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TV programmes about classic cars
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:20 pm    Post subject: TV programmes about classic cars Reply with quote

Hi,

Here in the UK there are many many classic car-related programmes to choose from, often centred around the resurrection of some old crock or other. Compared to years ago, when programmes on the subject of old cars were few and far between, we've quite a selection to go at now. But are they any good, or is it a case of quantity > quality?

Car SOS I still enjoy despite the mock dramas that are thrown in for effect.

I used to watch American Hotrod, while I winced at some of the original cars that were chopped up, it was an interesting watch nonetheless.

Sin City Motors occasionally offers an interesting view of peoples' junkyards while the build mob are out scouring for parts, so I can live with watching *some* of their builds (American Pickers, while not a car programme per se, is also of interest for the same reason).

Chasing Classic Cars is a favourite of mine, despite the cars all being wayyyy beyond my reach. Smile

There are many more on Freeview that I've yet to catch. I watched a new one the other evening called Goblin Works Garage which, if I'm honest, was pretty dire, but I'll give episode 2 a go just in case things improve.

Which are your favourites?

RJ
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misterbridger



Joined: 09 Oct 2015
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought "For the love of cars" was about the best of a pretty poor bunch. I actually took part in the filming of the Mini episode (they had my car on the Ally Pally Ice Rink!) so a bit biased perhaps. My main objection to most of these type of programmes is the constant reference to the values of the cars. Most of us I'm sure don't put too much store by that, you'd never embark on a full restoration if you did!
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Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
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Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Although I was appalled at the treatment given to classic cars on American Hotrod with Boyd Coddington and co I was however fascinated by the attention to detail and the quality of the work.
Watching Charley Hutton preparing cars for paint and then spraying them was an artform. Hotrod finished in 2008.

Chip Foose's "Overhaulin'" is entertaining but not as technically interesting American Hotrod.

There have been many others on Sky over the years, some good, some not so but in my humble opinion the best ones were those presented by Mark Evans in the Car is Born series.
He really is a first class presenter and the later series where he assists and advises others with their own restorations is equally as good.

He has turned his training as a Veterinary Surgeon to nature programmes now. I hope he can return to classic cars some day.
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BigJohn



Joined: 01 Jan 2011
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Location: Wem, Shropshire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I cannot watch anything with Mike Brewer in it, he might be a nice chap, I don't know, but he annoys me. I remember him ruining ITV4's TT coverage a few years back.
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Rootes75



Joined: 30 Apr 2013
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We watched that Goblin works and thought it was rubbish. Saw them import a Mk2 Escort, promptly crash it on a 'drive' and then all stand round laughing about it!

And the money they were putting ok into it was totally silly.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rootes75 wrote:
We watched that Goblin works and thought it was rubbish. Saw them import a Mk2 Escort, promptly crash it on a 'drive' and then all stand round laughing about it!

And the money they were putting ok into it was totally silly.


And less said about the chap relieving himself over the windscreen, a new low in TV car programmes surely!?

RJ
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MikeEdwards



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've just watched the Goblin programme, took ten minutes which is a new record for a so-called one hour show. From the point that the chap bringing the car said it had "eighties styling" despite being sold in the mid-70s, it went downhill for me. The whole rally thing was a waste of time, the thing in the suit makers was too. I don't care about bikes so I missed out that bit too. The "totally unique" colour scheme apparently is just the same as the Seat touring cars used.

I watch Car SOS, though again I record it so I can skip over the bits that Tim does if he gets too annoying. FTLOC was the same.

I agree about American Hotrod - there was some actual interesting content in that show from time to time. But I did despair when Boyd went and paid over the odds to persuade someone to part with a car they'd had for decades that was in tip-top condition, then brought it back to the workshop, dropped the oil and revved the engine until it stopped running. Pointless waste , probably accompanied by a lot of whooping and shouting "well all right" for no good reason.

What they all have in common is that they all seem to be organised by people who have no concept of how to set a deadline. AH was dominated by Boyd taking a job on, telling Duane how little time he'd got, Duane going off in a big strop, slamming a few doors, then coming back and getting on with it. And all the time, the other projects in the series that are also on a deadline are in the background. Same on Car SOS.

What was the other laughable one that was on recently, was that "Classic Car Rescue"?
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MikeEdwards wrote:
...

What was the other laughable one that was on recently, was that "Classic Car Rescue"?


Ah yes, I'd managed to erase that one from my memory banks



RJ
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Rootes75



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My favourite is American Pickers, I love seeing some of the early motoring pieces they dig out.

The thing I mainly dislike about most of the Uk based programmes is the choice of car to restore. It always seems to be a Jag or Mini etc, I am not saying they aren't interesting but as classics go they are quiet common in some respects. I am not bashing them but would rather see some rarities or early cars maybe?

I suppose the makers are trying to appeal to the mass classic market.
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MikeEdwards



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rootes75 wrote:
The thing I mainly dislike about most of the Uk based programmes is the choice of car to restore. It always seems to be a Jag or Mini etc, I am not saying they aren't interesting but as classics go they are quiet common in some respects. I am not bashing them but would rather see some rarities or early cars maybe?


I sometimes ponder on what would happen if I tuned into one of these programmes and found they were trying to restore a car like mine, or even one of the larger-production variants of it. How long they'd spend trying to get a new inner wing (or outer wing for that matter), or a front panel or whatever. I guess they go for the more commonplace vehicles so that the hardest thing they have to do is drive to the spares warehouse and try to con them out of the bits for nothing in return for not-quite showing the company name on screen.

Last night's Car SOS is a case in point - they moaned and moaned about the state of the underside on their Jag Mk2, which was nothing like as bad as my recent project from what I could see, then cut back to a day or two later and all the new bits are lying on the floor ready to go in.
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Rootes75



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's true, they always just go to a 'Spares suppliers warehouse' etc with a shopping list and come back with all the items.

If only restoration was that simple!!
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victor 101



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just watched Fantom Works on Quest, just a bunch of guys bitchin at each other, with occasional shots of projects. Wont be watching again.
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Rootes75



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PostPosted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I watched a couple Chasing Classic cars on Quest tonight, they are quite enjoyable to watch although not my cup of tea just buying to sell on.
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consul 57



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i have watched all the car shows on freeview and quite honestly most are too falsly dramatic, i want to see what they do to the cars and any useful mods, wheeler dealers was good for most of that, but not seen it with the new chap ant, i think edd china was very good and without him it will not be as good, imho!
fantomworks really gets on my wick, they tried cutting down a morgan windscreen and was shocked to discover it shattered, does he not know we did not have laminated screen in the 40's & 50's, a so called expert.
goblin garage was almost as bad, the mg one was better than the escort, i wonder what the land rover one will be like.
we must remember that most of these programs are for tv viewers not car enthusiasts like us.
if they don't make it dramatic no one will watch it, they seem to think.
car sos at leats has the human story behind it, but the put on getting parts bit is a bit naff.
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MikeEdwards



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

consul 57 wrote:
if they don't make it dramatic no one will watch it, they seem to think.


That's certainly the case for stuff that appears on the prime stations at reasonable times. Anything without that going on will be hidden away on Quest at 5pm, like when they showed the "A car is born" series, and a few others where he did a Land Rover, and then a plane.

I watched Salvage Hunters Classic Cars on Wednesday evening on Quest, that wasn't bad.
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