Jay Leno - Talking Sunbeam Tigers

Jay Leno talks about his passion for all things Shelby and V8 - Tigers, Cobras, GT350s, GT40s and...er...Daimler Darts. We filmed Jay at his Garage for the upcoming Sunbeam Tiger 60 film. Here is some of the fun stuff that won't be in the documentary. Subscribe to the channel for exclusive Tiger 60 content & movie updates.

[@kevinsnowdon9797]

I love it that Mr Leno gives his time to people with real enthusiasm.

[@a34rwl]

But zero interviewing skills.

[@grahamvickery4268]

@@a34rwl so you could do a lot better. In which way could you improve the interview? Let’s hear it…

[@DavidM2002]

A few years ago, when my brother owned his old 1915 Simplex, he did some research and found that only a handful existed and one of them was owned by Jay Leno. He sent an email to someone in Jay's organization. Jay himself called my brother to talk about their Simplexs. He said they chatted for about 20-30 minutes. So yes, you're right, he gives his time even to total stranger. A quality lacking in far too many people.

[@gr500music6]

Jay is clearly fighting through all kinds of pain and maintains his humanity and sense of humor throughout. Cheers, big guy, we love ya!

[@genehart261]

A regular guy who got lucky and he never forgets.

[@SunbeamTigerClubUK]

Yeah, Jay was in so much pain, we spent the day with him! A very generous, amusing and knowledgable bloke, as us 'Limeys' would say.

[@FightFightFight4547]

Back in 1965 I worked for the first Sunbeam Tiger dealer in San Diego. When Tigers would arrive at the port terminal warehouse in Long Beach, we would drive them back to the dealership rather than put them on a transport truck, I dated the bosses daughter, so I got to drive the first one back…FUN RIDE! That dealership was John Rose Imports on Fairmount Ave.

[@frequentlycynical642]

Was the fun ride the car or the girl?

[@FightFightFight4547]

@@frequentlycynical642 😂

[@donparker1823]

I love it that you get the need for speed Jay. I just got a 2007 Saturn Sky Red-Line. It's my first sports car. It's actually faster than my KTM 790 Adventure bike which is surprising to me. I tell my friends how fast it goes and they don't understand why I would test that out. I'm 70 years old but I don't feel that different than I did at 16 in terms of the need for speed.

[@mannypuerta5086]

Jay was spot on when saying no one looks under the hood these days. The days of engines looking like engines is gone. Now they look like a washing machine with external plumbing. No visible soul.

[@kellyklingbeil5802]

Jay, Every moment I have invested learning from your channel is for me one of the best uses of my time.

[@22trident45]

Hey Jay, thanks for the review. And, the old car followed by a drone! Gittin' old we are.

[@SimonWallwork]

I used my Tiger as my only car for years. It had windows, I locked it, I've collected lumber from the lumber yard, and put groceries in it!

[@Redmenace96]

always a way! yes.

[@SimonWallwork]

@@Redmenace96 I fixed mine up about 1990. It was me daily smoker. Why else build a car you fancy? I still have it. LHS500E.

[@bdyt]

What a fun episode. Thanks Jay That Cobra, wow, so beautiful.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Imagine how good the movie will be if these are the outtakes!

[@bryancropley4191]

Yea but if the same shithead editor blasts the music on the movie like this video it will definitely be taken down a few notches

[@SunbeamTigerClubUK]

Thanks! You can watch the Trailer on this channel. Movie out in June. Stay tuned...

[@thinman8621]

Enjoy hearing Jay share anecdotes from earlier times. Guys built cool stuff in their garage.

[@SammyBorg-w5p]

Jay Leno you’re the king. I love the chillaxed feel of the video and the cars are absolutely awesome tooz

[@michaelguerin56]

Nice video. Thank you.

[@tuberNunya]

I so much love listening toJay talk cars. Jay knows cars and he loves cars like I do. Sometimes it brings me to tears.

[@josemedeiros007]

Great interview, I always enjoy watching Jay Leno talk about his cars.

[@rodrigoantunes8502]

just love those sunbeams... specially on wire chrome wheels, so british such a class😍

[@samgentile7494]

Jay, As an old geezer myself who grew up with these cars I agree you are 100% correct that a 289 Coba or a 302 Mustang or Camaro is far better balanced, riding and handling than with a big block. Those old vehicles all took a licking and kept on ticking at low maintenance costs.

