Monster Garage
Discussion
Incorrigible said:
Don't get me wrong, I think it should have been restored rather than turned into a hovercraft but you can get a near perfect one for <£10k, who is going to buy one for a grand or so, spent £5-6k on parts and six months restoring one
I have helped restore other loti, and understand that most of the europa parts are still available (many improved).
The europa is one of those cars that has always been undervalued (probably because it was designed for drivers under 5ft 10in) but it will gain a following in a few years because it's so cheap for it's performance (the Elan prices are on the up).
Because of its layout it's also the subject for engine swaps, so the few originals left, should be left.
In 5-10 years time it will probably be worth spending the money on.
Also there are a suprising number of people who buy a car to strip and re-build, just so they can either know that it's done correctly or so they can tell everyone they did it.
MG used it because it's plastic, But this is also the main reasons that they shouldn't have used it. It could sit in a yard for another 25 years and (gel coat allowing) then be restored.
Finally, forgetting the cars, It's still a crap show!
Thanks Rovertron. Will you defend me when the boys are sent round?!
I have to admit SY challange is good but they do get 'a bit' of help! Trust me!!
The lads on MG had to solve problems themselves and time limits / budgets were not 'tweaked' during the show to fake things...believe it or not!!!
I have to admit SY challange is good but they do get 'a bit' of help! Trust me!!
The lads on MG had to solve problems themselves and time limits / budgets were not 'tweaked' during the show to fake things...believe it or not!!!
Alpineandy said:
Finally, forgetting the cars, It's still a crap show!
I'm with you on that one.
IMO they should do a 'proper' car modification show, one where either everyday, cheap cars are turned into racing and rally cars, or the 'stealth' car they made on 5th Gear, or suchlike.
Not a bloody Ice Cream Riot Van, FFS!
As for the Europa 'Just a classic car', they have no respect. I wouldn't advocate anything other than restoration for even the most unreliable, rotting Eclat.
I think you guys are having some misplaced rose tinted glasses for the Europa.
It was not and never was the ultimate Lotus, it was a bit part player because other racing specials at the time were starting to catch up with the Elan's and 7's.
It was not that reliable and it was also out of the price range of most of the racing privateers at the time.
Lotus made racing cars that just happened to be road legal. Not the other way round.
Many Europa's once they were no longer competitive (which wasn't long) were simply left to rot. A bit like a racing greyhound once's it's knackered, some, rightly or wrongly are put down.
Every car marque has these 'eccentrics' that will strip and rebuild a classic for the sole enjoyment of doing that. I've just bought one this week from one of these guys. These guys are as rare as hen's teeth in the whole classic car game especially for the more unloved stuff. They are not the norm of your average classic car fan.
A Morris Marina is probably rarer than a Lotus Europa these days but no-one would get upset if one of those was ripped up and ultimately denied being restored.
If the Europa was a shed, then it's a shed, if they were that sought after it would not have been in that condition to begin with.
>> Edited by Rovertron on Friday 28th May 14:51
It was not and never was the ultimate Lotus, it was a bit part player because other racing specials at the time were starting to catch up with the Elan's and 7's.
It was not that reliable and it was also out of the price range of most of the racing privateers at the time.
Lotus made racing cars that just happened to be road legal. Not the other way round.
Many Europa's once they were no longer competitive (which wasn't long) were simply left to rot. A bit like a racing greyhound once's it's knackered, some, rightly or wrongly are put down.
Every car marque has these 'eccentrics' that will strip and rebuild a classic for the sole enjoyment of doing that. I've just bought one this week from one of these guys. These guys are as rare as hen's teeth in the whole classic car game especially for the more unloved stuff. They are not the norm of your average classic car fan.
A Morris Marina is probably rarer than a Lotus Europa these days but no-one would get upset if one of those was ripped up and ultimately denied being restored.
If the Europa was a shed, then it's a shed, if they were that sought after it would not have been in that condition to begin with.
>> Edited by Rovertron on Friday 28th May 14:51
I suppose they could do a programme where, say a car with 'potential' is bought for under £500.
They then show you how to strip all the nonessentials, drill/lighten the correct panels, how to tweak the engine and suspension without resorting to too expensive measures (port head polishing, new heads, bigger carbs etc), and strengthening bits of exterior trim, welding rear doors shut and so on.
Then, at the end of the series, when you've got quite a few of these budget racers, built on different themes, a race is held to see which conversion was the most effective.
In each programme, the car is not only competition-prepared as stated above, but must also pass a few tests to get in the final race: 0-60 dash, brake test, handling slalom, skidpan and so on.
A few ideas for cars:
-Big RWD motorway banger with a big engine
-Mini or similar with a good power-to-weight ratio
-Battered old Capri
-Cheap hot hatch
-Half-built Locost 7 Kit car (Dutton Phaeton or similar)
They then show you how to strip all the nonessentials, drill/lighten the correct panels, how to tweak the engine and suspension without resorting to too expensive measures (port head polishing, new heads, bigger carbs etc), and strengthening bits of exterior trim, welding rear doors shut and so on.
Then, at the end of the series, when you've got quite a few of these budget racers, built on different themes, a race is held to see which conversion was the most effective.
In each programme, the car is not only competition-prepared as stated above, but must also pass a few tests to get in the final race: 0-60 dash, brake test, handling slalom, skidpan and so on.
A few ideas for cars:
-Big RWD motorway banger with a big engine
-Mini or similar with a good power-to-weight ratio
-Battered old Capri
-Cheap hot hatch
-Half-built Locost 7 Kit car (Dutton Phaeton or similar)
I quite like the show, though the voiceover is appalling! I do like the Hell's Angel bloke's management style, very refreshing change from group discussions you get on other shows.
