To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History

To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History

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Carly, Doug & Dave: Classic Car Experts, Motorsports Enthusiasts and Automotive Storytellers

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The ultimate automotive history and classic car restoration podcast exploring the motoring memories behind iconic vehicles. Hosted by Carly, Doug and Dave, we trade technical specs for the unfiltered stories and family car history that reveal the soul of car culture. Join us every #TorqueTuesday for a deep dive into automotive nostalgia with restoration junkies and vintage vehicle enthusiasts. 🏎️🛠️

Episodes (162)

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War Stories on Wheels: “Jeep Show” Author Robert O’Connor on WWII Cars and Nostalgia

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!In this episode, we shift gears into the past with author Robert O’Connor, whose novel “Jeep Show” blends WWII history with personal car memories. Robert discusses the real-life inspiration behind his book: the wartime USO entertainers who performed from Jeeps for troops at the front lines. He connects these historic Jeep Shows to his own first car – a scrappy Fiat 128 – sharing how tinkering with that little European car gave him an appreciation for simplicity much like the wartime Jeep. As an Iraq War veteran, Robert also opens up about how working on a vintage Willys Jeep helped him cope with returning to civilian life, each turn of the wrench providing therapy and connection to his grandfather’s WWII stories. Listeners will enjoy rich car culture discussions as Robert and the hosts chat about how military vehicles influenced post-war automotive design and the enduring appeal of Jeeps in car enthusiast circles. Wrapping up, Robert highlights the charitable cause behind his work (proceeds of his book support veteran wellness programs.This episode blends literary insight, heartfelt nostalgia, and automotive history, offering a unique perspective on how vehicles and storytelling can preserve the legacy of “the greatest generation” and inspire healing across generations of car lovers.Bob's favorite episode is "From Humvee to Home – Conrad’s Patriotic Car Journey and Family Driving Memories" - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/14e35670c2a8268fa17865087a9c69af *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S4E5 May 06, 2025 42 min 19 annotations

East German Trabant to Preston Tucker Dreams: Andrew's Unusual Obsessions

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Join hosts Christian and Doug as they ride shotgun with Andrew, a volunteer firefighter and classic car buff, on an epic museum-hopping road trip. This episode is a love letter to automotive history: Andrew shares how a humble $100 Volkswagen Beetle became his first car (and first restoration project), sparking a life of travel to find the world’s most interesting cars. We journey with him to the former East Germany through tales of rescuing a smoky two-stroke Trabant, then zip to the USA to hear about tracking down a rare 1948 Tucker (Chassis # Tucker 48) that fueled his imagination. Christian and Doug add rich context as they discuss visiting the Tallahassee Auto Museum and Hershey AACA Museum with Andrew, unearthing gems like minimalist ’49 Chevy coupes and witnessing a one-of-a-kind Tucker Torpedo up close.Andrew’s EMT background even creeps into the narrative, as he compares teamwork on the fire line to the camaraderie of a classic car club restoring a long-forgotten vehicle. Andrew’s favorite episode is “Growing Up DeLorean – Kat’s Personal Automotive Legacy and Life Lessons” - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80Packed with road trip nostalgia, family anecdotes (like breaking down in a station wagon en route to a car show), and plenty of car trivia, “From Trabant to Tucker” delivers insider vehicle culture and driving experience insights. It’s an adventure that will rev up your wanderlust and deepen your appreciation for the unsung heroes of car history lurking in museums and barns alike. *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S4E4 Apr 22, 2025 54 min 30 annotations

Classic Car Stories: The Orange Volkswagen Karmann Ghia I Regret Selling

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Guinevere, co-owner of Freccia Brothers Garage, invites us into a world of vintage Volkswagen magic and the family memories made along the way. She starts by introducing “Lily,” her cherished 1963 VW Beetle, and “Gadget,” a 1987 Cabriolet – both members of her family in their own right. As she recounts her first car (a Tropicana Orange Karmann Ghia handed down from her dad), listeners are treated to a warm story of how classic cars can bond generations. Guinevere shares practical restoration stories from her Greenwich, CT shop: reviving a flood-damaged dune buggy, sourcing parts for a rare VW Type 3, and even doing a father-daughter project replacing a Beetle’s convertible top.Each tale highlights craftsmanship and a touch of old-school ingenuity, like using century-old techniques to straighten a frame or preserving carbon-copy service records from the ’60s. Beyond the technical, this episode shines with heart – Guinevere speaks on hosting community “VW days” where enthusiasts swap stories and kids learn to wrench on air-cooled engines, keeping automotive culture alive.Guinevere's favorite episode is "Growing Up DeLorean – Kat’s Personal Automotive Legacy and Life Lessons" https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80"Air-Cooled and Carefree” will leave you smiling and maybe a bit misty-eyed, as it captures the simple joys of classic car life – the smell of an old vinyl interior warming in the sun, the shared laughter over a stubborn bolt, and the way these beloved cars connect us to our past and to each other. *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S4E3 Apr 01, 2025 40 min 26 annotations

