Jay Leno Thinks Toyota Prius And Mazda MX-5 Will Become Collectibles

Jay Leno believes the Mazda MX-5 Miata and first-generation Toyota Prius will become collectibles in the future.

During an interview with Business Insider, the comedian said that the younger generation may start to lust over the Prius and MX-5 because they grew up with the two vehicles.

“It’s whatever you grew up in. It’s whatever you went to your prom in. It’s whatever your dad used to take you to Sunday ice cream in. That’s the car the next generation will collect. It’s as much about the memories as it is about the car,” Leno said.

It is not hard to imagine the MX-5 becoming a collectible in the future, particularly given the cult following it already has. However, it is a little more difficult to imagine car collectors ever finding the first-generation Prius desirable.

However, according to Leno, early alternative fuel vehicles have collector potential, none more so than the Prius. After all, the Japanese sedan pushed hybrid powertrains into the mainstream when it was introduced in the late 1990s.

“I think you’ll see the first generation Priuses where people will say look how simple it is compared to the modern stuff,” Leno said.

Remarkably, Leno claims that someone recently tried to sell him a General Motors EV1 for $440,000, suggesting that the first generation of electric cars are already becoming collector items.