[@marcusbrutus1999]

It's all about balance! Great point.

[@watsontcbc]

Sunbeams are among my favorite cars of that era. Jay’s knowledge is very impressive, and he’s straightforward. He always seems to say what he thinks and doesn’t whitewash anything. But you obviously just wanted him to say your favorite car is the best. Props to you guys for not editing that stuff out! The endless music is just irritating tho. Thumbs up on this mainly for Jay and the cars.

[@rynosraceroom66]

Thx for the great content !

[@bradhoward9055]

Jay is the coolest guy ever. He has more money than god and he is honest, humble and just a nice car guy.

[@jeremypearson6852]

No bigger car enthusiast than Jay Leno. I’ve never really watched late show hosts here, but Leno seems like a genuinely nice guy. An expat watching in Florida.

[@Steve-PerfectVinylForever]

These are the first three cars I buy after winning the lottery. In 1983, my first car was a 1965 Sunbeam Alpine GT, in the US. Always wanted a Tiger, always just out of reach. I will have one and winning the lottery won’t be needed.

[@zapper302]

My best friend had a beautiful MkII with 351 heads. His cousins had Tigers, one was a MkI that had a Boss 302 stuffed into it with the shaker air cleaner. It won a lifetime achievement award given by Shelby himself.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@zapper302, Boss 302 engine in a Sunbeam Tiger? NOT possible !

[@tedzehnder961]

Sometimes memories get foggy.@@sergeantmasson3669

[@zapper302]

@sergeantmasson3669 it was done. Could not use the Boss heads. He owned a body shop and used to slalom the car. As noted in my comment, he was given a lifetime achievement trophy by Carroll Shelby himself ar a Shelby American Meet.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@zapper302 PROOF? 302 yes. Boss 302, NO.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@zapper302 No damn way will a Ford Boss 302 engine fit into a Sunbeam Tiger correctly. Ford 302 engine, yes. Ford Boss 302 engine, NO.

[@yesode4201]

I think Jay likes his F1 the most he almost always mentions it in every interview.

[@richardvervoorn6626]

Jay seemed a little disinterested but really what could anyone bring to Jay’s world and experience by now, loved the Tigers though, terrific styling and power to weight ratio. My 2011 Mustang 5.0 GT convertible is as close as I could get these days, love that too…Thanks again Jay, your videos are second to none !

[@joebriggs8422]

Jay wouldn't buckle under the pressure...displayed excellent soundbite integrity 😉

[@wierpkevin]

I bought a ‘67 Sunbeam Alpine in 1974, after high school. It was a four cylinder. I liked the car and learned a lot about mechanics trying to keep it road worthy. It was a fun time 50 years ago. Sold it for about a thousand dollars as I recall in 1981.

[@morrispartow759]

3 of my favorites all by Carroll Shelby .

[@nicholasselvaggi54]

My brother restored one with the 289ci Cobra motor. Valued now at $110k. I'd send you some pics if I could. Great video. 😁 1967 Mark 1A convertible

[@tomwilliams5933]

Sunbeam Tiger. The same car that Don Adams of get smart drove in the beginning credits.

[@MartinBaldock]

Brings back a memory from my youth when I worked in sales for a car dealership, my boss Paul Martin owned a light blue Sunbeam Tiger - registration number PM2. We delivered a car we'd sold and he collected me in the Tiger for the return journey. My first 120mph (at about 4,000rpm if I recall correctly)....

[@HowardDarlington]

If your friends Tiger was stock ,4000rpm should be ~ 100mph. I remember 100mph in my Tiger felt like I was going at least 120mph!

[@MartinBaldock]

@@HowardDarlington I stand corrected, it was a long time ago for me!

[@thethomasj1795]

The Tiger is such a cool car. A great weekend ride.

[@babaoreally8220]

In my cruising area,circa 1965,there was a V8 Sunbeam prowling.Also a very rare Griffin.These were the only examples of these great cars I’ve ever seen.

[@frequentlycynical642]

Griffin! My bud and I visited NY in 1964 and the Griffin "factory" was on our to do list. A big garage, basically.

[@babaoreally8220]

@@frequentlycynical642 Didn’t know that.I thought they were a British import also.All I know is I lit up one with my’64 GTO,and it didn’t go good for me.He was out about 60’ on me.Except for the exhaust note,a sleeper in appearance.

