Jay Leno just drove a 9.6L chain-driven supercar from 1913 in California
- Jay Leno drove what could be the world’s first supercar
- The car is a 1913 Mercedes with coach-built bodywork
- The massive 9.6-liter engine gave the Mercedes a massive top speed
Published on May 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on May 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Comedian and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno has driven a 9.6-liter chain-driven Mercedes 3795 supercar in California.
Leno showcased the incredible car on his Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel, which sees him show off his incredible collection of cars.
The car has undergone a massive restoration by the Nethercutt Collection, with it back to its period-correct glory which was just one year before the Great War.
Leno talked through this amazing machine, which could well be the world’s first supercar, before even Lamborghini and Ferrari.
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Leno described the car as ‘automotive royalty’ and he truly believes this Mercedes 3795 Double Phaeton Torpedo was the world’s first supercar.
It is easy to see why he thinks that.
The car came just a handful of years after the automobile became a mass-market item.
Mercedes went all in with the Double Phaeton.
Under the hood is an impressive 580ci 9.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 95hp.
That meant that in 1913, this gorgeous machine could reach 100mph.
Before that, people may have never gone faster than 30mph, let alone reach up to 100mph.
What makes the car so beautiful is the coachwork done by Henri Labourdette.
Coachwork is custom bodies developed for a range of automobiles, like on this Rolls-Royce.
The French coachbuilder was famous for some amazing works of art from the 1910s onwards.
Leno was lucky enough to drive the car in his video, instantly remarking on the heavier steering.
But it was also a smooth and pleasurable driving experience.
Leno was also impressed at how easily the car kept up with the modern traffic around him.
The suspension soaked up the bumps brilliantly, and Leno did wonder how it would feel to drive it at 100mph.
The open nature of the cabin meant you would certainly get quite a breeze in the Mercedes were you to put your foot down!
It is a car that comes from a very different era when style was almost prioritized over comfort and performance.
But with so much power and such a high top speed, it’s no surprise Leno believes this could be the world’s first true supercar.
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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.
