Back

Explore every episode of the podcast To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History

Dive into the complete episode list for To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 159

TitlePub. DateDuration
Porsche 928 vs. C3 Corvette, Lancia Zagato Fires & The Reality of Owning 29 Cars 🔥🇩🇪09 Dec 202500:39:23

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What happens when you live by the philosophy that "you make money on the buy"? You end up with a $900 1970 Chevelle Malibu Convertible that funds your future Ferrari... and a fleet of 28 other cars that might just be owning you. 🤯🚗

In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Katz (aka Drivin' Ivan), a car reviewer, musician, and collector with over 1,400 car reviews on YouTube. Ivan takes us through his wild automotive history, growing up in his grandfather's car radio shop in Alexandria, VA, and building a collection that ranges from air-cooled Porsches to obscure Italian oddities.

We dive deep into the reality of maintaining 29 vehicles, his controversial take on why the C3 Corvette "should be ashamed" compared to the Porsche 928, and the time his Lancia caused a fire so bad the local fire department still remembers it.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 💸 The $900 Chevelle: How buying a 1970 Chevelle Malibu Convertible for dirt cheap became the foundation of his "Ferrari fund."
  • 🔥 The Lancia Inferno: The harrowing story of his first Lancia Zagato resulting in the worst car fire his local fire department had ever seen (and why he bought another one!).
  • 🇩🇪 The German Corvette: Why Ivan believes the 1978 Porsche 928 is superior to the American C3 Corvette in every way.
  • ⚾ The Audi TT: The details on his rare Audi TT Roadster with the "baseball glove" leather interior and its surprising mechanical link to the Bugatti Veyron.
  • 📻 Radio Roots: Growing up at Morris Katz and Sons, where they installed radios in everything from Porsches to daily drivers before stereo systems were standard.

Ivan loved our episode with John Davis, the voice of MotorWeek for 45 years! Johntook us through the origins of MotorWeek and his early cars including a fantastic DeTomaso Pantera: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/18157530

Whether you are a hoarder of project cars, a lover of obscure European imports, or just want to know what it really costs to maintain a 29-car fleet, this episode is a reality check you won't want to miss.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What is the most cars you have ever owned at one time? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

From air-cooled Porsches to obscure Italian sports cars to imports nobody in America recognizes, Ivan holds nothing back on what it really costs — in time, money, and sanity — to maintain a fleet this size.

*** BONUS - We've partnered with Drivin' Ivan for car reviews - watch his full YouTube Car Review of Doug's 1981 DeLorean DMC-12: https://youtu.be/Vyy-gqAXC20?si=7PL5iO-kPNpsw4Ei

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

McPherson College: The Only 4-Year Classic Car Restoration Degree 🎓🔧25 Nov 202501:00:02

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Classic car restoration training and automotive education at McPherson College. Meet students restoring a 1928 Model A...

Would you daily drive a 95-year-old car to class? For Cash, a student at McPherson College, his 1928 Ford Model A Sport Coupe isn't just a showpiece—it's his ride, complete with a golden retriever in the rumble seat. 🐕🚙

In this episode, we go back to school with Cash and his instructor Chris to explore the only four-year automotive restoration degree program in the United States. Located in McPherson, Kansas, this unique college is preserving "heritage skills" like babbitting, upholstery, and metal fabrication that are disappearing from the modern world.

We dive deep into the culture of "The Sheds," where students wrench on their own projects late into the night, and the incredible story of Cash acquiring a rare 1917 Franklin Cloverleaf Coupe that arrived in 40 unlabeled boxes.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🏎️ The Daily Driver: Why Cash chose a 1928 Model A Ford as his primary vehicle right after high school and the reality of 500-mile road trips in a pre-war car.
  • 🧩 The Puzzle Project: The daunting task of restoring a 1917 Franklin Cloverleaf Coupe (aluminum body, air-cooled, wooden frame) that Cash bought as a literal basket case of parts.
  • 🎓 The McPherson Difference: Inside the curriculum that teaches students to be "mechanics, detectives, artists, and historians," leading to jobs at top museums and Pebble Beach wins.
  • 🔧 Heritage Skills: Why Chris believes AI can never replace the feel of turning an engine by hand or the art of hand-sewing vintage upholstery.
  • ☀️ Summer Institute: How hobbyists can get a taste of the program through the college's immersive summer workshops.

Want to hear more about how McPherson College's Automotive Restoration program helped launch a career? Listen to our full episode with McPherson alum, Mason Ball - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17426714

Whether you're a prospective student, a classic car collector, or just love the idea of a college where homework involves restoring a multimillion-dollar Mercedes, this episode is a masterclass in automotive passion.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What classic car would you choose as your college daily driver? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1974 Ford Mustang II: The History of the Forgotten Muscle Car 🐎🇺🇸23 Sep 202500:34:59

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Muscle car history and the restoration of a 1974 Ford Mustang II. Rebuilding one of America’s most hated Mustangs...

What happens when you give a 14-year-old a driver's license, a 1974 Mustang II found in a field, and a welder? 🤯🏎️

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy, the creator of the Freedom Top Vault—a game-changing accessory for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator owners. Jeremy takes us on a journey from his childhood in South Dakota (where he legally drove at 14!) to inventing a product that solves a problem every Jeep owner hates: where to put those Freedom Panels when the sun comes out.

We also dive into his history of "creative" automotive fixes, including a VW Rabbit Cabriolet held together by duct tape and an alternator bracket made of zip ties that lasted for 50,000 miles.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🐎 The Custom Mustang II: How Jeremy and his dad customized the front end of a '74 Mustang found in a grove of trees—long before he was old enough to vote.
  • 👮 The Nitrous Incident: The story of his 1977 Monte Carlo, a stoplight race with a Ford LTD police car, and the hidden nitrous plate that got his car impounded.
  • 🚙 The Jeep Problem: The 8-year journey from a rough iPad sketch to a patent-pending product that stores Jeep hardtop panels safely in the vehicle.
  • 🛠️ "Who Not How": The business philosophy Jeremy used to navigate the complex world of patents, engineering, and manufacturing.
  • 🗺️ The Ultimate Road Trip: Driving a duct-taped VW convertible from Arizona to South Dakota with no radio and a zip-tied engine.

Don't miss Jeremy's favorite episode with Rob Walko featuring a few more Mustangs:  https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17645503-mustang-memories-sema-show-adventures-automotive-photographer-rob-s-first-cars-to-car-culture-journey

Whether you are a Jeep enthusiast, an aspiring inventor, or just love a good story about 70s muscle cars and bad decisions, this episode is for you.

🔗🌲 Visit our LinkTree for all of our content and 60+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: What is the "sketchiest" roadside repair you've ever done to get a car home? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hidden Craftsmanship - Ferrari's Hammer Marks with Tom Yang17 Dec 202400:00:19

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

A special thank you to renowned classic Ferrari restorer, Tom Yang, for sharing details of the original process that went into handcrafting the metal on these beautiful cars. We can't wait to share the entire episode with you!

https://youtube.com/shorts/cdHPhNo4Dpw

#carcast #carsloved #everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #ferrari #ferrari330 #tomyang #toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SpeedyCop's 20 Year Dream Car Restoration "Eleanor" Mustang!16 Dec 202400:01:28

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

SpeedyCop tells us about his plans to finish his Eleanor Mustang built from the official body kit that is one of only 500 made.

