The Engine That Won World War II - Jay Leno's Garage 

A old mustang mechanic from WW2 lived not far from us when I grew up as a kid. He got me interested in Hot Rods mostly due to his old Flat head Ford Pickup with a Offenhauser headed Engine and 3 -2 BBL carbs anyway he had bought a decommissioned P-51 Mustang from some place in South America and had it shipped up to the middle of Nebraska complete with it's Packard built Merlin and I was there the day he finally got it all reassembled and started it for the first time....it leaked oil and av gas several places so after making the needed repairs and tightening of fittings it fired right up and he and I taxied it on his home built grass runway behind his barn turned shop...the wheels lifted off the ground on the return trip down the runway and I saw daylight in the setting sun under the wheels....then we safely taxied it back to the barn and a little over a week later he flew it to his Brothers Farm in Northern Missouri where he visited for a couple of days before returning home in it. He landed it safely parked it in his barn and it sat there for the next few years. He faithfully started and ran it every week or 2 till he sold it to a War Plane Collector some place in Northern California I think he told me. Funny thing is he never had any children and his only wife died at the age of 64 so most of the time I spent with him it was just him and me working on hot rods or that Mustang.....when he passed some years later I got a call from his Atty. Telling me he had left me his entire accumulation of tools and that 1950 Flathead Ford pickup. His Brother's family got the house and farm and had a huge auction where many of his treasures were sold to the highest bidder but I got the tools and Truck and still own them all today. Someday I will pass them on to my Son but man the greatest gift he gave me was his friendship, patience, knowledge and experience....that and a ride in a real honest to goodness Merlin Powered P-51 Mustang ! the greatest gift of all.

"Merlin section of my garage" That's when you absolutely positively know you've made it.

Was lucky enough to witness the Battle of Britain Memorial flight and Canadian Lancaster fly together back in 2014. 10 Merlin engines, with the Spitfire and Hurricane alongside. An absolute treat for all the senses!

I just gained a lot of respect for this man. He's totally into his hobby. Amazing!

"I'm in the Merlin section of my garage" only one,or two other people could say that, but even funnier is Jay is so causal about it. Gotta love'm.

Now think about the 20- 25 year old pilots that flew these planes in wartime under hostile fire and just trying to do their missions and stay alive. Never forget. Thanks Jay.

I could stare at that engine for hours. The cooling system alone is a work of art.

I return to this video often. My grandmother made piston rings for the Merlin during the war. The family comes from Hampshire (England) where the spitfire first flew. Production was spread across many sites to avoid supply chain issues after bombings. I feel such a connection to these things. What an engine, what a thing they did.

My grandad was head of non destructive testing at rolls royce in derby during WW2 - he signed off half of the engines that fought in the battle of britain - i think of him every day in my own business and it pushes me on to do better - thanks for your tribute to the Merlin jayleno - love all your videos.

One of the amazing things about the Merlin engine, and the Pratt & Whitney 4360 Wasp radial engine as well, is that they were cranked out in enormous numbers, and yet were very reliable. They brought the pilots home. WW II was won in the factories as much as the battlefields. Maybe more,

I love how Jay takes the time to explain everything. Hes not in a hurry. He seems to enjoy telling us about all the complex operations of the interesting parts. Thank's Jay.

One thing I'll never forget is waking up to two Lancaster bombers flying over the town I live in was something like a movie I knew I'd never see it again

My wife's uncle was a Lancaster pilot during WWII. He was shot down during a raid over Germany in June 1944. Some of the crew baled out and survived but he was killed. He was 22 years old and wanted to be an architect. "Lest We Forget"

Never saw a man as comfortable in his own skin! Love his appreciation of everything motorized and love his willingness to share his enthusiasm wit others.

A stubborn beauty to start, but once she popped it was the sound of victory 🥰

VR A or the Lancaster that Jay references lives in Hamilton Ontario Canada (30 mins southwest of Toronto). She flies over my house every weekend in the summer and its a thing of pride to look up every weekend as we hear her arriving. Thanks to all the great men and women of that generation for the freedoms we have today.

