Classic 4x4

Eric Rothenhaus' career as a designer and passionate collector intersects to yield a collection of impeccably designed Jeeps with unique livery.  Presently designing products and fashion for Kayne West and formerly for Swiss Army and Jansport, Eric utilizes his "creative eye" to acquire, design, restore and build an epic Jeep collection.  Growing up in New York, at a young age his experiences with his surroundings, movies and family's vehicles sparked his passion for collecting classic cars and trucks.  On this episode, Chris and Eric discuss their east coast upbringings, the influence movies had on their passion for classic 4x4s and the history and livery behind their Jeep projects and collections.  Follow Eric and his collection on Instagram @autolgnd.     Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

At only 28 years old and with a shop founded 5 years ago, Charlie Pitcher has gained prominence as the premier classic Dodge truck restorer, fabricator and collector.  Starting with a passion that turned into a profession, Charlie and his team at Metal by Charlie build bespoke classic Dodge trucks that maintain their original character while incorporating modern engineering and amenities.  On this episode, Chris and Charlie discuss everything from how Charlie got started to an epic project he completed for celebrity NYC Chef, Frank Falcinelli.  Follow Charlie and his builds on Instagram @metalbycharlie and visit his website a metalbycharlie.com.Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Grayson McGill is equal parts eclectic vehicle collector, antique picker and semi-pro surfer.  His most amazing quality is just being a chill guy with a great vibe that loves life and traveling the country meeting interesting people, sharing unique experiences and unearthing all things old.  The experiences he had growing up on the beach in Myrtle Beach, SC catapulted his passion for Classic 4x4 collecting, surfing and beach life.  On this episode, Chris and Grayson discuss their mutual love for classic four-wheel drive collecting, living by the beach and a few hysterical life experiences.  Follow Grayson and his life adventures on Instagram @graysvws.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Building a global Jeep collection that spans bi-coastal locations in the United States and locations in Northern Italy, Paolo d'Ammassa has curated one of the finest Jeep collections in the world!  Dovetailing off of Eric Rothenhaus' interview where Chris and Eric discuss their common friend and "Jeep Nut", Paolo.  On this episode, Chris and Paolo discuss how his European upbringing influenced his love for classic American cars and how a Ford Mustang ended up financing one of the finest Jeep collections in the world.  Follow Paolo and check out his collection on Instagram @cherokee.land.Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Iconic automotive designer and artist, Chris Piscitelli, turned his childhood dream into a successful career as a Jeep, Dodge and SRT Design Manager.   He developed a passion for cars and drawing very early on and pursued this passion at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied industrial design.  Upon graduating he immediately moved to the motor city where he pursued a second degree in automotive design at the College for Creative Studies.  He has worked as an automotive designer for over a decade, designing Jeeps on the road today and the future of Dodge and SRT muscle cars.  On this episode, Chris and Chris discuss his epic Jeep Moab Special Project designs and builds that were featured on Jay Leno's Garage and inspired previous guest, Paolo D'Ammassa, most recent classic Wagoneer build.  They also discuss Chris' modern designs that shaped the Jeep, Dodge and SRT brands of today.    Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Jared Friends, Founder of Merritt Motors Co., is an expert at the forefront of dry ice cleaning and preservation.  He also restores and collects classic Chevy and Ford trucks with a Harvester or Porsche thrown in here and there for good measure.  Merritt Motors Co. in Kannapolis, NC specializes in utilizing the latest minimally invasive dry ice cleaning and preservation technology and techniques on various automotive and industrial restoration applications.  Also, as a small collector vehicle boutique with a primary focus on sourcing quality vehicles with original personality, Jared and his team build, restore and pass on down the line some epic classic blue oval and bowtie trucks! On this episode, Chris and Jared discuss the amazing benefits of the relatively unknown dry ice cleaning and preservation process, Jared's passion for classic trucks and fast cars and how he turned that passion into a new career.  Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Dan Hayes, Founder of the Binder Boneyard, is a preeminent International Harvester light truck restorer, builder, historian and collector.  The Binder Boneyard is a full-service restoration, sheet metal repair, and modification shop focussing on vintage International Harvester products, as well as the manufacturing home base for the Harvester Hardware line of products made specifically for IHC light duty trucks.On this episode, Dan and Chris discuss Dan's early life, the roots of his IH passion and how the Binder Boneyard came to fruition.  Also, they discuss some IH history and unique restorations Dan and his Team has built for customers. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Josh Kauffman grew up in New Jersey but made his way to Nashville via Florida.  Through his travels, he has amassed a classic 4x4 collection that "checks all the boxes".  From International Harvester Scouts, Land Rover Series, Toyota FJs and Jeep CJs and FCs, Josh's diverse collection has a little of everything and a cool story to go with each one.  Husband, father, collector, successful professional and great guy, Josh "checks all the boxes" too. On this episode, Josh and Chris discuss the roots of their classic 4x4 collecting passions and how those collections have evolved over the years from being 80s kids to adults.  They also discuss his extremely rare two Midas edition International Harvester Scouts, Jeep Forward Control and Land Rover Series 1 in his collection. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

