Prototyping EVs, 115 MPH Cadillacs & Building Rivian Vans with John Gravelyn

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia! What is the difference between engineering vehicles at a 100-year-old legacy automaker versus a high-speed EV startup? In this episode of *To All The Cars I've Loved Before*, host Doug sits down with former Ford and Rivian engineering manager turned real estate founder, **John Gravelyn**. From fixing his own beaters out of pure pragmatism as a teenager to working in top-secret prototype shops, John shares an incredible insider look at how modern vehicles get built—and the hilarious personal car stories along the way. **What We Cover in This Episode:** - **First Car & Pure Freedom:** The 300+ horsepower 1997 Cadillac STS gift from his grandfather, keeping it waxed, and the terrifying moment he tested its top speed at 115 MPH only to discover aerodynamic lift! - **The Practical Ranger:** How a basic 1998 Ford Ranger 5-speed manual launched his teenage lawn care business and taught him hands-on repair skills. - **Worst Car & Commute Nightmare:** Losing his clutch in a Mercury Milan on I-94 during a 1.5-hour Detroit rush-hour commute, stalling 20 times, and trading it in for $300. - **Inside Ford's Prototype Shop:** Working on top-secret builds like the Bronco in a historic 1950s Lincoln shop, plus testing Mustang Mach-E range in the emissions lab during COVID. - **The Rivian EV Shift:** The stark culture contrast between Ford's established systems and Rivian’s fast-paced, "bootstrapped" prototype environment where custom parts were needed instantly. - **The Future of Auto Techs & AI:** Invaluable advice for the next generation of technicians on using problem-solving frameworks and AI tools to diagnose complex modern vehicles. - **Dream Cars & First Principles:** Why John’s ultimate dream car is a mid-70s Lincoln Continental Mark IV, and how he now uses an engineering mindset to help analytical professionals with real estate at First Principles Partners. **Connect with Our Guest:** - **First Principles Partners:** thefppartners.com **Connect with Us:** Got a great car story? Email us at stories@carsloved.com. Find all our content and social links here: linktr.ee/carsloved. **Podcast News:** - Check out the amazing article about the podcast by Elevate Society and Tal Gur, author of "The Art of Fully Living" - **Feedspot** selected To All The Cars I've Loved Before in their the Top 100 Car Podcasts and Top 40 Road Trip Podcasts - Download our brand new app on the official App Store for the latest podcast updates and instant access to your favorite episodes. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/every-car-tells-a-story/id6775357313 Every Car Tells A Story **Remember, every car tells a story. What’s yours?**  **Love the show? Please follow, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**