The Joe Rogan ExperienceJoe Rogan Experience #2022 - Jeremy Gerber, Phil Gerber, & Josh Henning
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:43
Meet the builders: Roadster Shop crew and why Joe loves their work
Joe welcomes Jeremy Gerber, Phil Gerber, and Josh Henning and immediately frames the episode around craftsmanship and the rare job of building world-class restomods. The conversation sets the tone: these guys aren’t just mechanics—they’re engineers and artists.
- •Introductions: Jeremy and Phil Gerber (Roadster Shop) and Josh Henning
- •Joe’s appreciation for high-end automotive craftsmanship
- •Restomods positioned as functional art, not just nostalgia
- •Manual-transmission preference as part of the authentic experience
- 0:43 – 2:19
Joe’s 1970 Barracuda becomes his new #1: history, feel, and why manuals matter
Joe describes driving his newly completed 1970 Barracuda to the studio and calls it his favorite car. He recounts the car’s personal history and explains why a manual muscle car feels ‘right’ to him.
- •Joe ranks the ’70 Barracuda above his Camaro and Nova
- •Backstory: buying the car 20 years earlier and getting it back via a friend
- •Why Joe dislikes automatic hot rods
- •Roadster Shop praised as ‘artists’ for the build
- 2:19 – 3:50
Engine swap debates and purist backlash: performance vs brand loyalty
They dig into the Barracuda’s high-revving, non-Mopar-based engine and the predictable backlash from purists. The group expands into broader hot-rodding philosophy: upgrades are the point, even when they break tradition.
- •High-revving naturally aspirated engine and why it’s controversial
- •‘It’s hot-rodding’—mixing platforms is part of the culture
- •Examples: LS swaps into Porsches and other cross-brand builds
- •Ferrari’s reputation for suing owners over modifications
- 3:50 – 4:50
80s/90s nostalgia, Testarossa talk, and the ‘Lambo truck with warrants’ riff
The conversation swings to the comeback of 80s/90s cars, including a possible restomod Testarossa. It turns comedic with the idea of vintage Lamborghini trucks, Dobermans, and the ‘guy with warrants’ stereotype.
- •Jeremy’s itch to restomod a Testarossa; generational taste gap
- •Joe’s dislike of certain 80s design cues (vents, wedges)
- •Vintage Lamborghini truck fantasies and Mike Tyson reference
- •Comedy riff on ‘shady’ car vibes and aesthetics
- 4:50 – 7:44
How the ’Cuda drives: 8,400 RPM, exhaust maturity, and a 50/50-balanced muscle car
Jeremy explains the Barracuda’s rev range and how the car’s sound and behavior differ from typical V8 muscle. They discuss tasteful exhaust choices, then get technical: transaxle layout and weight balance deliver a sports-car-like feel.
- •Shift point around 8,300–8,400 RPM and why that’s unusual for a V8
- •Exhaust tone vs obnoxious loudness; bypass setup for flexibility
- •Transmission tunnel/transaxle packaging and its effect on weight distribution
- •Resulting 50/50 balance and predictable handling
- 7:44 – 9:47
Barracuda vs supercharged Camaro: ‘sports car’ balance vs ‘bar brawler’ torque
Joe contrasts the Barracuda’s composure with the raw aggression of his supercharged Camaro. Both are praised, but the Camaro is framed as thrilling and dangerous, while the ’Cuda is more informative and confidence-inspiring.
- •Camaro described as sketchy and throttle-sensitive; ‘bar brawler’ analogy
- •850 horsepower and supercharger torque hit like a light switch
- •Barracuda delivers better feedback and balance
- •Both cars celebrated as peak emotional automotive experiences
- 9:47 – 14:15
Trucks, attention magnetism, and freak accidents: from C10 appeal to trees and trains
They talk about how classic vehicles invite nonstop conversations in public—especially old pickups. Then the topic detours into bizarre accidents: a tree crushing a Bronco, Governor Abbott’s paralysis, and why trains still hit people.
- •Classic trucks (C10s/square bodies) as cultural magnets (even ‘chicks love them’)
- •OJ Bronco era becoming ‘classic’ and market shifting toward 80s/90s builds
- •Mark Curry’s Bronco destroyed by a fallen tree; discussion of rarity and danger
- •Train-hit stories: misjudging speed, stalled vehicles, and risk psychology
- 14:15 – 24:56
Scooter chaos and the ‘getting older hurts’ reality check
Electric rental scooters become the next cautionary tale, including Josh’s violent crash and Joe’s own mishap. They reflect on how falls become more consequential with age and why the convenience comes with real risk.