When Eric Tessmer isn't on the road touring with his band, he is planning epic trips to buy and tinkering on early International Harvester light and medium duty trucks.  As a Wisconsin native, growing up in the International Harvester homeland, Tessmer developed his love affair with music and classic trucks through a kind of familial osmosis.  Both his grandmother and father played guitar and his father and uncle always drove International Harvesters and Dodge Power Wagons.  Tessmer moved to Texas straight out of high school and he quickly garnered a formidable reputation there for his fierce fretwork, explosive live performances and his collection of 1937 to 1961 International Harvester 4x4s.  In addition to his career as a successful musician, Eric chronicles his epic adventures, on Instagram @bareknucklebinder, saving early IHs from destruction after decades of neglect, getting them running and road tripping them thousands of miles back to Texas.On this episode, Eric and Chris discuss his early years growing up on a farm in Wisconsin to becoming a legendary Austin, Texas based musician.  They also discuss his early IH collection and his last two wild trips from California to Texas in rescued rare early IHs that had been sitting since the late 90s.  Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Seth Hensler embarked on a mission many years ago to save old vehicles from the junkyard one day at a time.  He is successfully accomplishing that mission through a couple of Willys Jeeps, a crew cab dually GMC square body and several other interesting modes of transportation.  His days as a teacher are long gone and his life is now dedicated to his family and sharing his passion and projects in the Red Eye Garage with the world on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram @redeye_garage.  Whether performing a VW diesel engine swap on a Willys Jeep, just tinkering in the garage or travelling the long way home in the backcountry, there is always something to learn from Seth.On this episode, Chris and Seth discuss how Red Eye Garage started and eventually became a social media titan, his classic 4x4 collection and all the wild projects revolving around that collection.      Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Paul Potratz spent the majority of his career building a successful media and advertising agency before following his passion to build the finest Land Rover Defenders known to many and founding Helderburg.   Helderburg was born from the passion of hobbies and interest of making a Land Rover Defender a modern daily driver and grew into a Bespoke Program with clients throughout the World.  Helderburg works with select individuals to design a one-of-a-kind Defender that takes over 3,000 hours to build.  Their focus is keeping British heritage “Hand Built in England” alive and ensuring each individual Helderburg Defender is a Unique Piece of Art that can be cherished, driven, and practical for several generations to come.   On this episode, Chris and Paul discuss how he started buying Defenders to modify into daily drivers as a hobby and it quickly grew into an International business, making Helderburg 1 of the 3 largest in the world.  They also discuss how his passion originated from the time he spent growing up and working in his father's repair and body shop.Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Being an 80s kid means much more for Chris Lott than just being a geriatric millennial.  Chris embraced car and truck culture early and developed a love for what some credit as the greatest Ford truck years, 1980 - 1986, the bullnose era. Chris and his father spend copious amounts of time together hunting, restoring and curating an epic collection of Ford trucks and Fox Body Mustangs, with some Dodge Ram Chargers, Jeep SJs and IH Scouts thrown in for good measure.  Each truck is rarer than the next with an amazing story of how it ended up in the collection.On this episode, Chris and Chris discuss their shared passion for 80s classic 4x4s, the stories behind a few of the rare trucks in Chris' collection and his adventure hunting and saving two rare IH Scouts from a junkyard with their common friend and IH Collector, Eric Tessmer (@bareknuckleboneyard).Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

As a dedicated professional First Responder and classic Jeep historian, Josh Card is always following his passion to serve his communities.  Whether saving lives from fire or keeping factory correct AMC Jeep era history alive, Josh's altruistic lifestyle deserves the utmost appreciation.  Josh launched Survivor Jeeps with the mission to preserve history and be the premier information resource for factory correct AMC era Jeeps.  Over the years Josh has compiled terabytes of data and photos to uncover and preserve the information lost throughout the years as the Jeep brand transitioned through many owners since the end of the AMC era in 1986.On this episode, Chris and Josh discuss how he has compiled and preserved an astronomical amount of information, his own epic CJ, SJ and J truck collection and the Jeep community he has so selflessly served over the years.    Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Josh Human launched Working Class Trucks to preserve the heritage and pay homage to the reason manufacturers started building trucks, to work!  Josh and Working Class Trucks are dedicated to the noble and powerful fuel chugging steeds that are driven to work each day to bring home the bacon.  Josh's love for working trucks was instilled early when he entered the workforce and utilized trucks every day to get the job done.  As a world class wood and metal craftsman at Modern Timber, Josh depends on two purpose built 12 valve Cummins swapped classic Ford trucks to run his business. Being a native Idahoan in the mecca of working trucks, there is no shortage of working trucks for him to preserve their legacy.On this episode, Chris and Josh discuss the deep roots of his working truck passion that were planted early on in his native Idaho.  They also discuss his personal Cummins swapped working truck collection, the Toyota FJ62 that spawned his passion for 4x4s and a Bogus Basin Ski Area first generation Cummins powered Dodge truck with over 310,000 miles that Josh has known since it was originally purchased over 20 years ago as a new plow truck.        Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

