Top Gear’s New Host Matt LeBlanc Is A Legit Car And Motorcycle Guy

But it turns out LeBlanc is more on the Jalopnik side. For starters, before all the carpentry, modeling and acting could began, he wanted to become a motorbike a motorcycle racer after getting his first bike at the age of 8.

And he is still into the two-wheeled stuff:

When it comes to cars, LeBlanc did Top Gear’s reasonably priced car segment in 2012 where he set a record with that Kia. And here’s what he said about his garage:

Oh, I’ve got a couple of different ones. I have a Mercedes, a Porsche, a Ferrari, a Ford… big truck, and a couple of scooters.

According to Auto Trader, that Ferrari was a murdered out 360 Modena, which the actor traded in for a new 458 Italia after putting “just over 9,000 miles (on the clock) in nearly 12 years.” He also modified the car by adding the rear grille of the 360 Challenge, aftermarket wheels and a much louder exhaust.

His Mercedes was a silver ML63 AMG which you might consider to be a real grocery getter in the wealthier parts of California. But LeBlanc seems to be more into Porsches than anything, not unlike his character Mr. Joey Tribbiani was in Friends.

Deadspin’sTim Burke told us that LeBlanc’s dad drove a 911 when he lived across the street from him, and the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree:

Back in 2012, LeBlanc sold his 996 Turbo which was modified with some Techart bits. That was a 2001 car with a 6-speed manual and 38,000 miles.

The actor is also a regular guest at Formula One races. The Jalop crew even ran into him at Austin last year.

He also turned out to be as good at interviewing Kimi Raikkönen as any of us:

The guy is our new Hammond, and that should be fine.

You know who’s taller? Clarkson.

Photo credit: Matt LeBlanc via Twitter

Contact the author at mate@jalopnik.com.