Jay Leno's Gas Crisis Solution | Behind the Scenes 

Little known fact- Walter Baker built an electric racecar. It crashed in 1902, killing the driver and some spectators. In response, he built another car with straps on the seat to keep the driver from flying out of the car in a crash- the world's first car seat belt.

I love how hands on Jay is. He's not just a wealthy man with toys. He knows his shit and isn't afraid to get dirty. His tastes are so eclectic. Electric, steam, diesel, turbines, and he owns a couple of gasoline cars too. The best part of his collection is that it isn't trapped forever behind velvet ropes. He drives all this shit! So cool. He probably the only person that still wears out the brakes and tires on his model T.

We car guys owe Leno such a debt of gratitude for just being amazing with his cars.

Leave it to Jay Leno to educate the general public about electric cars, and make it so normal and relaxing that you really do want to go 23 mph. What a guy...what a collection...what an episode. Thanks Jay ! P.S. (You"ll be getting a call from Elon Musk) 🤣

I just want to say to whoever transferred this video to youtube, you did an excellent job. It’s hard to believe I’m looking at 480i video because it blows away other standard definition content on this website. Not AI deinterlaced, and shown properly at 60fps, that is how it should be done.

in the 1950s, I saw a car like this baker parked on Lake street near Oak Park Avenue, In Oak Park Illinois. My Dad explained to me that it belonged to an elderly lady who drove it in town for many tears. It amazed me and your video refreshed that memory of Dad and I looking at that strange looking car. Years later he told me that he drove electric trucks. He worked for a trucking company that made deliveries for Marshal Fields. He drove the electric to deliver pianos. I asked about how long a battery charge lasted. He said that when the battery were low, they pulled into a charging station to let it charge over night and returned the next day and continued their delivery. There were charging stations all over Chicago at that time. At one time I did a search on the internet and found a Chicago map of charging stations in Chicago back in the day.

I believe the speed limit in 1900 was 12 mph in New York City. So this little buggy could really tear it up!

In 1913 my grandfather went into business servicing Baker electric cars and eventually became a dealer. Nice to see the recognition that EVs have been around much longer than most people think.

I could listen to Jay talk all the time,, his collection of cars is awesome,, and this 1909 Baker is a "beaut"

I love that Jay actually drives all these cars. They're not just oversized nick nacks sitting around to be gawked at.

This Baker must be so rare and takes unique to a whole new level.

I grew up in Pasadena in the 40s and 50s. there was an older lady who drove a Baker Electric. Always fresh flowers and she dressed to the nines with white gloves.

My dad saw an electric car when he was a teen in the early '40's. He was really impressed. It was driven by 2 teen girls, so I'm sure that helped get his attention. Many of the early cars were built by carriage makers, so it's no surprise that they look so similar to a carriage.

Jay has the most amazing collection of cars in the world. This electric is awesome.

This car would be great for small towns or villages. I remember in the early '50s there were two spinster sisters who I would see from time to time driving by in a silent car that looked just like this one. I was told they were sisters and they both wore those old-fashioned black dresses and little flat black hats. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was witnessing history.

What a perfect respite for summer viewing. I just loved it. I especially loved how Jay kept mentioning he takes the Baker Electric with his wife to look at Christmas lights. Jay's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Above all, life is about making memories with loved ones. Thank you. ❤

Totally unlike today’s monsters! A true town car, and very lightweight and economical. This truly is the right way to go. Literally I was giving a presentation on EVs when this video came out, where I referred to the very similar Detroit Electric. The problem is the ridiculous safety regulations which protect the occupants of monster vehicles rather than those hit by a monster. New respect for Jay too. He is extremely knowledgeable.

I would love one of these for errands, it is bloody fantastic.

Jay bought this car from a friend of mine. He and I had restored a 1923 Model T which he eventually sold to pay for the Baker. When he got it we took batteries out of 4 cars wired them together and it worked. This was in the 1970s but even so pretty amazing. It took him over 20 years to restore it not sure how much Jay redid because I never saw the car restored until I saw this video. All the curved glass was intact when we got it by the way. Also that bell was an original and also just worked. Good to see it in such good hands. It's funny listening to this I remember that creaking sound as it drove.

One of the coolest cars Leno has had on his channel.

I had no idea that there were thousands of electric cars in NY, and CHARGING STATIONS were all over the place in the early 1900's as well. I can only wonder what the world would have been if things had remained this way.

I don't know what I would do without Dennis or Jay to entertain us gear heads. Im so sad I missed the Wings warbirds and wheels 2022, I wasn't able to finish my project on time for the show, i hope Dennis will come back again, we love ya Dennis

When I was growing up, I lived in Chicago from nine to eighteen, and would commonly go downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was free for kids, and spend an hour or two on the "short street" set up with a dozen or so real cars from the 1905 or so era. To have one of his own, Jay has to preserve and maintain it. Thanks, Jay, you are truly appreciated.

I remember this episode. Thanks for bringing it back!

