Practically Classics Forum

didnt rate the program at all ,did you see the state of the body when it was stripped and how much filler was poured onto it

left hooker ,auto ,sunroof 30k? no way !

any pics?

There are a couple here Rich:

http://www.channel5.com/shows/classic-car-rescue

There is some good stuff on five; I suppose that, like many shows, if you know about the subject, you look for the things that are wrong! I used to watch Emmerdale FARM (until the plane crash) and it was the best comedy show on the telly at the time; similarly, when I was in hospital in teh late 70's, the nurses watched "Angels" just for the laughs (I watched because I fancied one of them!).

I wonder about the brakes and suspension though: Bernie got a disk out of the scrap pile, but when he put the wheels on, I was sure the disk was like new. However, buying new parts would put the costs up and that would damage the "profit". That wouldn't make good TV would it?

As an hour of general - dont think too hard- entertainment, it follows the well-known formula; a cross between pimp my ride and all those do up your house and make a fortune progs.

The program probably isnt allowed to tell the viewers the real cost of a restoration like this,to the bloke in the street- the restoration business is worth £billions and relies on folk like me and many others with less experience continuing to buy old cars, that will always need work on them ( that's why I love them !) but which requires regular spend to keep them running and big spend to achieve top class finish (I'm happy with scruffy chic thanks very much).

I thought they said £8400 resto cost total - which even at trade prices for labour (6 guys including the presenters part time & 4 weeks full time+for the guys doing the work) & materials & chroming looked like it was stretching the truth.
I hate it when they set an unnecessary time limit to try to create atmosphere and the equation- I wish they would stop doing it.
Short resto time = lowest resto cost, is rarely if ever true - even if it was possible.
It really riled me that none of the major work to the engine (oh just a new piston !) or body floor replacement or re-chroming was shown, but I guess they don't think the general public are wowed by that, otherwise everyone would buy practical classics mag!
As for using any second hand parts straight out of the skip, for me =botch and I think a large number of small quality restoration businesses up and down the country will not be happy with those scenes. They have spent years shrugging off that botch & Co, paper & paint image.
Showing them using the web to source British suppliers as well as purchasing rennovated or new parts from British businesses would have been much more positive for the industry and us all.

There is potential here for a really interesting program. If they had brought in Mr RM Auctions early to discuss what would / would not drive up the final value of that specific car, before the restoration started, they might still have achieved their objective to (ficticiously make money on the car) but showed folk that a toffee apple finish isn't the only way to view the value of a classic. What a shame.

Sorry but the sun roof and the final colour for the mark 2 really grates and £30.5k for a left hooker auto, post '71 model looks definitely top market anyway. I did not pay £1.50. I dont want it.
As a petrol head, I will watch the next episode to see if it gets better.

Porsche 911 next week. I wonder how many parts for that they'll find in East London skips? The scary thing is that there really are people out there doing quickly bodged restorations and selling them on to the unsuspecting punters.

suffolkpete wrote:......The scary thing is that there really are people out there doing quickly bodged restorations and selling them on to the unsuspecting punters.

I can't wait for the mini episode. On the basis of the Jaguar one, the poor car will end up being transformed into a Daihatsu Trevis and the only '60s part remaining will be Bernie's wallet.

suffolkpete wrote:Porsche 911 next week. I wonder how many parts for that they'll find in East London skips? The scary thing is that there really are people out there doing quickly bodged restorations and selling them on to the unsuspecting punters.

They've released pics of the finished 911 after Bernie & Co have worked their magic...

mach1rob wrote:

suffolkpete wrote:Porsche 911 next week. I wonder how many parts for that they'll find in East London skips? The scary thing is that there really are people out there doing quickly bodged restorations and selling them on to the unsuspecting punters.

They've released pics of the finished 911 after Bernie & Co have worked their magic...

Noooooooooooooo....

Somehow that scary photo reminds me a little too much of the Riley

arceye wrote: Somehow that scary photo reminds me a little too much of the Riley

Well as long as you don't let that motley crew touch it you'll be fine!