To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Cars, Car Stories, and More

Doug & Christian - Your Guides to Classic Cars & First Car Stories
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Do you remember your first car? That feeling of freedom with the windows down, music up, and friends in the backseat? Every car tells a story—and those automotive stories reveal who we really are.Welcome to To All The Cars I've Loved Before, the podcast celebrating automotive nostalgia through the lens of everyday people. Unlike industry shows focused on specs and stats, we dive into the personal history behind the metal. From first car stories and forgotten beaters to classic car restoration projects and Jeep Wrangler adventures, we explore the vehicles that shaped our lives.What You’ll Hear: Join hosts Doug and Christian every #TorqueTuesday for unfiltered conversations with car enthusiasts, father-daughter restoration teams, and lifelong petrolheads. We skip the politics and new car reviews to focus on:Classic Car Culture: Tales of vintage dreams and barn find realities.Project Cars: The blood, sweat, and gears of the home garage.Life on the Road: Road trips, learning to drive a manual, and the cars that got away.Whether you're a restoration junkie or just miss your old high school ride, this is the place where car culture meets personal history.🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at carsloved.com🌳 Connect with the community & see behind-the-scenes photos and videos: linktr.ee/carslovedEvery Tuesday is #TorqueTuesday with new videos and episodes.

  1. From Clunker to Summit: Restoring a 1998 Acura Integra for Mount Evans 🏎️⛰️

    4H AGO

    From Clunker to Summit: Restoring a 1998 Acura Integra for Mount Evans 🏎️⛰️

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

    34 min
  2. From SEMA "Noob" to 383 Stroker: Christina Lardie’s '69 Camaro Journey 🏁

    FEB 3

    From SEMA "Noob" to 383 Stroker: Christina Lardie’s '69 Camaro Journey 🏁

    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! 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/@christinasgarageListen 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.

    42 min

  3. JAN 20

    Starting a 1963 Comet with a Paperclip & The NASCAR Trailer Woodshop 📎🚙🪵

    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! 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.comCheck out our content and  60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carslovedCheck 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.

    34 min

  4. JAN 6

    Father-Daughter Restoration: Edelbrock Carburetors, Jeep YJ Builds & The Future of Hot Rodding with Riley's Rebuilds 🛠️🔥

    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! 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 @rileysrebuildsWatch their builds on YouTube: Riley’s RebuildsListen 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.

    44 min

  5. 12/23/2025

    Trading Up: Nissan Skyline R34, Mk4 Supra, Porsche 996 & Zender Mercedes 420 SEL 🇯🇵🇩🇪

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

    1h 3m

  6. 12/09/2025

    Porsche 928 vs. C3 Corvette, Lancia Zagato Fires & The Reality of Owning 29 Cars 🔥🇩🇪

    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: 🔗 Watch Ivan's 1400+ car reviews, concours events and museum visits here: https://youtube.com/@drivinivanListen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved📢 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 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.

    39 min
  7. The Only 4-Year Car Restoration Degree: Preserving Heritage Skills with Student Cash & Instructor Chris 📚🔧

    11/25/2025

    The Only 4-Year Car Restoration Degree: Preserving Heritage Skills with Student Cash & Instructor Chris 📚🔧

    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! 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: Check out the program: https://mcpherson.edu/autorestorationListen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved📢 Join the Conversation: What classic car would you choose as your college daily driver? 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.

    1 hr
  8. 45 Years of MotorWeek: John Davis on Creating Automotive Television & Changing How America Sees Cars 📺🚗

    11/11/2025

    45 Years of MotorWeek: John Davis on Creating Automotive Television & Changing How America Sees Cars 📺🚗

    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! How do you keep a TV show about cars on the air for 45 years? You make sure "the cars are the stars." 🌟📺 In this monumental episode, we sit down with John Davis, the creator, host, and executive producer of MotorWeek. Since 1981, John has been the trusted voice of automotive journalism, guiding millions of viewers through the evolution of the car industry on PBS. We dive deep into the show's origins (it started as an idea while producing Wall Street Week!), the philosophy behind their famous "instrumented testing," and John's personal garage—including the Italian exotic he restored in a one-bedroom apartment. In this episode, you’ll hear: 📺 The Origin Story: How John pitched the idea of an "automotive magazine for television" in 1978 and launched MotorWeek in just six weeks in 1981.🇮🇹 The Pantera Project: The incredible story of buying a 1975 De Tomaso Pantera, restoring it himself, and selling it to buy his first house (and a Corvette).🏎️ Car History: Why John bought a 1979 Corvette anniversary edition and why he still misses that Pantera today.⚡ Living Electric: John’s honest take on daily driving a 2024 Fiat 500e and why he chose it to replace his Mini Cooper.🧪 The Science of Reviews: Why MotorWeek is one of only three publications that still performs rigorous, scientific instrumented testing on every car.Whether you grew up watching MotorWeek on Saturday mornings or you're a student of automotive media, this is a masterclass from the man who invented the genre. 🔗 Links & Resources: Watch the MotorWeek 45th Anniversary Special: https://youtu.be/Vq1H8gVQKP4?si=yoph4G81bpNkudHnVisit the show online: motorweek.orgListen to our 60+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved📢 Join the Conversation: What was the first car review you ever watched? Was it on MotorWeek? 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.

    50 min
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Do you remember your first car? That feeling of freedom with the windows down, music up, and friends in the backseat? Every car tells a story—and those automotive stories reveal who we really are.Welcome to To All The Cars I've Loved Before, the podcast celebrating automotive nostalgia through the lens of everyday people. Unlike industry shows focused on specs and stats, we dive into the personal history behind the metal. From first car stories and forgotten beaters to classic car restoration projects and Jeep Wrangler adventures, we explore the vehicles that shaped our lives.What You’ll Hear: Join hosts Doug and Christian every #TorqueTuesday for unfiltered conversations with car enthusiasts, father-daughter restoration teams, and lifelong petrolheads. We skip the politics and new car reviews to focus on:Classic Car Culture: Tales of vintage dreams and barn find realities.Project Cars: The blood, sweat, and gears of the home garage.Life on the Road: Road trips, learning to drive a manual, and the cars that got away.Whether you're a restoration junkie or just miss your old high school ride, this is the place where car culture meets personal history.🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at carsloved.com🌳 Connect with the community & see behind-the-scenes photos and videos: linktr.ee/carslovedEvery Tuesday is #TorqueTuesday with new videos and episodes.

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