Instagram Jump Start: Leno in a Shelby GT500 is this week’s Big Dog
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Jay Leno. Apparently. A photo of America’s favorite car collector (certainly the most recognized one) climbing out of McKeel Hagerty’s 1967 Shelby GT500 was easily the most-liked post on Hagerty’s Instagram account last week. As we begin a fresh work week, grab yourself a cup of Joe and check out our top five:
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1967 Shelby GT500 with Jay Leno (2,250 likes) – Leno performed at the Interlochen Center for the Arts on Friday night and stopped by Hagerty headquarters in Traverse City, Mich., to chat with employees and see their classics. The former “Tonight Show” host and star of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” arrived behind the wheel of Hagerty’s 1967 Shelby GT500.
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1953 Studebaker Manta Ray concept car (1,404) – The triple tail lamps featured on the 1953 Manta Ray concept car are from a 1952 Lincoln. The Manta Ray’s fiberglass body – which sits on a 1951 Studebaker chassis – was built in 14 sections. Although the designers kept the car’s original Studebaker 232-ci V-8, it was eventually swapped out for a more powerful Cadillac engine.
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1959 Chevrolet Bel Air (1,224) – Chevrolet’s 1959 Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala models all featured horizontal “bat wing” fins and “cat’s-eye” taillights. We admired this Bel Air at the recent Blue Suede Cruise drag racing event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
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1969 Pontiac LeMans (1,211) – Among the engine options on the 1969 Pontiac Tempest LeMans convertible was a 265-hp, 350-ci two-barrel V-8. The owner of this one added a GTO hood.
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1963 Chevrolet Corvette (1,202) – Buyers of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette had four V-8 engines to choose from, but it was the car’s unique split rear window that made it so memorable.
Best of the Rest – It seems like we eye-balled twice as many Instagram posts last week than we normally do, and we kept returning to this one from @dirtybird70. There isn’t one specific thing that makes this photo of a classic Dodge Charger R/T stand out; it just has a whole lot going for it. Bottom line: we wish we were behind the wheel.