#speedycop #carsloved #toallthecarsivelovedbefore #everycartellsastory #everycartellsastory #eleanormustang #gonein60seconds #Eleanor

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SpeedyCop's Family 1967 Chevelle: A Hilarious Story12 Dec 202400:00:24

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Listen to the tale of SpeedyCop's (Jeff) first car - a 1967 Chevelle Wagon that was purchased by his grandmother new off the showroom floor. Several members of the family learned to drive on this straight-six, 3 on the tree wagon. Eventually it became Jeff's car and he did what he could to keep it alive despite the rust, but eventually it was sold for scrap. Ironically, Jeff tries to rely on scrap pruchases for his project builds.

#speedycop #podcast #carcast #everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #carsloved #chevelle #family #stationwagon

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SpeedyCop turns a Pop-up Camper into a Race Car? NASCAR SHOCK!12 Dec 202400:00:35

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

UPCOMING EPISODE ALERT - we were fortunate enough to catch up with Jeff Bloch aka SpeedyCop this week and wanted to share this clip where Jeff tells us about the excitement as a track full of Nascar fans go nuts as they watch his Pop-up Camper shell on an Suzuki X-90 chassis race on a Nascar track. You don't see this everyday or ever!

#speedycop #podcast #carcast #everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #carsloved #nascar #suzuki

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain: Autobahn Ford Probe GT & The Wartburg 353 🇩🇪🏎️10 Dec 202400:32:43

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What was car culture like behind the Iron Curtain? It involved waiting lists for plastic cars, 2-stroke engines, and heating fuel lines with an open flame just to get to school in the winter.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Kalinsky, who grew up in East Germany before moving to the US. His automotive journey began with a Wartburg 353—a 3-cylinder, 2-stroke sedan gifted by his grandmother. While it was considered the "luxury" alternative to the Trabant, it still required some serious "MacGyver" skills (and a lighter) to keep running.

Chris shares the culture shock of moving from a 50hp Eastern Bloc classic to a Ford Probe GT and taking it to the limit on the Autobahn. We also discuss the unwritten rules of German high-speed driving, the terror of being passed by a Lamborghini Diablo like he was standing still, and how a failed attempt to buy a Porsche 911 led to a friendship with past guest James McCrea.

And Don't miss Chris' favorite episode with his good friend and ours, James McCrea: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15677751

In this episode, we cover:

  • 🇩🇪 Iron Curtain Classics: Life with the Wartburg 353 (and why it was cooler than a Trabant).
  • 🔥 Winter Survival: The terrifying reality of using open fire to heat frozen fuel lines.
  • 🏎️ The Autobahn: Why German highways are curvy by design and the reality of 100mph+ commuting.
  • 🔄 Restoration & Regret: Selling his first car for a Ford Probe, only to hunt down another Wartburg 30 years later.
  • 🌲 Giving Back: How his current business supports rewilding and nature preservation in Finland.

Connect with us:

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why the Isuzu Trooper is a Rollover Hazard!05 Dec 202400:00:50

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Do you remember when the Isuzu Trooper II earned a reputation for rolling over? Tim from Season 3 tells us all about it and more.

#isuzutrooper #tippinghazard #danger #suvs #podcast #carsloved #everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #oops #1991

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My First Car Was a Tricked Out Classic Mercedes GTO!05 Dec 202400:01:12

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

One of many great stories with Kat DeLorean from Season 1 when she tells us how her dad turned a plain V6 Mercedes and swapped in a V8 to make it a "GTO Mercedes" for her first car. 

Check out Kat's full episode to hear the heartwarming stories of growing up a DeLorean - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80

#everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #delorean #mercedes #podcast #carsloved


          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Drifting a 1971 VW Beetle? Why Not!04 Dec 202400:00:21

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Joe from Season 3 tells us about his first car, an unregistered 1972 VW Beetle, which he proceeded to drift in his parents driveway. A 1971 VW Westfalia followed in a few years but this one came with tags.

#everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture #teenshenanigans #podcast #vwbeetle #carsloved

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What could go wrong when 7 teenagers are packed into a Corvair !?!03 Dec 202400:00:39

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Richard McCuistian from Season 2 / Episode 2 shares a nostalgic story about a packed Corvair adventure after a church outing.

#McCuistian #RichardMcCuistian #Corvair #MotorAge #MotorAgeMagazine #carsloved #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #carsloved #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Porsche 914: Is Vapor Lock a Real Thing?02 Dec 202400:00:39

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

How Eric learned about the dreaded vapor lock with his Porsche 914. Click here to listen to the full episode with Eric - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/5a33d4461718379719e33e990a83f722

#Porsche914 #AirCooled #Vaporlock #carsloved #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #carsloved #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

He Owns 1980s Classics: 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 and 1984 Chrysler Laser XE 🕹️🏎️15 Sep 202500:36:33

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

1980s sports cars and the history of the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 and the 1984 Chrysler Laser XE Turbo...

Every car enthusiast has THE car. For Curt Bellotti, it was always the DeLorean. But before he could afford his stainless steel dream, he fell in love with the "poor man's KITT"—a 1984 Chrysler Laser XE Turbo with a digital dashboard straight out of Knight Rider. 🕹️⚡

In this episode, we sit down with Curt to trace his 40-year journey from that high-tech Chrysler to finally purchasing a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 in 2024. We explore the gap between fantasy and reality: Does driving your hero car live up to decades of hype?

We also dive into his "love-hate" relationship with a 2001 PT Cruiser, the nostalgia of 80s digital dashes, and why he believes the DeLorean would actually win a race against his old Turbo Laser (despite what the spec sheets say).

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🕹️ The "Poor Man's KITT": Why the Chrysler Laser XE's digital dashboard and voice alerts made it the ultimate 80s tech flex.
  • ⚡ The DeLorean Dream: The exact moment Curt decided "I WILL own one someday," and the reality of finally driving it 40 years later.
  • 📉 The PT Cruiser Phase: Why a 2001 PT Cruiser became the "least favorite car" he ever owned (blame the terrible twos!).
  • 🆚 The Showdown: A hypothetical race between the DeLorean and the Laser Turbo—and why Lotus suspension makes all the difference.
  • 🎸 80s Culture: How Van Halen and arcade hobbies influenced his automotive tastes.

And don't miss Curt's favorite episode with Timothy Kearns and the origin of the intermittent windshield wiper: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17461644

Whether you're a fan of Radwood-era classics, curious about the reality of owning a DeLorean, or just love a good story about patience and payoff, this episode is a time-traveling trip you won't want to miss.

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • Visit our LinkTree for all of our content and episodes: 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved
  • Check out our Guest Road Trip Playlist on Spotify

📢 Join the Conversation: What was your "poor man's" version of a dream car? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hilarious Chevy Monte Carlo Crash That Ruined My Night!01 Dec 202400:00:30

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

The hilarious story of how Tim's (Season 1, Episode 3) 
1972 Chevy Monte Carlo got rear-ended at a stop light. Nobody was injured, but this is good for a laugh.

#ChevyMonteCarlo #MonteCarlo #carsloved #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #carsloved #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why You Need Manual Transmission Skills NOW!30 Nov 202400:00:24

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Only 3% of the cars/trucks being made today have manual transmissions which is why our guest Eric (Season 1, Episode 5) shared that we need to teach the younger generation how to drive stick shift now. He put his kids on dirt bikes to prepare them before getting behind the wheel of a manual Jeep.

Click here to listen to the full episode with Eric - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/5a33d4461718379719e33e990a83f722

#Jeep #savethemanuals #carsloved #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #carsloved #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Is the Ford F150 Harley Davidson edition the Ultimate Dream Ride?29 Nov 202400:01:07

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

From our Season 1 Finale, Kat Delorean chatted with us about her 2002 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition. 

