Sound of Cars Brilliantly Melds Classic Rock with Iconic Rides

By Cameron Vanderhorst - October 17, 2017

John Bonham may have been the only thing more thunderous than an air-cooled flat six.

There’s few things that go together quite as well as fast cars and rock and roll. Like beer and pizza, they’re two great tastes that go great together. Realizing this, YouTube channel The Sound of Cars took the concept a bit further.

The Sound of Cars‘ musician/Porsche owner host takes a look at significant cars and iconic rock albums that came out the same year, comparing them in context. In his latest episode, he compares the 1974 Porsche 911 to Led Zeppelin‘s Houses of the Holy.

In the mid-Seventies, both Porsche and Led Zeppelin were tasked with following up a monster hit, and both presented a major departure that fans may not have initially appreciated. In the 911’s case, the incredible ’73 Carrera RS was followed up by a new model with federally-mandated impact bumpers.

If you think that’s bad, imagine how Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham felt when they hunkered down in the studio to record a follow-up to the masterpiece that is Led Zeppelin IV. Instead of trying to please their critics, they opted to go in a new direction, experimenting with complex new sounds and styles.

The newest Sound of Cars clip is a timely video to watch, with the recent news that the late, legendary Bonham will be honored with a long-overdue monument via a statue in his hometown. Like the distinctive sound of a Porsche 911’s flat-six engine, Bonham’s drumming is simply unmistakable and has inspired untold legions of drummers.

Porsche

After its initial rejection by fans and critics, it was years before Houses of the Holy was regarded as a classic — much like the impact-bumper 911. Now, both are well-regarded by the same sorts of people who used to dismiss them as inferior.

If you liked these comparisons, there’s plenty more material on the rockin’ Sound of Cars channel to get your blood pumping and your head nodding. How about a comparison of the BMW E24 and The Cure as products that remain timeless? And few things are more metal than Metallica, but a Buick Brand National comes close. Check out the clips and get ready to flick your Bics high in hope of a few more encores from The Sound of Cars.