Jay Leno is a car enthusiast, and for that reason, he created the Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California, United States. It is a collection housed in giant hangars at the airport, with more than 180 cars and 160 motorcycles. Its value ranges between 54 and 100 million dollars, and the collection covers over a century of automotive history. You can find vintage Bugattis, modern McLarens, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars, Rolls Royces—any brand you can imagine is there. Any brand, that is, except one: Ferrari. The reason is so simple it might surprise you.
It has nothing to do with Leno’s appreciation for Ferrari engineering, which he has praised on multiple occasions on his YouTube channel. It has to do with something more down-to-earth, simpler: he doesn’t like the process required to buy one. According to Leno, the treatment he received from Ferrari dealers was unpleasant. He disagrees with the culture of showing off and power dynamic at play there, so he decides not to participate.
A dream car collection
One of the most valuable private car collections in the world is Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California, United States. It is a private collection featuring over 180 cars and 160 motorcycles, stored in giant airport hangars. Its value is estimated to be between $54 and $100 million and it includes rare restorations, unique pieces, and items ranging from the first steam cars to modern hybrid hypercars.
Any brand you can imagine is in this collection: vintage Bugattis, modern McLarens, a retired airport fire truck, Leno’s EcoJet jet-powered vehicle that runs on biodiesel, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Jaguars, Rolls Royces, and the crown jewel, a 1994 McLaren F1 valued at $18–21 million. You may have noticed that one of the big names is missing. Yes, the one in your head: Ferrari.
A dream collection without Ferrari
No 250 GTO, no SF90, not even a Mondial. How is this possible? The reason is incredibly simple. Despite having expressed his love for Italian machinery multiple times on his YouTube channel, the truth is that his experience at Ferrari dealerships has not been to his liking. Despite his enthusiasm for the brand, he doesn’t enjoy the buying process. He has described the attitude of Ferrari dealerships as unpleasant.
He recalls that when he wanted to buy a car, the dealer told him that he would have to buy two Mondials (which he didn’t want) in order to be deemed worthy of purchasing more exclusive cars. Additionally, he also points out that owners are forced to pay extremely expensive authenticity certificates to maintain provenance. From what I gather, it’s a dominatrix scenario where a power dynamic is exercised that he doesn’t want to participate in.
Good experiences at other dealerships
Leno highlights the service he received at other dealerships and shares his experience buying a McLaren MP4-12C. According to his account, he paid the price for it and received the car seven months later. It was then that he received a free upgrade in horsepower, and he even recalls how a salesperson advised him not to spend extra money on brakes that were unnecessary. When it came time for the company Porsche, he purchased his Porsche Carrera GT, which was delivered by the company directly to his garage with technicians who guided him through the car.