Almost lost to history, America’s first front-wheel drive car makes an epic comeback
Published on Jun 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
America’s first front-wheel drive car, the fabled Ruxton, was almost lost to time, but it has made a comeback.
Comedian and former chat show host Jay Leno loves to showcase his and other people’s cars on his Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel. This 1930 Ruxton is one of them.
It is the very first front-wheel drive car built in America, which makes it one of the most important in the country’s automobile history.
Only a handful of these cars survive, and this particular car is one of the few that’s still able to drive on public roads.
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The car belongs to the Nethercutt Collection, and curator Cameron came with the car to show it off to Leno.
The curator said that fewer than 20 of the cars survived.
This particular example used to be in a very rough state but underwent a major restoration to bring it back to its former glory.
That restoration was very in-depth, including restoring the wooden headlights and the silk corduroy seats.
The Ruxton was built for just one year, from 1929 to 1930, and it came during the Great Depression.
At the time, nearly every American car brand had stuck with the traditional rear-wheel drive layout, so the Ruxton was a potential game changer.
Under the hood was a Continental flathead inline-eight engine providing enough power for up to 50mph.
Some of its most notable features include the wood headlights, but also its lack of running boards.
Thanks to its front-engine layout, the Ruxton sat lower to the ground.
This meant it was much easier to get in and out of.
Despite the possible advantages of its platform, as Leno learned, the Ruxton didn’t make it off the ground.
Only a handful were built, and with so few made, only 17-20 are known to exist as of 2025.
While it’s a stunning-looking car, it’s one that Jay Leno says you would rather look at than get behind the wheel of.
It is unprecedented, though, that this one has survived, reminding everyone of America’s pioneering automotive days.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
