Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

New restoration programme hits the screens on Thursday Feb 7th 8pm on the National Geographic Channel.

It has emerged that Fuzz Townsend (formerly of Practical Classics magazine) will be carrying out the work along with a very helpful team.

You know the guy...funny hat,funny moustache and Daimler Dart sportscar.!!!

This week a Fiat Spider will get the restoration treatment.

Other cars in the series which will undergo a makeover include....

Second World war Jeep.
VW Beetle.
Cosworth Sierra.
Ford Anglia.
Rover P6.
Triumph stag.

The three week full restorations will be compressed into each 40 minute show (allowing for adverts).
Obviously a lot of the work will be sub contracted out to acheive a three week turn round.

It can be done if the specialists know before hand what they are working on so parts can be ordered in advance,then each man would focus on a particular field of expertise i.e.......

Vehicle stripdown operatives.

Shotblaster booked in advance waiting to receive bodyshell.

Fabricators and welders ready with new bodypanels and fabricating equipment.

Three "Bondo Guys" waiting to massage the bodywork into a straight and flat shape.

Mr "2K Spraygun" ready to lay on a few coats of the magic stuff to give it that wow factor.

Engine Builder.
Gearbox specialist.
Front and rear axle specialist.
Interior trimmer.
Auto electrician.
The chroming operative who can turn around the chrome work in less than three weeks....we have to wait three months.ha ha.

Will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Just forgot....there has to be the awkward guy who flies into tempers and the dim guy who gets all the flack....or it would not be realistic.

Oh and the very rare part that is found at the eleventh hour to complete the project on time..

Am I being cynical.?

Gresham Flyer

Marc-H · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 37 Location: Aylesbury

What! are you saying all those people are not living at the bottom of your garden along with the fairies? the dim guy who gets all the "flack" well that's me Very Happy

so I suppose I could give it a go.
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Marc
1961 Rover P4 100
"Harold"

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

What was your verdict on this new programme.?

I think they skipped over the most challenging part of any restoration the bodywork...it was so rotten...that is were the money is spent on any restoration.

As for the hubcap episode it made Adam Howell Chroming look like muppets.

Come on Fuzz...you do not sling a battery on a car that has stood in a damp garage for ten years and try and start it without draining the old oil,flushing out the waterways etc etc..

Aldridge trimming have made some excellent items for me over the years...glad they got a mention.

The old British reserve kicked in at the end of the programme....."Is that my car",no hugging,no emotion,no jumping with joy,I felt so sorry for the team.
If that was one of my cars I would be so excited at having all that work carried out in such a short time,I would personally hug and kiss everyone,including the boys!!!

We British are so withdrawn and have that stiff upper lip...if this was the American Overhaulin programme you would be nearly crying at the end of the show and feeling some emotion...this left me feeling flat.

Gresham Flyer

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Fuzz appeared to be doing all the work but we never saw him doing much.I would rather have seen them fixing something like brakes or steering. Quite disappointing really.
At least on the 60 minute makeover or Ground Force you can see how its done.
I will see how the rest of the series goes.
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The Clan Chieftain

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

They could have used fast forward editing like they do on some shows,were the camera is set up in a fixed position and you see in a minute or so rapid work carried out on the subject they are working on and the workers moving about like busy ants.......

i.e engine out, interior out,suspension worked on,interior back in,engine back in,paint taken off,welding carried out,preparing the bodywork,primer going on,top coats of finished paint sprayed on etc etc.

We all know months are spent on vehicles cutting out rotten panel work,fabricating or tracking down new metalwork,welding in new sections,preparing the bodywork for primer,yet more preparing and finally putting on that most important finish coat.

Can you get chroming carried in in a couple of weeks.....our local chroming company have a six week lead time.

With these shows it gives the general public the impression that a car can be restored in three weeks....therefore we are being greedy asking say £5,000 for a pristine Morris Minor Traveller that we found in a lock up and restored back to as new condition.

Gresham Flyer

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

I could offer a car for this!!
The car I took my driving test in in1956! Drove for around 100,000 miles. Which consequently left me with many memories and stories over the years. And which now reclines quietly in my garage looking very sad because I cannot afford to restore it. In any case, at 74 years old I cannot find the drive and energy any longer. Sad

Jim.
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Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

What model or make of car is that Jim.?

You ought to pass it onto someone slightly younger like me to restore back to its former glory.. Very Happy

Gresham Flyer

Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK

Was this the programme called Car SOS? I missed it so need to do a search to see if I can find it on catch-up or something. Thanks...

ETA found it Smile

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22855 Location: UK

I was looking at a colour photo taken in London, c1960, and a taxi like yours can be seen bombing past.

RJ
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clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Again I wasnt too impressed with the Jeep restoration. Not much seen of any repairs done. The usual surprised owner at the end. Disappointing programme for an hour. Might give the rest of the series a miss. At least with Wrecks to Riches you see them doing a bit.
Car SOS......Marks out of 10...a generous 2.
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The Clan Chieftain

ajlelectronics · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 168 Location: Gloucester

welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

thought it was going to be ok, no temperamentle geezer stressing things out throwing wobblers . but im on the fence now. the jeep one was a bit slow ..not enough about what they were doing .not that keen on wheeler dealers but you see a lot more whats been done to the cars ..