Another Mopar for Leno’s Collection

Over the summer Leno took delivery of his new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®.

Words: Ross Ruehle

Something old, something new; someth … oh, never mind—it gets a little “bridal-ly” from there. Suffice to say that Jay Leno, host of The Tonight Show and avowed car nut, has something new to complement an old classic.

Over the summer Leno took delivery of his new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®. Black. With red brake calipers. Serial number 0004 of 6400 built. Think the new looks awesome next to the old? You think right.

“This is just a terrific car,” reports Leno from his impressive 17,000-square-foot garage located in southern California. “The quality control, the chassis build, the tolerances. I love my old Challenger and I’ll always love it, but let’s face it, back 40 years ago, cars just weren’t screwed together all that well. The new Challenger rides like a classic European sedan.”

Leno is particularly impressed with the chassis and how well-connected it is to the road.

“In older cars, if the speed limit is 35 and you take a curve doing 36, the tires are screaming under you. But with the classics you learn to love all that,” said Leno, calling the new Challenger “very much a worth successor. They’ve maintained the power but it’s better balanced and very, very solid.”

Leno draws other comparisons between his old Challenger and the new model. “When you drive the old Challenger, you’re making more theater than progress. I have my engine very well tuned and even at that people following me, their eyes are watering and their choking from the fumes.”

What kind of reaction does he get tooling around L.A. in his new Challenger?

“I love the reaction from the kids. You know, when you and I were young we had GM, Ford and Mopars. Kids today have so many choices in everything from Toyotas and Hondas, iPods, IKEA, all the popular stuff. But kids think the new Challenger is cool and they’re actually very proud it’s an American car.”

Leno took delivery of his new Challenger from Big Valley Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Van Nuys.