Bring a Trailer Podcast

This BaT Podcast episode, the fourth in our series about Car Movies, covers the surprise hit American Graffiti—the early, scrappy, low-budget George Lucas effort featuring Ron(nie) Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, and many more names who might not be at the tips of our tongues in 2026 but whose roles in the movie have left indelible marks on so many of us. And let us not forget the cast of true A-listers led by Milner's legendary yellow Deuce coupe.
Alex, Cam, Beck, and Zac talk about what the film meant (or didn't mean) to kids who grew up in various parts of California, even ones from a generation after it was made; its vérité-adjacent shooting style; Mel's as a story anchor;  the drunken antics of Harrison Ford and company; a revelation that (a thinly disguised) Curt works at BaT; a diegetic score culminating in the hardest-hitting usage of "Green Onions" ever; Wolfman Jack as an omniscient narrator; how  texting and Tinder would have rendered the movie impossible; the car history of George Lucas; modern gangs of teens on e-bikes; and what the '90s versions of the hero and villain cars would have been.
Links for things mentioned in this episode:
31:32 1963 Cobra Roadster CSX2128
32:57  22-Years-Family-Owned, 239 Flathead-Powered 1930 Ford 5-Window Coupe by Hollywood Hotrods
38:25 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster Hot Rod 5-Speed
39:31  1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash test
40:57  The American Graffiti 55 Chevy
1:06:23  BaT Podcast Episode 56: AJ Baime on Go Like Hell, The Arsenal of Democracy, and More
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community, One Year Garage episode, or (B)aT the Movies subject? Let us know in the comments below!

This week, Alex talks with Beck and Zac about a formative pair of BMWs in Zac's neighborhood growing up; a snowballed BMW project threatening to be come a full avalanche; a very quick turnaround; a curious Bay Area car-buying ploy; Alex's odd but steadfast list of cheap childhood cars he'd buy if only he could find them; (misplaced?) nostalgia for late-1980s Ford performance cars and keyless entry code buttons; and attainable transaxle Porsches.
The team goes on to describe a brief history of the Toyota celebrity support race at the Long Beach Grand Prix; impressive feats from a 190E  2.3 16-valve; Gene Hackman's side gig; Tommy Kendall, an all-around decent guy; a good color change; an interesting museum collection sale; and current watchlist favorites punctuated with Porsche whale-tale nerdiness and shame.
Mentioned in this episode:
1:30  S52-Powered 1988 BMW M3
6:25  Pristine 69k-Mile 1990 BMW M3
15:16  4,700-Mile 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
15:52 19k-Mile 1989 Ford Taurus SHO
17:42  37k-Mile 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde
17:56  1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde
21:24  Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sport Coupes on BaT
24:11  2000-2006 Toyota Celicas on BaT
30:57  Mini R53 Cooper S Model Page
36:27  IMSA, NASCAR, RX-7s, and Land Yachts with Tommy Kendall
37:34  49k-Mile 1992 Ford Taurus SHO
38:20  Original-Owner 1979 BMW M1
38:43  Ex–Stu Hayner 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Challenge Race Car
38:54  The Gilmore Car Museum Collection, Offered at No Reserve
39:17 Gilmore_Cars user page
40:13  1993 Geo Tracker LSi 4×4 5-Speed w/Camso Track System
40:55  1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL Fastback R-Code 427 4-Speed
41:21  Euro 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB
42:01 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster
43:38  1968 Mazda Cosmo Series II
43:42  1990 Lamborghini LM002 LM/American
45:23 RoW 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI Coupe
46:58  Whale Tales: A Visual Guide to the Evolution of Porsche 911 Spoilers
47:26  Dual-Quad 350–Powered 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop Coupe
47:37  MSCLASSICCARSLLC user page
47:46 Bill Goldberg’s Twin-Plug 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo
49:55  RoW 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Coupe
51:26  1975 Porsche 911 Carrera
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community, One Year Garage episode, or (B)aT the Movies subject? Let us know in the comments below!

