much so I got to use all of that juice... Great video Jay!

[@BuzzLOLOL]

You could tell by the boost gauge if turbo was working...

[@kerrywilliams6596]

I don’t always watch the old muscle cars that Jay shows, but I’m glad I watched this one. What an amazing car, and a great person to listen to. Eric and Jay sounded like they could talk all day about this car. Thank you for this great episode.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

What a cool car, and I always love that Jay features cars likes these owned by average guys (although clearly this guy is super intelligent and in that way above average). It’s really what makes Jay Leno’s Garage very special.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Same! Love it.

[@festusian9089]

This is why I value JLG so much. I'm the same age as Jay and knew about this car when it was new. But even after spending 20 years in restoration and shows, I had never seen one of these. To hear/see it drive and listen to Jay's comments is priceless to me. My second car was a 62 Corvair Spyder, and I can tell you it didn't accelerate nearly like this one did.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

He is national treasure

[@Terraceview]

I haven't seen Jay so fascinated with a car like this for a while. What a beautiful car and piece of automotive history. Thank you sir for preserving it!

[@marklittle8805]

This is one of the best looking cars of this era. What a sharp looking car.

[@lmc5312]

I owned a 1963 Jetfire in 1966 and loved it. A totally unique car driving experience. I traded it for a 1965 Formula S four speed Barracuda in 1968. The weak link for the Jetfire was the three speed Hydramatic transmission which never shifted correctly. Of course me being a teenager at the time "might have contributed to the transmission problems.😁.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

No, it wasn't your fault, that transmission was really bad. Car is probably too small for the 4 speed Hydra.

[@oneparticularharbor144]

That is a great reply- has a 68 GTO when I was 18 that had lifter and pushrod issues which I might have similarly contributed to.....

[@fidelcatsro6948]

how fast did it go?

[@montana_guy8001]

@@fidelcatsro6948 about 120 mph, when it would run out of spark advance and start missing....that’s how I bent the pushrods, valve float caused by the stock hydraulic lifters...

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@montana_guy8001 👀

[@robertphillips6296]

Wow, Jay you hit a home run with this episode!

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed!

[@doranswinson10]

A school mate had one of these in the late 60’s in my little home town. It was considered fast back then and remember he would run out of the turbo additive. I saw a rusty one for sale at a Peoria IL Old’s club car show in 2015. Nobody wanted it.

[@jimpepper1]

i love how he says he likes the family restores over the big shops, and that you have to drive it , not look at it. Beautiful car.

[@patrickchubey3127]

It's always fascinating to see a car I never knew existed, and that's just another reason why we watch Jay Leno's Garage.

[@VAspeed3]

I've never seen a Jetfire, but the first new car my father bought when I was very young was an F-85 Cutlass with the same 3.5L aluminum V-8. Dont remember what the compression was on the non-turbo version, but he would only run Amoco Premiun "white gas" . He drive it over 200,000 miles, which was quite unusual then. Pretty quick car for early 60s.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

In high school, the auto shop had a bunch of engines so everyone had their own engine to rebuild for your 2nd year. One of them was an Olds all aluminum 215 v8. I spent a lot of time checking it out, Very cool engine.

[@1badhaircut]

The turbo car boosted the stock hi-compression motor.

[@1badhaircut]

@@LuckyBaldwin777 GM sold it to British Leyland and wanted to buy it back when the fuel crisis happened. But they wouldn’t. Second-choice was the 6 cylinder version of it - made of iron - low-performance - the 3.8. That was sold to AMC Jeep. They hadn’t changed the firing-order so it had a bad shake but Jeeps were so raw anyway they got away with it. The Buick version had different cylinder heads with fewer head-bolts. ( turbo protection) Pontiac used the Buick version. So did MGB-GT, TR8 etc. They lasted until 2006 I believe in the Rover - owned by FORD. Yes, FORDS had Buick engines.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

@@1badhaircut there were 2 different 215s. The Buick 215 was 8.8:1 and the Olds 215 was 10.25:1. The Buick had 5 head bolts per cylinder and the Olds had 6. The Buick had problems with head warpage if it's compression was increased to 10.25:1. That's why the Olds 215 was the one used for racing.

[@captaccordion]

@@LuckyBaldwin777 What you say is interesting. I'm more familiar with the motor in British form, which is a mild reworking of the 5 bolt Buick engine. But the British version started with 10.25 compression, and was perfectly reliable. They did drop the compression later on - 70's and later - but more for fuel reasons.

