Horsepower Heritage
Host Maurice Merrick takes deep dives into automotive history with great storytelling and fascinating guests from the car and motorcycle world. It's all about the people and the stories behind the machines.
Car Stories with Jay Ward
Jay Ward calls himelf "Pixar's resident car nerd". He's known for bringing authenticity to every make and model seen in the wildly successful "Cars" films, from Doc Hudson to Sally Carrera.
Jay is a true aficionado and his motion picture work reflects his wide interest and knowledge of automobiles and car culture.
In this episode Jay talks about boyhood automotive fascinations, working at a Harley dealership, what prepared him for his career at Pixar Animation Studios, the classics in his garage and more.
Jay's Instagram
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Horatio Fitz-Simon
Having learned his craft in karting, Formula Ford and historic sports cars, Horatio Fitz-Simon has become one of the most entertaining racing drivers of our day. His British Racing Green Lotus Elan is a favorite in California and he's also a scrappy contender at Goodwood, Oulton Park and other English circuits.
This year, Horatio made the big move to GT World Challenge Europe driving a McLaren 720S GT3 for Team RJN- a place in which he feels right at home- so whether your tastes run toward vintage motorsport or the latest technical edge of racing, you'll enjoy th...
The Car Shrink: a Conversation with Bryant Kreaden
Known for his love of exotic Italian machinery, flamboyant hand-tailored suits, and internet alter ego of "The Car Shrink", Bryant Kreaden is definitely a character- but don't let the schtick fool you.
Kreaden has a vast knowledge of performance cars, a solid background in racing, and an enviable network in the car community. His business is buying and selling the world's most desirable cars and after decades of doing so, he knows what he's talking about. If you want a special, no excuses Lamborghini or Ferrari, the doctor is in.
Visit th...
American Made with Lukas Czinger, Sara Price and John Hennessey (Recorded Live at The Quail)
Three great Americans talk about their success in manufacturing, motorsports and high performance: Lukas Czinger is the CEO and cofounder of Czinger Vehicles, Sara Price is an offroad racer and Dakar Rally veteran, and John Hennessey is the founder and CEO of Hennessey Performance Engineering. Recorded live at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week 2026.
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The 2026 Laguna Seca Auction Preview! with Eric Minoff of Bonhams Cars
It's time for Monterey Car Week again!
Eric Minoff of Bonhams Cars returns to Horsepower Heritage to give us a sneak peek of their auction catalog- and fittingly, Bonhams Cars has a new venue- WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway.
There are plenty of great cars in the lineup, including a 2000 Lamborghini GT, the 1966 Lola-Ford T70 MKII Can-Am Racing Spyder, a 1963 Jaguar XKE E-Type Competition Coupe built by Jay Leno's Mechanic Bernard Juchli and later owned by Nicholas Cage.
Bonhams' Laguna Seca Auction kicks off on August 13, 2026 at 10am PDT.
BROWSE THE FULL...
The Mercedes Miracle: Moss and Jenks on the Mille Miglia (with Colin Johnston)
On June 1, 1955 Stirling Moss and his navigator Denis Jenkinson climbed into their Mercedes-Benz 300SLR and set out from the northern Italian city of Brescia on a thousand-mile blast over public roads. Their objective: trounce the Ferraris and claim victory in the Mille Miglia.
The Mercedes team was meticulously prepared and the car was formidable, but perhaps no one was prepared for the astounding results.
In this episode, motor racing historian Colin Johnston tells the tale of what some consider to be one of the greatest racing performances of all time.
READ COLIN'S W...
Car Culture and More With Ryan Zummallen
Ryan Zummallen is the author of "Cult of GTR", "Slow Car Fast" and other books, and is the founder of Carrara Media, an independent book publisher dedicated to car culture.
Ryan's approach to publishing is all about the convergence of machines, art, people and places and his books capture the current automotive scene in unconventional ways.
Visit Carrara Media
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Ferrari 330GTC: The Story of a Thoroughbred, with Maurice Khawam (Encore)
If the Ferrari Luce isn't your thing, then you'll appreciate the story behind one of Ferrari's greatest creations, the 330GTC.
For many years, Enzo Ferrari's road cars were mostly thinly disguised racing machines. Motor racing, after all, was the company's raison d'être.
