Jay Leno checked out the first turbocharged production car.

Today, turbocharged engines have become commonplace, but it all started with the 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire featured in this episode of "Jay Leno's Garage." The car was restored by Eric Jensen, who describes its history and unique features.

The Jetfire was introduced at the same time as a turbocharged version of the Chevrolet Corvair, sparking debate as to what was truly the first turbocharged production car. Given the close timing of the launches (Olds was weeks ahead of Chevrolet, Leno speculates), it is safe to assume that both cars were turbo pioneers anyway.

Jensen's great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all Oldsmobile loyalists, and the brand runs in his family. Once a collector of vintage Oldsmobiles, he narrowed his focus to this esoteric model after coming across the Jetfire while searching for a 1962 Cutlass for his wife.

Based on the Cutlass bodyshell, the Jetfire was powered by a single-turbocharged 215 cubic-inch V-8 called the "Turbo Rocket." The engine's compression ratio was 10.25:1, and the turbo produced about 6 psi of boost, Jensen said. Like most turbocharged engines, it required premium fuel.

A three-speed manual transmission was standard, but according to Jensen, only 14 were actually sold with it. An additional 203 were built with the optional four-speed manual; the rest were three-speed automatics.

The Jetfire was not a commercial success, and according to Leno only about 9,000 were built. The reasons for this were the high price and the extra maintenance required for the turbocharged engine. Owners had to supply "turbo rocket fluid," a mixture of water, methanol, and oil, to cool the intake charge, Jensen explains. This was a bit like the water injection systems used in later high-performance cars, but the main purpose was to prevent detonation rather than to enhance performance.

The Jetfire brochure stated that a 5-liter tank of fluid could be used for 300 to 3,000 miles, depending on how aggressive the driver was with the throttle. When the fluid runs out, the butterfly valve in the throttle body closes and the engine returns to naturally aspirated air.

Jensen notes that there are currently about 120 surviving Jetfires, but only 50 have functioning turbos. He is currently working with another Minnesota-based enthusiast to rebuild the Jetfire's turbo hardware, but not all rebuilt units will be installed in the Jetfire. Some have been installed in Cutlass convertibles (all Jetfires were coupes) and are popular upgrades in the MG sports car aftermarket, he says.

In other words, you are unlikely to see an intact Jetfire today.