Jay Leno got sick of his neighbor’s Porsche 911 Speedster being tucked away 36 years and started putting miles on it
Published on Aug 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Aug 13, 2025 at 2:43 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Jay Leno is one of the car industry’s most revered, respected and beloved gearheads.
The legendary former talk show host has a car collection that matches the obsession to a tee.
Now, Leno has managed to get his hands on his neighbour’s 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster.
And this ‘garage queen’ 911 Speedster has been tucked away for over 36 years.
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Porsche 911 Speedster excites the man who’s seen it all
Jay Leno isn’t exactly in short supply when it comes to the range of cars available to him.
His legendary garage not only has hundreds of toys, but it spans everything.
And we do mean everything – from the Ford Model T all the way up to the brand-new Mustang GTD.
As a result, it surely takes a lot to excite the man who has seen everything.
But that is exactly what just happened – and it’s a neighbour’s car that managed to do it.
Jay Leno is next door neighbours with Canadian actor Rino Romano.
Romano has owned this stunning 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster for the past 15 years.
The car, as a whole, has driven just 2,600 miles in over 36 years.
Having previously served as the voice of Batman and Spider-Man, Rino Romano is also a big car guy.
This Porsche 911 Speedster is very much the pride and joy of his collection.
And the actor plans to let it see the California sunshine much more than it has to date.
But not before Jay Leno gets a chance behind the wheel of such a special car.
Jay Leno drives a car with serious lineage
The Porsche ‘Speedster’ name carries an extremely rich history within the brand.
It was the direct brainchild of Porsche’s marketing master, Max Hoffman.
Hoffman realised that Porsche needed a cheaper, sportier, stripped-down version for the US market, especially in sun-soaked California.
As a result, the Porsche Speedster first saw the light of day back in 1954.
Hoffman was more than vindicated with his decision – the Porsche Speedster was a massive hit.
It was so popular that even the legendary James Dean knew he needed to have one.
In March 1955, Dean traded in his MG for a new 1955 Porsche Super Speedster at Competition Motors in Hollywood.
It is that lineage that directly flows through this 1989 911 Speedster owned by Romano.
We certainly hope that this 911 Speedster becomes more of a regular feature on California’s roads.
Because, well, look at it – it’s far too special to keep in a garage for another 36 years.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