As a sailor, I love the idea of a car having a "tiller". I hate a "wheel" on a sailboat, a tiller gives the skippermuch more boat feedback than a steering wheel does. Leather was the "carbon fiber" of its time.

William Morrison developed the first electric car In 1890 1890!!, It's crazy that they've been around for so long. 130 years later EVs are just now being mass produced.

Very Cool, Mr. Leno, Very Cool! Your knowledge of electric cars and and your collection both impress me to no end, Sir! I believe that you are one of the few people on Earth who really gets the "True Value" on a planetary scale!

I just love that somebody is preserving automotive history. This car represents a starting point in EV technology. If it had been designed and marketed differently who knows what modern motoring would look like today...

Very cool car Jay, my electric bike tops out at 28mph, plenty fast. Incredible how efficient and practical for the time that old car is. Thank for showing it to the world Dennis.

Back then top speed in an urban area (with electric plant to supply it, rural had no electricity) was 5 mph with potholes all over the place, people jaywalking and horses pulling wagons. Nobody was going 20 mph when this was built. Streets were brick or cobblestone if they were paved at all. That's why it's got a tiller and opposite facing seating.

Jay Leno, I love your thorough collecting of the automobiles, accessories, posters and you test drive the vehicles for us...Wow! Thank you Jay!

I never cared for Leno as a comedian but I think he’s a great car guy. Quite possibly one of the greatest car guys out there.

One thing I love about Leno. He keeps his car collection in good working order, keeps them clean, and gets them out to drive them. Don't get me wrong, but cars, even the older ones, are meant to be driven. It breaks my heart to see a nice looking classic car just sitting in a museum essentially blocked up. The older ones are art pieces on wheels. Art is meant to be seen and shared.

I would love to spend a day with Jay Leno in his car collection. So much history there.

What I like about this car is that it reminds me a lot of my grandmother's electric tricycle (if you live in south east asia you know what I mean but basically its like a small tuk tuk) and it really is just convenient really easy to use all she has to do is turn the key and release the hand brake and away she goes and she like in her late 60s as of the time and it made me think that electric vehicles would really work well if they were just marketed as simple convinience ways to get around but obviously thats just me. How ever as the years pass by their becoming more popular I just wish they'd be in better quality atleast in appearance wise

In a Dennis the Menace episode, Dennis was able to get one of these for his mother and the previous owner was a Victorian era woman alive in the 1960s.

Brings new meaning to the phrase: "Back seat driver"

Lovely solution. That’s all the speed and range anyone needs for most daily jobs

I'm sure a lot of places already do this but now in my small town (rural IL) you can get registration stickers to legally drive golf carts on streets within city limits. Really don't need a car for most local errands. With 100 miles range that baker would still be useful in a lot of places.

What a great car! I live in Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country. I would love to pass one of their carriages driving that! Their buggies are built very similarly to that!

I can’t imagine the insurance cost Jay must pay to drive cars like this around L.A.

The Edison battery is really a remarkable battery when compared with the now ubiqutose leadd acid variety. Hower its larger, heavier and much more expensive that the L.A. variety. If looked after 'a bit' it lasts 'for ever'. I have 50 cells on my narrowboat, but they only provide the domestic services - which the have done for some 20+ years and will mebe for a further 20....

Wonderful history lesson! We need history!

After observing the top end speed times the rudder steering times the zero front end protection times the height one will be ejected from and being an odds guy I would bet the farm at top end 23 miles per hour times hitting anything, you name it, you're going to wish you never got in the thing. Still a beautiful piece of history! Much thanks J, always enjoy the videos!

Jay, thanks for restoring this and thanks for the ride. Really enjoyed this video.

It's wonderful to see Jay and Dennis perambulate with the electric car.

Great video! Takes me back many years to Oak Park, IL in the mid/late '40's, where two spinster sisters who lived at the end of our block had a Baker Electric.

Jay made a bit of an understatement, that car is revolutionary today.. even now with modern EVs.. i mean its a 1905 Metro town car essentially.. that is a fairly new automotive concept, this thing was 100 years ahead of its time..

God bless Jay Leno and his garage man he is got some of the coolest stuff in the world. And it's really probably some of the most educational too so we don't forget about some of these techniques of engineering and stop just because something might seem older outdated doesn't mean it wasn't a great design that car is so cool I bet at one time in New York City it was it

Cool ride. Slow motion. Old School. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, what a great little car. Why isn't something like this available today?

A 1909 'back-to-the-future' moment. Cool!

WOW! A great car for the cities or for local (seniors) driving.

Looks like I just need to find an old Amish buggy, some model T wheels, electric motor and a few boat trolling motor batteries and charger to get to work

Probably one of the few vids I don't skip on,,, because I feel myself relaxed by just listening to the motor hum

That car is perfect for a small town drive, how I wish I could have one

Jay, Please take care of yourself, as we care about you!

I can't help.but smile seeing this car operate! Fun!

Thanks Mr. Leno, I love old things.

I appreciate all you have done for the automobile industries, old to current

Two of the greatest car guys. Who needs a Tesla when ya can drive à Baker! True classic!

