The Thing About Cars

The Thing About Cars hosts Robert M. Kennedy, a lifelong Mustang enthusiast and author of the comprehensive automotive history  Mustang Unbridled . The conversation covers Mustang history from its 1962 concept origins through the modern S650 generation, Kennedy's research methodology, surprising discoveries during writing, and his perspective on the Mustang's evolution and future. We welcome your...

TTAC welcomes Jack from the YouTube channel Number 27 to the table today! Ben's a huge fan of Number 27 so he has trouble restraining himself talking with one of his heroes, while Dave is titillated by Jack's accent. Jack tells us about how his channel has changed over time and grown to become a full-time job, and what a fun job! He gets to drive all kinds of cool and interesting cars as well as f...

In this episode, the TTAC crew shares some of the scariest things they've encountered while driving at night, including a large sheet of plywood that nearly crashed into Dave's car, a mysterious "factory from hell" that turned out to be the Dallas Cowboys stadium, and Ben's harrowing experience getting lost in a convoy of tanks in the Mojave Desert. The group also discusses the history o...

Join hosts Mickey, Ben, Dave, and Tim as they chat with  Autumn , Associate Curator at the  Peterson Automotive Museum  in Los Angeles . Discover what makes the Peterson one of the world’s most respected car museums, from its legendary lowrider exhibits to the hidden treasures in its vault. Autumn shares behind-the-scenes insights on how exhibits are chosen, the intersection of cars and culture, a...

In this lively episode of  The Thing About Cars , the gang reunites with Dawn, who unveils her brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy. She shares her excitement about its retro design, dual sunroofs, Bose speakers, UV phone sanitizer, and even a hidden compartment perfect for valuables (or a shotgun, as the crew jokes). The conversation takes a hilarious turn as they discuss the car’s powerfu...

In this deeply insightful and inspiring episode of The Thing About Cars , we welcome Dr. Bob McMahan, President of Kettering University—a revolutionary institution turning higher education on its head with a one-of-a-kind co-op model that combines rigorous academics with real-world engineering experience. Mickey, Misty, Ben, and Tim explore how Kettering’s approach creates professionals with not j...

In this hilariously sharp and candid episode of The Thing About Cars , Mickey and the gang unpack some seismic shifts in the world of Formula One. Is Lewis Hamilton really leaving Mercedes for Ferrari? Why did the FIA reject Andretti Global’s bid to become the 11th F1 team—and is there a whiff of politics and anti-American sentiment in the decision? We also check in on Phil the Ballard’s tumultuou...

**The TTAC Crew get to talk with Alison Hill, an SCCA participant and instructor, to discuss motorsports, racing, and SCCA events and culture. ** We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website .

In this chaotic yet charming episode of The Thing About Cars , the gang checks in on everything from F1 drama to baked bean Furby rage. Mickey's trying to push out two episodes a week to catch up the podcast backlog (and avoid being haunted by guests), while Misty brings updates from the Dutch job market and the gridiron of Formula 1—complete with team infighting, rookie surprises, and scandalous...

This episode of The Thing About Cars features Annie Koehler, affectionately known as the "Hot-Rod Granny Annie." Annie shares her incredible journey from owning nearly 100 cars to driving dump trucks professionally, and now competing—and winning—in burnout contests well into her 80s. She tells us about her beloved 1957 Cadillac Series 62 DeVille, now modified with a 540-hp big block engi...

Hope has a 1958 Desoto Firesweep that she bought in 2009. We find out what are the joys and troubles of owning a car from a brand that has been defunct for many decades. Hope lets us know where you may have seen her car before, if some of the work that it requires, currently allows it to be driven by Fred Flintstone, and what she's done in its back seat. Ben joins the party a little late as he is...

We welcome David Kreidler, Senior Exhibits Curator for the Harley-Davidson Museum . Ben takes over for Tim with the trivia question, and our guest has his own trivia question too! We learn all about what goes into creating exhibits that reflect the history of Harley-Davidson and broader related topics as well. David has one of the best jobs around and clearly enjoys it. You'll definitely want to s...

We welcome Tom Glatch to the table to discuss his book about American Motors Corporation , better known as AMC. AMC only lasted 34 years but it's a fascinating story full of interesting engineering accomplishments and business decisions. Nashes and Ramblers and Gremlins, oh my! You'll see AMC in a whole new light. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website...

