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Classic Auto Mall - #081 - Stewart Howden with Steve Saffier

Classic Auto Mall - #081 - Stewart Howden with Steve Saffier

Classic Auto Mall SHOW Dec 30, 2025 57 min
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About this episode

Stuart Howden and Steve Saffier dive into a lively discussion about classic cars, including Stuart's recent purchase of a BMW Z3 and the unique stories behind the cars sold at Classic Auto Mall. They reminisce about car culture in Los Angeles, share anecdotes about classic films like Cannonball Run, and explore the evolution of automotive technology. The episode features engaging banter about the challenges of selling classic cars and the importance of patience in the market, along with insights into the diverse inventory available at the mall.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

BMW Z3

"...for a real true Roadster sports car. I found a BMW Z3 2000 with 28,000 miles on it. And what color is it?"

The BMW Z3 is a small sports car that seats two people. It was made by BMW and is loved for its fun driving style and stylish looks.

Concept

Cannonball Run

"Let's get into the show today. Cannonball Run and Cannonball, Cannonball Run 1 and Cannonball Run 2."

Cannonball Run is a movie about a race across the country where drivers compete to see who can get from one place to another the fastest. It's funny and has a lot of different characters and cars.

Concept

Le Mans

"I almost rented Le Mans because I've seen the whole thing."

Le Mans is a famous car race that lasts for 24 hours. Teams of drivers take turns racing their cars to see who can go the farthest in that time.

Term

duties

"I mean, I don't know what the fees and the duties and all that are. I'm sure that is another thing all in and of itself, however, just to get it from here to there."

Duties are taxes that you have to pay when you bring goods, like cars, into a country. These taxes can make the total cost of getting a car much higher when shipping it from one country to another.

Term

dealer fees

"I mean, I don't know what the fees and the duties and all that are. I'm sure that is another thing all in and of itself, however, just to get it from here to there."

Dealer fees are extra charges that car dealerships might add when you buy a car. They can include costs for paperwork and other services, and they can change from one dealership to another.

Car

Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G-55 AMG)

"So, we sold a G-55 AMG Mercedes, the black box. You know what those are. They look like a box."

The G-Class is a rugged and luxurious SUV from Mercedes-Benz. The G-55 AMG is a powerful version that is great for off-roading and has a distinctive boxy design.

Car

Toyota Tacoma

"Not yet. We got a Tacoma and something else, Toyota, that are all off-road..."

The Toyota Tacoma is a small truck that can handle rough roads and off-road adventures. People like it because it's tough and can carry a lot of stuff while still being easy to drive.

Brand

Hyundai

"Do you also say Hyundai?"

Hyundai is a car company from South Korea that makes many different types of cars and SUVs. They are known for offering good value for the price and have a strong warranty.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"So like, I know the Corvette ZR1s had a key that would disable some of the power or some of the cylinders. And then there was valet keys on high-dollar sports cars..."

The Corvette ZR1 is a special version of the Chevrolet Corvette that is designed for high performance. It has a more powerful engine and better features than the regular Corvette, making it faster and more fun to drive.

Car

Mercedes 450 SEL

"...a Mercedes 450 SEL would get parked way down our way, you know."

The Mercedes 450 SEL is a fancy car that was made a long time ago. It's known for being very comfortable and is often seen as a symbol of wealth.

Car

Rolls-Royce Camargue

"...ed by the ugliest Rolls-Royce, in my opinion, the Camargue. Remember that?"

The Rolls-Royce Camargue is a very expensive and fancy car that was made a long time ago. It's known for its unique look and is considered a special collector's item.

Car

Porsche 928S

"...about 928s, portion 928s, very, very good conversation. I have a whole thing of 928s here."

The Porsche 928 is a type of sports car made by the German company Porsche. It was built to be both fast and comfortable for long drives, and it has a unique design with the engine in the front.

Car

Mazda Rx8

"Had I not purchased the BMW Z3, you have a beautiful little Mazda RX8."

The Mazda RX-8 is a sporty car made by Mazda that has a special type of engine called a rotary engine. It's known for being fun to drive and has a unique look.

Car

Mazda Rx7

"Now we've got a regular RX7 93 and it's a little pricier than that. Well, of course, that's a little more desirable body style."

The Mazda RX-7 is a sporty car that uses a unique rotary engine instead of a traditional piston engine. The 1993 version is popular among car enthusiasts for its fun driving experience.

Car

Mazda Miata

"Right. And and then we've got a little Mazda Miata in as well, too. Right."
Term

horsepower

"400 horsepower V8, which is probably not enough power for a Mazda. Is it?"

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The more horsepower, the faster and stronger the car can be.

Car

Buick Grand National

"I don't know. Some of it was all GM with the Grand National and then eventually Typhoon and the Cyclone, the..."

The Buick Grand National is a fast car from the 1980s that looks really cool with its black color. It's special because it has a powerful engine and is loved by car fans.

Car

Chevrolet Grand National

"...some of it was all GM with the Grand National and then eventually Typhoon and the Cyclone, they detuned them."

The Chevrolet Grand National is a powerful version of a car called the Buick Regal, made in the 1980s. It has a turbocharged engine, which makes it very fast.

Car

GMC Typhoon

"...l GM with the Grand National and then eventually Typhoon and the Cyclone, they detuned them. They lowered..."

The GMC Typhoon is a powerful SUV that can go really fast, kind of like a sports car but with more space. It was made in the 1990s and is special because it was one of the first SUVs designed for speed.

Car

Chevrolet Cyclone

"...eventually Typhoon and the Cyclone, they detuned them. They lowered the horsepower rating so that the Corvette was not overshadowed."