Jay is livin life to its fullest, isn't he? One of the most down to earth multi-millionaires on the planet....

This is the most beautiful sounding thing in existence

Jay Leno is a National Treasure. Such a humble man. I’m so grateful, being a gear head myself, that Jay has strived to share his blessings with us. Thanks Jay

This is so so cool. Love Jay's passion and that he spends his money and time to bring aircraft, engines and cars back to life. Very few of these remaining and even fewer that are air worthy engines

I'm from Hamilton, Ont and have been to the Warplane Heritage Museum many times as recently as this summer when I took my family back for a visit. There are volunteer guides there in their 60s or so and even if you're not with a group, they gave my wife, young son and I a tour of about 30 minutes with stories on each of the many aircraft. Great place, great people.

That Lancaster flies right over my house every time the weather is nice, all summer long. You can hear those four Merlins coming from close to a mile away. Nice plug by Jay for the guys in Hamilton who do a great job keeping that thing in the air.

My Uncle flew B 25 s in WW2. He was in the thick of it. He came back from one mission. He didn't know until he landed and went to check on his crew. He discovered he was the only one on the plane alive. The the young soldiers were so brave. The metal was so thin. You really had no protection. Thank you to all our brave soldiers who fought and gave there lives for our freedom. Thank you Jay for your great shows. Best to you Dave

I have always been impressed with Jay'sj passion and knowledge of engines and vehicles.

In September of 2019, my wife and I both had the good fortune to fly out of Biggin Hill in two Spitfires. We flew for an hour doing victory rolls over the lovely English countryside and ultimately over the White Cliffs of Dover. We individually took control of each aircraft, gently maneuvering these beautiful fighters. From start-up to landing, the sound of the Merlin engines was symphonic to my ears.

my old man flew 26 missions as a rear gunner in a Lancaster, I still have his dog tags.

Thanks Jay! Guy Martin has one of these. He revved it to 2k rpms and it got loose and "flew" around his workshop. Said it was the most frightened he'd ever been. Which is saying a lot for someone that has raced motorcycles on the Isle of Man.

It takes money to rebuild the old stuff. I'm happy that Jay is up to it. Keep it going Jay. Keep saving history.

I late father worked at RR in the war. He worked in the factory and also out in the field during the war as a service rep. He was in France when the Germans pushed the Arm back to the coast. He was lucky to get out. I still have some Merlin manuals and pilot notes etc and tools. FYI. We still live in Derby and RR still have a flying spitfire at a local airfield that we see flying around the area in the summer going to exhibitions. Everyone still comes out to watch when they hear it. It has a special place in the history of Derby.

Love the fact he knows this engine inside and out and he's not afraid to say the Brits made/designed the best piston engined aero engine. Packard Merlins were built under licence in the USA and Canada. There is nothing more spectacular than seeing and hearing a Lancaster bomber, with four Merlins going 'flat chat' (Australian parlance for flat out) thundering down a runway on a take off run. Good on you Jay!.

I've never watched this show until now. The way that Mr. Leno talks about the engine is fantastic, going not just into detail about the type, but about his specific example, is amazing. This Merlin has been modified and he explains that, and talks about the unique features of it, as well as the variant components. Amazing!

"The Merlin section of my garage." Mr. Leno, you are indeed living the dream. Good on you, sir.

I live just a few miles from the Derwent Dams in Derbyshire England. Every so often, when the weather permits, they fly a Lancaster over the dams in recognition of the incredible dam buster raid. The sound of those engines is just unbelievable. The actual raid was practiced at Derwent.

That is SO AWESOME !!! I could have listened to that engine run all day long. Wish i could have been there to witness it and feel the vibration.

Thank You so much for preserving that great piece of history . What a beautiful machine . Also I want to wish you a speedy recovery . Thank you again .

During WW11, I was a child, but I remember the sound of those Merlins as they flew over our house. Something comforting prevailed in the shy as they flew. Maybe it was because they were our planes and the overpowering force emitted from them represented the soul of our country, THEN.