[@vtr0104]

That system is basically a mechanical version of what modern turbo engines achieve with knock sensors and lower compression ratios. I knew about the Jetfire being one of the first "modern" cars to use a turbo, but I always imagined it was something like the one on the Corvair, just someone slapping a unti on the exhaust and running it that way. Suffice to say, this was very educational. Even though the technology is much older, I daresay more thought was put into this system and its fail-safes than what was done with the GNX in the 80s.

[@wildcat6669]

i think even audi and some other cars today have a built in methanol system similar to the jetfire.

[@lakelandon7776]

My Dad swore by Oldsmobile! Bought several over the years even the last mid size van. My mom had a 78’ Cutlass Cruiser Wagon that she was not happy with but my three older brothers and Dad were super proud of! Thanks Jay and his gracious guest.

[@marksaunderson3042]

That car looks amazingly shiny. The overall shape is also aesthetically pleasing to me. I like the look.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

You just cannot beat the overall looks of cars from that era...Problem is...safety was virtually non-existent. Safety belts were optional, steering columns would impale the driver in a nasty collision, drums brakes were marginal, no airbags, no re-inforced door panels, suspensions were mediocre, etc, etc. I admire these cars, but would never own/drive one.

[@SunRise-ul7ko]

I'm in Sydney Australia. Jay shows he's a real decent guy, when he acknowledged this man's passion, along with his family, that restored this beutiful car.

[@racerd9669]

Eric you have done a beautiful job on this car, and I am so impressed with how much you know about how the entire turbo system works. You have done your homework for sure, and thanks for Jay for bringing it to all of us.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Agreed!

[@mjrchapin]

This guy is a classic car guy, he knows which won he loves, he knows every single thing about it, is completely hands on, low key, modest, and Jay probably made him an offer to buy it because he's clearly fascinated too. And he and his wife are a perfect match!

[@thndrlngs]

My lord that's such a beautiful car. Up until the past decade, decade and a half or so, I'd not even seen a great deal of color photos of this beauty. I've always been a fan of truly functional gimmicks like the "turbo-rocket fluid", and this is just an absolute prime example of such a thing. Before ever learning about it, I'd assumed it was an octane booster which in combination with leaded fuel, would've kept knock away. Or so I thought. I glossed over the lack of any sort of charge cooler and hadn't considered it was for lowering charge temps and lubrication. Such an unbelievably cool car, with truly advanced technology, and literal jaw dropping styling for the time (IMHO). I'm so glad that fans have saved and restored the few examples of these monuments of the automotive industry. Thank you Eric for bringing in your absolutely gorgeous car, and thank you Jay for giving him the platform to share it with us all, and being a forerunner of the automotive elite.

[@leokimvideo]

Lovely very special car, you can see how keen Jay is to have this car in his garage. A car powered by poison...very special indeed.

[@explorenaked]

Jay is one of the nicest guys I've never met. Just a down to earth, get your hands dirty kind of guy. Funny how you mention "a car powered by poison". At some point it was decided it was bad, but at about the same time it was decided that the poison we eat is acceptable. I guess fast food replaced methanol. 😆

[@douglaswilliams1792]

We had a bunch of Olds. Great cars

[@artoo45]

All cars are powered by poison.

[@douggregoryHOTMotorsports]

Lithium isn't poisonous either. Tasty. Those big holes in the ground they dig to collect it aren't bad for the environment and nature either. Solar fields don't kill or deprive wildlife and they are so reliable 24x7 in all weather. Then we have windmills that will never make enough energy to pay for the petroleum products it takes to build and maintain them...when they are working. But yeah....ICE are just plain poison and restoring old ones is not ecologically sound.🤣

[@blest5132]

you're so edgy!

[@johnjacobjingleheimerschmi3857]

I think it definitely qualifies as a muscle car. Great job Eric, if it hadn't been for you, I could have lived a lifetime without seeing a Jetfire. Thank you.

[@jvac1129]

I'm not even a huge car guy but I love watching these vids. On the cars I've always loved but I really like seeing so many cars that I had no idea existed. Like this one. And listening to Jay and his obvious passion for vehicle's. You can tell he loves what he does.

[@singlesideman]

Jay was visibly nervous and humbled, even intimidated by the light weight of this car. It weighs only about 100 pounds more than a stock eighth generation Honda Civic, but it's from 1962. With that incredibly thick, thick gauge of steel. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Really impressive. Wow. Just wow...

