Jay Leno drives Lee Carr’s 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe in a Jay Leno’s Garage feature. The car pairs Cadillac mechanicals with a custom body built by Italian coachbuilder Ghia, and the episode and a report by Autoblog describe two Ghia-customized examples.
Its documented appeal is the unusual American-and-Italian combination, not a verified performance figure or a writer’s road test. The episode description identifies a 331-cubic-inch Cadillac V8 and a four-speed Hydramatic transmission.
What is the 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe?
It is a Cadillac Series 62 chassis and engine fitted with a custom coupe body made by Ghia. According to the Jay Leno’s Garage episode description, Ghia bought the chassis from General Motors and shipped it to Italy for the coachbuilding work. Lee Carr owns the featured car.
This distinction matters: the car’s mechanical base is Cadillac, while its bespoke body is Ghia’s work. The episode presents Leno taking the restored coupe for a drive, offering a look at a coachbuilt car in motion rather than only as a display object.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Refresh, Restore & Protect – Jay Leno's Garage interior cleaner spray is more than just a surface cleaner. This specialized car dash cleaner and protectant revitalizes interior surfaces while leaving behind a clean, satin finish—Ideal for routine maintenance with a refined touch.
- Safe for Use on All Interior Surfaces – This interior detailing spray gently lifts dirt and grime from dashboards, leather seats, plastic, and trim. A versatile car interior detailing spray that helps refresh and restore your vehicle’s interior.
- UV Protection with car interior shine and protector Benefits – Blended with UV inhibitors to guard against fading and cracking. This car interior cleaner and protectant helps maintain a factory-fresh look while delivering long-term care.
- Anti-Static, Dust-Repelling interior detailing cleaner – This interior cleaner features high-tech anti-static agents that repel dust, keeping your cabin clean longer. A professional-grade detailing interior cleaner with less effort.
- Non-Greasy, Natural Finish – Enjoy a clean, dry touch after every use. This car interior Detailing spray doubles as a dash protector and restorer, delivering a smooth, spotless result without oily residue, an essential pick for any car interior detailing product.
Reported rarity and history
Jay Leno’s Garage and Autoblog each describe two Ghia-customized examples. Treat that as a reported count, rather than a definitive production ledger. Autoblog also reports that the featured coupe retains a two-seat configuration.
The Jay Leno’s Garage description says the car spent time at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas and was toured in Geneva and Turin. Those are details from the episode’s account, not independently verified vehicle-record findings here.
Mechanical details
| Item | Reported detail | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Model | 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe | Jay Leno’s Garage |
| Engine | 331-cubic-inch Cadillac V8 | Jay Leno’s Garage episode description |
| Transmission | Four-speed Hydramatic automatic | Jay Leno’s Garage episode description |
| Examples | Two reported Ghia-customized cars | Reported by Jay Leno’s Garage and Autoblog; not presented as an audited count |
Horsepower figures conflict in Autoblog’s reporting: Lee Carr is attributed 158 hp, while Petersen records are reported as listing 210 hp. Without a primary technical record to resolve the discrepancy, neither number should be treated as definitive.
Rank #2
- Next-Level Automotive Ceramic Coating Protection – Advanced ceramic coating for cars that delivers and outperforms wax, creating a durable ceramic spray coating and ceramic coat barrier that shields paint from UV rays, grime, and weather.
- Hydrophobic, Ultra-Slick Protection – Achieve a water-repelling shield that keeps your vehicle cleaner for longer. This ceramic spray coating for cars doubles as a car ceramic coating spray, forming a durable layer that helps resist dirt, grime, and road contaminants for easier maintenance.
- Showroom Gloss That Lasts – Achieve a deep, reflective shine that amplifies your car’s color and clarity. Our ceramic car coating spray and car ceramic coating deliver a durable finish that keeps your ceramic coating car looking freshly detailed for weeks.
- Fast, Simple Spray-On Application – No heavy buffing or special tools required. Apply this spray ceramic coating for cars in minutes and enjoy long-lasting results. Works as a ceramic coating maintenance spray to rejuvenate existing ceramic coatings with ease.