Why Rotary Engines Are Worth It: RX-7 Tales from Inside Mazda

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Jon Leverett, a Mazda USA product launch veteran, shares a trove of automotive passion and behind-the-scenes industry stories focused on the legendary RX-7 and Mazda’s rotary engine heritage. As a self-professed “rotary kid” (his family owned 20 RX-7s!), Jon’s enthusiasm is infectious when he describes the unique sound and feel of his first car – a silver ’88 RX-7 that cemented his love for Mazda.He then pulls back the curtain on Mazda’s product development: listeners get to ride along as Jon recounts launching new models, including the thrill and pressure of unveiling the FD RX-7 in the ’90s with its cutting-edge twin-turbo rotary. He shares car culture tidbits like the internal debates at Mazda about manual vs. automatic sports cars and how customer car stories often influenced marketing strategy. Jon also reveals his most exciting restoration project, dubbed the “Red Dragon” – bringing a Rotary engine back to life in tribute to Mazda’s innovation.Don't miss Jon's favorite episode, "Stainless Steel Dreams – Mike’s Time-Traveling Journey with a DeLorean and Beyond" https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16723792-stainless-steel-dreams-mike-s-time-traveling-journey-with-a-delorean-and-beyondIt’s not all tech talk; Jon’s stories brim with personal moments, like road-tripping an RX-7 across country to prove its grand touring chops, and the camaraderie of the Mazda fan community.Whether you’re a die-hard rotary engine fan or just curious about how a car company brings a vehicle to market, this episode offers an engaging blend of personal memoir and insider know-how. It’s a celebration of innovation, persistence, and the quirky, wonderful world of rotary sports cars. *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S4E2 Mar 18, 2025 48 min 37 annotations

Stainless Steel Dreams: Mike’s Time-Traveling Journey with a DeLorean and Beyond

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Mike’s “DeLorean Dreams” episode is a nostalgic cruise through the 1980s and a heartfelt exploration of how one iconic car can shape a life. As a child of the ’80s, Mike grew up idolizing the Back to the Future DeLorean, never imagining he’d one day own one. He shares the emotional story of tracking down a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 and the goosebumps moment of seeing those gull-wing doors in his garage. But the DeLorean is just the centerpiece; Mike’s journey through automotive history includes restoring its finicky PRV engine, sourcing parts from a passionate owner’s club, and even taking it on a cross-country rally where fans flocked to see “the time machine.” Alongside the DeLorean saga, Mike reminisces about the other classics in his collection (like a pair of Dodge Darts affectionately nicknamed “The Twins” and a Buick Special – each with their own chapter of car memories). He also touches on how owning these cars connected him with his community – from winning “Best in Class” at a local car show to mentoring a neighbor’s kid on how to polish stainless steel body panels.Mike's favorite episode is no surprise, it's our Season 1 Finale with Kat DeLorean - https://pod.link/1733902541/episode/21bc2a128a77f6b4aebc3657124d0d80Blending pop-culture fun with restoration reality, this episode will delight anyone who’s ever pursued a childhood car dream. Mike’s story is a powerful reminder that our passion for cars can drive us to achieve the impossible and forge lifelong friendships along the way. *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S4E1 Mar 04, 2025 37 min 31 annotations

Ferrari Restoration Stories - Tom Yang - V12 Engine Dreams & Vintage Car Life

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!Famed Ferrari restoration expert Tom Yang sits down to share truly enchanting car stories that will transport any listener to a golden age of motoring. Tom’s voice lights up as he recounts the first time he encountered a Ferrari 250 GT Short-Wheelbase Berlinetta – the seductive shape, the V-12 sounds, the smell of aged leather – an experience that cemented his career path in restoration. He then invites us into his workshop, describing the meticulous process of bringing a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE back to life: sourcing original parts with hammer marks from the factory still visible, preserving the craftsmanship, and the emotional moment when the engine roared again after decades silent. But Tom’s story isn’t just for Ferrari fanatics. It’s about automotive nostalgia and how a love for classic cars connects people. He shares touching anecdotes of reuniting families with their long-lost cars and teaching younger enthusiasts the art of restoration. With insights into vintage car culture, including a stint working with famous collectors, Tom provides a masterclass in why preserving automotive history matters. Listeners will come away not only awed by tales of rare Ferraris and expert skills but also moved by Tom’s passion. His life’s work reminds us that every classic car carries a story – of those who built it, those who drove it, and those like Tom who give it a second chance to shine. *** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! *** Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive. Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.

S3E10 Feb 18, 2025 45 min 28 annotations