Jay Leno auctioning rare 2012 Fiat 500 to benefit military charity

Jay Leno’s garage is about to get a little smaller, because the comedian is auctioning off one of his vehicles for a good cause. The Tonight Show host will auction his 2012 Fiat 500 Prima Edizione at Gooding and Co.’s Pebble Beach Auction on Aug. 18. Aside from being a celebrity owned vehicle, this particular Fiat was just the second Fiat brought to America when Fiat began selling cars in the U.S. two years ago. Furthermore, the winning bidder can take pride in the fact that all the proceeds will go to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that provides free housing to veterans and their families.

Leno’s Fiat 500 features a Bianco (white) exterior and black graphics. Leno has accrued just 800 miles since obtaining the vehicle. As previously mentioned, the car touts a serial number of 2 of 500, which is likely to help its value appreciate in years to come.

Despite his massive collection of vintage automobiles, Leno decided to choose his 2012 Fiat for practical reasons. In particular, it contains modern safety features and is a dependable vehicle, according to Leno. Even though Leno has decided to part with his Fiat 500, his wife still owns and regularly drives one.

Although the a new Fiat 500 retails for about $22,000, Leno’s ride is expected to fetch as much as $35,000. The total may go even higher because Leno is expected to appear on stage in order to drive up the bidding.

No stranger to charitable causes, Leno has supported a numerous charities including Bailey’s Café, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Keep Memory Alive, LIVESTRONG, Neurofibromatosis Inc., Stand Up To Cancer, Starkey Hearing Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Additionally, Leno has served as the grand marshal of the Love Ride, a motorcycle charity event since 1985.

Earlier this year, Leno helped raise $535,000 for the Fisher House Foundation by donating a New Holland Boomer tractor signed by former President George W. Bush. The tractor, nicknamed “Lil Tug,” spent four years in the comedian’s garage. Leno used the tractor to push and pull his classic car collection around the garage.

Founded in 1990, the Fisher House Foundation is an organization that supplies veterans with “comfort homes” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. Since its inception the Fisher House Foundation has served more than 17,000 military families, providing more than 4 million days of lodging.

Source: USA Today; Gooding and Co.