Former late-night talk show host Jay Leno is often seen cruising around Los Angeles in outrageous vehicles from his enormous car collection. For his latest adventure, he teamed up with comedian Jeff Dunham to take a ride in something a bit tougher—a 1972 Scorpion Tank.
On the Monday, August 25, episode of the YouTube series Jay Leno’s Garage, the car enthusiast and Dunham—who is also known for having an eclectic collection of cars—chatted about what makes the tank unique, as well as took it for a test drive on the Southern California streets.
Dunham, 63, hops into the driver’s seat of the tank to learn how to handle the vehicle, which is steered using two levers and a foot-operated transmission. Leno, 75, highlights some of its key features, including the 76mm main gun, smoke grenade launchers, and the periscope used for driving when the hatch is closed.
The 1972 Alvis Scorpion is a light-duty tank that holds the title of the world’s fastest, capable of reaching 51 mph. It’s powered by a 4.2-liter Jaguar engine and weighs around 17,000 pounds.
This isn't the first time Leno has been seen driving around in this military vehicle. A few months ago, a Reddit user posted a video of the comedian roaming around the streets of the San Fernando Valley.
"I knew Jay loves just about anything with a motor and wheels as much as anyone, but this is hilarious. Dude is living his best life in retirement," commented one fan. Someone else added, "This is some real Willy Wonka s***."
The former Tonight Show host is best known these days for his fleet of unique cars, with the exact number of vehicles being left up to debate. According to multiple sources, his collection currently includes a Lamborghini Urus, a $35 million McLaren, airplane-powered cars, and of course, this 1972 tank.