[@jeffr2332]

Honest true opinion 😉 this channel is so down to earth. Thanks

[@wyattoneable]

I love Jay, he's such a cool guy.

[@thomaspowers5845]

I inherited a Sunbeam Alpine when I was in my teens. I drove it a few miles before it broke down. I ended up selling it to a Sunbeam collector who took it apart piece by piece and reassembled it in his finished basement.

[@frequentlycynical642]

And he got it out of the basement?

[@raepaul8158]

I had heard Jay never sells anything, so a bit of a surprise he sold his Tiger! I remember when it came out people weren’t used to having horsepower in such a small car and it’s amazing. There’s any them left because everyone I know that got one wrecked it.

[@ralphnorris-vk8ff]

Back in the mid 70s my brother-in-law had a Plymouth cricket that was built by sunbeam! Was not a hotrod, but a nice reliable little car. The engine was about the size of Jay's brief case!

[@DrVaticinator]

My first car was series 5 Alpine. It was great as a first, rebuilt the engine twice. Birthday present from my uncle when I was 15.

[@ericbrammer2245]

The Quickest A/C I ever saw, was a tear-drop-back 'coupe', pre- Peter Brock, that was at the 50th Hillclimb at Mt-Equinox in 2000. It had a frickin' Chrysler Hemi [!], w/ a hopped-up Cam, and it Snarled!! The guy running it up-the-hill got "rubber" in the 1st 3 gears, and almost over-shot the 1st corner! Much more than a mere 'Cobra', but not-quite a Daytona fastback. Glad I got VHS tape of it's Launch, sad that I can't figure-out how to put it onto modern media.

[@joescalet6130]

Went sideways many times in mine. Once slid backwards through a four car accident without a scratch. In Kansas in the summer I always drove with the hood unlatched. Loved the car though, wish I still had it.

[@Gerrygambone]

Jay Leno would make a great presenter of Top Gear

[@yelwing]

I’d like to see Jay design and build some sort of car. Make about a dozen of them, so future collectors can battle to get their hands on a “Leno”.

[@danmccarthy4700]

He did, it's called the Eco-Jet, and it's absolutely insane. He only built one though.

[@derekdartsch9759]

I agree. Music should be in the beginning and maybe the end, if at all. Interrupts the conversation.

[@Chris.Davies]

A good buddy of mine has a brand new baby blue Sunbeam Tiger - and it is awesome. And when I say "brand new" - I mean it. It has central locking, electric windows, Bluetooth, parking sensors, tyre-pressure monitoring, a modern ECU, new full-leather interior, Wifi, GPS Navigation, and a host of other cool features to boot. It looks old-school, but it is very modern underneath, and it is an absolute joy to behold, be a passenger in, and to drive. :D

[@georgedoolittle7574]

One of the greatest cars ever made no one has ever heard of.

[@t.s.racing]

Missed it by that much....

[@455buick6]

I was hoping they'd mention Get Smart 😢

[@leedufour]

Thanks guys!

[@SSV-i-c-e]

Jay is right the sp250 Daimler is an under rated car.had the pleasure of working on one as a apprentice in the 80s a one owner car the lady who owned it said it was part of a pair her late husband having had the other one .awesome hemi motor in them.who wouldn’t love a tiger!!

[@shackcf]

I worked on more than 1 Sunbeam Tiger (& Alpines) back in the early 70's. These were all stock with Ford 260 V8. At the time i was a budding auto tech at a European Car dealer. Not to far from where Jay found himself in Foreign Motors. I was in Milton MA He was in Brookline MA just outside of Boston. I actually worked @ Foreign Motors for a short while as a service writer. Jay was not there then.

[@leegoddard2618]

Hilarious, Jay picks the most practical, in the "what if" scenario. Made sense to me. 🤭👍

[@georgeburns7251]

It’s been a long time, but I remember 427 Cobras won A Prod SCCA race at Laguna Seca. I think it was the year Chevy put 396 porcupine engines in the vetts attempting to beat the 289 Cobra. First 427 Cobra I ever saw was unpainted and I think it raced as whatever the non-production cars raced as, like the Chaparral. Wish I had pictures from back them. Lots of unique race cars. Most exotic was an open GT40 using the Indy engine to make it lighter. It crashed at Riverside raceway and was never run again. All early 60s.

[@laurastewart3486]

I can afford to have both. Simply adorable. Love Jay.

