Talking About Cars with Randy Kerdoon

(12-01-2019) – Hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving break! For this week’s episode we dusted off a 2015 interview I did with music icon and real “car guy” Richard Carpenter, who with his late sister Karen wow’d the music world with their tunes! Richard is quite the car guy, and while he favors Mopars, he has his share of other brands like a mid sixties front wheel drive Cadillac’s Eldorado to a Mark II Continental. I caught up with Richard at his warehouse in the Conejo Valley outside of Los Angeles. He loves to talk cars! While I posted several pics from his collection on my Talking About Cars facebook page, I’ll post two here.

Note the picture above and the dark 1965 Plymouth Belvedere convertible behind it. That car was actually bought by Richard’s father, and stayed in the family. The car was actually one of two Carpenter owned cars that appeared on Carpenters album covers.

Once again it’s not about the car you see, but what’s behind it. That got red car in the windshield, is the other car that appeared in a Carpenter’s album cover. A Ferrari that Richard was less than thrilled about the shot used for that cover. He explains why in the podcast. It reminds me that I need to return to see his collection and find out if there’s anything new there today! Stay tuned!

Thanks for listening. A new podcast uploads Thursday morning! Please LISTEN, LIKE, FOLLOW US, AND SHARE OR RETWEET!! THANKS!!

(11-17-2019) – What could be better than talking with the lanky and affable former Wheeler Dealer Edd China? Hanging with Edd on his “casual lofa” motorized sofa and yes, it does have front and back lights, turn signals (in the flower pots), a speedometer in the clock, hand controls for gas (a “Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup handle), brakes (a can of beer) and steering (a pizza container with an actual faux pizza inside).

Randy and his wife Marta had a chance to take a ride with Edd (it’s all over our social media). We’re told the “lofa” can get up to 80 miles an hour, but we’re not so sure we want to be a passenger at that speed unless we are covered by layers of bubble wrap!

Where’s Edd now on your TV? Edd has some answers, plus we talk about his great book “Grease Junkie”, his electric ice cream truck, his car rebuild show on you tube, and fans ask Edd questions! Check out the podcast below, LISTEN, LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW US, and SUBSCRIBE! (it’s free)

(11/09/2019) – The man behind some cool classic car builds at his “Pure Vision” shop in Simi Valley, California sat down with hosts Randy Kerdoon and “Hot Rod” Bob Beck for some opinionated conversation in TAC 168. (And 169). Steve Strope had a 6 episode run on then Velocity TV (now Motor Trend) in a show called “Hand Built Hot Rods”. He’s always been outspoken, so we managed to ask a question about the recent accident involving actor/comedian Kevin Hart’s custom 70s Plymouth ‘Cuda with a Dodge Demon 800+ horsepower engine under the hood, on Mulholland Highway in Calabasas.

As the media reported, Hart was the passenger in the car one night with a friend behind the wheel, and the friends fiancée sitting basically on the hump in the back (there was no back seat, similar to an AMX set up)….when they turned onto Mulholland….went a short distance and drove off the road into a ravine causing serious injuries to Hart and the driver. Will there be lawsuits against the Cuda builder and will it result in air bags in all future builds and more??

You are going to want to hear Steve’s response that THAT…..In Part 1 of our 2 part interview!

Please LISTEN, LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE (IT’S FREE)

(10-29-2019) – What’s it like growing up the son of a big time TV and movie actor? Ron DeFore explains how he found out his dad, Don DeFore, co-star of 1950s and 60’s classic’s ”the adventures of Ozzie and Harriet“ and “Hazel” was a bit of a celebrity! Ron’s story of how his dad used to get 1 year leases on cars for a mere 1 dollar bill, is evidence of what can happen to a TV Star, plus Ron has other great car stories AND Disneyland stories.

Don DeFore was more than just an actor, he was a shrewd businessman too. He’s the first actor to ever have a restaurant in his name at a Disneyland restaurant. Ron has great stories and there was a lot of laughs with him, Randy and Hot Rod Bob Beck!

Listen by clicking the player below. Please LISTEN, SHARE, LIKE and SUBSCRIBE on social media!!

(10-12-2019) – My stepson Stan has been a proud owner of a 1991 Mazda Miata over a year now, he’s replaced the engine with a newer, low mileage model, reupholstered the interior, and put in a roll bar with determination you normally see on TVs Wheeler Dealers. So Marta and I decided to trek down to the recent “Japanese Classic Car Show” in Long Beach, CA to check out not only the usual Bugs, Beamers and Celicas (oh my)….but the more unusual models imported like Skylines, and yes even the Nissan “Gloria”. (Think Asian Pontiac)

I love oddball, unusual cars you never see, and now that 25 years have flown by, those cars are now eligible to import to the US. This is the 58 Rambler-ish looking 62-65 Nissan Cedric

Or a later Cedric/Gloria with “Mustang” looking taillights.

I caught up with the owner of a Datsun Z…”Sportwagon”, a car that was actually a model envisioned by the Z original designer along with a Z “Targa” and a Z that could actually fit four passengers as well as the two seater Z fans know and love. Jay Ataka worked with the original Z designer and made his own “Sportwagon”. Also the guru behind the Mazda Miata, Tom Matano, talks about how the vehicle came about, and the deal Mazda cut him when he wanted a Miata of his own. (You are not going to believe it!). Plus, what if you wanted your own Skyline, Gloria, or other car from Japan….or one from Austrailia or wherever. Sean Morris of Top Rank Importers on the how to’s of reaching out and getting a car anywhere in the world!

Remember, please LISTEN, SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE/RETWEET!