The Chevrolet Cyclone is a fast pickup truck made in the early 1990s. It has a turbocharged engine, making it quick like a sports car.

Car

Chevrolet Typhoon

"...eventually Typhoon and the Cyclone, they detuned them. They lowered the horsepower rating so that the Corvette was not overshadowed."

The Chevrolet Typhoon is a fast SUV made in the early 1990s. It has a turbocharged engine, which helps it go really fast for an SUV.

Term

all-wheel drive

"...they didn't want to pick up truck or an SUV to kick the Corvette, which it did. They did. Yeah, they were all wheel drive quicker and they were rated at 280 horsepower."

All-wheel drive means that all four wheels of a car can get power from the engine at the same time. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in bad weather.

Term

automatic transmission

"...nowadays that they have eight speed automatic or nine speed automatic transmissions, or they have the automatic shutoff..."

An automatic transmission helps a car change gears by itself, so the driver doesn't have to do it manually. This makes driving easier, especially in traffic.

Term

fuel mileage

"...they're cramming for fuel mileage. They're doing their best because they had, they know they had the stuff that's never going to be good."

Fuel mileage tells you how far a car can go using a certain amount of gas. Better fuel mileage means you can drive farther without needing to fill up.

Car

Chevrolet Silverados

"...el mileage, like the Escalade Cadillac or the big Silverados. But I did see today the European Union is talki..."
Car

Cadillac Escalade

"Well, fuel mileage, like the Escalade Cadillac or the big Silverados."

The Cadillac Escalade is a large, fancy SUV that offers a lot of space and luxury features. It's often used by families or people who want a comfortable ride with lots of room.

Concept

combustion engines

"...making some exceptions to the all electric rule in 2035 that they can't sell combustion engines."

Combustion engines are the engines that run on fuel like gas or diesel. They work by burning the fuel to create power to move the car.

Term

zero emissions

"Now they're saying if it's a zero emissions, blah, whatever, then there."

Zero emissions means that a vehicle doesn't produce any harmful gases while it runs. This is important for reducing pollution and is often used when talking about electric cars.

Term

electric car

"...lost 3.2 billion in the electric car department."

An electric car is a type of vehicle that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. They are considered better for the environment because they produce fewer emissions.

Concept

R&D

"Now, obviously they're in the R&D development early stages of that."

R&D means Research and Development. It's when car companies work on new ideas and technologies, like electric cars, to make them better.

Term

body style

"I mean, like the 58 in Palo was a one year only body style."

Body style is the shape and design of a car's outside. It affects how the car looks and how it works. There are different styles like sedans and coupes.

Term

fast chargers

"Now the solution will be the fast chargers. I mean, I wonder what the goal is for charging."

Fast chargers are special charging stations for electric cars that can fill up the battery much faster than regular chargers. This helps drivers recharge quickly when they're on long trips.

Term

diesel fuel supplement

"Plus, you're always confused whether you're putting death, the diesel fuel supplement that you put in there, if it's already in the fuel, because on my truck, you have to put it in separately..."

A diesel fuel supplement is a special liquid you add to diesel fuel to help the engine run better and last longer. It can fix problems like keeping the fuel clean and helping it work in cold weather.

Car

Holden Caprice

"...I mean, just to say, I don't care if you bought a Caprice, a 77 Caprice, if you came from Yanko Chevrolet,..."

The Holden Caprice is a big, comfortable car made in Australia. It's known for having a lot of space inside, making it nice for long drives.

Car

S65

"Not like the S65, the twin turbo V12 with 638 horsepower and 700 and God knows what foot pounds of torque, but anyway..."

The S65 is a luxury car made by Mercedes-Benz that has a very powerful engine. It can go really fast and is designed for comfort and style.

Car

Ford Model

"...or me to pick, is that there's a 20, we got a 27 Ford Model T Roadster. This thing is about the nicest Model..."

The Ford Model T is one of the first cars that many people could actually afford. It was made a long time ago and changed how cars were built and sold.

Car

Ford Bronco

"...he Model T Roadster. So anyway, how about the 73 Bronco? Right."

The Ford Bronco is a tough SUV that people love for going off-road. It was first made a long time ago and has come back recently, making it exciting for fans of adventurous driving.

Car

Buick Skylark

"...the future shows. Really amazing little 61 Buick Skylark coupe. And you say, Hmm, what a 61 Skylark?"

The Buick Skylark is an older car that many people think looks nice and is comfortable to drive. It was made for several decades and is popular among collectors.

Car

Ford Mustang

"... buying them and saying, okay, I want to buy a 67 Mustang GTA 390, but we're not doing that."

The Ford Mustang is a classic American car that is fast and sporty. It's famous for its cool looks and powerful engine, and many people dream of owning one.

Car

Mahindra Bolero

"...hink you missed this or that color is not called Bolero Red. It's called Ruby Red, right?"

The Mahindra Bolero is a tough SUV made for driving on rough roads. It's popular in India because it can handle tough conditions and is useful for many people.

Car

Lamborghini Countach

"This was cool. There's a Lamborghini Countach in it. There was all kinds of cool cars."

The Lamborghini Countach is a really flashy and fast sports car that looks like something out of a movie. It's famous for its unique shape and powerful engine.

Car

Audi S6

"...Yeah. 25 hours and 30 minutes in 2020, 2016 Audi S6. Nice."

The Audi S6 is a fancy car that goes really fast and feels nice to drive. It has a lot of cool features and is made for people who want both speed and comfort.

22 cars featured

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