Car SOS - how good are their restorations?

[S3_Graham]

SystemParanoia said:

Balmoral said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Another pointless premise car show with manufactured jeopardy.

I think there would be a market and an audience for a proper car restoration show, with things done seriously and with care to a good standard, and no false dramatisation.

http://www.markevans.co.uk/television/a-car-is-reb...

Edited by SystemParanoia on Friday 27th January 11:41

For the love of cars do a decent job but sadly you can't squeeze the whole thing into 1 hour.

[cpjitservices]

I know Fuzz, and hes a top bloke.

I think the main aim of the show is not just to resurrect the car, but to get it to a road legal and safe stage, the restoration is an extra.

[TEKNOPUG]

NiceCupOfTea said:

SystemParanoia said:

Balmoral said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Another pointless premise car show with manufactured jeopardy.

I think there would be a market and an audience for a proper car restoration show, with things done seriously and with care to a good standard, and no false dramatisation.

http://www.markevans.co.uk/television/a-car-is-reborn-e-type/

Now I am a car nut, but that was such a geeky show there is no way they could sell that to TV channels, only a handful of people would watch.

That would suggest that people watch for the human interest.

"Oh that poor man and his bad back, I do hope they fix his car. His children are lovely. And didn't Tim do a great job haggling those widgets. What a nice man".

I'd be staggered if anyone watches it who aren't into cars. If that is the case, why even bother doing it with cars? Why not "Shed SOS"?

"Will Fuzz be able to replace the rotten panels and apply the creosote before Doris returns from her holiday. And can Tim source those 2 inch galvanised screws in time? Find out on this week's Shed SOS".

NiceCupOfTea said:

Fuzz Townshend has recently started a car restoration business. Used to be a writer for Practical Classics too so I imagine he is very capable.

Who do you think owns Westgate Classics Garage, where all the work is done and filmed?

[aeropilot]

DonkeyApple said:

SystemParanoia said:

http://www.markevans.co.uk/television/a-car-is-reb...

His stuff is probably the best TV content for seeing the actual work. I watch car SOS but the contrived drama is for thickos as is that ghastly crap about always trying to conn and steal from suppliers.

Yep, this is the one think that really grates with me....hate having to watch the show with a finger hovering over the mute button for when we have to suffer the contrived, fake, Shaw coning the supplier routine.......
As said above, the show would be so much better with the idiot Shaw, and quite why TV people feel the need to create a drama out of nothing, instead of just making a documentary show about rebuilding the bloody cars.
That's 'luvvy' TV people for you though.....

[spitfire-ian]

TEKNOPUG said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

Fuzz Townshend has recently started a car restoration business. Used to be a writer for Practical Classics too so I imagine he is very capable.

Who do you think owns Westgate Classics Garage, where all the work is done and filmed?

He's right though, Fuzz has started a new venture http://www.to-ta.co.uk/

[The Wookie]

Not sure about Car SOS, but there were some fairly brutal comments knocking about the 928 community about the work done on Classic Car Rescue.

I watched that episode for the 928 but I haven't managed to sit through any other one, too cringing

[SystemParanoia]

TEKNOPUG said:

If that is the case, why even bother doing it with cars? Why not "Shed SOS"?

They do..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60_Minute_Makeover

Shudder!

[DonkeyApple]

davamer23 said:

DonkeyApple said:

His stuff is probably the best TV content for seeing the actual work. I watch car SOS but the contrived drama is for thickos as is that ghastly crap about always trying to conn and steal from suppliers.

It'd be a much better show without Shaw.

I can't even begin to fathom why faking scenarios of a well educated, wealthy man repeatedly trying to rip off and steal from small, independent businesses is remotely acceptable TV.

[droopsnoot]

aeropilot said:

Yep, this is the one think that really grates with me....hate having to watch the show with a finger hovering over the mute button for when we have to suffer the contrived, fake, Shaw coning the supplier routine.......