[@NVRAMboi]

It was good enough for Maxwell Smart - what else need be said?

[@tedzehnder961]

I think it wasn`t the only red model he drove in the series, but yeah that was the first time I ever saw one was on TV..

[@455buick6]

​@@tedzehnder961Yeah there's a KZbin video about his cars, the sunbeam always stood out for me, but there were others

[@rynosraceroom66]

I wld love to meet #JayLeno !! Truly idolize this fella .

[@jaynecobb6711]

Go to car shows. He shows up in his pre-war classics at random car shows.

[@pbarnwell]

My first “Sports Car” after my corvair Spyder was the Sunbeam Alpine rapier IV rootes group car, I absolutely killed it at the local autocross races loved that car

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@Randy-n9x]

Me an my best friend Barry got our subscriptions to Hot Rod the same day , 1973 I think . Couldn't wait for the next issue.

[@gmain1977]

Great contect 👍🏾👍🏾

[@bennyhannover9361]

When I was a child there was a diecast of a yellow tiger available must have been 1978 and I didn’t know the Alpine because in Germany they were not so common. I was fascinated what a rocket. We knew the last Spitfire 1300 / 1500 until 1982/3 and sometimes a rubber version of the MGB and my mum once drove an Innocenti Cooper from 76 but that’s it… British Cars were only the Mini 1000 because it was the smallest car in the parking lot, the Smart and alike was not invented…

[@franklinnorth7708]

In my "Hood". Port Moody BC, there are 3 Tigers, a 260 Tiger 1, and 2 289 Tiger 2's

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Late 70s and my neighbor had one, in green of course. Took me for a ride and nearly made me soul myself at age 15. Never been in one since.

[@RogerMillerInVA]

I bought a Sunbeam Alpine in 1980. My good friend, Pete Dorland (Medevac hero, circa 1970, Vietnam) had a Tiger. How could you see that car and not fall in love with it?

[@russellbuonasera4786]

Great content, really annoying background music.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

I agree. The music should only be used for the opening and closing and transitions.

[@bryancropley4191]

That way too loud music ruins the entire video smh

[@ezvue]

After all the trouble of setting this up, who’s the bonehead that plastered it with music during editing?

[@davidwardle5]

Couldn’t agree more, I’m slightly deaf and I couldn’t tell what they were saying. ☹️

[@ARNYKATZ]

Big music fan here, but I don't understand why they put it over their conversation.

[@richb313]

Thanks

[@cdubs9918]

I love Sunbeam Tigers. They were the original pocket rockets. They were the perfect combination of British roadster with lunatic American muscle.

[@shelby1962X]

I have the original check from Shelby American to George for the development on the Tigre signed by both Shelby and George. One of my most prized pieces of automotive memorabilia.

[@nicholaspiscitelli7685]

I forgot all about those cars, A friend of mine had one I forgot. That was a good little car. Yeah, it was slow, but it was real good on gas. It was the gas crunch time you couldn't get gasoline. And it never broke down.

[@quercusrubra777]

Sometime around 1965 when I was in high school there was a Cobra parked on the street near my school. I assumed it must have belonged to a college kid going to Baker University. Wealthy kids from Kansas City would go to Baker.

[@eldorado767]

The Daimler's hemi sounds wonderful, too.

[@WilliamKiene]

If you buy a Sunbeam Tiger, you need one with a full frame-off restoration or to have a full frame-off restoration. I watched them racing on the sports car tracks on the West Coast of America in the 1960s. I should have bought one back then but did not have the money.

[@uncleronny6748]

Back in the day I used to cruise Whittier Blvd in a friends 66GT Kcode and we used to get smoked by some dude in a modified Tiger. And that was after we thought we were hot shit cause we beat up on a guy and his 427 Bullit clone. It's all power to weight ratio folks (re: Renault R5 turbo). Still have a lot of respect for Tigers and don't feel they are a 'poor man's Cobra'. Jay better be careful about that 'secretary car' talk cause Maxwell Smart gonna put him in the Cone of Silence.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

In 1975 an Army buddy wanted me to buy his GT350 for $3000. That was a lot of money in 1975. And after the Arab oil embargo you could buy any muscle car for $2000. I looked at a Super Bird selling for $1800.

