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.

[@Woody_Florida]

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

[@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.

[@timwalcott6268]

Me too

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@WIMKIN-FREEDOM-FIGHTER]

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.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

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.

[@Woody_Florida]

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.

[@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

[@druidofthefang]

I could listen and watch this for hours. Fantastic, thanks Jay and Eric!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@email4664]

@@TomSpeaks-vw1zp Babbitt can't see your comment. Keep politics out of this conversation buddy. Divide ELSEWHERE, not in car crowds.

[@jr2904]

​@@TomSpeaks-vw1zp I'm just waiting for my home state of California to put in a law limiting how much you can drive one of these old muscle cars. I hope it never becomes law, but I know someone here in the legislature will try.

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@maureen_sage]

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?

[@maureen_sage]

@@oldsjetfire8975 John Sage

[@badcornflakes6374]

Awesome memories

[@oldsjetfire8975]

@@maureen_sage 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.

[@maureen_sage]

@@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!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@marioeid930]

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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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 👀

[@sumitbhattacharya7917]

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

[@carlr287]

What a great trip down memory lane this video took me on. I'm 74, and had a 1962 Olds F85 Jet fire, I think in 68 or 69. It was a mean machine back in the day. Mine had square taillights and small square back up lights. I think it had rolled and pleated, leather, four speed on the floor with a shifter that flopped all over the place. lol. It used to overheat all the time. I think it might have been a flaking Electrolysis issue with the aluminum block and iron heads. Thank you Eric and Jay so much for posting this video. Totally enjoyed it.

[@oldsjetfire8975]

Sounds like you had a 1963 model. Yes, the 4 speed shifters were made by Borg Warner and got really loose really fast. I had some parts custom made for this one and it is a really tight shifter now. Well, As tight as one can be for a BW shifter.

[@carlr287]

@@oldsjetfire8975 thanks for the feedback. I got pretty good at moving the shifter all over the place to find the next gear. lol

[@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?

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@jr2904]

​@@mike88g1 as if you would know

[@roadbiker9606]

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

[@iaintwonderwoman5720]

This is superlative…love Mr. Leno’s guest this time😎

[@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.

[@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!

[@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)

[@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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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

[@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.

[@charlesfrazer1166]

I'm 68 years old and that's the first Jetfire I've ever seen or even heard of! I thought I knew old cars! Thank you for keeping me humble!!

[@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.

[@marklittle8805]

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

[@amp1195]

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

[@shanecusack7188]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 !

[@kleo-jo5jf]

So funny to hear him talk about jim and fussick, those are where I got parts for my 61 cutlass from too!!! Sooooo cool!!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@bobbybutler4199]

My first car was a 1961 Pontiac Tempest in the same colors - sure brings back wonderful memories :) ! THANKS Eric and Jay !!!

[@markschuman3615]

That was my first thought was the Pontiac Tempest very similar body style

[@55classic1]

Pontiac did the transaxle in the rear...of which Corvette eventaully used.... cut a 389 in half up front... was terrible for vibration ... some Pontiac guy, I think Nunzi automotive did one of these engines with a Edelbrock Ram Air head and had it running 10's... some really neat engineering atr GM for these soon to be mid-sized bodies that didn't get the accolades they deserved

[@cdstoc]

I've heard about these cars since I was a kid but have never seen one, let alone a working example. Great job and kudos to Mr. Jensen and his family.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@audieconrad8995]

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

[@charger19691]

A really “before it’s time” rare Oldsmobile. Thank you Jay for sharing! I’m glad this car has such a good home. It’s a beauty!

[@ReidHenderson]

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

[@josephconsoli4128]

As usual Jay, although I knew of these cars, your focus on it made me realize what an interesting car it is. I agree that Eric is a very nice guy and very educated about the car. A very impressive, detailed restoration. This car makes me recall a story my father told of working for Buick when they introduced the Special. He said the salesman were so embarrassed with it that they parked it at the back of the showroom! Little did they know that much of the public, especially woman at the time, were excited with these smaller and less intimidating vehicles.

[@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 🤞

[@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.

[@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!

[@maxbrazil3712]

Thank you Jay. You are a true artist, wonderfully eccentric gearhead and beloved historian. Bravo!

[@rusty383]

Very Surprised his wife liked it ! She's a keeper♥️🤝

[@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.

[@donaldkall2004]

My dad had a 47 Ford Woodie, a 1950 Yellow Mercury convertible, a 1953 Desoto with the 1st HEMI engine, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria (look it up and see one of the most beautiful cars ever built), a 1958 Ford Thunderbird, a 1962 Olds Jetfire (I was 19 then), a 1965 Pontiac GTO, a 1968 Buick Gran Sport. My dad was a Dentist and the Mayor of Wayzata, Minnesota. He started the Masonic Children's Hospital. I was very lucky to have such a great dad and so many great cars to drive. I raced around in the Jetfire and never lost a race to a 409 Chevy and they all had their jaws on the ground and wondered what in the "H" beat them. What a great car! Thanks Jay. You too are really a cool person. I wish you would come back and run the Tonight Show again and bring back real humor again instead the crap they give us now! Your fan Donald D.

[@jonthomsen7433]

The hemi actually debuted in the dodge pickups in like 51, just a small one I think it was like a 240 something. My grandmother has a red and white 55 crown vic 292 y block. Beautiful car

[@--Zook--]

:15 this is what this website is all about, having to turn up the audio cause it's 30db quieter than anything else on youtube. Still love the content.

[@rexrexerest5023]

Eric's a Great guy and I could tell he had a lot of love rebuilding the Jetfire with his wife and family. A Great video. Thanks.

[@moegeek]

I had never heard of this car at all! I’m no Oldsmobile expert, but I do admire classic cars. Beautiful car, and thank you for allowing me to learn something new today!

[@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.

[@jdoesmath2065]

One of your best episodes Jay! Thanks to the owner for preserving this unique car and thanks Jay for sharing it with us. You're both awesome.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Couldn't agree more!

[@brianforster2613]

Back in the mid 80's I would see one of these driving around all the time, I knew what it was and read the contemporary road tests but this was really great to see Jay drive it and tells us about how it performs.

[@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…

[@michaelmaxson5600]

Best episode in awhile I truly enjoy learning about the history of cars and innovations.

[@BadBlonde-CarHistory]

Indeed! Love to meet the owners

[@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!

[@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 !!!!!!

[@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