#fordf150 #delorean #btff #carsloved #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #carsloved #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jeep Wrangler Life: First Car Stories and Off-Road Culture ⛰️🚙26 Nov 202400:36:49

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Jeep Wrangler YJ restoration and off-road culture. First car stories about growing up with Jeeps and 4x4s...

Is there anything better than learning to drive a manual transmission on a Jeep Wrangler with the doors off and the top down? ☀️🚙

In this episode, we sit down with Megan, a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan and lover of "land yachts," to discuss her automotive journey. From a family Jeep that survived three siblings to buying a classic 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60sight-unseen on eBay, Megan shares why she refuses to drive an automatic and why her "first car" experience defined her love for rugged vehicles.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚙 The Family Jeep: How a single Jeep Wrangler served as the first car for Megan and her two older brothers (and survived high school).
  • 🇯🇵 The eBay Gamble: The story of buying her dream truck—a red 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser—online 12 years ago and why she still drives it today.
  • 🕹️ Save the Manuals: Why Megan specifically hunted down a base-model Ford Explorer just so she could have a stick shift.
  • 🇮🇹 Dream Machines: Why a Maserati is the one car that might finally tempt her away from vintage SUVs.
  • ❤️ Hospice & History: Megan’s touching work with Talbot Hospice and why listening to the stories of the elderly is the ultimate lesson in nostalgia.

Don't miss Megan's favorite episode featuring her FJ60 Land Cruiser master mechanic, James: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15677751

Whether you are a Jeep loyalist, a Land Cruiser fan, or just remember the freedom of your own first car, this episode is packed with stories of the road less traveled.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you learn to drive on a stick shift? What was your first car? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore



          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Tale of Two Pontiac GTOs22 Nov 202400:00:42

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

We play a brief game of automotive trivia with one of our guests from Weber State University's Automotive Technology program about the origins of the original Pontiac GTO and the rebirth with the 2004-2006 version. Listen in to how we stump Christian and his surprise when he learns the true source.

#pontiacGTO #pontiac #WeberStateUniversity #podcast #ToAllTheCarsIveLovedBefore #everycartellsastory #everycarhasaculture

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What happens when you take a Ford Exploder through an Arby's drive thru?20 Nov 202400:01:00

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

One of our student guests from Weber State University's Automotive Technology program wasn't always so handy with a wrench. Listen to this soundbite from an upcoming episode to learn how her “Ford Exploder” got its nickname during a trip to Arby's.

#fordexploder #weberstateuniversity #carsloved #podcast #EveryCarTellsAStory #evercarhasaculture

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From a $300 LeBaron to Owning a DeLorean Time Machine: Andy McFly's Story ⚡🕰️12 Nov 202400:41:21

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What happens when a 10-year-old sees Back to the Future Part II at a drive-in theater and decides his destiny is to own a time machine? You get Andy McFly and the incredible story behind RentDeLorean.com. 🕰️⚡

In this episode, we sit down with Andy (yes, he goes by McFly!) to trace his journey from a humble 1985 Chrysler LeBaron—a $300 grandma hand-me-down with holes in the floor that he spray-painted with "The Flash" logo—to owning his ultimate dream car: a DMC DeLorean.

Andy shares how he turned his passion into a business, bringing joy to events as a Doc Brown impersonator. He recounts heartwarming stories, like the time an 8-year-old boy with a cochlear implant, dressed as Marty McFly, met the car of his dreams. We also geek out over his TARDIS Free Library (Minnesota's #1 Geocache spot!) and his encounters with Christopher Lloyd and other cast members.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • ⚡ The "Flash Mobile": Andy’s first car, a 1985 Chrysler LeBaron, which he customized with a Flash lightning bolt (and learned to fix out of necessity).
  • 🕰️ The DeLorean Dream: How a childhood obsession with Back to the Future led to buying the car in 2012 and launching a rental business.
  • 👴 Meeting Doc Brown: The hilarious story of meeting Christopher Lloyd while dressed as a "Doc Brown Klingon" at a Star Trek convention.
  • ❤️ The "Why" Moments: A tear-jerking story about a young fan with a cochlear implant that reminded Andy why he shares his car with the world.
  • 🚀 The TARDIS Library: How Andy built a full-sized Doctor Who TARDIS in his front yard that became a local landmark.

Don't miss Andy's favorite episode with Lisa, another 80s child who shared her 1995 Chevrolet Camaro and other cherished GM memories: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15764078

Whether you're an 80s kid, a movie buff, or just someone who believes that "if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything," Andy’s story is a heavy dose of nostalgia and inspiration.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: If you could own any movie car, what would it be? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How “Melissa Turbo” got her nickname...07 Nov 202400:00:36

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Today we have a blast from the past to share with Melissa from Season 1 Episode 2. Listen to learn how she earned the infamous high school nickname - Turbo.

Be sure to listen Melissa's full episode here - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/ab4645057e7fd36c7d2f7f0f840a0510

#everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory #toallthecarsivelovedbefore #turbo #ChryslerLeBaron #podcast

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1988 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo that Talked: 80s Performance and First Car Stories 🏎️💨07 Nov 202400:26:45

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

1980s performance cars and the 1988 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo. Memories of the "talking car" and first car stories...

Can a burgundy hatchback with a velour interior give you "street cred"? For Melissa, driving a hand-me-down 1988 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo didn't just give her freedom—it earned her the high school nickname "Turbo." 🏎️💨

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa to relive the glory days of 80s tech (including the robotic voice that constantly reminded her "The door is ajar"). She shares the story of how her grandfather bought the car thinking it was cool, only for it to become her quirky, stalling, unreliable daily driver.

We also trace her automotive journey from that first turbo hatchback to a trusty Jeep Cherokee Sport in college, and finally to her current life as a "Domestic Chief Executive" driving a Subaru Ascent.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🏎️ The Legend of "Turbo": How a 16-year-old girl earned a fast nickname in a car that frequently shut off at red lights.
  • 🗣️ The Talking Car: Memories of the 1980s Chrysler voice alert system that felt like a low-budget Knight Rider.
  • 👴 Grandfather’s Gift: The heartwarming (and slightly hilarious) backstory of her grandfather buying the LeBaron because he thought it was the ultimate cool car.
  • 🚙 Jeep Life: Transitioning from the unreliable LeBaron to the cult-classic Jeep Cherokee (XJ) for her college years.
  • 👪 The Family Hauler: Why the Subaru Ascent won out as the vehicle of choice for modern family life (and avoiding the minivan stigma).

Melissa's favorite episode features her husband, Adam who shares how to "Bang Gears the Wrong Way - https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/14674008

Whether you remember the smell of burgundy velour, had a car that talked to you, or just love a good story about the cars that define our youth, this episode is a fun, nostalgic ride.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Did your first car have a nickname? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mustang Family Lifestyle: Rob's Family of Origin Car Obsession06 Nov 202400:00:55

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Upcoming Episode Alert - There are a few great cars that are synonymous with American car culture and we were fortunate to have Rob join us a few weeks ago to share how Ford Mustangs are a family affair. Here's the short clip on how Rob's father managed to get his parents to buy a more powerful Mustang to replace the slower one after he totaled it. What a brilliant man! 

