Jay Leno & David Lee 1971 365 GTS/4

Wasn't really asking.
Just wondering out loud, as I've seen more than plenty of irresponsible and/or stupid people driving unregistered/-insured vehicles around and hoping Jay isn't one of them.

 

If anyone has the capability to self-insure, it's Jay Leno.

It's not like he's an "undocumented landscaper" in a 10 yo Toyota pickup.

 

There's a website in Portugal where you can check if a vehicle is insured on specific date, you just need the licence plate and said date. It's helpful in cases of hit-and-runs, etc.

I couldn't find any insurance data past May 31st, 2021 but that website has its bugs and faults so it doesn't mean the car is driving around uninsured.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

While I don’t doubt Jay’s ability to self-insure, but I’m more curious about the registration for road use of the vehicle in the videa ? I didn’t see dealer or temporary plates. Did you ?
Why would anyone expose themselves publicly for doing something potentially illegal, let alone if an accident were to occur, creating further chances of exposure to media/public ridicule and potentially, serious legal ramifications ?
Wouldn’t that make rest of the car collectors/enthusiasts/hobbyists look less than outstanding crowd in public eye ?
You know, kind of like those, let’s say, CA residents driving here with their out-of-State registered vehicles.

Besides, I would hope those collecting/owning high end, high value cars have enough common sense, courtesy and money to pay the use permits (i.e. registration) for them on public roads, just like rest of us.

 

I somehow doubt the Daytona in the video is currently registered and insured in Portugal by Mr. Lee and perhaps nobody associated with him, but wouldn’t mind being proven wrong.

 

For some people it is "fashionable" to use a car with foreign or somewhat "exotic" license plates (such as a car in USA with period Italian plates, etc.).
In Japan it is "fashionable" to buy a LHD Ferrari, albeit the country is RHD. And on and on.
At the end of the day, all you need is good lawyers and tons of $$$$$.

Marcel Massini

 

Yep, attempting to be cool or “fashionable” doesn’t necessarily make it (or anything) legal.

I’ve always assumed Mr. Leno doesn’t harbor such insecurities.

 

Seems like a silly discussion. On insurance, Jay has more to lose than most -- I'm sure he has set up an insurance structure within the show to cover any situation. Lack of registration, if that is even the case, is (unlike lack of insurance) a victimless issue. Registration is needed legally only to ensure the person owns the car -- it's really not an issue when it's a one-time drive for the show and the entire thing is documented on video. They are in the land of film and movies, I'm sure it is very easy to coordinate with the police to film legally should that situation come up.

 

This.

 

Most on Internet forums are, but …

 

David Lee recently posted up his own YouTube video (here), covering his recent appearance with seven of his cars at LA’s Cavallino Classic Concours. They include a 250 GT Lusso, the Daytona Spyder, an F40, an F50, an Enzo, and an F12tdf — all six in Giallo Modena — and a Nero ‘67 330 GTS (the Best of Show winner). Only the 330 had a license plate, specifically a California black plate. The absence of plates from all six yellow cars suggests that David has a “thing” about displaying his plates in large public gatherings or on the Internet. It is also the case that he often states in his appearances on Jay Leno’s Garage that he street drives all his cars on a regular basis. Until proven otherwise, it’s safe to assume David is not so silly as not to have these cars properly registered.

 

It was actually at the 2022 FCA Concorso Ferrari @ San Marino Motor Classic.

 

I don't know if this applies in the case of Jay's video, but I think a few things are allowed in California under the auspices of a "video shoot". Smoking cigarettes, for instance, is (or used to be) allowed in enclosed spaces if you were recording for TV. Perhaps with all the proper permits, they are allowed to drive the car unregistered on public roads as long as they follow film shoot rules (insurance, alotted time, permission from the city etc.)

 

Great post. Interesting...

 

" Perhaps with all the proper permits, they are allowed to drive the car unregistered on public roads as long as they follow film shoot rules (insurance, alotted time, permission from the city etc.)"
***
Was watching some Jay's Garage last night and made same comment to wife....He seems to drive same route with many of his videos and with cars that are no way road legal or registered. Must co-ordinate with local police.
Example:

 

In the case of the video with my car, the escort vehicle was in fact driven by Edward B. Skvarna the Chief of Police of the Burbank–Glendale–Pasadena Airport Authority Police (BGPAA PD). Airport Police officers are peace officers under California law and have authority anywhere in the state. We drove about three city blocks to the remote entrance to the airport and the rest of the driving was on the airport taxiways and side roads. In my case there was no issue as I had valid New Mexico license plates on the car and insurance as well.

Best regards,
Robert

 

Shhhhh, they weren’t wearing seat belts either