[@odl21]

My first car was a tiger - still have it - have transported bikes, ikea tables lots

[@richardcook4111]

Riiiight! My Mk2 was the 2nd car I ever bought after my Fiat 124 spider rusted around me. I bought mine in a barn in Medina, Ohio for $600..ln the mid 1970's. I still have it, but it hasn't seen the road for about 25 years. It deserves a complete restoration. I haven't lived in a single family house since I moved out of my parents house in my 20s, so I've never had a proper garage to take care of it.

[@petesmitt]

Jay Leno 'I sold it' 2:30 also, Jay Leno 7:18 'I never sold anything'.

[@tedzehnder961]

That happened after he got as rich as God.

[@AussieTVMusic]

Being Australian I wish these were made here. I reckon they would have sold like hot pies.

[@stephenhobbs1052]

The first Bond car!!

[@Foxtrot1967]

@8:45 A prop from the movie Nothing But Trouble?

[@onazram1]

"Trowel more chrome on it Nigel the Americans' will love it" lmao

[@johndavey72]

ANY car enthusiast would talk to Jay for a day . I could talk to Jay for a week ! He has a voracious appetite for anything mechanical . 180 bhp is a tad optomistic for that 2 1/2 Daimler Hemi 140 is more normal and built around a Triumph TR3 chassis and running gear .

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

Jay for the camera man, “The Sunbeam Tiger comes just ahead of the F1 McLaren”.

[@giftedplanksify]

I can flash back to the beginning of Get Smart and Maxwell Smart jumps into a sunbeam in Washington DC. That's where my spycraft foirt began. Wasn't post to talk about being a spy with the British empire. ❤

[@masterworksfine]

The best tiger was the Mark I. It was better built than the Chrysler version and true to the original concept. A gentleman's sports car with plenty of torque to make driving a smooth and easy experience. The 289 was actually too much engine for the little Sunbeam. With the original tires and short wheelbase it was too easy to get out of shape.

[@richardcook4111]

I've spun mine often and wondered "what happened!?!?".

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

@@richardcook4111 Too much judicious use of the loud pedal upon exiting a corner?

[@richardcook4111]

@@elroyfudbucker6806 indeed..often with a mist on the road...once while making a right hand turn from a stop light going 5 mph.

[@memonk11]

Wait a minute... Maxwell Smart drove a Sunbeam.

[@richardcook4111]

His 3 cars were the Tiger, Opel GT and a Karmine Ghia. If memory serves, all 3 were in the movie....?

[@memonk11]

@@richardcook4111 Couldn't hear you. I was in the cone of silence.

[@wyattdean5658]

Got you a telephone shoe.

[@memonk11]

@@wyattdean5658 missed getting one by THAT much.

[@rickolson-51]

I bought my daughter her first car... 63 falcon two door hardtop 260 auto, really a fun car.

[@mgbchuck6527]

Small British cars/American V8 was a great idea! I have a poor mans Tiger (MGB, custom chassis/suspension, SBC/400hp, 4-speed) a friend has a original Tiger Exactly like the green one featured here.

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Cobra looks like a muscleheaded younger brother next to the Tiger.

[@michael61985]

Thr sunbeam was a stepping stone for Carol Shelby his bread and butter was Ford

[@RichieCat4223]

Hey Jay what about the TVR?

[@Bradydog-in7ut]

All you have to do to own these three Shelby cars is to become a world famous comedian of the most popular Tv show ever!!

[@dc9808]

I had an Alpine... always wanted a Tiger.

[@peacefishcup9669]

My buddy had the Alpine

[@Biglug8888]

I had a 65 brg Tiger my senior year of high school. Sold it for $3500. Now they're $80k+!

[@ericbrammer2245]

See, Agent [86] Smart had a Car almost equal to Bond's Aston. And, btw, the Tiger was the Only car that Both Agents drove! In Bond's case, he 'out-drove' an Old LaSalle, which then went down an embankment to a fiery crash ending.

[@romanpernal7397]

Almost bought one of these Tigers

[@ianmangham4570]

One in the middle looks very rootes group 🤠🇬🇧🤟

[@eddietucker3334]

So, Jay, who did you sell that wrecked Tiger to? And did they come after you???

[@bluecollar58]

It’s the Sunbeam Tiger Club. Jay’s thinking about locking up his groceries , lol.

[@grahamvickery4268]

So what’s your point?

[@brex50]

Leno loves to show off his flare for fashionable wardrobe...LOL

[@donalddday7741]

always wanted one but got a 66 GTO instead back in the day