But there came a time when its patrons wanted more refinement and sophistication. That car came in 1966 as the Ferrari 330 GTC. Soon it was proclaimed the finest Ferrari road car ever built.
In this encore episode, author Maurice Khawam discusses his book, "Ferrari 330 GTC: Elegance and Pedigree". It's an exhaustive an...
Christopher Runge of Rünge Cars
In the Northwoods of Minnesota, Christopher Runge hand-builds thrilling and beautiful sportscars inspired by the timeliness designs of early Porsche competition models like the 550 Spyder, 718 RSK and 904.
Runge is a self-taught coach builder and an advocate of "Superlicht" construction methods, shaping aluminum panels with traditional tools and techniques in the old European tradition. Only a precious handful or Runge cars exist, and each is unique.
Even as he honors the past, Chris is always looking to the future. In collaboration with Swindon Powertrain in the UK, he has now developed the "Hetzer" Flat 8, an air-cooled, no...
A Tale of Oil, War, and Revolution: The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel (with Douglas Brunt)
In his latest book "The Lost Empire of Alfred Nobel", New York Times Bestselling Author Douglas Brunt tells the fascinating tale of the rise and fall of the world's largest oil dynasty.
Emanuel Nobel took the reigns of his family's massive Russian petroleum conglomerate just as the Automotive Age began and the steam engine was giving way to internal combustion. Oil had become the lifeblood of human endeavor.
Nobel eclipsed business rivals like the Rothschilds and John D. Rockefeller and earned the favor of the Tsar himself. Yet just as he seemed invincible, the win...
Jason Engel of Trick Rides
In the Restomod world, American Muscle is King- but it's not easy to stand out from the crowd. Jason Engel of Trick Rides has done just that with cars like their "Scorched" 1969 Ford Mustang Widebody in carbon fiber, as well as other cars like the "Rogue" '69 Chevrolet Camaro and '66 Mustang Shelby GT350TR.
In this episode Jason takes you inside the Trick Rides build process from digital design to performance specs and more.
VISIT TRICKRIDES: https://trickrides.com
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Aston Martin: The Entire Story (with Russell Hayes)- PART TWO
Aston Martin is a name synonymous with sports cars, and it's a marque that has survived against all odds for over a century. Aston has always teetered on the edge of oblivion only to hang on for yet another chapter, being rescued time after time by wealthy benefactors and brilliant engineers.
Russell Hayes' new book, "Aston Martin: the Entire Story" chronicles the people, the cars, the racing and the seemingly perpetual troubles of this quintessentially British brand.
BUY the BOOK: https://www.evropublishing.com/en-us/products/aston-martin
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Aston Martin: The Entire Story (with Russell Hayes)
Aston Martin is a name synonymous with sports cars, and it's a marque that has survived against all odds for over a century. Aston has always teetered on the edge of oblivion only to hang on for yet another chapter, being rescued time after time by wealthy benefactors and brilliant engineers.
Russell Hayes' new book, "Aston Martin: the Entire Story" chronicles the people, the cars, the racing and the seemingly perpetual troubles of this quintessentially British brand.
BUY the BOOK: https://www.evropublishing.com/en-us/products/aston-martin
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Recreating the Lancia 037 (with Brandon Hegedus)
In 1980, the FIA issued a new set of competition regulations for GT and Rally car classes known as Group B. These rules allowed manufacturers wide latitude on design and materials- and most importantly, no restriction on forced induction. Carmakers were also required to build fewer road car versions (just 200) to meet homologation.
The result was an astounding array of racing brutes like the Audi Quattro, Ford RS200, Peugeot 205 T16 and of course the Lancia 037.
But the speed and danger of Group B Rally brought things to an abrupt end and guaranteed the rarity of these car...
Bradley Price of Autodromo
Born out of a love of great automobiles, timeless design and the fascination for bygone eras in motorsport, Autodromo wristwatches have captured the imagination (and the wrists) of many car enthusiasts.
In this episode, Autodromo's founder Bradley Price discusses his career as an industrial designer and the inspiration behind his work, as well as vintage racing and his car collection. Horologists and gear ahead alike will be settle right into this story like a bolstered racing seat.
