Jay Leno's Motor City car Karma freebie

By April MacIntyre Mar 11, 2009, 16:04 GMT

Motor City angel Jay Leno - 2008 NFL - Super Bowl XLIII - NBC Universal Pre-Superbowl Event Arrivals - January 31, 2009 - Portofino Bay Hotel - Orlando, FL, USA © Jay Kravetz / PR Photos

Jay Leno is paying it forward in the Motor City.

Car lover Leno, who has a multimillion dollar collection of exotic vehicles, will perform for free in hard hit Detroit.

His collection of classic cars include a 1994 McLaren F1, Porsche Carrera GT, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Lamborghini Miura, Ariel Atom, Dodge Viper GTS, Ford GT, Audi R8 and more, including motorbikes. Popular Mechanics magazine featured many of the vehicles in a past interview.  Leno's rare collection also includes an original 1912 Stanley Steamer and a 1964 Studebaker Avanti.

Born in New York and raised in Massachusetts, funnyman Leno announced Monday on The Tonight Show that he will perform a free concert on April 7 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Leno selected Michigan because the state has the nation's highest unemployment rate, at 11.6 percent.

"I like Detroit. It's one of those old cities," Leno shared with People. "And when you're an auto guy like me, that city is Jerusalem."

Inspired by the president, Leno calls the show "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan."

"I'm listening to him say we all gotta do our part in these rough times, and I'm thinking that all I can do is tell jokes," Leno says. "But if I can go and make people laugh, then that's great."

Tickets are available at The Palace starting March 16. They will be handed out on the honor system, meaning that anyone who says they are unemployed will receive a ticket.

"Who's got money for entertainment these days? But here, if you're a little down, you can bring the wife, bring a couple friends, we'll give you a Pepsi, and you'll have a good laugh," Leno says.

Leno may take his free comedy tour on the road.

"And if people don't like it," he adds, "we promise to give them their money back."

Leno is a regular performer at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach.