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

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

By: 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. 🏎️🛠️


© 2026 Cars Loved Media World
Episodes
  • Selling Porsches for 40 Years and the Ultimate 911 Barn Find

    Selling Porsches for 40 Years and the Ultimate 911 Barn Find
    Jun 9 2026
    Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!What happens when a lifetime of automotive passion becomes a 40-year career? This week, Doug goes solo from Myrtle Beach to sit down with luxury car sales legend Mike Maurer. Mike has been navigating the high-end automotive world since the 1980s, working with legendary dealerships like Brumos Porsche.In this episode, Mike pulls back the curtain on the reality of high-end car sales. He shares incredible, unfiltered stories—from growing up riding in the back of an air-cooled Porsche 356 bathtub across Europe to his early days crashing a classic Austin Healey into a tree while racing a Lotus Elan in Annapolis. We also dive deep into the ultimate "one that got away" story involving a pristine 1967 Porsche 911 S, a hidden barn, and an unexpected journey to Australia.Don't miss Mike's favorite episode with Dirk Dekker on the track with 911 - https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/17927079Whether you're a rabid Porsche purist who demands three pedals on the floor or someone dreaming of breaking into luxury automotive marketing, Mike's 40 years of industry experience serves as the ultimate masterclass.Key Takeaways & TimestampsGarage Updates: Doug checks in from vacation in Myrtle Beach and recaps our previous feature with Marla from BWomen.com.Perks of the Showroom Floor: Mike explains how luxury sales professionals spec'd out new cars every single year to master their product knowledge.The Hustle is Real: The brutal reality, demanding 11-to-12-hour days, and the pressure of working in high-end retail during the 1980s and 90s.The First Car Heartbreak: Buying a derelict 1957 Austin Healey 100 with college tuition savings, and why it wouldn't start by day two.Racing in Annapolis: How totaling a brand new Austin Healey 3000 while chasing a Lotus Elan through the woods paved the way to his very first Porsche 911.The 20-Toyota Challenge: The unique ultimatum a legendary dealership owner gave Mike before allowing him to sell premium sports cars.The Legend of Brumos Porsche: Working alongside legendary endurance racers Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood at a dealership that shaped Porsche culture.The Last Last of the Analog Cars: Why Mike's manual transmission 2007 Porsche 911 (997) Carrera 4S is an absolute keeper compared to modern digital platforms.The Worst Cars Driven: Hilarious deep dives into sorting out the infamous Geo Metro and a nightmare Saab Turbo ownership experience.The Ultimate Barn Find Story: How Mike acquired a pristine, original-owner 1967 Porsche 911 S out of a small hidden barn for $20,000, and what happened when he tried to buy it back from Australia years later.Career Blueprint: Modern career advice for younger enthusiasts looking to break into luxury dealership sales, corporate wholesale, or online auction platforms like Bring a Trailer.Master Class Trivia: Mike breaks down the legendary history behind why the Porsche 911 was almost called the 901Hidden Options & Factory Battles: How Mike bypasses corporate constraints to build highly customized, one-of-one vehicles directly with factory insiders.In the Shop: Mentioned Cars & Media1957 Austin Healey 100 & Austin Healey 3000Porsche 356 "Bathtub"Porsche 911 (Classic 1967 911 S)Porsche 911 (997 Gen) Carrera 4S (Manual)Porsche Macan (The daily grocery & dog hauler)Lotus ElanGeo Metro Saab TurboPorsche Posters: The legendary "Kill Bugs Faster" Arena Red 993 Turbo campaign.The Soundtrack: Life in the Fast Lane by The Eagles.Connect with Our GuestHave questions about ordering a bespoke Porsche, navigating the current collector market, or tracking down an air-cooled classic? Reach out to Mike Maurer directly at Mike911@gmail.com.Join the Cars Love Nation Community!If this episode sparked a memory of your own first ride or a long-forgotten project gathering dust in your garage, we want to hear about it!Submit Your Story: Email us at stories@carslove.comBinge the Backlog: Stream all 70-plus episodes of automotive history and car culture.All Links & Content: Visit our master link directory at linktr.ee/carsloved *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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    37 mins
  • Brad Phillips on The Great Race, Cross-Country Ferraris, and Vintage Porsches

    Brad Phillips on The Great Race, Cross-Country Ferraris, and Vintage Porsches
    May 26 2026

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

    Welcome back to All the Cars I've Loved Before, the podcast where we park the data at the door to focus on the stories that matter 🎙️.