VISIT AUTODROMO: https://autodromo.com
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Mustangs and More with Tom Maxwell of Velocity Restorations
Classic Ford Mustangs and Broncos are hot in the restomod world, and so is the Fox Body Mustang platform. Velocity Restorations in Pensacola, Florida is one of the top builders today, using Roadster Shop Chassis and Ford Performance drivetrain components to blend classic looks with modern technology. In this episode, Tom Maxwell shares what it takes to build these incredible cars.
VISIT VELOCITY RESTORATIONS:
https://www.velocityrestorations.com/
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Peter Nam of Gunther Werks (with Special Guest Patrick Long)
The spectacular Porsches built by Gunther Werks might be the ultimate expression of the ultimate air-cooled 911.
Founder Peter Nam disliked how technology was dulling the driving experience, so he and his team have instead to worked to re-engineer the 993 platform in a way that strengthens the car's already fantastic attributes.
With extensive use of carbon fiber, a stiffened chassis, a highly tuned suspension and precision-built Rothsport engines and robust transmission, Gunther Werks cars have become ions unto themselves.
In this episode, Peter tells the story of Gunther Werks, joined by veteran racer and Gu...
Jason Noel of Fat Fender Garage
Pickup trucks are an American original- and so is Jason Noel, the founder of Fat Fender Garage. Jason and his team breathe new life into classic trucks, with modern chassis, powertrain and systems. These are dream builds, often still in their original paint, but Fat Fender also does the full-on custom look too.
"We put in the kitchen sink and a box of cereal for you too", says Jason.
VISIT FAT FENDER GARAGE: https://fatfender.com
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Car and Driver's Elana Scherr
Elana Scherr is the Senior Features Editor at Car and Driver Magazine. She's also an incurable MoPar muscle car fan- and together with her husband, Tom, Elana rescues unloved and overlooked automobiles whenever she can, giving them a new home and plenty of care. She drives plenty of new cars in her professional life but is always game for a classic car road trip or other adventure.
Follow Elana on Instagram and YouTube: @challengeher
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One of Those Days
There were some technical issues with the audio on this week's episode of Horsepower Heritage (with guest Elana Scherr) but everything is fixed and the episode is back up- thanks everyone!
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HORSEPOWER HERITAGE is created, produced and hosted by Maurice Merrick.
Car and Driver's Elana Scherr
Elana Scherr is the Senior Features Editor at Car and Driver Magazine. She's also an incurable MoPar muscle car fan- and together with her husband, Tom, Elana rescues unloved and overlooked automobiles whenever she can, giving them a new home and plenty of care. She drives plenty of new cars in her professional life but is always game for a classic car road trip or other adventure.
Follow Elana on Instagram and YouTube: @challengeher
SUPPORT THE PODCAST :
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SUBSCRIBE to Horsepower Heritage on...
SUPERVELOCE Part 2 with Peter Grimsdale
Author Peter Grimsdale returns to Horsepower Heritage to discuss his new book "Superveloce: How Italian Cars Conquered the World". It's a sweeping history of the Italian auto industry with a fascinating cast of characters and astonishing insights into the development of legendary machines that are beloved the world over. From the early days of the motorcar through the Swinging Sixties, Superveloce will make you appreciate Italian iron more than ever.
BUY "SUPERVELOCE":
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1398513032/?bestFormat=true&k=superveloce%20how%20italian%20cars%20conquered%20the%20world&ref_=nb_s...
SUPERVELOCE with Peter Grimsdale
Author Peter Grimsdale returns to Horsepower Heritage to discuss his new book "Superveloce: How Italian Cars Conquered the World". It's a sweeping history of the Italian auto industry with a fascinating cast of characters and astonishing insights into the development of legendary machines that are beloved the world over. From the early days of the motorcar through the Swinging Sixties, Superveloce will make you appreciate Italian iron more than ever.
BUY "SUPERVELOCE":
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1398513032/?bestFormat=true&k=superveloce%20how%20italian%20cars%20conquered%20the%20world&ref_=nb_s...
Classics of Lebanon with Ahmad Fahs
"The people of Lebanon love life", says Ahmad Fahs. And they love classic cars, too.
