Jay Leno's Garage
This 1980 Rover 3500 V8 Drove 2,000 Miles. Then Jason Cammisa Crashed It!
2025 • E31 Aug 4, 2025 31m
Jay Leno welcomes automotive journalist Jason Cammisa to the garage, but there's a problem: Jason crashed his 1980 Rover 3500 V8 on the way to the show! Find out how a cross-country drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles led to a blind spot mishap with a pickup truck and another car.
Jason reveals that despite the accident, the car itself ran perfectly and proved to be an "amazing driving car." He explains that his love for the car stems from his memories of driving one in high school and that he bought this particular Rover sight unseen after hearing about it from a podcast listener.
Jay and Jason dive deep into the fascinating history of this car, including its V8 engine—a former American-made Buick aluminum motor that "transformed" the Rover. They discuss the car's unique "hatchback style inside," its design influence from Ferrari and Maserati, and the peculiar factory error that made the cars repel rust proofing. Jason also shows off a unique dash feature: a gauge that measures
Jason reveals that despite the accident, the car itself ran perfectly and proved to be an "amazing driving car." He explains that his love for the car stems from his memories of driving one in high school and that he bought this particular Rover sight unseen after hearing about it from a podcast listener.
Jay and Jason dive deep into the fascinating history of this car, including its V8 engine—a former American-made Buick aluminum motor that "transformed" the Rover. They discuss the car's unique "hatchback style inside," its design influence from Ferrari and Maserati, and the peculiar factory error that made the cars repel rust proofing. Jason also shows off a unique dash feature: a gauge that measures