Rob's favorite episode is "Vintage Car Adventures & Restoration Stories" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16673210-vintage-car-adventures-restoration-stories-mustang-sunbeam-porsche-911-to-ferrari-300-america


          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Air-Cooled Culture: Building the "Small Car Company" Club & The 200HP "German Look" 1972 Beetle 🇩🇪🔧09 Sep 202500:48:00

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Some car enthusiasts are born; others—like Dave's father—need convincing. It took five decades and seven different VW Beetles to turn his dad from a skeptic into a believer. 🐞✨

In this episode, we sit down with Dave, the founder of the Small Car Company, a unique car club in Connecticut with "no dues, no minutes, and no politics." Dave shares his lifelong obsession with air-cooled Volkswagens, from the "German Look" 200-horsepower 1972 Super Beetle that surprises everyone to the grassroots community he built from scratch.

We also dive into his powerful initiative, Mentors and Motors, which connects vocational students with classic car restoration skills, teaching them not just how to fix a flat-six engine, but how to navigate life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🐞 The "German Look" Beetle: The specs on Dave’s 1972 Super Beetle, modified with a 200HP engine and Porsche-style suspension that got him invited into a classroom.
  • 🤝 The Small Car Company: How a casual breakfast with a neighbor turned into a massive club named after a defunct local VW dealership.
  • 🎓 Mentors and Motors: The inspiring story of partnering with Bullard-Havens Technical High School to open doors for inner-city auto tech students.
  • 🏎️ Car Show Culture: Why the best car clubs happen organically (without Robert's Rules of Order) and stories of Rod Emery Porsches showing up at local meets.
  • 👨‍👦 The Dad Conversion: The decades-long journey of sharing the air-cooled passion with a father who didn't initially "get it."

Don't forget to listen to Dave's favorite episode with Guinevere of Freccia Brothers Air Cooled Specialists: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16886205

Whether you're a diehard VW fan, a Porsche purist, or just someone who believes in the power of cars to build community, this episode is a heartwarming ride.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Have you ever convinced a family member to love a car they hated? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

⭐ Love these father-son car stories? Leave us a review!

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"It's a Jeep Thing" with Megan05 Nov 202400:00:58

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

We had another great guest interview yesterday with Megan and have to share a clip from that upcoming episode. She had several great stories including her family's maroon 1987 Jeep Wrangler which served not only her but also two brothers through high school.

Megan's favorite is "Rust to Riches – James’s Restoration Secrets and Craftsmanship Journey" https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/48f07efddc0bf7859f40c85efc58d654

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The time that Eric traded his British racing green 1977 Triumph TR-7 for an acre of land in Oklahoma04 Nov 202400:00:41

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Our Season 1 episode with Eric was a blast, especially when he shared that how he struck a deal with a college professor and traded his beloved British racing green 1977 Triumph TR-7 for an acre of land in Oklahoma that he still owns...but he can't locate on any maps. 

Click here to listen to the full episode with Eric - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/5a33d4461718379719e33e990a83f722

#triumphtr7 #Oklahoma #britishracinggreen #podcast #toallthecarsivelovedbefore #everycarhasaculture #EveryCarTellsAStory

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Preview - Conrad's M998 Hummer story01 Nov 202400:00:58

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Here's a short clip from an episode with Conrad, a college student who joined the national guard in order to drive one of his dream cars, err dream utility vehicle.

Listen to the full episode with Conrad here - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/14e35670c2a8268fa17865087a9c69af

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The $4,000 Ford Ranger "Time Capsule" & A Dream '72 VW Beetle: Father-Son Car Stories 🛻🐞29 Oct 202400:32:39

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What happens when a 16-year-old buys a 1994 Ford Ranger that’s been kept like a time capsule... only for it to break down in the driveway the next morning? 🛻💥

In this episode, we sit down with Tom and Aiden, a father-son duo who prove that the love of cars is genetic. From Tom’s memories of his dad’s 1966 Mustang Convertible and a 500-horsepower ’64 Corvette Stingray (that threw a rod on day one), to Aiden’s resourceful journey keeping a 30-year-old truck on the road using eBay Motors and sheer determination.

We dive deep into the multi-generational bond formed over chrome and gasoline, including Aiden’s dream of parking next to his grandfather’s '57 Thunderbird at a car show.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🏎️ The Muscle Car Era: Tom’s stories of growing up in San Diego with a dad who swapped cars every few years—including a Z3 Roadster that led to a very friendly speeding ticket.
  • 🛻 The Ranger Project: How Aiden found a pristine 1994 Ford Ranger on Facebook Marketplace, dealing with the "five puddles in the driveway" reality, and his roadside transmission line hack to get to school on time.
  • 🔧 DIY Mechanics: Why Aiden relies on eBay Motors to source parts and how a neighbor helped him install a custom Skar Audio system.
  • 🏁 The Dream Car: Aiden’s hunt for a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle and why he fell in love with air-cooled culture.
  • 👨‍👦 Father-Son Bonding: The special connection formed by attending car shows like the Rare Air Show and sharing the passion for "old car culture."

Don't miss Aiden and Tom's favorite episode with the family of air-cooled specialists keeping the dream alive for 60+ years: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16886205

Whether you’re a fan of vintage muscle, love a good "first car" struggle, or just appreciate the bond between fathers and sons, this episode is a heartwarming ride through automotive history.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you bond with a parent over a car project? What was your first car? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Season 3 Preview - Every Car Has a Culture, according to Aiden...26 Oct 202400:00:22

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

We can't wait to drop our first episode of Season 3 on Tuesday, 10/29. In the meantime, here's a preview of Aiden's episode where he shares his thoughts on how every car has a culture. What do you think?

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monster Truck Driving: Nicole Johnson on Engineering and Off-Road Success 🛞💥15 Oct 202400:43:45

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Monster truck racing and engineering with Nicole Johnson. Success in Monster Jam and off-road rock crawling...

What happens when your daily driver has 66-inch tires and your job description includes "destroying cars"? For Nicole Johnson, that's just another day at the office. 🚜💥

In this episode, we sit down with the history-making Monster Jam driver who famously piloted the Scooby-Doo truck to global fame. Nicole shares her incredible journey from navigating treacherous terrain as a national champion rock crawler to becoming the first woman to land a backflip in a Monster Jam truck.

We dive deep into her automotive roots, including learning to drive a go-kart at age five and her time behind the wheel of her husband's 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser (affectionately dubbed the "Japanese Thunder Chicken").

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚙 The Rock Crawling Roots: How driving a friend's rig in a 2004 competition launched a family obsession that led to two National Rock Crawling Championships.
  • 🐶 The Scooby-Doo Era: What it's really like to pilot a 10,000-pound fan-favorite truck and the pressure of being a role model for young girls in a male-dominated sport.
  • 🔄 The Backflip: The terrifying and triumphant story of landing the first-ever backflip by a female driver at the Monster Jam World Finals.
  • 🚜 From "Taz" to "Grinder": Nicole's rapid rise through the ranks, driving the Tasmanian Devil and filling in for the Advance Auto Parts Grinder truck.
  • 🔧 Garage Life: Growing up with a diesel mechanic dad and how her husband Frank went from being her spotter on the rocks to her biggest supporter in the stadium.

You'll love Nicole's favorite episode with John DeLorean's daughter, Kat DeLorean, who shares heartwarming stories about her famous father: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15009054

Whether you're a fan of high-horsepower destruction, curious about the mechanics of rock crawling, or just love a good story about smashing glass ceilings (and cars), this episode is a must-listen.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Have you ever been to a Monster Jam event? Which truck is your favorite? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beyond the Wheel – Tom’s Triumphant Journey through Classic Cars and Life’s Crossroads01 Oct 202400:29:04

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Tom’s story is an odyssey of resilience, with cars as the constant companions through his life’s ups and downs. He begins with fond tales of his first car, a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and his long-held preference for silver paint jobs – little did he know how significant “silver” would become in his journey. Tom then shares an almost unbelievable chapter: trading his wheels for a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier at least in responsibility! During military service, he experienced life without a personal car, piloting massive ships instead of cruising in a Chevy Silverado. When Hurricane Katrina struck, Tom embarked on an epic road trip in his truck to help rebuild New Orleans, illustrating how deeply automotive culture and duty to others intertwined for him.