I'd just like to thank Jay for preserving this and many pieces of priceless history.

Spitfire, hurricane, mosquito, Lancaster,p-51 and then all the tanks fitted with the meteor, the Merlin engine without the supercharger, what an awesome engine!

Thank you Mr. Leno for preserving history and sharing it with us! 🙏🏽

So knowledgeable, it's amazing how much Jay knows about every one of his items.

My Dad flew 55 missions with RAF Bomber Command in the Merlin-engined Halifax.

Jay, As a long time aviation buff, A&P mechanic, and pilot, thank you for giving the Merlin another chance at life. The Merlin is one the most beautiful sounding engines ever built. In my early career as a mechanic I worked for Biegert Aviation out of Chandler AZ. We maintained a fleet of 9 Douglas C-54 (DC-4) aircraft outfitted for large area crop dusting for spruce bud worm in Main. Our typical contract was to treat over 1.3 million acres of forest. We had six aircraft on a two week start up and system check out for about two years. How cool is that for a guy just out of A&P school to be on a crew to start and run these classic aircraft every two weeks. The DC-4's were equipped with 4 Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp R-2000 radial engines. With 2000 cubic inches of displacement and a two stage supercharger (much like your Merlin) it netted around 1450 HP @ 2700 RPM @ sea level. I loved watching your engine demo but I do have a suggestion on your starting sequence. These old engines start very similar to each other. The next time you run it try this starting sequence. -Master ON. -Pre-oilier ON until high regulated pressure reached. oilier-OFF -Throttle cracked, Mixture-Idle cutoff, Prop-High RPM, Blower-Low -Mags ON -Starter switch ON and count nine blades (this clears any fuel or oil out of the cylinders) -After nine blades, primer switch ON and hold, even after the engine starts, it will run fat but that's OK. -After its running, push the mixture lever to full rich position, once the engine starts to falter because it now too rich, Primmer switch OFF. Engine should pick back up and clear out. -Leave the mixture rich until the engine warms up. -After the engine warms up, idle the engine up as high as comfortable and cycle the prop from Hi to Low RPM, wait for the prop to respond, return it to High. Do this three times. -After this, slowly pull back the mixture until the engine starts to lag then back up a notch till it runs normally again. -Throttle back to a smooth idle This should make it a lot easier to start. I've been a fan of yours your entire career. I love watching JLG and how enthusiastic you are about all mechanical things car/motorcycle related or not. I'm fascinated with your Stanley Steamer. Keep up the good work and keep em running! Robert Callahan, Mesa AZ

Thanks for the video ..My friend Mate that lived in England when he was a young man talked about the engine and the Spit Fire what a beautiful plane it was.

A beast of a machine. Jay, thanks for waking her up for us

Jay, I LOVE how you support everyone involved in your projects. Very cool of you.

Proud to be Canadian! Thx for the shoutout Jay.

Jay, The War Plane Heritage Museum is actually in Hamilton Ontario. Just north of where I live. I will be outside and the Lancaster will fly over with those 4 Merlin engines and it is a concert of sound in harmony. Everyone looks up and smiles. I've seen really old men cry when they see it. It brings back memories to them, some good, some bad. I love engineering and what designers did in the 1930s without computers blows my mind. Thanks for sharing.

Such a unique sound. Imagine a whole squadron of planes with that engine. It must have sounded pretty incredible.

Thanks for mentioning one of Canada's roles during WWII

The first time I saw a P51 Mustang in the wild was in Colorado. I was walking my dog one morning and heard a plane in the distance. I couldn't quite place the sound. It wasn't a modern engine and it wasn't a radial engine. After a bit, the Mustang goes screaming past on its approach to a regional airport 15 miles north of me. It was practically a religious experience.

I've always loved Jay Leno & what I like the most about him is seeing the pride he takes in his collection & cars, I love how he talks about them & describes why there so special to him. You can see the pride & joy he takes in his passions, over all the is a very well rounded amazing person. Congrats Jay

Sounds beautiful, wonderful sound of an open header engine.

