You’d think a guy with a McLaren F1 and a garage full of modern hypercars wouldn't care about a 100-year-old boiler on wheels. But honestly, if you ask him, the jay leno steam powered car collection is the heart of the whole operation. It’s not just about nostalgia. It’s about the sheer, terrifying torque.
Most people assume steam cars are slow, clunky relics of a "simpler" time. They aren't. They’re basically land-locked locomotives. When you're sitting behind the wheel of a 1906 Stanley Steamer, you aren't just driving; you’re managing a chemical reaction that wants to go very, very fast.
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The "Hand of God" Torque
Jay often calls the power from these machines the "Hand of God." Why? Because a steam engine develops its maximum torque at zero RPM. You don't wait for a turbo to spool up. You don't wait for the revs to climb. You just open the throttle, and the car moves with a silent, relentless shove that feels like the world is being pushed away from you.
Back in 1906, a Stanley Steamer hit 127 mph at Ormond Beach. That was faster than any gas car could dream of at the time. In Jay's collection, he has several of these high-pressure monsters, including a 1909 Stanley Steamer that he famously drives on the LA freeways. Imagine being in a Prius and getting passed by a guy in a wooden car wearing a flat cap and goggles. It happens.
It's Not Exactly "Turn-Key"
Don't think you can just hop in and go get a Slurpee. Starting a jay leno steam powered car is a literal ritual.
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- You have to light the pilot light.
- You wait for the main burner to kick in—which sounds like a jet engine taking off.
- You watch the pressure gauges climb.
- You have to "blow down" the boiler to clear out sediment.
For his 1909 White Model M, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes just to get enough steam to move. It’s a labor of love, or maybe just a labor of obsession. Jay’s 1925 Doble Series E is the exception. Abner Doble, the genius/madman behind it, figured out how to get a steam car running in about 90 seconds. It was the "Tesla" of the 1920s—silent, insanely fast, and incredibly expensive. It cost more than a Rolls-Royce back then.
When Things Go Wrong (And They Do)
We have to talk about the 2022 incident. Jay was working on his 1907 White Steamer when a fuel line got clogged. While he was trying to clear it, a spray of gasoline hit him in the face and ignited. It resulted in serious burns and a stint in the Grossman Burn Center.
People used that moment to say steam cars are dangerous. Jay, being Jay, disagreed. He pointed out it wasn't the steam that got him—it was the gasoline used to heat the boiler. These cars are essentially giant pressure cookers. If you don't respect the plumbing, it’ll bite you. But he was back in the garage within weeks. That’s the kind of dedication (or stubbornness) these machines require.
Why Steam Still Matters in 2026
In a world moving toward electric vehicles, steam cars are weirdly relevant again. They’re quiet. They don't have transmissions. They have massive torque. Sound familiar? EV owners and steam enthusiasts are basically talking about the same driving dynamics, just separated by a century of plumbing.
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The engineering in a Doble is still mind-blowing. It uses a flash boiler and a condenser so you don't have to stop for water every 30 miles. It can go 1,500 miles on a single tank of water. Most modern cars can't even go 500 miles on a tank of gas.
Actionable Insights for Steam Enthusiasts
- Visit a Steam Meet: If you want to see these things in person, look for SACA (Steam Automobile Club of America) events. They’re the real deal.
- Study the Doble: If you’re into engineering, look up Abner Doble’s patents. The way he managed steam pressure with early automated controls is genius.
- Respect the Pressure: Never mess with a vintage boiler unless you've been trained by someone who knows how to "read" the fire and the water level.
- Watch the "Big Dog Garage" Videos: Jay’s YouTube channel has deep dives into the 1906 Stanley, the 1925 Doble, and the White Steamer. Watch the start-up sequences to understand the complexity.
Steam isn't just a dead technology. It’s a reminder that the "best" way to power a car wasn't always a settled debate. For Jay, these cars represent a fork in the road of history—one where we chose internal combustion over the silent, powerful mystery of steam.