- Multi-Surface & Long-Lasting Performance – Gentle on paint, glass, chrome, wheels, and trim. Works as a ceramic auto coating, ceramic nano coating for cars, or ceramic car coat enhancing current auto detailing for car protection.
The episode description mentions period-advanced features such as available air conditioning, but that does not establish that this particular coupe has every option mentioned. The available sources also give different restoration durations: Jay Leno’s Garage says more than two years, while Autoblog reports seven years. The accounts are not reconciled, so the safest description is that the coupe underwent an extensive restoration.
What Leno’s drive shows
The episode provides a practical frame for understanding the car: a striking, hand-built Italian body sits over a Cadillac chassis and powertrain. That combination makes the coupe unusual among classic Cadillacs and explains why it draws interest beyond its reported rarity.
Autoblog attributes a description of the car’s driving character as dull by modern standards to Carr. That is not a road test by this article’s writer, and it should not be mistaken for a direct quotation from Leno. The available material supports the fact that Leno drives the car in the feature, but it does not provide a basis for detailed claims about handling, braking, ride, or modern-road performance.
Rank #3
- INSTANT GLOSS AND SLICKNESS Advanced ceramic technology instantly enhances paint depth and gloss leaving vehicles looking freshly detailed with a slick professional finish
- HYDROPHOBIC WATER AND DIRT REPELLENT Creates a protective barrier that repels water dust and dirt keeping paint cleaner longer and reducing the need for frequent washes
- BOOSTS EXISTING CERAMIC COATINGS Extends the life and performance of existing ceramic coatings and paint sealants maintaining durability and gloss over time
- LONG LASTING PROTECTION Provides up to 90 days of protection for all paint types making it ideal for maintaining freshly detailed vehicles and protecting daily drivers
- VERSATILE AND EASY TO USE Perfect for cars trucks motorcycles and watercraft ideal for quick touch ups or full detailing sessions providing professional results in minutes
FAQ
What year is Jay Leno’s Ghia Cadillac?
The featured car is a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia Coupe owned by Lee Carr, according to the Jay Leno’s Garage episode description.
What engine and transmission does it have?
The episode description identifies a 331-cubic-inch Cadillac V8 and a four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How many Ghia Cadillac coupes were made?
Jay Leno’s Garage and Autoblog report two Ghia-customized examples. This should be understood as a reported count, not a definitive production record.
Rank #4
- HIGH GLOSS FINISH – This quick detailer spray doubles as a detail spray and clay lube, delivering a slick, streak-free shine that enhances depth and clarity. Ideal as a car quick detailer spray or instant detailer spray.
- REFRESHING ORANGE SCENT – Enjoy a clean, citrus fragrance every time you use this car spray detailer. A car detail spray, or quick detailing spray for any exterior surface also designed to work as a motorcycle detail spray.
- VERSATILE DETAILING SPRAY – Works as a car spray cleaner, after wash car spray, or car cleaning spray exterior to instantly boost gloss. This spray detailer for cars adds a speed shine finish in minutes.
- ENHANCES COLOR & DEPTH – Use this auto detail spray or ceramic quick detailer spray to maximize paint clarity. Whether as a graphene detail spray, car detailer spray, or speed wipe quick detailer, it leaves paint detailed and brilliant.
- IDEAL FOR SHOW-READY FINISH – Ideal as a final touch car detailing step, this quick wax spray for car doubles as a car shine spray exterior. Great for quick spray touch-ups, car detailing spray maintenance, or spray wax for car detailing.
How much horsepower does the Ghia Cadillac make?
The available reporting conflicts. Autoblog attributes 158 hp to owner Lee Carr and says Petersen records list 210 hp. Without primary documentation resolving the difference, there is no reliable single figure to state.
Who built the body?
Ghia built the custom body in Italy on a Cadillac chassis. The Jay Leno’s Garage description says Ghia bought the chassis from GM and had it shipped to Italy.
How long did its restoration take?
The accounts differ: Jay Leno’s Garage describes a restoration lasting more than two years, while Autoblog reports seven years. The sources do not explain the discrepancy.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