Tom's favorite episode of our podcast is from our very first season - "Shifting Gears – Adam’s Modded Imports and Track Day Tales" https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/8eddefd1724ff29d934da24090b0d2f2

The episode doesn’t shy away from hardships – Tom opens up about losing his childhood home (and beloved first car) to a fire, battling addiction, and overcoming homelessness. Through each challenge, the theme emerges that cars and the car community were therapeutic and grounding forces in his life. By the end, Tom has listeners cheering as he finds stability and joy again, eventually behind the wheel of a 2015 Silverado that symbolizes how far he’s come. 

This powerful, emotionally charged episode transcends typical car talk; it’s about the human spirit, the drive to survive, and how the love of cars can steer us through even the darkest roads

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

GM Enthusiast: 1995 Chevy Camaro T-Tops and Pontiac G6 History 🏎️💨17 Sep 202400:34:30

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

General Motors history featuring the 1995 Chevy Camaro T-Tops and the final Pontiac G6 Convertible ever built...

What do you do when your favorite car brand announces it’s going out of business forever? If you’re Lisa, you rush to the dealership on New Year's Eve to buy one of the last ones left. 🚙💨

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa—a Baltimore native with GM oil in her veins—to track her "Bowtie" and "Arrowhead" heavy car history. It started at 16 with a 1995 Chevy Camaro (Patriot Red with T-Tops and custom violet pearl flake paint) paid for with Pizza Hut paychecks.

She then takes us through the "best money she ever spent"—a 2004 Pontiac Sunfire that survived law school and 180,000 miles on the original clutch. But the crown jewel of her story is her "Quarter-Life Crisis" car: a Pontiac G6 Hardtop Convertible purchased on December 31, 2009—literally the last day of Pontiac's existence.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🦅 The Last Pontiac: The frantic story of buying a Navy Blue G6 Convertible hours before the brand officially folded.
  • 🍕 The Pizza Hut Camaro: Buying a '95 Camaro at 16 and adding custom violet pearl flake paint because stock wasn't enough.
  • 📉 The Quarter-Life Crisis: Why Lisa skipped the "Mid-Life Crisis Red" and went straight for a "Quarter-Life Crisis Blue" convertible.
  • ⚡ The DeLorean Connection: Lisa's love for the 80s, renting a DeLorean for her birthday, and the time she almost bought one at a charity auction for $20k.
  • 🛠️ GM Family Roots: Growing up in a family where driving anything other than a GM product was practically treason.

Lisa's recommends our pilot episode, "From First Stick-Shift to Cobra Thrills – Devin’s Classic Car Journey" https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/14611262

Whether you're a die-hard Pontiac fan who misses the brand or just love a story about emotional attachments to our cars, Lisa’s journey is a tribute to American metal.

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • Visit our website for more stories, guest car pics, and our Road Trip playlist on Spotify: carsloved.com
  • Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you ever own a Pontiac? Do you miss the brand? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Restoring the Past: Triumph Spitfire, Arctic Volvo Duett & First Car Stories with James McCrea 🛠️🇬🇧03 Sep 202400:44:09

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What defines a true "Barn Find"? Is it a dusty car left in a field, or is it finding a high school friend 30 years later who now runs a restoration shop inside a barn? 🏚️🤔

In this episode, we sit down with James McRae, owner of McRae Enterprises LLC, to talk about the art of keeping vintage metal alive. Broadcasting from his shop on the Eastern Shore of Maryland—surrounded by skeletons of Packards, Porsches, and Volvos—James shares his incredible journey from driving a land-yacht first car to restoring concourse-level classics.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚓 The "Undercover" First Car: The story of his 1977 Chevy Caprice Classic, a two-tone V8 behemoth that looked suspiciously like an undercover police cruiser.
  • 🇬🇧 The Impulse Buy: How he bought a Kermit-green 1976 Triumph Spitfire for $1,000 that had no brakes (and had to be "bumper towed" home at night).
  • ❄️ The Arctic Volvo: The fascinating history of a 1962 Volvo 210 Duett that spent its life above the Arctic Circle and required two heater cores to keep the driver alive.
  • 🏎️ The Dream Realized: Why James finally pulled the trigger on a Porsche 996 Cabriolet and why it’s his form of therapy.
  • 🛠️ The Lost Art: A look into the reality of auto restoration, hunting for parts on forums, and learning from the last generation of engine rebuilders.

Don't miss Megan, the owner of a FJ60 Land Cruiser who shared her eBay Motors purchase experience with our listeners on this fun episode: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16170942

Whether you are a fan of British roadsters, curious about the restoration business, or just love a good first car story involving a bench seat and a V8, this episode is a barn find of its own.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What is the "one that got away"—the car you sold but wish you had kept? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1972 Fiat 124 Spider & Datsun 240Z: Classic Sports Car Restoration 🇮🇹🇯🇵20 Aug 202400:38:57

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Classic sports car restoration of the 1972 Fiat 124 Spider and the Datsun 240Z. Couples who wrench together...

They say couples who wrench together, stay together. For Aimee and John Russell, a shared love for the "vintage lifestyle" has fueled over 26 years of marriage and a garage full of memories. 💑🔧

In this episode, we sit down with the couple to discuss their automotive love story. Aimee recounts her first car—a "Metallic Chocolate" early 70s Chevy Malibu that required two feet on the brake pedal just to keep it from rolling through stoplights. John takes us through his eclectic collection, from his "poor man's Ferrari" (a 1972 Fiat 124 Spiderwith a Lampredi engine) to the Datsun 240Z he convinced Aimee to let him buy.

But the real heart of the episode is the connection to our previous guest, Joe Gibson. John shares the hilarious story of selling a car to Joe in high school, only to get a call from the police at 3 AM because it had been impounded in the school parking lot. 🚓📞

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🍫 The Unstoppable Malibu: Aimee’s terrifying first car experience in a goldish-brown Chevy Malibu that refused to stop.
  • 🚔 The 3 AM Police Call: The infamous story of John selling a car to his best friend (and previous podcast guest) Joe Gibson, which resulted in a late-night call from the cops and a lesson in fatherly support.
  • 🇮🇹 Poor Man's Ferrari: Why John considers his 1972 Fiat 124 Spider (Russo Red with a hot cam and Weber carb) equal to a million-dollar Italian exotic.
  • 🚐 The Road Trip Rig: The family's adventures in a retro Chevy Suburban (camper edition) used for cross-country trips and lighthouse restorations.
  • 🇯🇵 The Datsun 240Z: How John convinced Aimee to add a classic Japanese sports car to their stable.

John and Aimee had a hard time with picking their favorite, but turns out Joe - a friend from HS is number one on their list - "Wanderlust on Wheels – Joe’s Westfalia Camper Tales and Sporty Miata Memories" https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15521761

Whether you're a fan of Italian convertibles, American muscle, or just love a good high school story about friends getting into trouble, this episode proves that car culture is best enjoyed with the ones you love.