    In this episode, Doug sits down with Brad Phillips, a globally recognized collector car expert and hardcore gearhead who firmly believes that classic cars are meant to be driven 🛠️. Brad currently serves as the Director of Events for Coker Group and the Great Race 🏁. From wrenching on a 1965 Mustang 2+2 Fastback as a teenager 🐎 to MacGyvering a right-hand-drive JDM Toyota Century across the United States 🗺️, Brad shares his incredible, lifelong journey through the automotive hobby 🚗.


    We dive deep into what it takes to navigate a 1916 Hudson Speedster across 2,500 miles of backroads ⏱️, the thrill of reviving a seized 1968 Porsche 911 T 🇩🇪, and why he still regrets letting go of his Saab 9000 Turbo 🇸🇪.

    In This Episode, We Cover:

    • The Great Race 🏆: An inside look at the 2,500-mile time speed endurance rally for pre-1974 vintage cars, including details on the upcoming Route 66 centennial route starting in Springfield, Illinois 🛣️.
    • First Rides 🚗💨: Brad’s memories of his 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2, painted Rangoon red, and its unfortunate demise in a slow-speed race against a Dodge Dart 💥.
    • Cross-Country Classics 🏜️: Pushing the limits of cargo capacity and reliability by road-tripping an '83 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole and a V8 Toyota Century 🚙.
    • Pre-War Projects 🕰️: The unique challenges of driving and maintaining century-old vehicles like his 1917 Willys-Overland 90BT 🔧.
    • The Ones That Got Away (and the ones that stayed) ❤️‍🩹: From a 400-horsepower Saab 9000 Turbo to a fully modern-equipped 1966 Sunbeam Tiger 🐯.

    We caDon't miss our full episode with Brad's good friend and classic Ferrari restorer, Tom Yang for more stories: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16626040

    If you’re enjoying the show, the best way to support us is hit subscribe and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts, share this episode with a friend, or shoot us an email ✉️ to stories@carsloved.com

    *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

    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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • C7 Corvette, Porsche 930 & Car Trailers with Towlos

    C7 Corvette, Porsche 930 & Car Trailers with Towlos
    May 12 2026

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

    C7 Corvette track days and Porsche 930 history. Matt Jones on launching Towlos, the "Airbnb for car trailers"...

    In our newest episode, we sit down with Matt Jones, an orthopedic surgeon turned entrepreneur and the CEO/Founder of Towlos (towlos.com). Matt shares his incredible automotive journey, from learning to drive a manual in his dad's '73 Datsun to buying a 2018 C7 Corvette Grand Sport right before the pandemic used-car market exploded.

    We dive deep into the origin story of Towlos—a peer-to-peer trailer rental marketplace born out of Matt’s own frustration trying to transport his track car to iconic raceways like Road America and VIR. We also discuss the timeless debate of "cars as art," specifically why a Pagani or a Porsche 930 "Widowmaker" provides an immersive, multi-sensory experience that a painting on a wall just can't match.

    In this episode, you’ll hear:

    • 🥶 The Bridge Spin-Out: Matt's terrifying 180-degree spin on an icy bridge in his first car, an iron-powered Chevy S10.
    • 📈 Beating the Market: Buying a C7 Corvette Grand Sport with just 3,500 miles right before the 2020 used car market went completely crazy.
    • 🏁 Track Day Intimidation: The nerves of taking your own car to the track for the first time, and why you always need an "enabler" buddy to push you out of your comfort zone.
    • 💡 The Birth of Towlos: How buying a massive triple-axle trailer that sat unused in the driveway sparked the idea for a two-sided trailer rental marketplace.
    • 🎨 Cars as Art: Why spending millions on a hypercar like a Pagani provides a mechanical, G-force-inducing masterpiece that you can actually experience.

    Don't miss the episode Matt referenced with Adam from Xtreme Xperience, discussing how to get everyday enthusiasts out onto the track! Whether you're a seasoned track veteran, a tech entrepreneur, or just love a good story about solving everyday problems, this episode is a must-listen.

    🔗 Links & Resources:

    • Rent a trailer or list your own: Towlos.com
    • Have questions? Email Matt directly: matt@towlos.com
    • Listen to our 75+ episodes on LinkTree 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved

    📢 Join the Conversation: What is the weirdest thing you've ever had to tow, or what car do you consider a true "piece of art"? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore

    *** Your Favorite Podcast Automotive Nostalgia Podcast ***

    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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
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