Windsor Artist Delivers
Car-Part Sculpture to Jay Leno
Story by Paula Just
Photography Courtesy Caesars Windsor
Combining craftsmanship with admiration, Windsor artist Peter Solly paid tribute to one of North America’s most iconic entertainers in a truly unique way. Jay Leno was recently honored with a custom-built sculpture, made entirely from automotive parts, which celebrates both his comedic legacy and his love for cars. The meeting between the creator, the creature and the inspiration happened before a comedy show at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino.
Owner of McDonald Muffler, Peter is 58 years old and has been creating sculptures with car parts for years, which he finds in his shop at Eugenie and Howard Ave. A big fan of Jay Leno, he decided to make the art piece and deliver it to him last year during a presentation of the artist in the United States. However, the organization there blocked the delivery, citing logistical issues.
Here in Windsor, the situation would have been the same if Peter had not been persistent. He started talking to some acquaintances and eventually connected with the owners of Stahls Automotive Museum, located in Michigan and known for its classic car collection and close connection with Leno. Peter managed to get them to send photos of the sculpture to the comedian, who responded by calling him on his personal cellphone.
“We talked and his secretary arranged everything; she gave me backstage passes. Then I called the casino, saying that I’d talked with Leno myself and they allowed me to meet him,” he said. Peter acknowledges that without the support of Caesars Windsor, the meeting with Leno would not have been possible.
The art was delivered before Leno’s comedy show, and he was thrilled by the tribute. “He smiled, and he laughed, and he said, yeah, it really looks like me,” he remembered. “They loved my creativity and the fact that it was made of auto parts. He was really happy and humbled by the fact that I built a sculpture of him and his likeness.”
The piece is 2.4 meters tall, took 40 hours to complete and was made using the following materials: the body is made from a muffler of a large diesel truck, the head resembles a helium balloon canister and the belt buckles are crafted from a massive brake pad. The belt itself was fashioned from a large timing chain, while the feet and legs were constructed out of exhaust tubing. Even the fingers were created using square flat bars. The painting of the piece was done by artist Glen Hawkes, a frequent collaborator in their creations.
In the sculpture, Leno is wearing denim clothing, referencing the outfit he always wore while hosting one of Peter’s favorite shows: Jay Leno’s Garage, where he talked about the automotive world, including restoration projects, his car collection and collector fairs. Coincidentally, on the day of the meeting, the comedian was wearing the “same” clothes, something he pointed out.
To Peter, the moment was really special. “I loved to present the sculpture made out of auto parts in my hometown, a blue-collar and automotive city.”
As special as this encounter was, it wasn’t their first. Three decades separate the two moments, both marked by a casino with the same name: Caesars. The first meeting took place in Las Vegas when Leno was starting his career. “A big white limousine pulled up in the front of the casino, and Jay Leno got out, shook all our hands and talked to us for a few minutes. I met him even before he was on The Tonight Show,” Peter recalled. Between one casino and the next, thirty years passed, countless projects were completed and a dream crossed borders.
But the story has an even better ending. Given the success of the piece and the impossibility of Leno taking it with him after the show, the creation is set to follow a special path. Initially, it will be displayed for a while at the Stahls Automotive Museum. Then, the sculpture will be sent to California, where it will find its final home in Leno’s garage in Burbank.
“I’m really excited, and everyone knows who he is. Since the news broke, people walked up to me on the streets and all over the place. It is really cool and a great feeling.”
Creating sculptures is Peter’s true passion. He has signed pieces all around the city and the surrounding area, including the Terry Fox sculpture at St. Clair College and a fisherman at Lakeside Park in Kingsville. Among his most memorable works is the tribute to Nell, a rescue dog, in Sandpoint Beach, as well as collaborations with the Unifor Local 444 union. He also combined art and creativity to craft a sculpture of the legendary player Gordie Howe and a replica of the bridge named after him.
Peter makes everything, from collecting to assembling recycled materials, entirely. “I create everything, save all the parts and clean them all up. Then I configure them so that they fit properly, to make the caricature of the person that I desire to build,” he explains. In addition to his artistic work, he also promotes charitable initiatives with his pieces, organizes concert series and sponsors fundraising events to support various initiatives throughout the city.
With overflowing talent and a boldness that defies convention, Peter Solly has turned his passion for art and automobiles into a journey marked by unique works and unforgettable encounters. His creativity has taken him to places few artists ever reach—connecting people, cities and stories through metal and imagination. “How else would I get to meet Jay Leno? My artwork and my creativity got me to meet him.”
And if it’s up to Peter, this is just the beginning. “Maybe this will open the door for me to give some tributes to celebrities and famous people, which would be amazing. I have always wanted to have a TV show at the shop, fixing cars and sculptures, putting Windsor on the map. Maybe I’ll try.”
Published in the Summer 2025 edition.
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