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

Badass cars with terrible rear ends, the birth of the Dodge Viper, and the truth about the EV market. 🏁

In this episode, we sit down with automotive journalism royalty, Matt DeLorenzo. With over 45 years in the industry—including serving as the Editor of AutoWeek and a founding juror of the North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) awards—Matt has truly seen and driven it all. From buying a $2,000 AMC Gremlin as his first car to rubbing elbows with Carroll Shelby, Matt shares the unbelievable history and stories behind the metal.

In this episode, we cover:

🚙 First Cars & Clutches: Matt’s $2,000 blue AMC Gremlin, and learning how to drop a transmission in a college parking lot.

🕹️ Saving the Manuals: Why out of all the hypercars he has driven, a simple 1984 Honda Civic CRX remains one of his favorite cars of all time.

📉 Design Disasters: A hilarious debate on "Badass Cars with Terrible Rear Ends," from the infamous BMW "Bangle Butt" to the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

📖 Automotive History: The true story of Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, Chrysler's 90s concepts, and how the Dodge Viper changed the industry.

⚡ The Future of EVs: Why the future of the auto industry isn't just electric, but an "All of the Above" approach for consumers.

Don't miss Matt's favorite episode with friend and colleague, John Davis from MotorWeek: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/18157530

Whether you love modern hypercars, weird 90s concepts, or just the feeling of banging through the gears of a manual transmission, this episode is packed with automotive history.

*** 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.

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

1985 Mazda RX-7 restoration and Hudson Hornet history with Zack Pradel. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of the Shooting Cars YouTube channel to discuss the logistics of filming over 1,700 car reviews and the "soul" of the machines that made us.

Zack shares his personal automotive journey, from blowing up his first 12A rotary engine as a teenager to his family’s heirloom 1931 Ford Model A. We dive into the driving dynamics of the Hudson Hornet, why the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R is the ultimate dream car, and the fascinating history behind abandoned Saturn dealerships and pop-up headlights.

In this episode, we cover:

• 🏎️ The Rotary Obsession: Zack’s history with the Mazda RX-7 FB and FC, including engine swaps and rust-bucket rescues.
• 🎥 The Art of the Review: How he built a catalog of 1,700+ automotive videos by reviewing everything from grandma’s car to the Chevy Traverse.
• ⏱️ Automotive History: Video essays on 55-mph speedometers, the GM EV1, and the customer-first culture of Saturn.
• 🇯🇵 JDM Legends: Why the Nissan Skyline GT-R is "sheer terror" and the joy of the 1993 Mazda Miata.
• 🍦 Family Heirlooms: The heartwarming story of his grandfather’s 1931 Model A and the "Dairy Queen breakdown" dad joke

Connect with our guest:

🌐 Website: https://zackpradel.com

🎥 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ShootingCars

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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*** 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.

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

Air-cooled VW culture and women in classic car restoration. Restoring Volkswagen Beetles and the "Muth" Super Beetle...

“Every car tells a story, and those stories reveal exactly who we are.”

In this episode, Doug and Dave welcome professional corporate and lifestyle photographer Marla Aufmuth into the virtual garage. While Marla has documented landmark cultural events for brands like Nike and TED Talks, her heart belongs to the air-cooled Volkswagen community. 🏎️💨

Marla shares the history of "Muth"—the 1976 sunflower yellow Super Beetle convertible her father bought in Germany and shipped home nearly 50 years ago. Named after the German word for "strength" or "courage," the car became Marla’s classroom for life, where she mastered the clutch on the daunting hills of San Francisco. 🇩🇪✨

Inside This Episode:

• 📸 The VW Women Project: How Marla turned a pandemic hiatus into a mission to photograph and interview 40 women across 10 states to acknowledge their place in car culture.
• 🌻 Sensory Nostalgia: Why the smell of horsehair, vinyl, and a hint of gasoline serves as a sensory time machine for vintage VW owners.
• 🚐 Forbidden Fruit: Marla reveals her ultimate dream car: the European VW California—a hybrid "three-room" apartment on wheels that isn't available in the States.
• 🇯🇵 The 25-Year Rule: Dave explains how the 25-year cutoff allowed him to import his own Japanese Kei van and how others can do the same.
• 📐 Automotive Logistics: A hilarious debate on whether Marla's 6’3” husband can actually fit comfortably into a tiny Japanese Kei car.

Don't miss Marla's favorite episode with Guinevere from Freccia Brothers, The air-cooled auto specialists in the North East. https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16886205

Our full conversation with @marlaaufmuth from @vwwomen is officially live! We’re talking about the "thrum" of an air-cooled engine and why Marla is skipping the ID Buzz for a hybrid VW California camper. 📸🇩🇪

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From mastering San Francisco's hills to hearing about 28-bus restoration shops in Nevada, this episode is a deep dive into why we love the metal that shapes our lives. 🚐📐

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🏁 Link in Bio to listen to the full episode!