Ahmad calls himself an "International Classic Car Ambassador", having built his own car collection at home, buying cars overseas, and traveling extensively in Europe to learn more about his passion. He's built a local car club called "South Classics" and his Instagram @classics.with.fahsoun has a loyal following where he shares his own rides (and much more).
To Westerners, Lebanon seems an unlikely place to discover a vibrant car culture, but this episode will change your viewpoint on that. I...
Jim Busby: Born to Race
From the moment he saw midget racers in Pasadena as a kid in the late 1940s, Jim Busby was hooked on cars.
He became a hot rodder, a mechanic, a drag racer, and by the 1970s he was behind the wheel of Lolas and Porsches on road circuits in the US and Europe.
Jim made his mark at places like Lime Rock, Sebring, Daytona, Monza, the Nurburgring, and of course, Le Mans.
He also had many successful years building engines and cars and managing his own racing team, culminating with the mighty Porsche 962.
<...Adventures in Baja (With Sal Fish, Curt LeDuc and More)
Ride along with us on the Slow Baja Vintage Expedition- a week of primo off-roading and exploration in one of the world's most magical landscapes, tracing the tracks of the legendary Baja desert races. and featuring conversations with Car & Driver's Elana Scherr, Slow Baja founder Michael Emery, and Offroad Motorsports Hall-of-Famers Sal Fish and Curt LeDuc.
A hearty group in twenty classic Jeeps, Toyotas, Land Rovers, International Scouts, Ford Broncos and more traversed the peninsula from Tijuana to the Sea of Cortez, with plenty of adventure, tacos and vintage vibes along the way. Slow Baja is a j...
The Spectacle of SEMA (With Tom Gattuso)
Four little letters: SEMA. This simple acronym helps drive the 300 million dollar US automotive aftermarket industry.
Every year, thousands of companies descends on Las Vegas, Nevada to showcase their latest and greatest products- everything from exhausts and lift kits to lighting and detail supplies.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association was founded in 1963, originally to promote "speed equipment" (bolt-on, go-fast parts!) and the first SEMA exhibition took place in the bowels of Dodger Stadium. Over the next six decades it grew into a massive must-see event that now encompasses not just new products, but lots of ev...
Vintage Sportscars: History, Lore and Revival- with Max Minshull
"All my heroes are in black and white" goes the lyric of a John Mayer song. It's also how Max Minshull thinks about motorsport, racing drivers and sportscars.
Max Minshull has a fascination with the exploits and the thrill of vintage machines from the Fifties and Sixties. He races a Porsche 356A coupe and he's on a mission to bring together a new generation of enthusiasts who share a love of mid-twentieth-century racing history.
Max's Instagram: @pacificsportscarclub
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Inside Macchinissima (Encore)
Not long ago, three Los Angeles car enthusiasts decided to organize a new event celebrating the best Italian machinery in a distinctive location. Mike Baum, Bronson Page and Dorian Valenzuela are friends, collectors, and the creatives behind MACCHINISSIMA.
MACCHINISSIMA III comes to Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, September 27. Horsepower heritage host Maurice Merrick joins Team Macchi this year as Master of Ceremonies.
Beautiful, beloved and quirky Italian machines will be on display thought the venue. And Alfa Romeo USA will be bringing the sexy new 33 Stradale.
But the cars are just one element- it's...
Manual Driving Academy (with Ahmed Raza)
The manual gearbox is an endangered species.
We all know the battle cry "Save the Manuals"- but Ahmed Raza decided to do something about it. He bought a Mazda Miata without knowing how to shift gears, but promptly learned and became a car enthusiast.
Being an entrepreneur, Ahmed and a friend started a business called "Manual Driving Academy" to teach others the essential skills of operating a stick shift.
The company now has instructors in forty-seven locales where they spread the joy of driving a proper car.
https://manualdrivingacademy.com/
...ONE of ONE with Ben Bertucci and So Naito
On a narrow street in Tokyo, there's a nondescript little workshop known as Naito Engineering, where some of the world's most desirable sports and racing cars are cared for by a small team of men.
Founded by Shinichi Naito in 1952, it's now a third generation business where, on any given day, you might find a Ferrari 250LM on the lift or a Porsche racing engine being rebuilt. Shinichi's son Masao and his grandsons So and Kei now carry on the tradition.
