John Clinard - Over 50 years at Ford, working with Carroll Shelby, helping Ford to get into F1 and honeymooning at a race school!
This week on Car Stories, we sit down with John Clinard, a man whose name is synonymous with Ford’s rich automotive legacy. Over a career spanning more than four decades, John’s fingerprints can be found on everything from motorsport strategy to market research, from the Mustang SVO to the rebirth of the Ford GT. His passion for the brand and the culture of driving made him one of Ford’s most versatile voices—willing to do whatever job needed to be done to connect the company with enthusiasts worldwide.In our conversation, John reflects on the moment that changed his life as a young fan—meeting Carroll Shelby at the racetrack—and how years later he played a pivotal role in bringing Shelby back into the Ford family. We also explore how his curiosity and hands-on approach allowed him to thrive in roles ranging from product planning to motorsport communications.And in a special guest appearance, John’s wife joins us on the mic to set the record straight on a couple of stories, adding her own perspective to the journey.From personal heroes to professional milestones, from Cars & Coffee to Ford’s global racing efforts, this is a conversation about passion, persistence, and the power of automotive culture.Tune in to hear John’s remarkable story, only on Car Stories: The Official Podcast of the Petersen Automotive Museum.Please check out:Ford Racing - Motorsports, Racing, Performance VehiclesAnd for the Mustang Experience: American Icon: An Immersive Mustang Experience — Petersen Automotive Museum
--------
49:09
--------
49:09
Michael Simcoe - Over 40 Years at General Motors and what's next!
In this episode of Car Stories, we sit down with Michael Simcoe, the recently stepped down as Global Vice President of Design at General Motors. With a remarkable 42-year career that began at Holden in Australia and culminated in shaping the future of Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, and more, Simcoe has left an indelible mark on automotive design.We explore his journey from early career highlights to leading GM’s design team through the electric vehicle revolution. Michael shares insights on the role of concept cars, his perspective on the “wedge era” of automotive styling, and what he hopes people feel when they see one of his creations on the road.Join us as we reflect on the stories behind some of his most iconic work, his thoughts on design’s future, and how he plans to embrace life after his time at GM.
--------
48:24
--------
48:24
Ken Okuyama - Designing the Enzo, Wedge Cars and learning to be a good driver at Porsche
In honor of our new Wedge Exhibit, Bea and Dan catch up with Ken Okuyama, world famous designer and former head of design at Pininfarina.Ken was clearly relaxed with us as he told us stories about how Lexus influenced Porsche car development and how Porsche had a direct influence in the development of the Ferrari Enzo. Designing a car for Luca di Montezemolo came with high risk of losing the project but taking a break for lunch made all the difference!All that and a whole lot more!If you want to follow Ken, his Instagram is @Okuyama0527 or his website is: www.kenokuyamadesign.com
--------
42:28
--------
42:28
Spike Feresten - Working with Letterman, Seinfield in the 90s and CA Car Culture
Dan and Bea catch up with Podcast Host and Car Personality Spike Feresten. In honor of our current exhibit, Totally Awesome, Spike takes us back to the 90s and shares with us how he bonded over cars with both Letterman and Sienfield. We also talk a little about culture in California. Check out Spike on Instagram Spike’s Car Radio (@spikescarradio) • Instagram photos and videosor his show on YouTube: Spike's Car Radio - YouTube
--------
39:42
--------
39:42
Alois Ruf: The Yellowbird, a Road & Track Article, and the Birth of a Legend
In this special solo episode of Car Stories, Dan sits down with none other than Alois Ruf—the visionary behind Ruf Automobile—to dive deep into the origin story of the legendary Yellowbird.Alois shares how a now-iconic Road & Track article nearly featured a Ruf car painted a completely different color, how that last-minute decision changed everything, and what the ripple effect of that article was on Ruf’s global reputation. They also revisit the groundbreaking Faszination on the Nürburgring video, a viral sensation before the internet even knew what “viral” meant.It’s a rare, firsthand look at the moments that made Ruf a cult icon—and a must-listen for any enthusiast of performance, history, and automotive storytelling.Please check out Ruf at: RUF Automobile: Sports cars in perfectionOr on Instagram:RUF Automobile GmbH (@rufsince1939) • Instagram photos and videosThanks to Kahn Media for enabling the interview: www.kahnmedia.com
Acerca de Carstories by The Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum's CarStories podcast is committed to bringing you the best interviews and automotive stories from celebrities, racers, actors, artists, designers, musicians, enthusiasts and industry professionals. The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. Encompassing more than 300,000 square feet, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 400 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Escucha Carstories by The Petersen Automotive Museum, Hola F1 somos fans de la Fórmula 1 y muchos más podcasts de todo el mundo con la aplicación de radio.net
Colombia