Jay Leno gets behind the wheel of what he calls 'the most American Ferrari'

Jay Leno has just taken ‘the most American Ferrari’ for a test drive with the help of Rhode Island’s Audrain Automobile Museum.

From the driver’s seat, he calls it ‘turbine-like,’ ‘almost electric,’ and admits he’s surprised by how much he likes it.

It’s smooth, powerful, and nothing like the Ferraris people have come to expect.

Even so, it still feels every bit as special as a car wearing the prancing horse should.

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Why it’s being called the most American Ferrari

In a new YouTube episode for the Audrain Museum Network, Jay Leno teams up with Audrain CEO Donald Osborne to showcase the Ferrari 400i.

It’s a V12 grand tourer from the 1970s that was built for comfort, not racing.

While most Ferraris are loud, fast, and made for the track, this one’s the opposite. 

It’s front-engined, has four real seats, air conditioning, power steering, and smooth leather everywhere. 

But even so, it’s still pure Ferrari under the hood. 

The 400i’s 4.8-liter V12 and five-speed manual make it fast but calm – the power builds smoothly instead of exploding. 

The pair soon dubbed it ‘the most American Ferrari,’ thanks to its long hood, big torque, and relaxed grand-touring attitude.

More like a 1970s Cadillac or Pontiac than a typical Italian sports car. 

The irony is that it was never actually sold in the United States. 

Enzo Ferrari chose not to put the 400i through US emissions certification, so the car that seemed made for American roads was never officially sold there.

For Leno, that contradiction is part of the appeal. 

The 400i isn’t about showing off, it’s about how it drives. 

It’s both fast and comfortable – a Ferrari that trades flash for class. 

And that balance of muscle and manners is exactly what makes it special.

Jay Leno and cars

For Leno, this drive is just one more chapter in a life that revolves around machines. 

His collection now includes over 200 cars and 150 motorcycles, making it one of the most-searched garages in the world. 

He’s the kind of guy who gets a Ford Mustang GTD hand-delivered by CEO Jim Farley, complete with signatures from the whole build team. 

Or who drives a 17,600lb Alvis Scorpion tank through California traffic because, well, he can. 

His collection spans everything from a McLaren F1 to a 1934 Duesenberg and a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing – machines that represent every era of engineering ambition. 

And yet, when you watch him in the 400i, it’s clear what still excites him: discovery.

Leno doesn’t care about hype. 

He cares about craft.

That’s why this one sticks. 

It’s a car built for understatement, and somehow, that’s what makes it roar.

Only Jay Leno could make a Ferrari known for restraint feel like a revelation – half Italian elegance, half American attitude, all heart.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie