🏎️ 🏁 Brad Phillips on The Great Race, Cross-Country Ferraris, and Vintage Porsches

Route 66 is the famous U.S. highway route that became a cultural symbol of road trips and Americana. In car culture, it’s also a common reference point for cross-country driving stories and classic-car events.

Downtown Chicago is referenced as the start point of Route 66 in this story. It’s a real-world landmark that anchors the “start-to-finish” geography of the route.

The Santa Monica Pier is used here as the end point of their Route 66-style run. In classic-car and road-trip culture, it’s a recognizable destination that helps frame a cross-country route.

A “Ferrari mechanic” is someone who specializes in servicing Ferrari cars, often with deep knowledge of the brand’s systems and common service procedures. In collector-car circles, that specialization matters because vintage Ferraris can require brand-specific expertise.

Monterey Car Week is a major annual automotive event in California that includes concours and auctions. It’s especially important for classic and collector cars, which is why it comes up in stories about cross-country drives.

“Amelia Island Concour” refers to the Amelia Island concours event, a well-known classic-car show in Florida. Concours events are judged gatherings where collectors bring specific cars to be displayed and evaluated.

“Restoring vintage Ferraris” refers to bringing older Ferrari cars back to correct condition—often involving disassembly, repairs, refinishing, and replacing worn components. Restoration is a major part of classic-car ownership because it can preserve originality and drivability.

The Chevrolet Corvette is an American sports car that’s been a performance icon for decades. It often comes up in family and personal stories because many owners connect it to a particular era of driving and design. In the podcast context, it’s referenced as a similar Corvette from the speaker’s father’s past.

“Big block” refers to a family of large-displacement V8 engines used in some American cars, especially older muscle-era Chevrolets. It generally means a physically larger engine with higher displacement than the smaller “small block” V8s, which often translates to strong low- and mid-range power.

A 1950 Dodge is a mid-century American car from Dodge’s postwar lineup, and it’s being referenced here as a family project car stored in a garage. That kind of older Dodge is often the sort of vehicle enthusiasts learn on—taking things apart, fixing issues, and building mechanical familiarity.

The 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 is a classic “pony car” that’s especially known for its fastback body style and long-running popularity. In Mustang terms, “2+2” refers to a rear seat setup that gives you two front seats plus two smaller rear seats, making it more practical than a strict two-seater.

A fastback body style is a car roof shape where the roofline flows smoothly into the rear deck, usually without a distinct break between the roof and trunk area. On classic Mustangs, that shape is a big part of the visual identity and often associated with the more performance-oriented look of the era.

“Highpo motor” is shorthand for a high-performance engine package—typically meaning a more powerful factory setup with upgraded internal components and/or calibration. In classic muscle-car culture, it’s often used to contrast a base engine with the more aggressive “performance” versions.

New old stock (NOS) refers to parts that were manufactured long ago but never sold and are still unused. For vintage cars, NOS can be valuable because it may match original specifications and fitment more closely than generic aftermarket replacements.

An interior kit is a packaged set of replacement trim and upholstery pieces designed to refresh a car’s cabin. In vintage-car restoration, kits are popular because they reduce the guesswork of sourcing individual parts and can be cheaper and faster than piecing everything together.

Automatic transmission means the car shifts gears without the driver using a clutch pedal. For classic cars, the choice between automatic and manual often affects how the car feels day-to-day—automatic is typically easier to drive, while manuals are often preferred by enthusiasts for direct control.

The “rear end” ratio (gear ratio) describes how many times the driveshaft turns for each rotation of the wheels. A “280 to one” (commonly stated as 2.80:1) gearing can trade off acceleration for smoother cruising, making the car feel less eager off the line.

A “289” refers to the engine’s displacement: 289 cubic inches (a small-block V8 size used in early Mustangs). “Two-barrel” describes a two-throat carburetor setup, which typically limits how much air/fuel the engine can take in compared with larger multi-barrel carburetors.

The Honda Civic is a compact car that’s widely known for being practical and easy to live with. It’s often mentioned when discussing what people drove at different ages because it’s common and dependable. In the podcast, it’s brought up in the context of what “everybody else” was driving at that time.

The Dodge Dart is an American compact/midsize car that was offered with a variety of V8 engines in the muscle-era. Here, the speaker mentions a Dodge Dart with a 318 two-barrel, which helps explain why it was “equally as slow” in their teenage speed match.

A “318” refers to the engine displacement: 318 cubic inches (a common Chrysler V8 size). “Two barrel” again points to a two-throat carburetor, which typically limits airflow compared with larger carburetor configurations and can reduce acceleration.

Drum brakes use brake shoes that press outward against a rotating drum to slow the car. Compared with disc brakes, drum brakes are often less effective at repeated hard stops because they can overheat and fade more easily.

In car talk, “squirrely” is a slang way to describe sudden loss of traction or unstable handling—often meaning the car starts to slide or rotate unexpectedly. In this crash story, it’s tied to braking and the resulting loss of control.

The Great Race is a cross-country vintage-vehicle event that started in 1983 and is run by The Great Race organization. It uses a grid of pre-World War II cars and awards prize money across multiple classes, mixing experienced drivers and newcomers.

In racing and rally contexts, a “grid” is the lineup of vehicles that start the event, typically arranged by rules or qualifying results. Here, the speaker specifies a grid of 69 pre-World War II vehicles, emphasizing the event’s focus on very early cars.

Knottsbury Farm in California is named as the starting location for The Great Race in this segment. For listeners, it helps anchor the event’s route history—where the cross-country run begins.

In rally-style or cross-country competitions, a checkpoint is a scheduled location where you must pass at a certain time. Your performance is measured by how closely you match the expected timing between checkpoints, so it directly affects your overall time.

The 1916 Hudson is an early-20th-century American car being used here as an example of how vintage vehicles are handled in a timed competition. Because it’s much older than the cutoff years they discussed, it gets a different timing factor to account for how much harder it is to drive and finish.

In this competition, a “factor” is a multiplier used to adjust timing or scoring for cars of different ages. The idea is to level the playing field so older, slower, or harder-to-drive vehicles aren’t automatically disadvantaged.

A non-synchronized manual transmission doesn’t have synchronizers, so the gears won’t automatically match speed before engagement. That means the driver typically has to use techniques like double-clutching (or careful throttle/blip timing) to shift smoothly without grinding.

The Porsche 911 is famous for its rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-six heritage and long-running evolution. In 1968, the “T” was the more entry-level performance trim, and this one is described as a short-wheelbase 911—an early form that’s especially sought after by vintage Porsche fans. The speaker also frames it as a lightweight setup on small tires, which helps explain why it feels so “classic 911” compared to later, bigger versions.

“Short wheelbase” means the distance between the front and rear axles is shorter than later 911s. On early 911s, that shorter wheelbase changes the car’s balance and steering feel, and enthusiasts often associate it with a more agile, classic driving character. The speaker ties this to the early “first iteration” era before later wheelbase extensions.

The Porsche 912 is an early model in the Porsche 911 family, sharing the general layout and proportions while using a different engine than the 911. The podcast notes it as the first iteration of the 911 and 912 in terms of wheelbase, which is a technical detail often discussed by enthusiasts. It’s relevant because it helps explain how the 911 line evolved.

“165 R15” is a tire size code: 165 is the tire width in millimeters, and “R15” means radial construction with a 15-inch wheel diameter. Smaller, narrower tires like this help keep early 911s feeling light and responsive, which matches the speaker’s “incredibly lightweight” description. It’s also a clue to the car’s period-correct setup.

“Irish green” is a specific factory paint color name used on vintage Porsches. Color names like this matter to collectors because they help identify the original specification and authenticity of a car. In this segment, it’s part of the described build details of the 1968 Porsche 911 T.

“Sport-matic” refers to Porsche’s automatic transmission option used on certain 911-era cars. It’s a model/option label rather than a generic description, and it helps distinguish how the car was configured from the factory. In the segment, it’s mentioned as part of the 1968 911 T’s original specification.

A “five-speed” refers to a manual gearbox with five forward gears. In older cars, choosing a five-speed over an automatic often makes the car more engaging and can also make parts and conversions easier for enthusiasts.

“Sportomatic” is a Porsche-era semi-automatic setup where the car is fundamentally a manual transmission but uses an actuator/solenoid to assist shifting. Enthusiasts often discuss it because it can be converted to a conventional manual, and it affects how the car drives.

A solenoid is an electrically controlled actuator that can move a mechanism when current is applied. In this context, it’s used to help operate the shifter on a semi-automatic “Sportomatic”-style transmission.

“Webers” usually refers to Weber carburetors, which are mechanical fuel-mixing devices used on many classic and performance cars. They need tuning (like jetting) to match engine needs and conditions such as altitude.

“Jetting” is the process of adjusting carburetor jets to change the fuel mixture. At high altitude, air is thinner, so the engine typically needs different jetting to avoid running too lean (not enough fuel).

“Carrera” is Porsche’s performance trim name for many 911 variants, and here the speaker is talking about a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera. They describe it as an “absolute dream” and note it’s equipped with air conditioning—useful for everyday usability.

Martin's German Service is referenced as a specialist shop that built the engine for the host’s Porsche 911. The “German Service” wording signals a workshop focused on German makes, which often matters for correct diagnostics and parts sourcing on older enthusiast cars.

The Ferrari 308 GTS is a classic V8 grand touring car from Ferrari’s 1970s/80s era, and it’s especially notable for its mid-engine layout and enthusiast following. In this segment, the host specifically mentions an “83” Ferrari 308 GTS and describes buying it with a claimed provenance and mileage that mattered to Ferrari buyers.

“Original owner car” means the vehicle has had just one owner since it was new, which can make its history easier to verify. In classic and collector circles, that matters because it can reduce uncertainty about how the car was driven, maintained, and modified.

The host is discussing mileage as a proxy for wear in the collector-car world. They’re contrasting how some Ferrari buyers interpret 55,000 miles as “used up,” while the host personally sees it as relatively low for a car that can still be maintained and enjoyed.

Wheel diameter (like 14-inch) strongly affects the tire’s sidewall height and the overall stance of an older car. Smaller wheels typically pair with taller sidewalls, which can change both ride feel and the classic “look” the owner is aiming for.

On classic cars, wheel and tire choice is a major part of achieving the intended visual proportions and period-correct stance. The speaker frames it as an aesthetic-and-fitment issue: the right tire/wheel combination is hard to source but makes the car “look right.”

A “fat sidewall look” refers to using tires with taller sidewalls relative to wheel diameter, which visually thickens the tire and can make the car look more period-correct. It’s often associated with classic wheel/tire sizing choices rather than modern low-profile setups.

“Sevens and eights” is shorthand for wheel widths (commonly 7-inch and 8-inch) used on many classic performance cars. Wheel width affects tire fitment, steering response, and how the car’s stance looks.

For older cars, specific tire sizes can become scarce, especially when they’re tied to period-correct wheel diameters and widths. Scarcity drives up cost and can make it harder to keep the car’s original look and handling characteristics.

The DeLorean DMC-12 is a distinctive sports car famous for its stainless-steel body and gull-wing doors. In the podcast, it’s specifically tied to the speaker’s personal connection and mentions of keeping original wheels/tires. That kind of detail is typical when discussing preservation and restoration of iconic cars.

Bosch K-Jetronic is a mechanical fuel-injection system used on some older cars, including the DeLorean. It meters fuel based on engine conditions rather than modern electronic control, so issues can show up as drivability problems and can be frustrating to diagnose.

When the oil pressure warning light flashes, it typically indicates low oil pressure or a sensor/control issue. In this segment it happens during deceleration when the RPM drops, and the host connects it to a near-stall and a brief loss of power brakes.

Power brakes are brake systems that use engine vacuum or another assist source to make braking easier. If the host loses power brakes during a deceleration moment, it suggests the vacuum/engine conditions are dropping enough to reduce brake assist right when you need it most.

An LS swap is replacing a car’s original engine with a GM LS-series V8, and “swap kits” are the parts and adapters needed to make that conversion work. The host notes that DeLorean LS swap kits exist, but that there’s limited appeal compared with the Ferrari and Porsche crowd.

Back to the Future is the film franchise that made the DeLorean especially famous to non-car people. The speaker uses it as a shorthand for why someone might be interested in cars—either they like the movie or they’re genuinely into the car hobby.

Gary Duncan is mentioned as the person who owns Duncan Imports and connects the speaker to a supply of right-hand-drive Japanese cars. In the story, the speaker visits Duncan’s place often and eventually finds the Toyota Century.

Duncan Imports is referenced as the company Gary Duncan owns, and it’s presented as a source for right-hand-drive vehicles. The speaker describes visiting the company’s inventory and finding a Toyota Century there.

The “25-year rule” refers to a U.S. import allowance that lets older vehicles enter the country more easily than newer cars. Enthusiasts use it to bring in right-hand-drive JDM models that otherwise wouldn’t be legal or practical to import.

Right-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, which is common in Japan and the UK. The speaker highlights that they hadn’t previously owned a right-hand-drive car, so they were learning the practical differences in driving and daily use.

The Toyota Century is a flagship Japanese sedan known for its ultra-luxury, traditional craftsmanship and chauffeur/executive use. In this story, the speaker emphasizes its hand-finished interior and paintwork, and notes it’s a right-hand-drive car they drove back from Virginia to Maryland.

JDM stands for “Japanese Domestic Market,” meaning cars that were originally sold in Japan (often with specs and equipment tailored to Japanese rules and preferences). Enthusiasts use the term to distinguish these from cars that were primarily sold in other markets, and it often implies a different parts ecosystem and sourcing strategy.

Bonneville refers to the Bonneville Salt Flats area in Utah, famous for land-speed records and high-speed testing on salt. Here, it’s part of the itinerary, emphasizing that the Toyota Century trip included a stop associated with extreme-speed motorsport culture.

Speed Week is an event period associated with racing and record attempts at Bonneville, typically involving multiple days of runs and testing. In this segment, it’s referenced through the “Bonneville Salt Flights at Speed Week” phrasing to place the adventure in the context of Bonneville’s organized speed activities.

Yosemite refers to Yosemite National Park in California, a well-known road-trip destination with major scenic routes. It’s mentioned here as part of the cross-country touring storyline rather than as a technical automotive topic.

This refers to aging-related failures in a car’s electrical systems—things like sensors, control modules, wiring, or other components that can degrade over time. The key point in the segment is that the Toyota Century’s older electrical issues weren’t supported by Toyota service parts or documentation, so owners rely on improvised troubleshooting.

Air shocks are suspension components that use compressed air instead of (or alongside) conventional steel springs to provide ride height and damping. In this segment, the hosts used GM F-body air shocks as a practical workaround to level the car when it began “self-destructing” over the long trip.

A V12 is an engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a “V” shape (two banks of six). Because it has more cylinders and smoother firing intervals than smaller engines, it often feels very smooth at speed and at idle.

“Hemi” refers to a hemispherical combustion-chamber design used on some V8 engines. The shape can improve airflow and combustion, which is why “Hemi” engines are often associated with strong performance and a distinctive character.

Nakamichi is a brand known for high-end car audio equipment, especially premium cassette-era and later systems. When someone says their car had a “Nakamichi stereo system,” it usually means the factory audio was upgraded beyond basic speakers.

Electric headrests are adjustable head supports moved by motors rather than manual levers. In luxury cars, they’re often part of a power seat/comfort package and may be controlled from the rear for a chauffeur-style setup.

A rear remote-control setup lets the back-seat passenger operate comfort features (like seat position, headrests, and audio) without reaching the front controls. It’s common in chauffeur-oriented luxury configurations and long-wheelbase variants.

DeLorean Parts International is an aftermarket parts supplier focused on the DeLorean. The host mentions the company because it offers a kit intended to reduce clutch effort by changing the hydraulic actuation components.

The host is describing the DeLorean’s clutch hydraulic system, specifically the master cylinder and the slave cylinder (the transcript says “master enslaved cylinder”). These parts convert your pedal movement into hydraulic pressure to operate the clutch, so changing them can noticeably reduce pedal effort.

Jarrettsville is a town in Maryland, referenced here as the location where the DeLorean parts kit has been stored. The host plans to coordinate a time to bring the car there for installation.

“2.85 liter PRV” combines a displacement figure with the PRV engine-family acronym. It’s a way of identifying a particular European V6-era engine spec that the speaker contrasts with other brands’ parts.

The 1917 Willie's Overland 90BT is an early-1900s American touring car, notable for being a pre-war vehicle with a very different engineering and ownership experience than modern cars. The “90BT” designation points to a specific model/trim within the Overland lineup, and the speaker emphasizes its unusual, period-correct character.

“Old Ocean City Road” is a specific local road reference used to describe where Brad planned to drive the car after inflating its tires. It’s relevant mainly as a personal anecdote location rather than a technical automotive reference.

The phrase describes tire condition: “hard as a rock” implies the rubber had gone stiff from age or long storage, which can make tires unsafe and difficult to drive on. The “white” likely refers to whitewall styling common on older cars.

AACA is the Antique Automobile Club of America, a major U.S. organization for classic-car owners and restorers. Brad mentions attending an early local AACA meeting to connect with other enthusiasts who knew the car’s history.

“Village bicycle” is a classic-car hobby phrase meaning a car that has been passed around among many owners over time. In this context, it suggests the 1917 Willie's Oberlin was a long-running club fixture and likely saw repeated disassembly and reassembly.

In restoration and vintage ownership, “spare parts” are extra components kept on hand to repair or replace worn or missing pieces. Brad connects the club members having spare parts for this car to the idea that it had been apart many times.

An “engine stamp” is a factory marking on the engine block that can identify the engine’s origin and sometimes its production details. In restoration circles, keeping the original engine stamp supports authenticity and helps confirm the car hasn’t been fully rebuilt with unrelated parts.

The chassis is the car’s main structural foundation, and an “original chassis” means the vehicle’s core frame is the one it was built with. For vintage cars, retaining the original chassis is a major authenticity signal because many restorations replace frames or swap rolling shells.

A “crash box” is a manual transmission that doesn’t use synchronizers, so you have to match engine speed to the gear speed to avoid grinding. A “three-speed crash box” means it has three forward gears and relies on careful shifting technique rather than modern synchronized shifting.

In an older engine, “timing” usually refers to ignition timing—when the spark happens in the engine cycle. Setting it correctly affects starting, power, and engine smoothness, especially on carbureted or mechanically controlled setups.

“Brass cups” on the engine are a method of adding fuel directly to the cylinders for starting or cold running on certain early engines. Instead of using a modern fuel injection system, the driver manually dispenses a small amount of fuel into each cylinder.

“Spraying ether” refers to using ether as a starting aid for cold engines. Ether is highly volatile, so it can help an engine catch when fuel delivery or ignition conditions aren’t ideal, but it can also be harsh on components if overused.

“Air-cooled” means the engine sheds heat using airflow over the engine rather than a liquid coolant system. Many pre-war cars used air cooling, which changes maintenance and operating habits compared with water-cooled engines.

A “chain of ownership document” is paperwork that traces who owned a car over time. In classic-car circles, having a clear ownership history can help support authenticity and can make a car easier to value and verify during restoration or resale.

“Date coded” refers to parts stamped or marked with production dates, which can be used to verify whether components match the car’s original build period. The host says everything on the early car was still date coded to 1965, implying strong originality and historical correctness.

“eBay’d” is shorthand for sourcing parts through eBay, an online marketplace. The host says they sold/obtained the remaining pieces there after salvaging what they could, which is a common strategy in classic restoration when specific trim or small parts are hard to find.