[@boatdoctor8419]

You look like a serial killer

[@kha7705]

🤓

[@PotatoeJoe69]

Most of these old cars don't weigh much. People think they were heavy... they weren't. Most muscle cars, with their 5.2 L - 8.5L, 100% iron V8 engines weighed between 2,900 - 3,500lbs. That's extremely lightweight by modern standards, especially for a car with a V8. For instance, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with a 426ci (7.0L) HEMI making 425hp, weighed about 3,600lbs. That's nearly 1,000lbs lighter than a modern Challenger, and still 300-400lbs lighter than a modern Mustang or Camaro.

[@singlesideman]

@@PotatoeJoe69 I didn't say they were heavy. It's just impressive that they kept the weight low despite not using lighter weight materials for things like the body.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

@@singlesideman It really isn't impressive though. It's a no-brainer that a car will be light weight when it's just an engine, transmission, frame and body. There isn't 30 miles of wiring weighing hundreds of additional pounds, like there is in modern cars. The sound deadening in these old cars is much thinner. Often times, there isn't any. It's just carpet on sheet metal. Sound deadening can be hundreds of additional pounds. It all adds up. Old cars are light for being all steel, for the same reason dragsters and other race cars are light. There's just not much too them.

[@roadbiker9606]

That owner throughly knows his business, a very informative episode, thanks for bringing the car.

[@shanecusack7188]

I love it when Jay finds a real car guy who is so unassuming as to have no reservations about the encounter.

[@964cuplove]

Is this really the first turbocharged car ever ?! Hard to believe but that’s why we watch Jay Leno 😎😎 Lovely to hear the two guys chat about this… he seems to be into this one like Jay Leno talking about his steam cars…

[@fredthegraycatt]

This is amazing. I am an Olds guy but did not know these existed. GM's divisions were always competing against each other GM division. Every time the Olds engineers came up with an innovation, the GM exec's said we have to put it on the Cadillac first. What a kick in the crotch. I had a 1970 Toronado GT. Beautiful riding and driving car. Olds division did it right.

[@Washman-jw3hl]

I have no doubt Jay made an offer for this car. You can tell he was holding back the drool this whole episode. Lol. I love Jay. He is the man

[@sumitbhattacharya7917]

When the turbo kicks in, my goodness the sound is heavenly. beautiful car!

[@markgoodson4347]

My uncle Jim owned Jim Graham Old's in Joliet so we were an Oldsmobile family, my father bought a 1962 Jetfire to commute to work in Chicago. He loved it for awhile but the thrill wore off soon as the car spent more time in the shop then on the road. It's still my earliest memory of a sports car I was only 8 at the time and still remember some of the details. His was an automatic on the council, again another first for us. I always wondered if anyone remembered these cars and I'm happy to see Leno's garage cover it.

[@travisgrover492]

The old's jetfire has always been my favorite car. Even when my brother had his Buick wildcat.

[@deweygill1973]

My buddy had one back around 1972 also a four speed. It was hard getting the turbo to work right, and the car was only ten years old then. Parts were either hard to get or expensive, he eventually disconnected the turbo. When it worked, it was a blast, considered an unusual car even back then

[@ScottsafriendofGod]

I would rather watch one show with content on cars like this, than ten shows on some unattainable 'super car' Jay this was a pleasure to watch... I know you show everything that rolls, go's and makes noise and I watch every one you do :-) but I sure enjoy this Jetfire. Thank you.

[@gearjunkie3412]

Don't kid yourself. This care is much more "unattainable" than a supercar...... especially in that condition.

[@joshuagibson2520]

This is NOT an attainable car. It's hard to attain one even if you have plenty of money. There may only be 40 or 50 of them that even exist.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I'm with you though. Way rather see this than a MCCLAREN.

[@gearjunkie3412]

@@joshuagibson2520 they are both awesome pieces of automotive history. Why hate on one over the other.

[@joshuagibson2520]

@@gearjunkie3412 not really hating on the one. It just doesn't get me excited all that much.

[@gerrybacsik]

I had no clue what they were talking about, but enjoyed their wealth of knowledge. Very well done!!!