For seven years, filmmaker Ben Bertucci has been documenting the life of the shop, a...
Mel Harder, President and General Manager of Laguna Seca Raceway
One of the most historic racing circuits in the United States has a new helmsman.
Mel Harder is a motorsports management veteran who began his career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and went on to manage Circuit of the Americas and the Chip Ganassi Racing Team.
In this episode, Mel talks about the past, present and future of Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca and shares his insights on decades of experience in motorsports.
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Abarth Adventures with Lincoln Small
In the early 1960s, Lincoln Small fell in love with the perfomance-tuned FIATs built by Abarth. Soon he was obsessed with them, leading to a business venture with a pair of backyard-engineer brothers, John and Geoff Anstead, in which the three became the Abarth agents in the United Kingdom.
Under the Radbourne Motors banner, they imported, prepared, sold and raced the whole range of Abarth cars.
Now Lincoln Small has written an engaging and endearing account of his life among these cars entitled "Abarth, Radbourne Racing and Me: A memoir of iconic cars and racing a...
John Nikas: Racing, Writing and Rants
Few people speak more passionately about cars than John Nikas. He's a longtime vintage racing driver, an author of dozens of books, and a sought-after public speaker on automotive subjects.
His first love was for British sports cars in all their crudeness and stubborn tradition, but that was only the gateway to a lifetime spent behind the wheel and the writing desk.
In this conversation, John shares his thoughts about things like old MGs, the folly of the original Porsche 911, the heyday of Lotus in competition, some giants of racing, and the state of the ca...
Blake Swingle: Learning the Trade
Cultivating the next generation of automotive restorers and specialists is essential to the survival of the car hobby- whether your classic was built in 1900 or 1990.
Blake Swingle is one of these next-gen tradesmen. Soon to graduate from McPherson College (which offers the only Bachelor's degree in this field in the United States), Blake has learned the fundamentals of research, metalwork, machining, paint, upholstery and all of the other skills needed to preserve and even resurrect a classic car.
He's also an intern at The Singleton Collection in Orange County, California, home to some of the...
Dolce e Veloce: A Celebration of Italian Cars
"Sweet and fast" is a good way to describe the character of many classic Italian cars. Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari, Maserati and other auto makers created enduring machines infused with the national culture.
In this episode we explore what makes them so special: things like design philosophy, emphasis on beautiful shapes, and performance-oriented engineering. Recorded live at the Petersen Automotive Museum's Dolce e Veloce Rally with guests Mike Baum of Macchinissima, automotive writer Robert Ross and collector Max Reyhani.
Visit Macchinissima: https://www.macchinissima.com
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Racing's Darkest Day: The 1955 Le Mans Disaster
The "Golden Age of Auto Racing" began after World War II and lasted until the early Seventies. It's a period that is frequently romanticized.
But that thin veneer was shattered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the afternoon of June 11, 1955, when a catastrophic collision caused the deaths of Mercedes-Benz driver Pierre Levegh and at least 83 spectators. Here's the story of that terrible day and its aftermath.
This episode was originally released in 2022 and is now updated and remastered.
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Juan Diego Calle of CLASSIC.COM
Combining his background in internet tech and vintage cars, Juan Diego Calle launched CLASSIC.COM to bring the collector car market together under one digital umbrella.
The website has seen tremendous user adoption and growth and it's become a prime destination for many people who want to buy or sell a special car.
Its useful data on market trends, pricing and past sales has become a valuable tool for anyone interested in the car hobby.
In this episode, Juan talks about CLASSIC as well as his other ventures like the FJ Company (bespoke Toy...
The Birth of Le Mans
It's arguably the greatest event in motorsport- The 24 Hours of LeMans. A grueling trial of men and machines, and for many drivers, the race they most want to win.
Its roots are as deep as the history of the automobile. This is the story of how it all began.
DOLCE è VELOCE AT THE PETERSEN MUSEUM:
https://www.petersen.org/events/dolce-e-veloce-2025
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HEMI: Chrysler's Postwar Powerhouse
After World War II, the American auto industry became obsessed with power and performance, and Chrysler Corporation's Hemi engines became legendary.
This is the story of the Hemi like you've never heard it before.
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