Recently I discovered a new show on Velocity called Wheeler Dealers. Basically, it’s a show about two guys in the UK who go out, find older cars and try and fix em up for a profit. They don’t seem to have such a great business plan (generally, they only make a couple thousand pounds…at best…per fix up), but it’s a fun show to watch for me. I’m not a car guy, sadly. I love cars, but I just don’t know all that car lore stuff about motor size, or fixing stuff up. But I love watching shows where they do this, and this show they take you through how to fix stuff up on your own. They make it look SO easy.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has seen or likes the show, and what other 'dopers thoughts are on it.
What I like about Wheeler Dealers is that they do sensible repairs - no “Let’s trick out this car with hydraulics and a $50000 stereo and game players and a flat screen TV” and shit like that. Just “here’s what we did to get this back into shape, and maybe bring its performance up to today’s standards.”
Plus it was fun finding out that Ed Chyna (the mechanic) is also the guy behind some of the unusual stuff on Top Gear, such as the double decker cars they raced in a couple episodes.
Like that show, OK but when they total up the cost they include the purchase price and the parts used for the repairs but not the labor costs. What’s up with that? Ed works for free?
I saw him take every piece of the interior out of a car and replace it then pulled the engine. That would cost thousand of dollars of labor yet they never mentioned it.
All of these kinds of shows must get some sort of subsidy from the network putting the show on. Another favorite of mine, Wrecks to Riches is similar (though more high end and towards the super muscle car spectrum)…half the cars they make they never make their nut at auction. I think in both cases these guys have businesses on the side (I know Barry White from Wrecks has his own shop that builds cars for clients), but they have to be getting substantial money from the networks doing the show.
In this case, I love the show even if they never seem to make enough money to make the work they do worth while. I think the most I’ve seen them make on a car is around 5k pounds, which while a good chunk of money isn’t worth all the effort…and just as often I’ve seen them sell a car for a loss.
My favorite episode was when they did the Shelby Cobra kit car remake…that was seriously cool, even if they ended up making (IIRC) less than 2k pounds which sucked. Made me drool seeing the car though…wish I had the bucks for some of these things.
What I love about the show is that it’s so approachable, from my non-car guru point of view. The mechanic takes you through every stage of restoration, and when he’s doing it, things make sense. Yeah, he’s not putting in a lot of high end stuff, but instead things designed to enhance the final sale value.
Oh yes! Unfortunately, I only have very basic cable and don’t get the channel at home. I am able to watch it at my boyfriend’s place sometimes, but not enough - maybe once every couple of months. I’ve seen about 10 episodes so far and I enjoyed them all. I always learn something from it. What distinguishes this car show from the rest is that there is no ridiculous drama of people shouting at each other and throwing fits like children. I really can’t stand that. I love the cars and Edd and Mike are quite charming. I dream about owning something that suits my personality more. I own a 1990 Volvo 740GL. The only thing I have in common with it is that it is dependable. My scooter, however, is cool , fast, dependable and OH SO MUCH FUN! The sun is shining on this nippy Fall morning - must go ride soon.
What I love about the show is the Ed and Mike actually like each other and work towards a common goal. No macho strutting and yelling. I agree the older shows were better, when they were taking cheap used cars and fixing them up for sellers and making just a few pounds. Mike would haggle the junkyard dealers down a few pounds on every door and wheel he bought. But I still love it and never miss an episode.
I have thought about the lack of labor taken into account when they tote up the account. I figure Ed (and Mike) are getting paid for the show, so that sort of accounts for the labor costs, and obviously they have actual auto selling and repairing businesses.
I think it’s the only show I watch regularly these days.
One of my favorite shows. I did this all the time as a teen.
My BIL owned the British Leyland dealer in town, and would sell me trade-ins for $50 or $100.
In 1977, a 1965 XKE wasn’t a collectible vintage car - it was an old import with electrical and carb problems. Same with an old 1958 TR-3 or an MGA. They weren’t collectibles, they were just old and dented or beat up.
I would fix them up, doing any bodywork, upholstery, or whatever, and then sell them for a healthy profit. I’d make 100, maybe 200 dollars cash money, baby!
For a 14/15yo in the late 70’s, 2-300 bucks a week was serious money. Since I love so many cars from the 30’s to the 70’s, I kept a few for myself over the years. I’ve sold some, so I’m down to 38 now!
I like seeing the guys keep an older car on the road and looking good for years to come.