They should start producing them again, they’re neat.

Of all the cars in Leno's garage, this is among my top favorites.

Omg! I so need this car here in Alaska to drive around my little town that's only about 10 by 6 miles! I now get around in what I call the "Beast", my mobility scooter on steroids! One major drawback...rain and snow. The Baker car would easily fit our paved wide trails, and provide for weather protection. How I wish we had a covered electric vehicle!

I like the looks of that car. Leno has a great idea in revitalizing this car. The Baker is a definite look then do a double-take.

50 amps × 72volts = 3500watts+- One horse power= 746 watts. 5hp to cruise 20mph on level road. Cool . Someone should remake these.

I got to tour Jay's whole garage..in burbank ca at burbank airport..it was ausome to see all his cars and everything...I delivered a air compressor there...thank you mechanic for the tour....

I love that car. I've driven a Volt which is an electric/gas plug in hybrid. I have had one for 12 years now. I've had two of them and they are the best cars I've ever owned. My last one had 196,000 miles on it before I traded it off. I rarely had to do any maintenance on it and it goes really fast.

I like hoy Jay honks the horn every 3 minutes right on time

I absolutely LOVE this car! Looks like it would be incredibly easy and fun to drive. Probably fits into most parking spaces, too. Awesome for checking out Christmas lights. Would love to show up at Musso and Frank's driving this little beauty!

Can't even believe i see this in my recommended. My auto tech teacher would put this on the touchscreen board in the classroom usually around the long school holidays or when we are finished early with cleaning up the shop on Friday.

I can't believe I didn't hit the like button on this before? This is the third or fouth time I've watched it I simply love this car. and just think it was only 113 years ahead of its time. At the rate we are going we will someday be totally away from the internal combustion engine and on electric or some other non-polluting fuel. Sad it took this long and we're still not there we should have been there 50 yrs ago or sooner. Thanks for showing this Jay. Fantastic God speed. ECF

The 1909 Baker, could've been a great inner city super affordable taxi or autonomous request tourism, with a rechargeable point locations around, but modified of non perishable materials on the exterior. Quite a time machine. An *electric inspiration dream*

Truly my favorite auto of all times! What a beauty!

As long as it looked exactly like this (with allowances made for choice of colors and mandatory modern safety equipment) I'm sold.

If he was anyone else, I would say lose the stash but you know, he works it. Love his topics and of course, Jay's as well.

Thanks for sharing. I work for Minnetrista in Muncie In. We are funded by The Ball Brothers Foundation. Francis W Ball wife of GA Ball had a Baker Electric car. Bertha Ball wife of Edmund Ball also had an electric car, I don't know maker of that one. I wish those cars were part of our collection.

Keep ringing tht Bell Jay and you'll have to keep Ice Cream on that car. lol.

That is such a smart car - i simply love it.

HAVE watched this 3 times and ALWAYS fun to see again

I love it and I want one but I'm glad Jay Leno has it. Truly awesome. Keith Kuhn

You looked a little nervous when you got behind the tiller! I think your mustache straightened out a little when you took that turn a little fast near the end of the drive!

Gas prices to high, "Hybrid From 1916: The Owen Magnetic - Jay Leno's Garage" He has a supply of "Steam Powered" cars as well. Gotta love Jay's Garage, thanks Jay for sharing.

This is a delight. I hope my Tesla can last as long as the Baker. Probably would if I stay under 25mph, but that wouldn't be as fun after awhile. Thank you Jay Leno! You are a gift to car loving folks!

I like how they are driving so slow, that even the city bus passes them.

Circa 2004-2005 originally, flip phones, mid 90s cars everywhere, and license tag seemed to expire in ~2006

This is fantastic. Thanks Jay.

Jay Leno, many thanks, NOW YOU DID IT. You've got me thinking all kinds of new ideas for new types of electric cars

So good to see both you fine gentlemen in your "youth"! I cant decide whom is more iconic. "The Denim Sensation" or "The stash"

Several years back, I'd watched another video on Jay's Baker that wasn't as long. I really enjoyed this rerun of a longer video. I could have watched an hour or more on this car. I'd like to know more about it. Was a heater an option? Windshield wiper? Were there any made with a steering wheel and accellerator pedal?

This is an exceptional history lesson. Jay is a true historian...

J couldn't picked a better companion than a guy w/ a genuine handlebar moustache, please.

That's a old one. Jay still has a little black and thinner!😁👍

Amazing! I would buy one if available Brand new.

It would be fun to go to the theatre in this little carriage!

Baker was in Cleveland and in 1909, Shaker Heights was the richest city in the country. My grandmother lived in Shaker and used one of these to do all of her shopping. Strangely, the reason the Cleveland area was so prosperous at that time, was because of Standard Oil and JD Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in Cleveland.

Really interesting car ! So compact and maneuverable !

That's so cool ! Love Leno's garage !

Thank you Jay, nice of you to share that.

WOW What a treat!!! Thanks for shearing👍