2022 was a pinnacle year for classic cars and trucks, marking one of the largest transaction volumes in history with a major shift in where those transactions are taking place!  Classic.com and Fourbie Exchange are at the forefront of the market providing transparent market data and a specialized truck and 4x4 marketplace.  Classic.com was founded in 2017 as the preeminent aggregator of transparent classic car and truck market values and price comparisons that empower buyers, sellers and enthusiasts to make informed decisions in the market.  Fourbie Exchange was founded in 2021 as the premier truck and 4x4 marketplace featuring rare, custom and classic trucks and 4x4s.On this episode, Chris is joined by the Founder and CEO, Juan Calle, and Truck Specialist, Max Monahan from Classic.com and two of the Fourbie Exchange Co-Founders, Brian Ellis and Garret Ohm.  They discuss the trends, rapid growth and what they believe the future holds for the classic truck and 4x4 market.  Their conversation and reference data have been chronicled in a blog post published by Classic.com.  Check it out at: https://www.classic.com/insights/2022-market-report-classic-trucks/   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

The Fourbie Exchange Co-Founders return to tell their story of how three friends with a shared passion changed the way enthusiasts buy and sell rare, custom and classic 4x4s and trucks.  Founded in 2021, Fourbie Exchange has become the premier marketplace offering enthusiasts curated and elevated rare, custom and classic 4x4 and truck classified listings and auctions.On this episode,  Chris, Brian and Garret discuss how a passion became an idea, evolved into a business and changed the digital marketplace landscape.  Their presence hasn't gone unrecognized, partnering with the Maxlider Brothers and Tread Lighty to launch their auction platform. Their inaugural auction is a rare Maxliders Brothers Customized Ford Bronco Wildtrack with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Tread Lightly.  This no reserve and no buyers fee 10 day auction launches February 1, 2023.  Register and check out the Bronco at https://fourbieexchange.com/auctions/2021-ford-bronco-wildtrak/Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

The FJ Company was founded by Nelson and Juan Diego Calle, two brothers who grew up riding in the back of their grandfather’s FJ40.  When their grandfather passed in 2009, they partnered to return their grandfather’s FJ40 to its original glory.  They didn’t stop there.  Soon, their hobby of restoring classic Land Cruisers transformed into The FJ Company.  From start to finish, every project is custom-built in their production facility.  Nothing is outsourced.  Their full-time staff of engineers, artisans and craftsmen are masters of their trades, they restore, rebuild, customize, and assemble every single Land Cruiser by hand, with pride.  Based in Miami, The FJ Company has become the preeminent modern classic Land Cruiser builder, producing only the finest bespoke investment quality Land Cruisers in the world.On this episode, Chris and Nelson discuss his fond memories of riding around in his grandfather's FJ40 as a child which spawned the passion that lead to The FJ Company.  They also discuss every step of the build process from procurement of a clean donor FJ to incorporating modern Toyota powertrains and custom finishing touches.    Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Square body builder and collector, Robbie Purser, and his crew of confidants keep it real in the garage.  All patina and no paint is how Robbie rolls with his ever evolving collection of Chevy square bodies.  2 wheel drives get dropped and 4 wheel drives get lifted, but they all have bow ties.  Robbie and his crew created United by Trucks to unite like minded patina enthusiasts to share in their passion for trucks.  On this episode, Chris and Robbie discuss the root of his passion, a few of his builds and how he brought together a group of professionals by day and misfits by night that make it all happen. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

Whether it's the diesel engine that gets the least amount of credit or the rarest of all Jeep CJs, Dakota Black restores and collects them both.  The elusive Nissan SD33 diesel engine might be underrated, but it had a place in time when it powered American cars and trucks.  Most think the CJ-6 was Jeep's rarest CJ model, but the uniquely designed, purpose built and misunderstood CJ-10 holds that title.  Dakota Black and his family work together and share their unique interest in collecting and restoring SD33 engines and CJ-10s.  Not only do they share their hobby, but they own and manage one of the Pacific Northwest's most respected automotive repair shops, Unlimited Service.  On this episode, Chris and Dakota discuss how he ended up collecting and restoring these unique automotive oddities, the history behind the SD33 and CJ-10 and how they became part of American automotive history out of necessity.      Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!

When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, Caleb Jacobs is usually driving dump trucks or wishing they were running so he could drive them.  He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family.Caleb is The Drive’s truck editor.   He started with The Drive right out of high school, joining as a freelance contributor. From there, he began his tenure as the site’s weekend editor before transitioning to a full-time role in 2020. He now serves as truck editor, helping select stories and polishing them until they shine for the internet to see and share. Whether it’s explaining what’s new in the world of work and play or spotlighting a resourceful DIY project, his goal is to talk about large vehicles in a smart and relatable way.On this episode, Chris and Caleb discuss his progression into journalism, personal working truck collection and everything from dirty diesels to electric vehicles. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @classic4x4_trucks, check out our website at classic4x4.com and reach out if we can help you sell your classic, custom or collector truck or 4x4. Thanks for listening!