- •Josh’s helmetless crash story and concrete impacts
- •Joe’s navigation-induced scooter wipeout and concussion joke
- •Aging: you don’t ‘roll out of it’ anymore—things click and break
- •Scooters as useful urban mobility but under-regulated and hazardous
- 24:56 – 28:15
Modern speed vs analog joy: Tesla Plaid shock, but muscle cars win on experience
They acknowledge modern performance extremes—especially the Tesla Plaid’s acceleration and traction management. Joe argues the point of classic/restomod cars isn’t winning races; it’s the sensory, analog connection and theater.
- •Tesla Plaid: ~1.9s 0–60, ~1,000+ hp, silent ‘time travel’ speed
- •Electric performance complicates anti-EV arguments
- •Joe chooses the ’Cuda for emotion, vibration, and involvement
- •Analogy: houses normalize, but cars can remain a ‘ride’ every time
- 28:15 – 49:49
Analog connection obsession: raw Porsches, Chris Harris’ perfect sports car, and car media tangents
Joe describes his stripped 1993 Porsche RS America and why feedback matters more than outright speed. They pull up a Chris Harris video as an example of ‘everything people love about driving,’ then spiral into humorous media tangents.
- •RS America: no power steering/AC/radio—maximum feedback
- •Driving as a full-body experience like motorcycles
- •Chris Harris’ built classic 911 as the ‘perfect sports car’ archetype
- •British accent humor and infomercial/pop-culture detours (ShamWow/Billy Mays)
- 49:49 – 1:06:59
Work, purpose, and craft culture: building cars vs trophy-chasing show builds
The talk shifts toward meaning in work—standup vs fabrication—and how craftsmanship provides daily fulfillment. They also criticize ultra-high-end ‘trailer queen’ show cars (chrome rotors, wrapped tires) and argue for drivability-first builds.
- •Craft jobs as lifestyles; managing personalities in a 95-person shop
- •Happiness trade-off: purpose and joy matter more than just money
- •SEMA/Riddler-style cars as trophies vs cars meant to be driven
- •Patina/sleeper builds as a way to enjoy cars without constant fear of damage
- 1:06:59 – 1:21:30
Patina daily drivers and brutal sleepers: supercharged ‘Legend’ trucks and personal builds
Jeremy and Phil explain why many customers now want ‘under-the-radar’ patina builds with modern chassis and big power. They share personal vehicles and specs, including a 650-hp supercharged LT4 patina truck that drives like a modern pickup.
- •Patina trend: old-looking outside, modern everything underneath
- •Jeremy’s daily: ‘77 4x4 Legend truck with ~650-hp supercharged LT4
- •Modern suspension/4WD integration and high-speed stability
- •Uniqueness: ‘mother nature weathered it’—one-off story cars
- 1:21:30 – 1:33:04
Backlog, wild customer requests, and how the Roadster Shop business evolved
They discuss the realities of running a high-demand shop: long lead times, build slots, and the scale of their chassis manufacturing. The crew shares examples of bizarre requests (including the infamous ‘lobster car’) and how they choose projects now.
- •Build side: ~30 projects in progress; multi-year timelines
- •Core business: 1,000+ chassis per year enabling other shops/builders
- •Turning down bad-fit projects; early-career ‘lobster-painted’ job story
- •Oddball inquiries (Corsica swaps, EV-everything) and customer filtering
- 1:33:04 – 2:29:22
From cars to politics and tech: EV mandates, supply chains, surveillance, and media trust
The conversation broadens into modern policy and technology: ICE bans, battery supply chain ethics, manufacturing offshoring, and platform censorship. They also debate surveillance, social credit systems, TikTok data, and why people now seek news via podcasts.
- •California ICE phase-out debate: mining, cobalt, grid strain, charging logistics
- •Ethics of supply chains: Congo cobalt mining and Foxconn suicide nets
- •Offshoring’s impacts (Detroit/Flint) and ‘make it in America’ arguments
- •Media/platform influence: ad pressure, government requests, throttling content, and rise of independent podcasts
- 2:29:22 – 2:37:22
Closing reflections: comedy, growth arcs, and Roadster Shop’s 20-year rise
They wrap by celebrating comedy (Kill Tony) and the parallel between building a following and building a world-class shop. Joe asks about the Roadster Shop’s origins and the market shift from 30s hot rods to muscle cars, ending with gratitude and plugs.
- •Kill Tony explained as a uniquely fun live comedy format and its growth
- •Roadster Shop’s 20-year timeline and how trends flipped post-recession
- •Generational taste swings and the ‘pendulum’ of car culture
- •Final thanks, social links, and appreciation for the Barracuda build