[@a.brounz]

Something about Eric, his family and this Jetfire really hit home with Jay, I've never seen him give so much praise before Great car, Jays the greatest too Great job film crew as always, but please remember to film the rear of the car as well. When it's in Jays shop under the lights 🤞

[@marvindebot3264]

That, is beautiful; a true credit to its owner/restorer and wow, that paint! #Thank you Eric for saving her. Who else thinks Jay will now be in search of a Jetfire?

[@JDAbelRN]

Metal flake in maroon is insane! How do I begin with the interior???

[@marvindebot3264]

@@JDAbelRN Isn't in amazing condition? The previous owners obviously took good care of her.

[@mrb.5610]

Yeah .... I could see the glint in Jay's eyes .... he wants one BAD !

[@DSGNflorian]

Way to go, Jay! This is one of the most interesting cars of the post WW2-era made anywhere, and yet, even "enthusiasts" often don't have a clue they even existed. It's also one of those cars that triggered a retreat into engineering conservatism among many American automakers, because it seems every time Detroit did something interesting that required either a little extra maintenance effort on the part of the owner, or learning different driving techniques (Corvair) it backfired on the companies and the result was 25 years of playing it safe. Those cars of the GM Z and Y-Body platform, the 1960-69 Chevy Corvair, '61-63 Olds F-85/Cutlass/Jetfire, Buick Special/Skylark and Pontiac Tempest/LeMans were just full of innovation, some of which worked well, some not so much. Unitized, very lightweight construction, all-aluminum V8s, ultra-compact Roto-Hydramatic automatic transmissions, independent rear suspension with transaxle (Chevy and Pontiac), "rope drive" ultra thin joint-free driveshafts (Pontiac), turbocharging, etc. etc...there was just a plethora of engineering marvels in these, yet the marketplace did not reward it...people bought Falcons instead! I own a 1961 Olds F-85 4 door sedan in factory original 35,000 mile condition (even the paint is factory) and it's just a gem and ultra-rare. The styling is masterful. These cars were visually interesting and attractive without being gaudy or weird like some cars of the late 50s-early 60s. The Olds F-85/Cutlass is just charming and beautiful. But it is...well, let's just say "mechanically more finicky" than the typical run-of-the-mill American car of the time. And a tad on the too small side, which also hurt sales. By 1964 the F-85/Cutlass along with its Pontiac and Buick counterparts went onto a dead-conventional body-on-frame mid-size platform (the A-Body cars) quite a bit larger and far more acceptable to most buyers.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Indeed!

[@timrussell1559]

What an amazing and unique piece of history. Personally, i would get far more enjoyment out of owning and driving that old jetfire than a duesenberg worth 25 times as much. What a gem!

[@kl0wnkiller912]

My grandfather worked all his life at Buick. His father was Chief Chassis Engineer at Buick when the company was first founded and he worked on the 'Flint Buick' (Buick's first car). Great Grandpa used to drive home all sorts of prototype and experimental cars and my grandfather told me about a lot of them. I remember him telling me about Buick experimenting with turbochargers right after WW2 for cars. He said at that time they opted not to use them because the metals just wasn't good enough to handle the heat in a slower vehicle (as opposed to an airplane with air cooling). I remember grandpa did drive home a turbocharged Buick in the early 60s that was "going top be sold next year". I know Buick had a version of this car but not sure if it was turbocharged or not. I have several pictures of Grandpa in older experimental cars and in some cars a year before they were put into production. Also, my grandpa was the inventor of the floor mounted push button high beam headlights, although great grandpa got the official credit. To this day, my dream car is a 57 Buick two door.

[@michaelschneider-]

@KLOWn Killer ... The early 1960's era Buick version was known as the Skylark. The Skylark was/could be powered by the infamous Buick V6 .. IIRC. .. Cheers.

[@ttystikkrocks1042]

As a dyed in the wool Oldsmobile guy, I'd heard of this car, seen reproductions of some of the literature and of course dreamed about it as a young man but I've never seen one driven. What a special treat. Thanks for restoring and preserving this piece of history, Eric and thanks Jay, for bringing such a gem to the attention of a wider audience. Beautiful!

[@garyturnau4102]

Quite inspiring, especially since my first car was a '62 Cutlass convertible with the rare 4 speed option. That was 1969, great times. I put a Craig 8 track under the dash and Pioneer speakers. Lots of fun in between repair jobs LOL. That car steered me into the art of auto mechanics and then auto restoration. So, after all these years, I am restoring a '63 Jetfire. Why '63? Because a kid in high school had a '63 and I liked the styling better than my '62. Jay sure is a great spokes person for our hobby, isn't he?

