VIDEO: Leno takes delivery of Challenger number 4

Click above to view video after the jump
A couple of weeks ago we showed you some pics of Jay Leno's new Challenger SRT8. A tipster had taken some pics of Jay's car appearing outside his Tonight Show studio at the NBC lot in Burbank. We added a bit of additional info via the interwebs that told us Jay had purchased the car the day before and that it was the very first Challenger delivered in California. Now we have a full video of Jay taking delivery of the car from the Leno's Garage website that's posted after the jump.
Follow Jay as he drives his '70 Challenger Hemi over to Valley Dodge in Van Nuys to pick it up. There Jay gets a walkaround of the new version from Dodge Brand Director, Michael Accavitti. Next Leno takes the car home, giving us some insight into the car's driving dynamics along the way. He seems impressed with the car's build quality and good road manners compared to the original. Finally, we see a bit of Jay hinting at what's in store for this new car. Follow the jump to see the embedded video and head on over to Jay Leno's Garage for even more info about Jay's car collection. Thanks for the tip, MajorGeek!
Gallery: Jay Leno's Dodge Challenger SRT-8
[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason 9:18AM (6/18/2008)
I love the black on matte black look. It looks evil, in a good way.
Reply
Ben 9:18AM (6/18/2008)
Great video. Good to see Dodge is finally a desirable car with the Challenger.
Reply
Cop Car 9:23AM (6/18/2008)
Jaybird is the greatest, really enjoy his auto/ motorcycle videos.
Reply
mr.ed 1:23PM (6/18/2008)
Oversized, overpriced, with typical Detroit touches, such as the cheapie interior and the phony carbon fiber panel on the hood. It's decal.
Reply
Pacman 1:29PM (6/18/2008)
yeah 'cause I have never seen fake carbon fiber on a Japanese car.
mr.ed 6:07PM (6/18/2008)
Hell, I've seen it on a Benz, and on my Mazda6. Several wrongs don't make a right. People know the difference and expect more, especially with a new item that has its maker trying to put its best foot forward.
Erik 10:10AM (6/18/2008)
that hemi sounds amazing
Reply
MrGouda 4:13PM (6/18/2008)
My thoughts exactly. Love that car's low growl.
Eddy Alvarez 10:21AM (6/18/2008)
argh! Jay Leno is too rich to mind the break-in period!
beautiful car. i love it.
Reply
MemphisNET 10:19AM (6/18/2008)
Detroit may have financed the car, but it's built in Canada (and sourced from Germany).
.... this car is a slut... and I love it :D
Reply
Neil Schelly 10:29AM (6/18/2008)
While I appreciate that he likes the car, it seems odd for him to push how American this is and how it's as good as all the European stuff and how it feels more European, etc, etc. The car's underpinnings are mostly Mercedes, and older Mercedes at that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_LX_platform
I'm glad to see more refinement in the American car-scape, but it doesn't have to be American vs. European vs. Japanese anymore, does it? All this tells me is that the American car-buying public may be more interested in something more than a commodity car that handles itself with more refinement and hopefully that'll encourage more development along these lines.
-N
Reply
Tricky dicky 11:29AM (6/18/2008)
suspension geometry, switchgear and transmission (chrysler wanted to go with ZF but daimler mandated they use the 5 speed) are about all that is left from the germans, but let the haters think what they want.
chrysler but a billion dollars into the original lx platform, but what do facts matter to some halfwit on the internet.
Either way, I can't wait for my challenger. Hopefully one of the first 500 in canada will be mine (since I signed up in 2006).
Pacman 11:40AM (6/18/2008)
Anytime something good is said about this car the haters say its German Anytime something bad is said about this car, they say its American.
DCragtop 10:45AM (6/18/2008)
It's good to be the king.
Reply
Torrent 2:53PM (6/18/2008)
Really. he's like a bazillionaire, but yet he still wears denim outfits. Those were a hit.....back in the 80's.
Torrent 9:34PM (6/18/2008)
the last comment was meant for the thread below me.....still by the same person, though, so does it really matter? why am I posting this?
DCragtop 10:47AM (6/18/2008)
ps: it'd be nice if Jay would sell one of his cars and buy some new clothes. Just a thought.
Reply
Bryan 12:01PM (6/18/2008)
No way, Jay is the master of the denim tuxedo!
steve 10:48AM (6/18/2008)
i thought he took delivery of #2?
Reply
steve 11:05AM (6/18/2008)
i give myself a fail on that one...i forgot the first ones were auctioned off