Jay Leno took a 93-year-old lady for a cruise in the car she hadn’t touched in 30 years

Former chat show host and comedian Jay Leno once took a 93-year-old lady out for a drive in a special car she hadn’t been touched in over 30 years.

The story is recounted in a video on Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel, and the car in question was a 1951 Hudson Hornet.

The car belonged to a family that had bought it brand new in the early 1950s, but the husband passed away in 1996.

Despite this, his wife kept the car for over 30 years, and she couldn’t bear the thought of someone else owning the vehicle.

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The story behind the 1951 Hudson Hornet

The car was kept in a garage for over 30 years, with the 93-year-old coming in to dust the car off on occasion.

With zero mechanical maintenance, the Hudson needed a fair bit of work to get back on the road again.

When Jay Leno went to see the car, he ended up buying it.

The wife trusted Leno with her husband’s former ride.

Leno very quickly set about getting this American icon back on the road again.

A full restoration was clearly in order.

The car was restored by Jay Leno and his team

Firstly, he had the Hudson Hornet repainted into an attractive shade of yellow.

A 12-volt system was then added, allowing for air conditioning to be used.

The work was finished in 2013, and Leno then called up the lady who had sold him the car.

He asked her if she wanted a drive in it.

It was a very quick ‘yes’ from the other end of the telephone.

She was blown away by the condition of the car and the incredible restoration Leno and his team performed.

Having bought it for the story, Leno clearly took a liking to it.

Talking to Maria Shriver about the story on her show Life Above the Noise, the car was clearly visible.

It is currently parked next to the Buick Roadmaster that he drove on his wedding day.

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