Jay's knowledge of this engine is amazing. Call him Professor Leno.

To see and hear a spitfire flying past puts a lump in your throat. Unique.

Nothing sounds more incredible and powerful than a low pass of a P51 mustang!

The Merlin definitely has a Great sound!

I live minutes from the warplane heritage mesuem. They fly the Lancaster in the the spring and summer and into the fall. On Saturdays and Sundays. . . It a nice thing to hear it fly over.

Love This!! Here's the thing, we as a nation have not been perfect. But I firmly believe that the good we have done far outweighs any negatives. I respect Mr. Leno's passion to preserve history in an era were so many want to tear it down. Our history plays a direct role in who we are, as a nation, and even more basic...as humans. The partnerships we have developed have made this a pretty decent world to live in, despite what you hear and see on the nightly news. Thank You England for being our greatest ally, and thank you Mr. Leno for sharing this amazing piece of history.

What an absolute MONSTER! Thank you Jay for preserving and curating mechanical history! Jay Leno is a special person.

Man that made me smile I was grinning big ear to ear to watch and hear that engine come up. Thanks Mr. Leno!

My uncle was a Flight Officer (pilot) on a Lancaster bomber, from Brussels, Ontario, Canada, and was killed in action over the Baltic Sea in 1942 at the age of 21. My mother still remembered the man who came to inform the family that her brother had been killed...she was 9 years old. The Merlin does have a very distinctive sound, and I’ve visited the museum in Hamilton Jay speaks of in the video...Toronto is close to Hamilton. The Lancaster is something to experience...when they fly it, they “buzz” the museum, over an observation deck to put on a bit of a show, and it’s quite impressive. The museum is extensive with an impressive gift shop with many items covering a vast array of aircraft models, artwork, toys and memorabilia...well worth the price of admission. A flight in the Lancaster is $2500 I believe...maybe someday I’ll get a chance to go up in it. Thanks Jay for the mention of Canada’s contributions to the war effort by way of the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force)!!!

There is something special about Jay Leno. There is nothing not to like about him! That's rare in Southern Cal "Here". I've had a handful of friends run across him at: Burger places, Mexican restaurants but nothing fancy and eating good ol' fashion food. Not an uptight Hollywood type by a stretch. Love it! Gotta be a great guy down to the bone. Thanks Jay! Your shows make me feel good!

Watching WW2 documentaries, you can always recognize the sound of those engines and try to imagine the power and endurance that was crucial in wartime. Thank you for keeping the tools that led us to victory alive and for younger generations to experience!

That set up is beautiful, what an engine 😍

35 years as a professional aircraft technician I'm truly impressed with Jay through knowledge of this magnificent engine and propeller..... Oh yeah im also a hardcore car guy too!!!!

The collective hours of engineering and level of craftsmanship in this piece of artwork is incredible.

Thanks so much for keeping this beautiful engine alive.

I truly love the fact that, no matter how sophisticated or how unusual the vehicle, no matter how incredibly expensive, no matter how old or off-the-showroom-floor, every post is on the subject of what a sincere man Jay is. Gotta love that !

Really nice to see Jay like a small child/mad scientist tweaking this thing to run. Such respect for his knowledge and passion.

The old saying goes"money can't buy happiness". Well it can sure buy you a perfectly restored Merlin 1650-1 engine. And Jay looks pretty fuckin happy to me.

Love the sound of the Merlin Engine! Been lucky to have seen many Merlin engines fly in Spitfires, Hurricanes, P51 Mustangs, P40F. Also been lucky to have seen our Lancaster here in the UK fly alongside CWHM's Lancaster FM213

Jay, you are a national treasure, Thanks so much, I've been an avid mechanic all my life and you've give us great pleasure.

Guy Martin has a Merlin engine, if you watch his video he explains how he ran it at 2800 rpm and it took off and took out a wall, recommend looking for the video

Just amazing. Glad to see someone with the resources to keep these amazing engineering marvels alive.