We welcome writer/photographer Tom Glatch, author of Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Cars and Mopar fan since childhood. Mickey thinks his dream-car is in the book. Misty is mourning fallen bollards. Ben confesses driving 100 MPH in his dad's beat-up Plymouth but luckily the statute of limitations has run out, and we even give the K-Car a little love. And if you didn't think that Plymouth Dusters were...

Film-maker Indy Saini joins us to tell us all about her film Women In The Front Seat, which is about a diverse group of women motorcyclists. They're all different, their bikes are different, their styles of riding are different- but they share the common bond of going places on two wheels. More than just a series of profiles, the film explores deeper motives and reasons for women to ride. These ri...

Our guest Brian Phillips and his uniquely named car tells us how he turned a traffic accident into getting a nicer car with an even more unique name via some friendly dealings with a pre-loved vehicle purveyor. We ponder the longevity of cars with cylinder deactivation. Misty and Tim talk about the peculiar events of the 2023 Las Vegas F1 race; regarding rules, flagging, staffing and scheduling. T...

We're flying without a guest or a plan in this previously un-released vintage episode. Dave is befuddled, Misty is stabby, and Tim is racy! Ben had to miss this one and it's a damn shame because his father worked with the criminally insane and owned a pair of Alfa Romeos, both of which get mentioned in the trivia question. The shopping is fabulous in Tangent-Land! Why are we building more gas stat...

We welcome Rebecca Vollman to the table to learn all about her adventures in engineering! It's a fascinating tale based on the idea that life's too short to drive a boring car and she shares a lot of wisdom learned from seeing the automotive industry from the inside. Tim dials 911 for the trivia question. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website .

Mickey gets to visit a meeting of the Georgia Automotive Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) and do some live recording on site. It was a wonderful experience. Mickey interviews Gaby Pierre, Strategy Lead and Senior Fellow of GNEM (Georgia Network for Electric Mobility), a think-tank housed at the University of Georgia focused on electric mobility and transportation innovation, research, and economi...

Dave is surprisingly mellow and Misty wonders why there are bells. Mickey has got a little list. Misty is steamed at Europe's left-lane bandits, and wonders if US drivers are driving plaid. Whose Schwartz is bigger? Dave's singing voice is unequaled! Ben is annoyed at the poor quality of US drivers, Dave clutches his pearls, and Mickey wonders why we need a check engine light and Dave says Mickey...

We welcome motorsports goddess Dystany Spurlock to the table, one of the fastest women on two wheels! She does some cool things on four wheels too, and we really enjoyed the conversation- she's so much fun! Her enthusiasm for motorsports is wonderfully contagious, so tune-in and enjoy the ride! Misty isn't moist for once, and Westy fans can rejoice the glorious return to USA. We had lots of fun go...

We're all in good form as we welcome Paul D'Orleans to the table to discuss all the things that turn his crank. He's into cars and motorcycles but mostly motorcycles, and has become a top-notch impresario for curated content relating to motorcycle history and culture, as well as being a really fun guy to talk with. His love of the subject is undeniably strong and infectious and he'll make you want...

Misty is walking like an Egyptian away from Tim's Pharoah joke, and due to a guest who canceled we tackle other topics. We start out serious with the idea of putting anti-impaired driving interlocks in all cars but then we lighten it up with switching gears (not easy in Dawn's Mercedes, apparently), then shift into which country's cars are the most difficult to repair. Tim grew extra elbows to get...

Do All Engineers Have Talking Frogs? The gang interviews Steven Tubbs from Kennesaw University's Formula SAE Team, a co-ed team of students who secure funding for, engineer, design, build, and race a small formula style car in intercollegiate competition. We find out what roles there are for team members getting degrees in engineering, whether is is mechanical, aerospace, electronic or materials,...

F.I., F1, and tires, tyres, tires! In this episode, we find out why tires used to be white and why restaurants have Michelin stars. In other tire topics, Tim remembers the F1 tire wars of the early 2000's and how it led to the US Farce 1 GP of 2005. We contemplate the long lead times of getting repair parts for newer cars from a dealer. Ben, on the other hand, can get all of the parts for his 1972...