I've taken to recording it now, so I can just FF past those bits. It's ramped up recently, though - I watched a repeat from Series 2 the other day, and Tim's segments were pretty interesting. He went to get some seats retrimmed and let the guy show how a repair was done, had some calipers rebuilt at Bigg Red and showed the process there too, all without resorting to the stupid stuff. Then back to S3 last night, and he's doing some cringe-worthy performance at David Manners to get some stuff for free.

I was unimpressed by the quality of the welding Fuzz showed at the end of the BMW 2002 programme, where he'd done a repair in the back window frame. Didn't look to me as if half the welds had penetrated properly. OK, it's not structural, but it's a pain to go back in and fix again.

[John_S4x4]

droopsnoot said:

you can often see other projects in the background.

Has anybody spotted the giant red robot in the background yet?

[Blackpuddin]

You'd be surprised how much SOS spends on their restorations, it can be a substantial chunk of money. I like all of it, including Tim Shaw, his comedy stylings add an extra level to it for me.

[The Surveyor]

DonkeyApple said:

davamer23 said:

DonkeyApple said:

His stuff is probably the best TV content for seeing the actual work. I watch car SOS but the contrived drama is for thickos as is that ghastly crap about always trying to conn and steal from suppliers.

It'd be a much better show without Shaw.

I can't even begin to fathom why faking scenarios of a well educated, wealthy man repeatedly trying to rip off and steal from small, independent businesses is remotely acceptable TV.

Oh come on, don't take it so seriously. It's an entertainment show and being realistic, have you never pushed for a little discount when buying parts, or haggled over them at a car show? Maybe never to the pantomime level shown on Car SOS, but it's a common thing exaggerated for the telly.

[HedgeyGedgey]

They left a tiny detail out on the Astra GTE and it bugs me everytime I watch it. Also put the wrong Dash in the Cosworth they did as well. Put this is anal level of detail

[AndySheff]

Blib said:

I'm of the habit of DVLA checking the cars on this show. (I've no idea why I do this. It's curiosity, I suppose). It's surprising how many are sorned. One or two are no longer on the database.

I've been doing this lately after Wheeler Dealer re-runs. The MOT check all too often see's the car MOT'd about the time of the show/Eds fixes, and nothing after that.

[HustleRussell]

Car SOS
Classic Car Rescue
For the love of cars
Wheeler Dealers
etc etc

I am grateful for the existence of all these shows. All have their flaws. All are dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. However if on the off chance I sit in front of the TV at the weekend to eat my lunch I am grateful to have any one of these shows to tune in to.

Back to the question at hand, I think Car SOS do exactly what is needed to put the car back into a presentable and roadworthy condition within the limits and confines of the available time and budget. These are factors which come into play during any car restoration. I think that within that brief the work carried out is by and large more than adequate... very good even.

[cpjitservices]

Some of the car owners of car SOS have, sadly passed away.

Maybe the cars have been put back in a garage to gather dust.

[SystemParanoia]

Car Sharks was also good for a laugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho5Ii9NszQc

Edited by SystemParanoia on Friday 27th January 13:03

[alpha channel]

John_S4x4 said:

Has anybody spotted the giant red robot in the background yet?

That'd be a Games Workshop Warhammer 40K space Marine (possibly Blood Angels)... You can see how I spent part of my childhood can't you

[Dave Hedgehog]

SystemParanoia said:

http://www.markevans.co.uk/television/a-car-is-reb...

Edited by SystemParanoia on Friday 27th January 11:41

great shows, shame he stopped

[helix402]

ChocolateFrog said:

helix402 said:

Have a look at the Range Rover MOT advisories after 1 year.

Have you got the link.

They seem to do a reasonable job, would be interesting to see behind the scenes.

I prefer things like Project Binky where you get a feel for the 100's if not 1000's of hours that go into a detailed restoration or build. Not to mention the timescale which stretches to years.

The Range Rover was discussed in its own thread, if you put the reg into checkthecar.com your can get the info.