[@grizzlygrizzle]

I agree with you about the styling of the '63. Very clean lines and nice proportions. If I remember correctly, the '63 had a different kind of fluid that was supposed to be injected, some kind of urea stuff or something like that. Or maybe I'm having a senior moment.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Very cool :)

[@davidhansen6788]

How much horsepower does the 63 make at full boost?

[@ronnyfurst5511]

well thats what I really like about Jay Leno's Garage. He dont judge by price, he dont judge by horsepower or make. This is a REAL car guy! If something is cool, then its cool! No matter whats the price or make of it. Jay you really rock!

[@clemislilly2448]

My aunt owned a star fire. She was picking us up from school. And it caught on fire. Wow. Thanks for this showing this nice car. I owned a 69. 442. Love them olds !!!!!!

[@melvinburwell8202]

Wow that is amazing. Love it. People forget that Olds was the leader in tech in its day. Manual V8 also. Rare gem. Thanks Jay.👍👍😎🤑🍾🤩

[@rogersmith7396]

First high HP front wheel drive 66 Tornado and 67 Eldorado.

[@mrsid587]

Check out the semi (31:47) that didn't want to wait on the chase truck that was behind Jay to ward off tailgaters. He got impatient and then blew his horn (32:00) after the chase truck (Ford F150) started moving with Jay. Party-pooper! Great car & episode Jay! Loved it!

[@TJC450]

Yeah maybe jay needs to put some non emergency lights or something on it so people know something is going on.

[@Nedula007]

So what? Working people got stuff to do

[@ReidHenderson]

That is an absolutely gorgeous peice of machinery. And the small displacement V8 and turbo just add to the appeal!

[@grahamt33]

Jay is the real deal - often he will come up with details that even the owners don't know about ! There is no motor channel that comes close ! What a Great Guy !

[@DolleHengst]

With the sophisticated technology, all the available options, and the premium price tag, you could say it's one of the earliest personal luxury cars.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Wow! This has to be one of the luckiest married men I've ever seen. I can't complain though. My wife talked me into buying my 96 Buick Roadmaster sedan about 10 years ago. She knew I liked big cars and she could tell that I really wanted it. Even though I was playing it cool with the salesman and pointing out every single fault it had trying to get a better price. I got it for $1800. I've probably got about $5000 in it by now between ten years of upgrades and repairs. But the 2nd gen LT1 350 is still going strong. It's not as cool as a classic, but it's been good to me

[@michaelmerta8956]

Jay I'm only 72 for having owned and used many automobiles you learn every day something new. I never know that car exists, super show.

[@audieconrad8995]

The level of detail and finish on this car throughout is astounding. 👌🏼

[@billmagorian490]

Jay this was a great Garage episode! A regular guy not some wealthy guy with a 100+ Ferrari collection. How did this episode come about? Did the owner approach you or did you hear about him and his rare car and invite him to your show. Either way thanks Jay. Such shows give credibility to your blue work shirt.

[@NoPrivateProperty]

what do you have against David Lee?

[@captaintoyota3171]

Jay prolly saw him at a show or on the road. He runs ppl down on the road all the time

[@gretchenlittle6817]

@@captaintoyota3171 Jay said at the end that Eric contacted him. Glad he did!!!

[@pissoff234]

@CaptainToyota You prolly don't know what you're talking about.

[@Marauder252]

David Lee was a great guest and it looked like him and Jay where having fun. The only guests I don't like are the corporate marketing guys.

[@geraldwalk3544]

Yes, this was one hell of a car, I rode and three of them back in the day. I studied all cars due to the fact I was born in 63. Screwed me forgetting a lot of these machines I was still earning money delivering newspapers not quite enough. This car was awesome except for when the turbo went down it wiped it good sporadic machine out quickly. Thank you Jay that is one hell of a machine and I know you’ll take good care of it as you do all of your machines. God bless my friend.

[@jeffbrackin65]

I personally loved that body style. The early cutless style also. There's a guy who built a dragster out of one. Wicked quick also. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. 😁

[@sagaciousalso5026]

Fascinating content. Driving a '56 Olds 2 door Rocket 88 when this car was produced. Dad was both a staunch Oldsmobile supporter and a mechanic. Can honestly say that I didn't know of the turbo's existence.

[@olliefoxx7165]

Me, either. That's one of the reasons I love Jay Lenos channel. It's a place for educating new and old car guys.