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • Visit our website for more stories, guest car pics, and our Road Trip playlist on Spotify: carsloved.com
  • Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: Do you share a car hobby with your partner? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Heartbeat of Diesel: Mercedes 240D Memories and Ford 1000 Tractor: A Philosophy of Reliability 🚜🔋02 Sep 202500:39:08

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What kind of person drives a 1984 Mercedes 240D into the ground for decades, believing it's the pinnacle of engineering, only to suddenly switch to a Tesla? For Croom, it wasn't just about changing cars—it was about testing a philosophy. 🧪🚗

In this episode, we sit down with Croom, whose automotive life began not with a sedan, but with a Ford 1000 Tractor on his family farm. That experience instilled a belief: build it right once, maintain it properly, and it will outlast everything.We explore how this mindset guided him through years of driving a "million-mile" Mercedes diesel and how it parallels his work in healthcare AI.

We dive deep into the math of maintaining a 40-year-old German tank versus buying new, the breakdown that finally changed his definition of reliability, and why he believes EVs might be the spiritual successors to the unkillable diesels of the past.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚜 The First "Car": Why Croom counts a Ford 1000 Tractor as his first vehicle and what farm life taught him about mechanical sympathy.
  • 🇩🇪 The Million-Mile Mindset: The logic behind driving a 1984 Mercedes 240D for decades and the "build it right once" philosophy that defines his life.
  • 📉 The Breakdown: The specific moment the Mercedes failed at the worst possible time, forcing a re-evaluation of what "reliable" actually means.
  • ⚡ The Switch to Tesla: Why a die-hard diesel mechanic/enthusiast decided an electric vehicle was the only logical next step.
  • 🤖 Farm to AI: The fascinating link between maintaining vintage machinery and developing cutting-edge healthcare technology.

Take a listen to Croom's favorite episode with McPherson College alum, Mason Ball and his success story in joining Wayne Carini's F40 Motorsports. https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17426714

Whether you're a diesel purist, an EV convert, or just someone who appreciates the philosophy of "buy it for life," this episode offers a unique perspective on the machines we trust with our lives.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Is reliability about simplicity (diesel) or fewer moving parts (EV)? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

VW Westfalia Camper: Van Life and Classic Volkswagen Maintenance 🚐⛺06 Aug 202400:33:06

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Classic Volkswagen maintenance and van life in a VW Westfalia Camper. Stories of air-cooled engines and road trips...

What happens when you sell your blown-up VW Westfalia to a "Deadhead" friend, only to get a call weeks later that it’s abandoned in Albuquerque? For Joe, that was just the beginning of a lifelong automotive obsession. 🚌💀

In this episode, we sit down with Joe—an Annapolis native with gasoline in his veins (his grandfather raced NASCAR in the 50s!)—to tour his impressive 8-car collection. We start with his first car, a 1971 VW Westfalia Camper that required drafting behind semi-trucks just to hit 60 MPH.

We then fast-forward to his current lineup, which ranges from a track-ready 1994 Mazda Miata and a 2004 Porsche 911to the 80s icon Chrysler Conquest TSi. Joe also reveals his ambitious plans for a 1962 VW Beetle "field find" that was buried in dirt for 15 years—he’s bringing it back to life with a modern electric vehicle (EV) conversion. ⚡🐞

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚍 The Westfalia Saga: Drafting semis, money-shifting the engine, and the fateful call from New Mexico after selling the bus to a Deadhead.
  • 🏁 NASCAR Roots: Growing up with a grandfather who raced in the 1950s and how that shaped Joe’s love for speed.
  • ⚡ The EV Beetle Project: Digging a 1962 VW Beetle out of a field and planning a 100-MPH electric conversion.
  • 🏎️ The Collection: A look at his diverse garage, including a Chrysler Conquest TSi and a Porsche 911.
  • 🏠 Dream Garage Build: Designing and building a 1,000-square-foot garage to house the obsession (and why you should always put the lift pads in before the concrete is poured).

Joe's favorite episode is "Vintage Love Story with Aimee and John" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15601036

Whether you love air-cooled classics, are intrigued by EV swaps, or just dream of building your own massive garage, Joe’s story is proof that the car hobby only gets better with age.

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • Visit our website for more stories, guest car pics, and our Road Trip playlist on Spotify: carsloved.com
  • Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: Would you EV swap a classic Beetle or keep it air-cooled? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

Joe's favorite episode is "Vintage Love Story with Aimee and John" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15601036-vintage-love-story-aimee-and-john-s-classic-cruises-and-family-road-trip-life

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, 1998 Chevy Cavalier & The Origin of a DeLorean Dream ⚡🚗23 Jul 202400:42:40

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What happens when you put a "Magic Man" decal on the back of your first car? For our guest Jim Gravina, it becomes a local legend that might still be driving around Syracuse today. 🪄🚗

In Part 1 of this two-part special, we sit down with Jim—a Senior Motion Designer and amateur magician—to trace his automotive roots. From learning to steer his grandfather's truck on a lake house fire road to the incredible story of his father's 1980 Camaro Z28, a car bought new on Leap Day 1980 that bears the license plate "B4 LYNN" (because he owned it before he met his wife!).

We dive into Jim's history with a bright blue 1998 Chevy Cavalier, a hand-me-down Hyundai Sonata that traveled across the country, and the precise negotiation tactics he used to buy his current Mazda 6. Plus, we set the stage for his ultimate dream car acquisition: the DeLorean DMC-12.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🏎️ The "B4 LYNN" Z28: The heartwarming story of Jim's dad restoring his original 1980 Camaro Z28 after it sat in the garage for 20 years.
  • 🪄 The Magic Man: How Jim used sleight-of-hand magic to overcome shyness and why he plastered his stage name on the back of his Chevy Cavalier.
  • 💼 The Career Journey: Moving from Syracuse to Indiana, California, Miami, and Virginia, and how his cars (like the trusty Sonata) came along for the ride.
  • ⚡ The DeLorean Origin: Seeing Back to the Future at age 10 and the embarrassing moment he thought a neighbor's DeLorean cost $3,500 (not $35,000).
  • 🤝 The Matching Funds: The deal Jim's dad made with him to buy his first car—saving dollar for dollar.

Jim loved the episode with Brian Paone, "I Set My DeLorean on Fire 2x: Drag Racing Dads & The "Midnight Cowboy" Ford Tempo ⚡🔥" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15046730-ford-tempo-as-your-first-car-brian-s-unique-car-history

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dig into the Emmy on Jim's shelf and the full story of buying and owning his dream DeLorean!

🔗 Links & Resources:

  • Visit our website for more stories, guest car pics, and our Road Trip playlist on Spotify: carsloved.com
  • Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you have a nickname or decal on your first car? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore


          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1989 Chevy Celebrity & 1996 Honda Civic: Everyday Family Car Memories 🚗🏠09 Jul 202400:39:03

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Everyday automotive history featuring the 1989 Chevy Celebrity and 1996 Honda Civic. Childhood car memories...

When Dee's mom surprised her with a white 1989 Chevy Celebrity after a sleepover, it wasn't just a car—it was a lesson in trust and independence. 🚗❤️

In this special family episode, Christian welcomes his sister Dee to the show to discuss the vehicles that defined their shared history. From the "boxy" Celebrity that carried her to late-night theater rehearsals to the green 1996 Honda Civic Hatchback she negotiated for herself (learning to drive stick on the test drive!), Dee proves that cars are more than just metal—they are family.