While you’re there, check out our vault of 70+ episodes of the best car stories on the web! 🎙️🏎️

#ToAllTheCarsIveLovedBefore #CarsLovedPodcast #vwwomen #aircooled #vwbeetle #superbeetle #womenwhodrive #carphotography #muth #outnow #podcastlaunch

Whether you are a lifelong "VW person" or just love a story about the metal that shapes our lives, this episode is a love letter to heritage, community, and the courage to stay in the driver's seat. 🎙️🛠️

Connect with Marla:

• Website: vwwomen.com 📸
• Instagram: @marlaaufmuth 🌻

Binge the Library:

If you enjoyed the trip down memory lane today, please follow us and tell a friend. With 71 episodes in the vault, we have a garage full of stories waiting for you! 🚗💨

• Listen to past episodes:

*** 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.

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

Classic car restoration of a 1998 Acura Integra. How a father and son rebuilt a "Teggy" to climb Mount Evans...

"We sat on a rock in the driveway, stared at the car, and thought: What did we just do?" 🛠️🧩.

What happens when a father humors his son’s "crazy idea" to buy a $5,000 project car during a global pandemic?. In this episode, we’re joined by Ruchin and Neil Kansal, the father-son duo behind the book The Kansal Clunker.

Neil shares the incredible story of receiving his driver's license just 24 hours before the world shut down, leading to a deep obsession with a "piece of junk" 1998 Acura Integra named "Teggy". Together, they navigate a ground-up restoration with zero prior experience—learning everything from interior teardowns to wiring via YouTube and the support of a "mafia-like" car community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• 🏎️ The "Teggy" Transformation: Taking a 1998 Integra from a clunker to a machine capable of climbing 14,130 feet to the summit of Mount Evans, Colorado.
• 🛠️ Learning the Hard Way: How to rebuild a car when you’ve never even taken off a tire.
• 🤝 The Power of Shared Projects: How the "Kansal Clunker" became a masterclass in collaboration, vulnerability, and father-son bonding.
• 🚙 The 4Runner Debate: Neil’s shift to a new Toyota 4Runner and his defense of the controversial 4-cylinder turbo engine.
• 🍎 Generational Legacies: From Ruchin’s silver Mitsubishi Galant memories to their current project—a 1983 Alfa Romeo Spider.

Whether you're a seasoned mechanic or someone who just "sat on a rock" staring at a project, this episode is a beautiful reminder that every car tells a story—and the best ones are built together.

Connect with our guests:

🌐 Website: thekansalclunker.com

📖 Book: The Kansal Clunker (Available at thekansalclunker.com/book or wherever books are sold)

🔗🌲 Find all our 70+ episodes, social links, and YouTube video podcasts here: linktr.ee/carsloved

*** 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.

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

Automotive restoration of a '69 Camaro SS. Learn how Christina Lardie built a 383 Stroker engine for the SEMA show...

What do you do when you inherit a classic car shell and a garage full of mystery parts? You buy a ticket to SEMA just to ask the manufacturers, "What is this and how do I install it?"

In this episode, guest co-host Dave joins Doug to sit down with Christina Lardie (aka @ChristinasGarage). Christina is a medically retired EMT from the San Francisco Fire Department who is honoring her late father's legacy by building cars and breaking barriers.

We discuss the incredible story of her 1969 Camaro SS (which her dad secretly bought and gifted to her in pieces), her journey learning to be a "Gearhead in Training" without formal mechanic school, connecting with like minded people in the automotive industry, and the heartwarming restoration of a 1952 Chevy Pickup that delivers toys to children in need.

In this episode, we cover:

• 🏎️ The Secret Camaro: How her dad surprised her with a '69 Camaro SS unibody on jack stands for her 30th birthday.
• 🚒 The Altenberg: Restoring the 1952 Chevy Pickup (with original patina!) for the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program.
• 🔧 The Engine: Building a monster Short Rod 383 Stroker with Rich from TEM Performance.
• 🏁 The Great Race: Joining an all-female team with Riley's Rebuilds to race a '66 Fairlane across the country.
• 🎓 SEMA & Learning: Overcoming "Imposter Syndrome" and learning to wrench by asking for help rather than risking injury.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Check out Christina's work: https://instagram.com/christinalardie/
• Watch her detailed builds on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@christinasgarage
• Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: What's the best way to learn "wrenching" ? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

*** 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.

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

Automotive engineering and 1963 Mercury Comet repairs. Behind the scenes of a NASCAR race team woodshop...

What do you do when you retire from a corporate career but still want to build things? If you're Mark Freibaum, you buy a 24-foot NASCAR auto hauler and transform it into a mobile woodworking shop for kids. 🛠️🏁

In this episode, we sit down with Mark inside his incredible "Woodworks on Wheels" trailer to discuss his mission to bring the lost art of shop class back to a new generation. We also take a trip down memory lane to his first car—a 1963 Mercury Comet that his dad rescued from a junkyard for $35 (and required a paperclip to start).

