Jay Leno’s Garage Showcases Three Ultimate GM Restomods

Jay Leno’s Garage recently showcased three ultimate GM restomods that the late-night host personally owns, each representing different eras of automotive trends. What sets these beauties apart is their modern hardware upgrades, including a 1,000-horsepower LS7 engine in one of them.

Restomods are classic cars restored and equipped with upgraded components, making them more powerful and modernized. Leno’s 1955 Buick Roadmaster, 1932 Bowtie Deuce, and 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado are prime examples of these high-dollar, high-tech builds.

These restomods not only demonstrate what’s possible with modern technology but also serve as inspiration for aspiring hotrodders to build their dream cars exactly as they envision.

Restomods: Jay Leno’s Impressive GM Restomods

Restomods, which are classic cars restored and upgraded with modern hardware, have become increasingly popular. Jay Leno, a well-known car enthusiast, owns three impressive GM restomods that showcase the potential of these modified vehicles.

• A 1955 Buick Roadmaster with a powerful 572 crate engine, an overdrive transmission, and a Corvette chassis.
• The 1932 Bowtie Deuce, featuring an LS7 engine and a 6-speed manual transmission, riding on a modern chassis with big brakes.
• The most impressive, a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado equipped with a twin-turbo LS7 producing 1,000 horsepower and a Corvette transaxle.

These restomods demonstrate the possibilities of combining classic aesthetics with modern performance, inspiring others to build their dream cars.

Restomods: Combining Classic Aesthetics with Contemporary Performance

Restomods, a blend of restored classic cars and modern upgrades, have captured the attention of car enthusiasts, including renowned collector Jay Leno. Leno showcased three of his ultimate GM restomods, each representing a unique era while incorporating powerful modern hardware.

These restomods, which include a 1955 Buick Roadmaster, a 1932 Bowtie Deuce, and a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, demonstrate the potential of combining classic aesthetics with contemporary performance. The 1955 Buick Roadmaster, the 1932 Bowtie Deuce, and the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado are prime examples of restomods, featuring modern engines, transmissions, and chassis components.

These restomods, built by Leno in collaboration with GM Performance, showcase the evolution of automotive technology and the endless possibilities for customization. The restomod trend not only highlights the potential for modern upgrades in classic cars but also emphasizes the importance of personalizing one’s dream car.

Buick, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobile Power

A restomodcan essentially be described as a car that’s been restored and outfitted with upgraded hardware. In other words, it’s been modified in some way that changes it from its original self. While most hotrods and muscle cars can be loosely categorized as restomods, the term is most commonly used to describe classic cars with modern engines, transmissions, and chassis components. If you’re still confused, Jay Leno’s Garage’s latest upload takes a look at three of the best examples of restomods that have ever been built.

The first car we get a look at is his 1955 Buick Roadmaster. Leno bought this car many years ago when he first arrived in LA. It was the first car he owned there, doubling as his first home as well. Like many struggling artists do when they first start out, he slept in the car until he could afford a better living situation.

After years of sitting, Leno decided to give the Buick the attention it deserved. He teamed up with GM Performance to use this car as a sprt of a debut build that showcased the then-new 572 crate engine it’d just released. They also stuffed in an overdrive transmission, put it on a Corvette chassis, and gave it all the amenities you’d need to enjoy this ride, including a Vintage Air system.

The second car we get to take a look at is the 1932 Bowtie Deuce, which Leno and GM Performance once again teamed up to build. While it does feature a Ford body, the car was built as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the small-block Chevy. It has an LS7 under the hood with a 6-speed manual transmission behind it. It, too, is riding on a modern chassis, with big brakes to keep the thing stable. .

The last car we’re shown is Leno’s 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. This is the real star of the episode, as it’s the one he and Tony Roma of General Motors take for a drive. A lot of things make the Toronado cool, from the fact that it was originally front-wheel-drive, had big power, and looks to kill. However, Leno and the General Motors crew took it up several notches when they put this car together. Gone is the original driveline in favor of a twin-turbo LS7 producing 1,000 horsepower with a Corvette transaxle to boot. It has a near-perfect balance with more Corvette parts used for the steering and suspension, with big brakes to match. It is, by all counts, an all-out stunner.

Build Your Dream Car

What makes restomods like these cars special is that they’re drivers of the automotive aftermarket. These builds not only showcased what’s possible with modern tech, but really laid out how to do it. They’re incredibly clean and well-constructed with the right tunes and parts to make for incredible machines with good street manners. Sure, they’re high-dollar builds that were featured at SEMA, but they do serve as a symbol of hope for the aspiring hotrodder.

That said, perhaps the most impressive part of it all is that all three builds are about 20 years old. This cements the fact that not only are restomods cool, but they’re just as timeless as cars built back to showroom spec. Long story short, they’re a great reminder to build your dream car exactly the way you want to.