We dive into the hilarious story of changing a flat tire in a formal gown while a stranger offered a beer instead of help, and the poignant reality of driving her late mother's 2006 Honda Accord today—cigarette burns and all.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚗 The "Celebrity" Surprise: The story of Dee's first car, a 1989 Chevy Celebrity, and why her mom’s "tough love" approach to gifting it made it meaningful.
  • 🔧 Stick Shift Lessons: How Dee bought a 1996 Honda Civic Hatchback and learned to drive a manual transmission on one of Baton Rouge's busiest streets.
  • 👗 The Flat Tire Incident: A legendary family story about changing a tire on the side of the road in a formal dress while Christian’s Buick Skyhawk (decorated with Mardi Gras beads) drove by.
  • 🌹 Mom’s Accord: The emotional significance of driving her late mother's 2006 Honda Accord, and how opening the sunroof connects her daughter Ruthie to "Grandma in the sky".
  • 👶 Special Needs Parenting: Dee opens up about being a special needs mom and the importance of finding support and mental health resources for caregivers.

Dee loved hearing our episode with Kelly's guide to driving in Japan: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16330769

Whether you have a sibling you love to roast or a car that reminds you of a lost loved one, this episode is a touching tribute to family bonds and the miles we drive together.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Do you have a car that reminds you of a family member? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

VW Squarebacks, Corvair Spyders & The Art of Automotive Education with Richard McCuistian 🎓🔧25 Jun 202400:26:15

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

How does a mechanic with 25 years of shop experience end up becoming a writer for Motor Age and a YouTube educator with nearly 8 million views? 🤔💻

In this episode, we sit down with Richard McCuistian, a professional technician turned college instructor and editor for CarParts.com. Richard shares his incredible journey from growing up in his father's foreign car garage in Alabama to teaching the next generation of mechanics on YouTube.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🛠️ The DIY Origins: How Richard built his first drivable VW buggy from a scrap '64 Beetle and an army bed frame at just 14 years old.
  • 🏎️ The "Sleeper" Beetle: The story of his '58 VW Bug with shaved heads that surprised a Jaguar driver on Interstate 10.
  • 🚌 The Clown Car Corvair: The hilarious tale of fitting 8 teenagers into a 1963 Corvair Spyder and getting pulled over on a Sunday night.
  • 🎓 Teaching Philosophy: Why Richard believes "if you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself".
  • 🔧 Tech Talk: A deep dive into the quirks of Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection found in Volkswagens and DeLoreans.

Don't miss Richard's favorite episode with Weber State student/instructor duo episode, "From Mustang GT Builds to Pontiac GTO Restorations: Weber State Automotive Tech & Education" https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16548659-from-mustang-gt-builds-to-pontiac-gto-restorations-weber-state-automotive-tech-education

Whether you are a DIY wrencher, a professional tech, or just love classic air-cooled stories, Richard’s wisdom and storytelling are unmatched.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What’s the most people you’ve ever crammed into a car? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore!


          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

JDM: Building a Toyota Celica, Buying a Subaru WRX & The Import Tuner Scene 🇯🇵🔧11 Jun 202400:34:11

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

For many enthusiasts, the road to performance starts with a reliable coupe and ends with a turbocharged rally icon. For Chris, that journey began with a Toyota Celica and evolved into the raw power of a Subaru WRX. 🇯🇵💨

In this episode, we sit down with Chris to trace his "Import Tuner Evolution." We discuss the early days of modifying a Celica—learning the basics of wrenching, the hunt for aftermarket parts, and the unique culture of the JDM scene. Then, we shift gears to his transition into the world of forced induction and All-Wheel Drive with the Subaru WRX.

Chris shares the lessons learned from both platforms, the reality of daily driving a tuner car, and why the sound of a Boxer engine (or a high-revving Toyota inline-4) never gets old.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🔰 The Celica Beginnings: Chris’s experience with his first tuner car, the Toyota Celica, and the modifications that started it all.
  • 🐌 The WRX Upgrade: The transition to the Subaru WRX, exploring the differences in power, handling, and the famous "Subie rumble."
  • 🔧 Tuner Culture: A look at the import scene, the evolution of aftermarket support, and the community that surrounds these Japanese legends.
  • 📈 FWD vs. AWD: The driving dynamics shift from a Front-Wheel Drive coupe to an All-Wheel Drive rally-bred sedan.
  • 🛠️ Project Car Reality: The wins, the breaks, and the maintenance that comes with modifying cars for performance.

Don't miss Chris's favorite episode with fellow import lover, 240SX and car-inspired children's book author, Michael J. Myers: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16548255

Whether you're a die-hard Subaru fan, a Toyota loyalist, or just love the story of building a car to match your vision, this episode is a turbocharged trip down memory lane.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Team Toyota or Team Subaru? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kat DeLorean Interview: Growing Up with John DeLorean and the DMC-12 Legacy 🕰️🏎️28 May 202400:31:40

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

DeLorean DMC-12 history and life lessons with Kat DeLorean. Inside the family of the stainless steel supercar...

What is it like to have John DeLorean as your driving instructor? For Kat DeLorean, it meant learning to drive a manual transmission on an Acura NSX and being forced to "learn how to fall" off a motorcycle before she was ever allowed to ride one. 🏍️🤕

In this special episode, we sit down with Kat to discuss her unique upbringing, her father's "Mr. Miyagi" style life lessons, and the incredible lineup of cars that have defined her life. From a V8-swapped Mercedes gifted at age 14 to a rebellious purchase of a Ford truck, Kat shares the stories behind the metal.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 👶 First Cars: The story of her "first" car (a Morgan pedal car), a modified 1972 Mercedes, and a temperamental Camaro Z28 named "Christine."
  • 🦅 The "Babs" Trans Am: Why Kat drove 500 miles to buy a rare 1998 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 and the surprising 4-word reaction her father had when she brought it home: "I named this car."
  • 🛻 The Harley Truck: How she spent her inheritance on a Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition (against her dad's wishes) and used it for a drive-thru wedding in Las Vegas. 💒
  • 🔧 Life Lessons: The philosophy of "learning to fall" and how John DeLorean used cars to teach responsibility and resilience.
  • 🔮 Next Gen: A teaser on what is coming next from DeLorean Next Gen Motors.

Don't miss Kat's favorite episode is "Campus of Cars – Makenna and Brandon’s Educational Restoration Adventures" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16384509

Whether you are a fan of automotive history, 90s muscle cars, or just love a great father-daughter story, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of the car world's most famous families.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you know John DeLorean claimed to have named the Firebird? Let us know your thoughts on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore!

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kat DeLorean - Special Episode Preview 218 May 202400:00:32

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

In our final preview leading up to the full episode with Kat DeLorean, she tells us about the time that everyone in the gym froze when she mentioned that she did not know how to drive a stick shift. But John DeLorean couldn’t let this continue, so he drags her home and gave her the keys to his manual Acura NSX. Unsurprisingly she drove that NSX like a pro the first time and thereafter because of the "gasoline in her veins."

Check out Kat's full episode to hear the heartwarming stories of growing up a DeLorean - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80

---------

Please click "follow" on the show in your favorite platform to be the first to hear when the full episode with Kat DeLorean drops. We can't wait to hear what you think, so please send feedback and spread the word to help make your show better!

#ToAllTheCarsIveLovedBefore 
#CarsLoved.com








          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Set My DeLorean on Fire 2x: Drag Racing Dads & The "Midnight Cowboy" Ford Tempo ⚡🔥14 May 202400:40:43

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What happens when you finally buy your dream car... and then accidentally set it on fire? Twice? 😱🔥

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Paone—author, detective, and "Godfather" of the local DeLorean community. Brian shares his hilarious and harrowing journey from a $200 1989 Ford Tempo (affectionately named the "Midnight Cowboy") to owning the iconic DeLorean DMC-12.

