Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Secret Service lets Vice President Joe Biden drive his ‘Vette, and he promptly does a burnout

Bruce Brown
By

vice president joe biden corvette burnout jay leno garage green 1967 roadster
steffstarr / 123RF Stock Photo
Vice President Joe Biden likes speed. He says so himself in a tweeted sneak peak video clip of Jay Leno’s Garage. The U.S. Secret Service gave Biden permission to drive his own 1967 Corvette Stingray for the television episode, according to Jalopnik. In this clip, the VP tells Leno about his relationship with speed after ripping off a straight-line burnout as soon as he starts the car.

There’s no debating who has the need for speed in the @WhiteHouse.

SNEAK PEEK of @JayLeno & @VP in his ’67 Corvette Stingray. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/UkFn9Ldykt

— Jay Leno's Garage (@LenosGarage) October 19, 2016

It’s not because he’s an avowed speed freak that the Secret Service doesn’t let Biden drive his ‘Vette. Presidents and vice presidents aren’t allowed to drive anything while holding office or for six months thereafter. Since Biden took office he has only been allowed to drive his favorite car three times.

Recommended Videos

The vice president’s father gave him the Corvette as a wedding present on August 19, 1967. Biden’s sons Beau and Hunter had the engine rebuilt recently and both he and Leno say it runs perfectly. The Veep also said it’s the “only car he’s ever loved.” The green convertible has a four-speed manual transmission and a 327 V8 engine with 300 horsepower.

The preview video was filmed at Secret Service Moran Vehicle Training at a location identified as “somewhere outside Washington D.C.” Biden says he once “buried it” at 160 mph when he was younger. He then quips, “I shouldn’t say this on television — I like speed.”

While Biden and Leno were cruising the roads at the training center, Biden nailed the accelerator a couple times, each time visibly pushing his passenger back in the seat. After a while, a second Corvette pulls out from a side road, a 2015 Stingray Z51 that immediately roars past the VP’s car. “I wonder who that cowboy is,” Biden mutters before hitting the gas to catch up.

When they get back to the starting point, the other Corvette is already parked, with former Secretary of State Colin Powell at the wheel.

The VP Speed episode of Jay Leno’s Garage is set to air on November 9 on CNBC.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown
Contributing Editor
Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…
The 6 best car phone holders in 2024
Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Read more
Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more