This week, Alex brings in the big guns. Randy, Howard, and Zac talk about our recent Palm Springs event; crazy winds and a curious white substance in the southern California mountains; a magnet for male attention; important questions about people who film everything they do; a remarkably un-harrowing experience at Disneyland; reviews of Alex's beautiful new Euro 308GTB; a flying Corvette; an exceptional 240Z; and discontinued BaT merch that haunts Randy.
They also talk about hunting the ones that got away and the perpetual lie of project car completion percentage, take a brief stop in Aviation Corner with Alex, and preview a very special upcoming collection sale. Also featured: a very bad dog, split-window Corvettes hitting escape velocity, and favorite auctions from the last couple of weeks.
Mentioned in this episode:
14:35  1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe
18:09  Time Machine: A Success Story in Motion from BaT and Pennzoil
29:32  1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Coupe by Singer
32:15 1964 Porsche 356C Carrera 2 Coupe
33:01  Ex–Vic Edelbrock Jr., 292 Flathead-Powered 1932 Ford Roadster by Roy Brizio
33:43  1993 Porsche 911 RS America Gemballa Slantnose RSR 3.8 Conversion
34:48  8k-Mile 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Coupe
34:59  1961 AC Aceca-Bristol
35:04  62-Years-Owned 1958 AC Ace-Bristol
35:21  1974 MasterCraft “Stars & Stripes” 18′ Competition Ski Boat
35:53  2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider
36:09  1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe Body Shell Project
37:40  Kelsey-Hayes Wheels for Chevrolet Corvette
37:54  28k-Mile 1985.5 Ford Mustang SVO T-Top
38:18  1977 Porsche 930 Turbo Carrera
38:30 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO
38:59  1997 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster by Gunther Werks
39:11  Original-Owner 1979 BMW M1
39:25  1979 Mercury Capri Turbo RS 4-Speed
40:17  Lot of Four 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air & 150 4-Door Sedan Projects
42:00 Race Cars on BaT
43:17  Ex–Stu Hayner 1989 Chevrolet Corvette Challenge Race Car
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community, One Year Garage episode, or (B)aT the Movies subject? Let us know in the comments below!

Apologies to our listeners using Apple Podcasts - an upload snafu caused you to get a repeat of last week's episode. Here's this week's One Year!

It's malaise time—or is it? This week, Alex, Cam, Tyler, and Beck choose their top five vehicles from the model year 1980 in an impromptu, nearly unprepped episode. Spoiler alert: you've heard Tyler talk about bikes, but it's a widely known "secret" around the halls of BaT that his taste in cars is...well, weird. The crew talk about their surprisingly fun research, skin-deep beauty, and the wide variety of cultural ways in which 1980 was a transitional period
They also narrowly avoid a prolonged version of the usual "what is a supercar" debate; slightly cheat with Euro cars; spend a surprising amount of time on the Dodge Ramcharger and Plymouth Trail Duster; stump Alex (again) but allow him out of perpetual loserhood; talk about the various trips one might take in a Vanagon; discovered all sorts of eagles glee; recount a worse "learning to drive stick" story than most of you have, thankfully; and take an unexpected but welcome diversion into the land (sea?) of Boston Whaler center consoles.
Mentioned in this episode:
8:42  ⁠Ex-Steve McQueen 1952 Chevrolet 3800 Pickup with Camper and Husqvarna CR250⁠
9:45  ⁠Ex-Steve McQueen bikes⁠ on BaT
17:42  ⁠1980 BMW M1⁠
21:33  ⁠1980 Honda CBX Super Sport⁠ and   ⁠29-Years-Owned 1980 Honda CBX Super Sport⁠
23:36  ⁠Euro 1980 Porsche 930 Turbo⁠
26:34 ⁠1980 Ferrari 512 BB⁠
28:34 ⁠1980 Ferrari 308 GTBi⁠
30:04  ⁠1980 Plymouth Trail Duster⁠
31:56 ⁠1978 Dodge Ramcharger Top Hand 4×4⁠
32:31  ⁠Dodge Ramcharger / Plymouth Trail Duster⁠ model page
34:04  ⁠Ex-CHP 1982 Dodge Ramcharger 4×4⁠
35:07  ⁠One-Family-Owned 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco S 5-Speed⁠
38:50 ⁠Single-Family-Owned 1980 Porsche 911SC Coupe Weissach⁠
43:05  ⁠Euro 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9⁠
45:00  ⁠1980 Cadillac Seville⁠
52:31  ⁠1979 Ford Pinto Wagon 4-Speed⁠
52:47  ⁠Time Machine: A Success Story in Motion from BaT and Pennzoil⁠
53:38  ⁠1980 Ford Pinto Rallye Pack Wagon 4-Speed⁠
56:01  ⁠1980 AMC Eagle 2-Door Sedan⁠
58:03  ⁠1979 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle 4-Speed⁠
1:01:12  ⁠1980 GL 4WD - US Ski Team Wagon⁠
1:04:07  ⁠1980 Mercedes-Benz 280GE Cabriolet 4-Speed⁠
1:06:44 ⁠8k-Mile 1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M-81⁠
1:10:03  ⁠1984 Zimmer Golden Spirit Classic⁠
1:12:23  ⁠Single-Family-Owned 1986 Boston Whaler Montauk 17′ Project⁠
1:14:28  ⁠Porsche 935 K3⁠
1:21:20  ⁠V8-Powered 1980 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 5-Speed⁠
1:24:38 ⁠1980 Toyota Celica RA45 GT2000 Rally⁠
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community, One Year Garage episode, or (B)aT the Movies subject? Let us know in the comments below!