I didn't see the Europa one, though it does seem a shame that they chopped one up.* But if you're going to make a hovercraft out of a car, why not start with something more suitable like a Morris Marina - I mean they handle pretty much like hovercrafts as standard!
*I've already got 1 basket case of a car tucked up in a garage 'awaiting restoration'
I didn't see the Europa one, though it does seem a shame that they chopped one up.* But if you're going to make a hovercraft out of a car, why not start with something more suitable like a Morris Marina - I mean they handle pretty much like hovercrafts as standard!
*I've already got 1 basket case of a car tucked up in a garage 'awaiting restoration'
IMO the ideal hovercraft candidate would have been a cheap beach buggy from the classifieds of Kit Car magazine - big chunky sills to hide the hover skirts in, engine out back well out of the way, doesn't rust, costs next to nothing, isn't sacrilege and would make a pretty cool fun beach car.
The idea is good, V8, but the initial set up (considering H&S etc) is still very high. You will have to set up & furnish a garage. You will also have to make between 8 and 15 shows to make it financially viable.
Who will be working on the cars? A set up like MG, or the same people each week? Will you have 1 or 2 presenters like Scrapheap?
The work you describe sounds OK, but limited. You do not want to show the same thing for each episode. 15 shows where each car gets a cam change / head port will quickly become tedious.
What is the aim at the end of each show? Just to complete the required tests? Also the tests you mention, 0-60, brakes, handling etc will have to be dramatically better than standard, therefore making each job quite involved, not just a case of simple stuff. Panel lightening you mention is too complicated. Bearing in mind you are using standard OLD cars the result is unlikely to be much more impressive than the performance of a modern car.
How would you make this show different to all the other car mod shows on terrestrial & sky?? There are so many around, particulary on sky.
One final problem is that the final show may be too far down the line. Cars say in the first few shows would have been forgotten (may have been transmitted 14 weeks before!!)
Please don’t think I am trying to shoot the idea down! I just want to understand more of what YOU would want to see.. but you have to make it viable for others to!!
Who will be working on the cars? A set up like MG, or the same people each week? Will you have 1 or 2 presenters like Scrapheap?
The work you describe sounds OK, but limited. You do not want to show the same thing for each episode. 15 shows where each car gets a cam change / head port will quickly become tedious.
What is the aim at the end of each show? Just to complete the required tests? Also the tests you mention, 0-60, brakes, handling etc will have to be dramatically better than standard, therefore making each job quite involved, not just a case of simple stuff. Panel lightening you mention is too complicated. Bearing in mind you are using standard OLD cars the result is unlikely to be much more impressive than the performance of a modern car.
How would you make this show different to all the other car mod shows on terrestrial & sky?? There are so many around, particulary on sky.
One final problem is that the final show may be too far down the line. Cars say in the first few shows would have been forgotten (may have been transmitted 14 weeks before!!)
Please don’t think I am trying to shoot the idea down! I just want to understand more of what YOU would want to see.. but you have to make it viable for others to!!
v8thunder said:
I suppose they could do a programme where, say a car with 'potential' is bought for under £500.
Then, at the end of the series, when you've got quite a few of these budget racers, built on different themes, a race is held to see which conversion was the most effective.
In each programme, the car is not only competition-prepared as stated above, but must also pass a few tests to get in the final race: 0-60 dash, brake test, handling slalom, skidpan and so on.
A few ideas for cars:
-Big RWD motorway banger with a big engine
-Mini or similar with a good power-to-weight ratio
-Battered old Capri
-Cheap hot hatch
-Half-built Locost 7 Kit car (Dutton Phaeton or similar)
I like the sound of that and to help with the programme's budget I volunteer my Dutton Phaeton for free, on the basis that you give it back after it's been completed!
You could also hold a phone in competition at the end of each week so that people could win the car featured (apart from mine) and cover some more costs that way. Bit like Dream Machine did.
>> Edited by peetbee on Friday 28th May 15:10
have you any idea how rare they are
I just like the idea of a car modification show which isn't about unsightly bodykits and big bills. Something that makes people think twice about the potential of the Sierra sitting rusting away on their drive.
It all came from an episode of Driven where two teams of tuners were given a budget of £1000 for a car and £1000 for modifications, then went away to a big warehouse garage to prepare them for racing.
I suppose the format could be:
-two teams of enthusiastic amateur car tuners a week
-a set budget for a car and modifications
-two cars and how they are modified, modifications explained
-a race to see who's mod job was the best
-winning car retained by the series for the final race
-losing car to be won in a competition
In this way, you have your 'garage staff' as a group of enthusiasts who don't need paying, useful information, modifications against the clock (give them 3 days), and a race each week.
Followers of the show would know that not only could you win a competiiton car, but there would be a big race at the end of it all.
I suppose the only regulation to place on the modifyers would be that you couldn't modify a car that has been done previously.
It all came from an episode of Driven where two teams of tuners were given a budget of £1000 for a car and £1000 for modifications, then went away to a big warehouse garage to prepare them for racing.
I suppose the format could be:
-two teams of enthusiastic amateur car tuners a week
-a set budget for a car and modifications
-two cars and how they are modified, modifications explained
-a race to see who's mod job was the best
-winning car retained by the series for the final race
-losing car to be won in a competition
In this way, you have your 'garage staff' as a group of enthusiasts who don't need paying, useful information, modifications against the clock (give them 3 days), and a race each week.
Followers of the show would know that not only could you win a competiiton car, but there would be a big race at the end of it all.
I suppose the only regulation to place on the modifyers would be that you couldn't modify a car that has been done previously.
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