Car SOS - how good are their restorations?

[Blib]

Dave Hedgehog said:

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

Agreed. Remember when he built a helicopter?

[SebringMan]

Esceptico said:

I enjoy watching Car SOS but wonder about the quality of their restorations. From what I know of other people doing this privately, a full restoration (which most of them seem to require) seems to takes months or even years yet Car SOS seem to turn it around in a few weeks (admittedly there seem to be lots of people working full time on the car during that period). Are the end results actually good restorations or just look good for the show?

They don't seem too bad.

IMO alot of people get worried when they see people using filler on the show. Have people actually done bodywork themselves. To get a panel straight without filler (which leaves lead loading and panel beating for a very very long time) costs a fortune. Alot of new panels rarely come pin straight either, especially if they are pattern panels.

If they were slapping filler on rust I'd then agree.

My opinion? The workmanship isn't too bad on there, and alot of restoration places that should know better do worse work. I know ; I have sometimes bought and fixed other people's mess because they got sick of their car becoming a black hole.

Remember that Fuzz has tons of experience over the years. Alot of us can probably work quicker on a car than we could previously. As an example I can change a Mondeo Alternator on a MkIII from start to finish in 45 minutes. Years ago that would have been a few hours.

[MorganP104]

SebringMan said:

I can change a Mondeo Alternator on a MkIII from start to finish in 45 minutes.

I don't know why this has tickled me, but it has. I can imagine it engraved on a headstone.

"Here lies SebringMan. Loving father, brother, son. Could change a Mondeo alternator in 45 minutes."

Ignore me, I'll just be over here, having a little chuckle to myself.

[anonymous-user]

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.

And he's also a bus mechanic and drummer for indy band Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI)

"Big mac fries to go...."

[Richard-390a0]

e600 said:

I thought the E Type had gap issues, certainly on the drivers door. Getting doors to fit correctly on an E Type is a skilled and lengthy process, especially if replacement door seals are fitted. I can't recall if a shot was shown of the drivers door fully closed , perhaps they attended to it post show?

I noticed the drivers door shutline too, other than that little detail it looked to be restored to a good standard overall.

[Six Fiend]

Richard-390a0 said:

e600 said:

I thought the E Type had gap issues, certainly on the drivers door. Getting doors to fit correctly on an E Type is a skilled and lengthy process, especially if replacement door seals are fitted. I can't recall if a shot was shown of the drivers door fully closed , perhaps they attended to it post show?

I noticed the drivers door shutline too, other than that little detail it looked to be restored to a good standard overall.

The shutline bugged me too but wondered if it was adjusted further after the filming was done.

Some of the cars i think go back to suffering from lack of use. Others I'm confident are much treasured and enjoyed as much as possible.

If I had my old E34 540 still and that was done for me I'd use it in good weather and have it in a garage. On not being able to drive it I'd make sure I was driven about in it.

[e600]

Blib said:

Agreed. Remember when he built a helicopter?

Acquired at Christmas and now screwed to my garage wall

[blade7]

Dave Hedgehog said:

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

I don't think he has...

[Doofus]

I tend to think that they do a fair job; they do seem to go through the cars end-to-end.

The thing that is glossed over, though, is how many of the cars are obviously not road legal at the handover. I know they are always finishing at the eleventh hour, but I wonder how many sibsequently sail through an MOT without advisories.

[TheAngryDog]

AndySheff said:

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.

The E39 M5 is still going strong. The owner is in a facebook group I am part of.

[icepop]

Well the last few series see to be only interested in getting to the money shot, after the obligatory, 'oh my god, what have you done to it' bo**ocks from the visiting family, where the owner, who has had 'health problems', gets into the car, usually welling up, so that, one of the most irritating gits in the history of car shows, can say 'you've been car SOS'ed. Some of the trim shots look absolutely dire, and always Fuzz Lightyear says, when first looking at the car, 'Well if it doesn't turn over, that's it, it's over !!, and guess what, it always does.

[TR4man]

Whatever their faults, I'd prefer watching these shows to much of the other crap on the telly.

[Welshbeef]

cpjitservices said:

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.

I'm a fan of Car SOS a really good blend of mending up ruined cars with very interesting histories. Great cars too.

One of the best car shows on TV IMHO

[bimsb6]

Anyone else watch bhin rides ? I will be visiting there this summer .

[Amirhussain]

I enjoy it, prefer it over Wheeler Dealers. Tim Shaw and Fuzz work well together IMO.

[CanAm]

icepop said:

Well the last few series see to be only interested in getting to the money shot, after the obligatory, 'oh my god, what have you done to it' bo**ocks from the visiting family, where the owner, who has had 'health problems', gets into the car, usually welling up, so that, one of the most irritating gits in the history of car shows, can say 'you've been car SOS'ed. Some of the trim shots look absolutely dire, and always Fuzz Lightyear says, when first looking at the car, 'Well if it doesn't turn over, that's it, it's over !!, and guess what, it always does.

Doesn't sound quite as right as You've been Overhauled.

[MG CHRIS]

They made a mess of the mx5 on several points one when talking about the timing belt change they said its important to line up the marks as if they don't it will cause engine damage. Um no it wont its none interference.
Also the hideous wheels the jap import number plate panel that suddenly turned into a uk spec one why when the car is an import and the turbo conversion which was still on its original ecu and afm. Why with all that money on the turbo conversion didn't they get a megasquirt or me221 ecu to actually set it up correctly.

Also on others the skyline showing changing the timing belt without changing any of the pulleys/tensioners etc really bad to show it that way on a tv programme.

[Doofus]

MG CHRIS said:

Loads of nerdy stuff, plus "really bad to show it that way on a tv programme."

Why? It's not a training video.


No offence intended, BTW

[SebringMan]

MorganP104 said:

I don't know why this has tickled me, but it has. I can imagine it engraved on a headstone.

"Here lies SebringMan. Loving father, brother, son. Could change a Mondeo alternator in 45 minutes."

Ignore me, I'll just be over here, having a little chuckle to myself.

I have to bring some laughter to places .

My point was not about me showing off or any way or form or being proud of it but merely proving a point ; practice makes perfect ; I've probably changed those items about 3 or 4 now. Ages ago the same job would have taken a few hours, like any new job I now tackle, and likewise I had a better idea of how to deal with rusted bolts etc. instead of shearing them most of the time.

The same idea if not more applies for Fuzz Townsend regarding people querying how can he do the job 'right' so quickly. He's a pretty serial car tinkerer and and probably work to a pace most of us can only dream of.

FWIW, Regarding the pace thing I remember Brian Burrows (head of VZi) saying that Edd China and him managed to build their beach buggy in just over two weeks.

That's not to say I believe all of Car SOS's timescales .

[everyeggabird]

blade7 said:

Great show, though some of the cars owners look more than capable of paying for the restoration themselves.

Could not agree more with you.