It's malaise time—or is it? This week, Alex, Cam, Tyler, and Beck choose their top five vehicles from the model year 1980 in an impromptu, nearly unprepped episode. Spoiler alert: you've heard Tyler talk about bikes, but it's a widely known "secret" around the halls of BaT that his taste in cars is...well, weird. The crew talk about their surprisingly fun research, skin-deep beauty, and the wide variety of cultural ways in which 1980 was a transitional period
They also narrowly avoid a prolonged version of the usual "what is a supercar" debate; slightly cheat with Euro cars; spend a surprising amount of time on the Dodge Ramcharger and Plymouth Trail Duster; stump Alex (again) but allow him out of perpetual loserhood; talk about the various trips one might take in a Vanagon; discovered all sorts of eagles glee; recount a worse "learning to drive stick" story than most of you have, thankfully; and take an unexpected but welcome diversion into the land (sea?) of Boston Whaler center consoles.
Mentioned in this episode:
8:42  Ex-Steve McQueen 1952 Chevrolet 3800 Pickup with Camper and Husqvarna CR250
9:45  Ex-Steve McQueen bikes on BaT
17:42  1980 BMW M1
21:33  1980 Honda CBX Super Sport and   29-Years-Owned 1980 Honda CBX Super Sport
23:36  Euro 1980 Porsche 930 Turbo
26:34 1980 Ferrari 512 BB
28:34 1980 Ferrari 308 GTBi
30:04  1980 Plymouth Trail Duster
31:56 1978 Dodge Ramcharger Top Hand 4×4
32:31  Dodge Ramcharger / Plymouth Trail Duster model page
34:04  Ex-CHP 1982 Dodge Ramcharger 4×4
35:07  One-Family-Owned 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco S 5-Speed
38:50 Single-Family-Owned 1980 Porsche 911SC Coupe Weissach
43:05  Euro 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9
45:00  1980 Cadillac Seville
52:31  1979 Ford Pinto Wagon 4-Speed
52:47  Time Machine: A Success Story in Motion from BaT and Pennzoil
53:38  1980 Ford Pinto Rallye Pack Wagon 4-Speed
56:01  1980 AMC Eagle 2-Door Sedan
58:03  1979 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle 4-Speed
1:01:12  1980 GL 4WD - US Ski Team Wagon
1:04:07  1980 Mercedes-Benz 280GE Cabriolet 4-Speed
1:06:44 8k-Mile 1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M-81
1:10:03  1984 Zimmer Golden Spirit Classic
1:12:23  Single-Family-Owned 1986 Boston Whaler Montauk 17′ Project
1:14:28  Porsche 935 K3
1:21:20  V8-Powered 1980 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 5-Speed
1:24:38 1980 Toyota Celica RA45 GT2000 Rally
Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community, One Year Garage episode, or (B)aT the Movies subject? Let us know in the comments below!