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

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!
“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.
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:
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Listen to past episodes: buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes 🎧
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Until next time, keep the windows down and the stories moving. 🌬️🏁

*** 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!
"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!
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!
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!
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.