As a reporter in the late 70s I covered unlimited hydroplane racing on the Columbia River. The Merlin engine was what all the boats were running. Each boat had back up with trucks and mechanics and spare engines. It was really impressive to see the engines up close.

I love these videos. Thanks Jay for your preservation efforts and making these videos available for others to enjoy.

This engine and the sound of it provokes pride and nostalgia here in the UK. I'm glad Jay appreciates what it means to us. I've actually sat in a Spitfire and it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Thank you Mr. Leno for keeping our mechanical history alive you are truly a hero in my book

look at all those bolts!! Love it, this is great, feel the power. Thanks Jay, you do us all good

Thanks for doing these videos Jay. Your channel is a treasure.

Thank you for preserving this wonderful piece of history. The Merlin is a legend and one of the most important engines of all time. Couldn’t think of a better place for this one to be!

In this crazy upside down world; Jay Leno is a shining example of Stability. His support of Craftsmanship is Very Much appreciated. THANK YOU Jay Leno !

Wow, Jay's garage is cooler than any other garage in the world

I love listening to Leno talk cars and mechanics. He REALLY knows his stuff!

Thanks Jay. . We appreciate your great efforts to preserve these wonderful machines xx

A german trucker was in a bar in Newcastle and was complaining about how lazy british truckers were. "I can take the cargo from Berlin the morning, bring it to Newcastle by night and by next night i can bring another load back to Berlin. You people take a week to do that" So an old man sitting nearby called out "When i was young, i could take a load from here to Berlin early morning and be back in time for afternoon tea" "Really? And what did you drive?" asked the german "A Lancaster bomber" replied the old man

I stopped at The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum once several years ago. They didn't have the "lanc" outside that day, but fly it seemingly weather permitting. They, indeed, are very proud of the plane, naturally. One Ted Lowery, at the time a features writer for the museum, explained to me the machine's specifications and capabilities. He invited me to rap on the underside of the fuselage to see just thin the sheetmetal of the body actually is. Its - no lie - just like a soda can! The museum is actually in Hamilton, about a 30 minute drive south of Toronto on the outskirts of their international airport. If you're a US citizen, bring a passport or enhanced drivers license so you can get back into the states. Have a nice trip!

Great video Jay. One of the truly great engineering masterpieces of the 20th century. Tx for the guided tour.

He brings tears to my eyes! Thank you

Such a knowledgeable guy and down to earth and he can actually speak in a coherent manner all you young you tube bloggers take note from this legend thumbs up from me 🏍️☺️

I have heard about Jay's Garage but somehow have missed the videos. This one was so cool because my dad flew the Lancaster in WWII. Now I want to visit that museum...but will have to make due on a cheaper flight than the Lancaster unless we win the lottery. I am thankful for Jay having this hobby and sharing it with people. It was easy to see from his show, he likes people. God bless you Jay Leno! You certainly have class that the others can't seem to grab hold of.

Thanks for great video. This must be the greatest engine I have ever seen. A few years ago there was two Mustang P51's at a flight show, taking off and flying above us. Jesus christ, what a sound these have. Magnificent!

Jay you’re my idol! To have all the toys is one thing. But KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TOYS is a person I admire

Jay ' love your Channel As a Brit , when I hear that engine make my Battle of Britain blood tingle :) Total respect to you Sir '

Wonderful to hear you talking with such enthusiasm and clearly demonstrating that you know your stuff!

Can we just appreciate the old school wicker/straw broom in the back? This engine is the coolest thing I've seen all day but the broom is a nice touch

Watching Jay tweek the controls makes me appreciate his extensive knowledge on the workings of very sophisticated engines.

As someone lucky enough to be overflown by that Lancaster fairly regularly, the sound is unbelievable. I know the sound miles away. I cannot imagine the terror of the sound of a whole squadron on their way to bomb me.

Jay sure knows his stuff. Amazing walk through of his beautiful Merlin.

I’ve seen one on a trailer like this in Australia. But this has been restored immaculately. Thankyou Jay, it’s just magnificent!