About this episode

Brian McLean shares his adventures with vintage cars, emphasizing the joy of driving them rather than keeping them hidden away.

What happens when you buy a vintage Ferrari in Italy, drive it through the Alps in August with failing alternators, and then rally it to Monterey Car Week? Naturally… you plan on doing it again. This week on the Avants Podcast, Dan and Nick sit down with Brian McLean — a man who believes old cars are meant to be driven, not hidden away in climate-controlled garages. From a long-wheelbase Rolls-Royce Shadow to a manual V12 Ferrari 400i, Brian shares stories of cross-country breakdowns, roadside repairs, sketchy one-way flights, questionable financial choices, and why the best automotive adventures usually begin with, “This is probably a bad idea.” The crew dives into: Driving vintage cars thousands of miles on rallies and road trips Buying a Ferrari sight unseen in Italy Why old cars aren’t unreliable — deferred maintenance is Rally culture, road-trip philosophy, and building the next generation of enthusiasts Fuel leaks in Nevada, seized bearings in Nebraska, and why every adventure needs a backup plan Pop-up headlights, oddball wagons, V12 obsessions, and the joy of weird cars It’s equal parts automotive therapy session, comedy show, and reminder that the destination is never…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dan, Nick

Guest: Brian McLean

Topics covered

• vintage cars
• automotive adventures
• rally culture
• road trips
• car maintenance
• automotive therapy
• comedy

Keywords

• vintage Ferrari
• Alps
• Monterey Car Week
• roadside repairs
• rally culture
• automotive adventures
• old cars
• car maintenance
• backup plan

Sponsors

STEK USA, Carter Seattle

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Italy, Alps, Monterey Car Week, Nevada, Nebraska

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