Jay Leno takes a look at the 1916 hybrids.

The Toyota Prius may have introduced the concept to the world, but hybrid cars were around long before the now ubiquitous Toyota hatchback. The Owen magnet featured in this episode of "Jay Leno's Garage" dates from 1916, some 80 years before the Prius was introduced.

It is important to remember that at the turn of the 20th century, battery-electric cars were very common. However, like today, they had limited range and charging infrastructure. Unlike the Chevrolet Volt and BMW i3 REx of the past, the Owen Magnetic was marketed as an electric car with a gasoline-powered generator that could extend its range.

The car is a series hybrid, meaning that the internal combustion engine functions only as a generator for the electric motor that actually drives the wheels, rather than a parallel hybrid as in modern hybrid cars.

The Buda's inline six-cylinder engine is not physically connected to the drivetrain. A horseshoe magnet is attached to the end of the crankshaft, which spins around an armature attached to the electric motor to drive the rear wheels; in 1916, the advantage of this setup was that it eliminated the need for a conventional transmission, allowing even those who could not drive stick Leno noted that the Magnetic Owen was now available. It also allows for regenerative braking, as in modern hybrid and electric vehicles.

Leno has owned this car for about 30 years, but it was in poor condition when he got it, having been exposed to the elements for decades in Norway. Leno's store had to fabricate almost everything, as there were no refurbished parts available for this very rare car; the distinctive angled valve covers with "Owen Magnetic" lettering were reproduced using 3D printing. Leno also installed the latest Optima batteries.

Watch the full video to see this piece of hybrid history cruising the streets surrounding Leno's famous garage.