It's not every day that television funnyman Jay Leno parts with a vehicle from his enviable collection of cars, but he is willing to do it for the right cause. At the 45th Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Jay will bring the custom Harley Davidson F-150 - gifted to him in May 2000 by Jim O'Connor, the president of the Ford division - and put it out on the market for sale.
This vehicle is one of a kind, with its unique SVT Lightning powertrain and a modified 5.4-liter Triton V8 that produces 440 pound-feet of torque and 360 horsepower. The Harley-Davidson features are reflected in orange pin striping and badging and the 20-inch chrome wheels. The single-inlet, double-outlet exhaust is the reason behind its robust sound. With driving miles of only 2000, the vehicle is in great shape with a still-shiny exterior.
As presented by Business Wire, "This is an opportunity to own a truly unique vehicle from my personal collection," said Leno. "Not only is this Harley-Davidson F-150 the only one of its kind, it's providing much needed resources to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The next owner can feel good knowing that they're getting an outstanding truck and supporting a great cause at the same time."
Fox News says even though Barrett-Jackson hasn't divulged any pre-sale estimates, a model of the same build and make should typically fetch around $25,000. But going by previous records, the denim-clad comedian will not part with his 'truly unique' pickup that easily. Last January, Leno auctioned his 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 for USO and pooled in $360,000 as proceeds and another $205,625 as donations.
This time, the buyers have an added attraction, revealed Autoblog. The final owner of the car will take his delivery at Leno's garage and get a full guided tour of the television legend's amazing fleet. This factor is capable of drawing more potential buyers than the first collaborative Ford-Harley-Davidson machine itself.
The auction location in Scottsdale will also see the entire 2016 lineup by the Ford group. The invitees get to get behind the wheels and experience the luxuries of the new Explorer and F-150, as well as the sedans and SUVs.
It seems the Barrett-Jackson event has turned out quite well for Ford in more ways than one. Their sentiments are echoed by Jim Owens, Ford's performance manager, who summed it up as "Jay Leno and Ford Motor Company share a passion for special vehicles and charity. We enjoy working with celebrities like Jay Leno who support a worthwhile cause that makes a positive difference in people's lives. It's a great story, because organizations can receive the help they need, while automotive enthusiasts get a chance to own a one-of-a-kind vehicle."
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