Jay Leno Crashes in Iconic Hemi Under Glass Plymouth Barracuda
Jay Leno took a tumble in the Hemi Under Glass Plymouth Barracuda during a segment for his show
Like many car enthusiasts, Jay Leno has had a thing for the Hurst Hemi Under Glass Plymouth Barracuda since he was a kid. This vehicle, which has a Hemi engine tucked back under the rear glass, has the perfect rear weight bias that allows it to be a great wheel-stander. This vehicle is known for wowing the crowd at drag strips, not necessarily for its racing abilities.
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With its 2,500-horsepower engine, the Barracuda is practically made for doing wheelie after wheelie and its stuntman driver, Bob Riggle, typically has a good handle on it to keep it in tip-top performing shape. That is, unless Jay Leno is in the car.
In a recent segment for Leno’s Jay Leno’s Garage, both Riggle and Leno ended up doing more than just riding on two wheels—they ended up doing a pretty harsh barrel roll.
Driving on two wheels, doing a barrel roll… same thing, right?
Yeah, not so much.
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The stunt took place at Irwindale Speedway in California. Riggle, who is now 80 years old, originally built the vehicle to race, not to stand on its wheels. And, while the vehicle sure looks capable of doing a two-wheel stand, its original nature seemed to come to light when Riggle attempted to get it to stand up. In about 10 seconds, the vehicle went from standing to rolling.
Thankfully, both Leno and Riggle were fine after the wreck and, believe it or not, the engine is still intact. Since Riggle began running the car 50 years ago, this is only his second wreck—and it’s all on tape.
VIDEO: Watch Jay Leno Barrel Roll in a Barracuda
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