We dive into his father's semi-pro drag racing career, the time he chose a Super Bowl ticket over a car, and the specific electrical nightmares that led to smoke billowing out of his stainless steel dream machine.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🤠 The Midnight Cowboy: The story of his first car, a blue Ford Tempo with a custom dashboard decal that he drove into the ground.
  • 🚦 Drag Strip Childhood: Growing up at New England Dragway with a dad who raced dragsters named "The Godfather" and "The Underdog" (and once drove one home at 2 AM).
  • 🏈 The Super Bowl Gamble: How Brian spent his first "DeLorean Fund" on tickets to see the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl instead of buying the car.
  • 📚 The Royalty Check: How he rebuilt his savings using royalties from his sci-fi novels to finally buy an automatic 1981 DeLorean from a niche forum.
  • 🔥 The Electrical Fires: The terrifying (and funny) stories of melting his fuse box and frying his wiring harness while trying to upgrade to LED halo headlights.

Don't miss Brian's favorite episode with fellow author, Robert O'Connor telling us all about Jeeps that inspired his new novel "Jeep Show” https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/15046730

Whether you’re a Back to the Future fan, a lover of 80s nostalgia, or just want to know what not to do when replacing relays, this episode is a wild ride.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: Have you ever sacrificed a car purchase for a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Preview Trailer - Brian Paone talks himself out of buying his dream car13 May 202400:00:23

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Here's a preview trailer of our upcoming episode where author, musician, father, and detective, Brian Paone, talked himself out of buying a Delorean. 

Please follow  the show on your favorite Podcast platform to be the first to hear the entire episode when it drops tomorrow.


https://podcasts.apple.com/.../to-all-the.../id1733902541
https://open.spotify.com/show/1JUiWZiJrpSg32pKn9qFGl...

#toallthecarsivelovedbeforepodcast
#carsloved.com


          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brian Paone - The Ford Tempo, Preview Trailer11 May 202400:00:37

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

If you enjoy the intersection of life stories and cars, you'll want to hear the Brian Paone episode on our podcast, "To All The Cars I've Loved Before," dropping early next week.

Remember to subscribe/follow the podcast for updates. For now, here's a bonus trailer about Brian's first car!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-all-the-cars-ive-loved-before/id1733902541

https://open.spotify.com/show/1JUiWZiJrpSg32pKn9qFGl?si=04cd38de7e704db4

#toallthecarsivelovedbeforepodcast
#carsloved.com

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Automotive Paint Restoration: Professional Tips for JDM Classics 🎨🇯🇵26 Aug 202500:47:07

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Automotive paint restoration and custom bodywork for JDM classics and Porsche 911 wide-body conversions...

What does it take to turn a backyard hobby shop into a premier automotive restoration business during a global pandemic? 🤔🛠️

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Pratt, owner of Top Coat Garage, to discuss his journey from painting mini-bikes as a kid to running a high-end shop that handles everything from fender benders to full widebody conversions on Porsche 911s. Matt breaks down the science of automotive paint, the secrets behind "candy" coats, and why he regrets selling his heavily modified Honda Civic hatchback.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🎨 The Science of Shine: Matt explains the difference between metallic flake, pearl, and the new color-shifting "chameleon" paints, plus how layering candy coats creates "depth" you can swim in.
  • 🔧 The "Widebody" Challenge: How Matt and his team hand-crafted a custom widebody kit for a Porsche 911 using race car parts that didn't fit.
  • 🇯🇵 JDM Legends: Why the Acura NSX remains Matt's ultimate dream car, and the story of the $140k NSX deal that helped fund his new shop.
  • 📈 The Covid Pivot: How he transitioned from a 1,200 sq. ft. hobby shop to a massive facility by betting on himself when the world shut down.
  • 🚗 First Car Regrets: The story of his 2000 Honda Civic hatchback, inspired by Gran Turismo, that he built into a road race monster (and eventually bought back!).

Don't miss Matt's favorite episode featuring the faith and patience it took to import a very special JDM Honda Acty 4x4 Kei van: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17645586-oldsmobile-cutlass-supreme-to-jdm-kei-van-dreams-deputy-dave-s-law-enforcement-car-collection-journey

Whether you are interested in the technical side of bodywork, love 90s JDM culture, or want to hear a genuine entrepreneurship story, this episode is a masterclass in passion and craftsmanship.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What is the one car you sold that you wish you could buy back? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore




https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17645586-oldsmobile-cutlass-supreme-to-jdm-kei-van-dreams-deputy-dave-s-law-enforcement-car-collection-journey

🔗 Connect: https://linktr.ee/carsloved.com

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kat DeLorean - Special Episode Preview07 May 202400:00:30

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

In our preview leading up to the full episode with Kat DeLorean, she tells us how her dad, John DeLorean,  felt about her 2002 Harley Davidson edition Ford F-150.

---------

Keep following the podcast on your favorite platform to hear new content and be alerted when the full episode with Kat DeLorean drops in a few weeks.

#Podcast #Cars #LifeLessons #ToAllTheCarsIveLovedBefore #CarsLoved.com



          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From Datsun to Range Rover: What Dora's First Car Taught Her About Success 📈🚙30 Apr 202400:33:10

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

What does your car history say about your life's trajectory? For Dora, the road from a manual transmission Datsun 160Jto a modern Range Rover tells a story of planning, patience, and success. 🗺️✨

In this episode, we sit down with Dora to trace her incredible automotive timeline. It starts with her father teaching her to drive as a kid and evolves through a fascinating lineup of vehicles that mark every stage of her life—from the quirky Dodge Dart K to the sporty Ford Probe and the ultra-efficient Smart Fortwo.

Dora’s storytelling is so detailed that hosts Doug and Christian joke they had to "Ford Probe" like Woodward and Bernstein to get all the facts! We dive deep into how she planned each upgrade, the memories attached to every steering wheel, and why she went from 70s Japanese engineering to British luxury.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • 🚗 The First Car: Learning to drive on a classic Datsun 160J and the bond it created with her father.
  • 🔎 The "Ford Probe" Investigation: A deep dive into her time with the sporty 90s coupe and the hosts' investigative jokes.
  • 📉 The Minimalist Phase: Why she chose a Smart Fortwo and what it taught her about modern efficiency.
  • 🚙 The Dream Realized: The transition to a Range Rover and what it signifies about her personal and professional growth.
  • 🔧 Automotive History: Fun facts about Datsun engineering, Dodge K-cars, and the off-road pedigree of Land Rover.

Dora's favorite episode is Mason's Classic Car Path - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17426714-how-a-mcpherson-college-grad-arrived-at-f40-motorsports-mason-s-classic-car-path

Whether you are a fan of classic Japanese imports, curious about the evolution of daily drivers, or just love a good story about how cars mark our milestones, this episode is a masterclass in automotive life planning.

🔗 Links & Resources:

📢 Join the Conversation: What was the biggest "upgrade" you ever made between cars? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore



          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Episode Teaser - Christian spills the beans on our upcoming interview with John DeLorean's daughter.23 Apr 202400:01:02

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!

Our co-host Christian usually has ten cups of coffee before each recording session. For this recording of our commercial, he drank eleven. Join us as he babbles at light speed about our upcoming interview with Kat DeLorean!

Check out Kat's full episode to hear the heartwarming stories of growing up a DeLorean - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80

Yes, THAT Kat DeLorean!

Good thing we don't pay him by the minute or we'd be out of business by now. Tune in for more!

          *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

Connect with us: 

📧 Email: stories@carsloved.com 

🔗🌳 Visit our LinkTree for all 70+ episodes: https://linktr.ee/carsloved


Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

© My Podcast Data