We also cruise through his memories of owning a massive 1964 Buick Electra 225 (the legendary "Deuce and a Quarter"), racing slot cars in the basement, and his current project: creating 3D-printed Bugatti-inspired Pinewood Derby cars.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 🏁 The NASCAR Workshop: How Mark converted a bare auto hauler into a state-of-the-art mobile woodshop to teach kids trade skills.
• 🚙 The Junkyard Comet: The story of his first car, a 1963 Mercury Comet, which was bought for $35, fixed by a high school shop class, and started with a paperclip.
• 📏 The "Mantis": Why he misses his 1964 Buick Electra 225, a 21-foot-long luxury land yacht he bought for $500.
• 🏎️ Tiny Racers: From HO slot cars to a Bugatti-themed Pinewood Derby event, how model cars spark a lifelong love for engineering.
• 🛠️ Trades & Arts: Mark’s philosophy on why woodworking is both an art and a trade, and why it's vital to keep these skills alive.

Mark was hooked on our podcast after hearing the unusual Trabant and Tucker episode with Andrew: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17009738

Whether you're a maker, a classic car fan, or just love a story about giving back to the community, Mark's journey is sure to inspire you to build something great.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Visit Mark's project: woodworksonwheels.com
• Check out our content and 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved
• Check out our Guest-inspired Road Trip Playlist on Spotify: 🎧🚗 https://carsloved.com/playlist

📢 Join the Conversation: Did you take shop class in school? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

*** 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.

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

Hot rod restoration and custom builds with Riley's Rebuilds. A father-daughter team rebuilding Edelbrock carburetors...

What happens when a 13-year-old girl wants to buy her first car but can't legally work? She starts rebuilding carburetors in her dad's garage—and accidentally builds a national brand. 🔧😲

In our 2026 Premiere, we sit down with Riley and her father Dane, the dynamic duo behind Riley’s Rebuilds. Riley went from being a high-level soccer player to a viral automotive sensation, restoring thousands of carburetors for enthusiasts worldwide and becoming an official rebuilder for Edelbrock Group.

We dive deep into their incredible journey, from scouring Facebook Marketplace across four states to building a Jurassic Park Jeep YJ and navigating the automotive industry as a young female entrepreneur.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 🦖 The Jurassic Jeep: The story behind Riley's first car, a 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ transformed into a movie-accurate Jurassic Park tribute (mud included!).
• 🔥 The Nitrous Incident: Dane’s "first car" story involving a 1977 Monte Carlo, a stoplight race with a Ford LTD police car, and a hidden nitrous plate.
• 📈 Viral Success: How a car accident and a single Facebook post led to 300+ free carburetors showing up at their doorstep.
• 🛠️ The Art of the Hustle: How Riley balances a triple major in college (Math, Physics, Mechanical Engineering) while running a business and managing a team of her best friends.
• 🤝 Women in Automotive: Riley's work with the Jessi Combs Foundation and her mission to bring the next generation into the trade.

Don't miss Riley and Dane's favorite episode with their good friends, father-daughter duo Caroline and James from HH Wheels: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17960446

Whether you're a seasoned mechanic or just love a good story about grit and family, this episode is the perfect way to kick off the new year.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Check out Riley's work: Instagram @rileysrebuilds
• Watch their builds on YouTube: Riley’s Rebuilds
• Listen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: What was your first "wrenching" experience? Did you learn from a parent or figure it out yourself? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

*** 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.

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

JDM legends and Euro classics including the Nissan Skyline R34, Toyota Supra Mk4, and Porsche 996...

Is it possible to start with a $3,000 budget and trade your way up to a $60,000 JDM legend in less than a year? 🤯💸

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Khlok, founder of Kent Island Cars and Coffee, to hear one of the wildest "car flipping" stories we've ever heard. During the pandemic, Jon started with a 1987 Mercedes and executed a series of strategic trades that landed him behind the wheel of a Nissan Skyline R34 and eventually a Mark IV Toyota Supra.

We also dive into his humble beginnings with a Chevy Cavalier Z24 (complete with a PlayStation in the glovebox) and how he founded a massive Cars and Coffee event at a BBQ joint in Maryland.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 🚗 The First Car: Jon's 1987 Chevy Cavalier Z24, modified with an aluminum wing and a PS1 bolted to the dash.
• 📈 The Trade-Up Sequence: How Jon flipped a Mercedes 420 SEL → BMW 335xi → Nissan Skyline R32 → Porsche 911 Targa (996) → Nissan Skyline R34 → Toyota Supra Mark IV.
• 🔧 The "Man Cave" Philosophy: Why Jon modifies every car he owns (and why he refuses to do "camber" builds).
• ☕ Kent Island Cars & Coffee: How a craving for a brisket burrito at Bark Barbecue turned into a monthly car meet with 400+ attendees.
• 🏁 The Dream Car: Why a Mercedes 190E Evo II is the one car he would keep forever.

Don't miss Jon's favorite episode featuring the secrets to importing JDM Legends into the US: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17376238

Whether you are interested in the art of the trade, love 90s JDM culture, or just want to hear how to turn sweat equity into a dream garage, this episode is a must-listen.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Check out the meets: Kent Island Cars and Coffee, Cult Classic Car Meet, and the JDM & Exotic Show on Facebook/Instagram
• Find your favorite in our 60+ episode archive: 🔗🌲https://linktr.ee/carsloved

📢 Join the Conversation: What is the best "trade up" you've ever made with a vehicle? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

*** 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.