From Jay Leno’s Garage.
Jay Leno takes a deep dive into one of the more "innocent-looking" vehicles in his personal collection: his 1954 Dodge Coronet Suburban Wagon. While it might look like a standard neighborhood cruiser from the 50s, this rare survivor hides the very beginning of the Dodge Hemi legacy under the hood.
Jay found this car at a show and was immediately drawn to its "honest" mechanical feel and perfect proportions. Unlike the six-cylinder "slugs" many grew up with, this Suburban is powered by the original 241 "Red Ram" Hemi V8. With 150 horsepower and a lightweight 3,400-lb body, this wagon has a power-to-weight ratio that keeps up with modern traffic—even at 75 mph on the freeway.
In this episode, Jay explores:
The First Dodge Hemi: Why the 241 Red Ram was a revelation in 1954, making it the most powerful American engine since the 1928 Duesenberg.
The "Beer Can" Build: How the complete absence of modern safety equipment makes the car light, fast, and dangerous.
Quirky Period Accessories: From the "dynamite" dry cell batteries to the bizarre J.C. Whitney radio antenna designed to "pick up signals from Moscow".
Mechanical Soul: Jay demonstrates the "Three on the Tree" shifter, the manual overdrive, and the unique "free-wheeling" feature.
Family Memories: A look at the terrifyingly primitive child safety seat and why this was the ultimate 1950s drive-in movie car.
Watch Jay take this unthreatening, turquoise time capsule out on the road to show why you "can’t be depressed and drive this car."
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A new video every Monday! Visit Jay Leno’s Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more.
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