Robert O'Connor on "Jeep Show": Willys Jeep History, Fiat 128 Restoration & A Crown Vic Cop Car 🚙📚

Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!What do Mickey Rooney, a 1973 Fiat 128, and a Willys Jeep have in common? They are all central to the incredible story of Robert O'Connor, an Iraq War veteran and author of the novel Jeep Show. 🪖🚙In this episode, we sit down with Robert to discuss his new book, which was inspired by the real-life "Jeep Shows" of WWII—improvised entertainment squads that performed from the hoods of Jeeps right on the front lines. Robert reveals how his research uncovered that his own friend's father served in a unit led by none other than Mickey Rooney.We also dive into Robert's personal automotive journey, from learning to wrench on a "scrappy" Fiat 128 (while listening to Linda Ronstadt on repeat) to the therapy of restoring vintage military vehicles.In this episode, you’ll hear:🪖 The "Jeep Show" Origin: How a conversation about a circus promoter led to the discovery of "MOS 442"—the enlisted entertainers of WWII who performed on Jeep hoods.🇮🇹 The Fiat 128: Robert's memories of his first car, a yellow 1973 Fiat 128, and the smell of "burning wire cologne" that accompanied every drive.🚓 The Crown Vic Effect: What it's like to drive a white Ford Crown Victoria and have traffic part like the Red Sea (until you crash it).🔧 Wrenching as Therapy: How working on cars helped Robert transition back to civilian life after serving in Iraq and the connection between mechanical simplicity and mental peace.❄️ Southern Snow Days: A hilarious look at how a single inch of snow shuts down the entire South (looking at you, Memphis and Florida).Be sure to listen to Bob's favorite with the spiritual successor to the Jeep featuring Conrad: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16463424Whether you're a history buff, a veteran, or just someone who appreciates the simple genius of a Willys Jeep, this episode is a moving tribute to the machines that carry our stories.🔗 Links & Resources:Get the book: Jeep Show: A NovelCheck out LinkTree for all of our content: 🔗🌲 https://linktr.ee/carsloved📢 Join the Conversation: Did you know that Jeeps were used as mobile stages in WWII? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbeforeConnect with Us: Got a great car story? Email us at [email protected]. Find all our content and social links here: linktr.ee/carsloved.Podcast News:Our co-host, Doug was a guest on the Driven Radio Show Podcast to share the origin story of our podcast and connecting with his late father through his DeLorean project.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 list of Top 100 Car Podcasts and 31 Best Road Trip Podcasts For Your DriveOur co-host, Doug was featured in this magazine article along with his DeLore...