Car SOS

[trigger]

Did anybody watch this tonight?, It was over on the National Geographic channel and features Fuzz Townshend of Practical Classics fame and some ex radio DJ who keeps getting sacked and had his Lotus sold for 50p on ebay.

 

Except for this Tim Shaw bloke who seems quite annoying it was a pretty decent show I thought, better then that Classic Car Rescue shite a few months back, which isn't hard, they had a 1960's Fiat 850 Spider to restore which was a bit of a looker once finished, It was a bit like DIY SOS with old cars really.

[Hertz]

Just watched it and I agree it was quite good. Was that Tim pratt on Fifth Gear a few years back when it was based out of the Ace Cafe?

[trigger]

According to Wikipedia he was on 5th gear. The ending was very nice when the chap got presented the car, made me feel all warm inside.

[dollywobbler]

Had heard that this was going to be a 'proper' car show ie no scripted shouting, random bits of car 'falling' off etc. I'll have to wait for someone to pinch the shows and put them on YouTube or something.

[michiel]

Unrelated, but I caught the end of The Planners on BBC2 where they cleared a garden: 4 Sherpas, Minor, Anglia and I forgot the rest.

[Rocket88]

Just watched it............there's some shots of my old Triumph Renown in their workshop when it was being built, so that was obviously filmed a few years ago!

[trigger]

I saw that and thought it was your old Triumph but I'm pretty certain it was filmed last year, must be a imposter!

[dollywobbler]

Aye. I think it's filmed at Fuzz's repair business, which I'm pretty sure didn't exist a few years ago.

[Jack_Harpers_Teeth]

I watched it, enjoyed it too.

 

If I was to criticise I would say can we have a bit more of Fuzz and a little less of Tim?

 

To qualify that statement; More of Fuzz doing the necessary to the car (body and mechanical repairs) and less of Tim fannying about. I have no idea who Tim is but he did seem to be mimicking the Jeremy Clarkson style of presenting which I find in Clarkson irritating and in Tim more so.

 

That said, early days, I shall watch the rest and hope it goes on into forming many more series.

 

Well done to all involved.

[Lankytim]

When Tim Shaw was on Kerrang radioi thought he was funny as fuck. Got me through many a night shift trucking. He was also "Mr Inappropriate" on Balls of steel.

[retrogeezer]

If you haven't seen this yet please look out for the Austin 12/4 episode (on at the moment).

 

Excellent episode, they visit some class places for repairs/parts and it bought a little tear to my eye when they handed it over at the end.

[cort16]

Aye it's good. I read an interview thing with Fuzz and he said they're working on a lot of the project cars at the same time. After 3 months of filming he had to take a month off as he was so frazzled as the deadline for delivering the cars on time are contractual.

There is a bit of staged bollocks with that Tim guy but I believe he is a genuine car guy and not just someone playing along. I think he won young engineer of the year in 1994 or something.

[shedvan]

I haven't been able to see this yet (not having the channel and so forth) but what the deal is it a sort of Surprise Surprise with more filler and less Cilla? Whats the criteria for it like does the owner have to be dozy enough to not notice his car has been jacked for a week or so or are the fixes just for owners who are brassic/fallen on hard times?

 

Might be an idea to pass on Volksangyl's details in that case?

[purplebargeken]

The premise of the show was to restore cars for worthy owners, that for whatever reason were unable to finish off their own cars.

 

A friend of mine with a Daf 32 was chosen and the car was to be restored and presented to his daughter who had just been given the medical all clear to drive. I emailed the production company to intro them to the little world of Essex Dafs and all was going to plan. The car was collected and taken to Birmingham and that was when the decision was made for so called budgetary reasons, not to feature the Daf. The DOC and Essex Daf pooled together and restored the car and MOT'd it in a couple of weeks and we did our own presentation. Right lovely it was too. The car has been featured in Classic Car Monthly a couple of mags back. We think that budget issues were a bit of a feeble excuse and that they were a bit scared of working on the Daf or they didn't think they could get the parts. Hey ho, no point crying over spilt engine oil, the car is all done and on the road which is what counts.

[autofive]

fuzz will eat himself

 

I have watched all the episodes, so far

 

and have been suitably entertained, its a more interesting show than wheeler dealers anyway

[dollywobbler]

The premise of the show was to restore cars for worthy owners, that for whatever reason were unable to finish off their own cars.

 

A friend of mine with a Daf 32 was chosen and the car was to be restored and presented to his daughter who had just been given the medical all clear to drive. I emailed the production company to intro them to the little world of Essex Dafs and all was going to plan. The car was collected and taken to Birmingham and that was when the decision was made for so called budgetary reasons, not to feature the Daf. The DOC and Essex Daf pooled together and restored the car and MOT'd it in a couple of weeks and we did our own presentation. Right lovely it was too. The car has been featured in Classic Car Monthly a couple of mags back. We think that budget issues were a bit of a feeble excuse and that they were a bit scared of working on the Daf or they didn't think they could get the parts. Hey ho, no point crying over spilt engine oil, the car is all done and on the road which is what counts.

 

Knowing that Fuzz used to work with Sam Glover on PC, I doubt it's because they were 'scared of DAFs.' I'm not going to hazard a guess at why it wasn't featured, but I imagine hard decisions had to be made about what to feature. I'm very glad the club and Essex DAF sorted it out anyway! I love happy news.

[purplebargeken]

Maybe it was more to do with overall appeal, who knows. The job is now done

 

The orange coupe in the AS 'banner' is very cool in the flesh by the way.

[shedvan]

I guess sex appeal has got to be factored into the programme's general sale-ability, its clearly a stronger factor for Wheeler Dealers as the series has matured, but who foots the bill for the work is it the producers? Is there an upper limit to the work carried out cost wise?

[cort16]

The only thing I'd say is sometimes although they're happy to see the car you can kind of see on their faces that they would like to have got the car back on the road and done the work themselves even when there's no chance they would actually have done it. Sometimes the thought of the project being in the garage and the thoughts of how they'll get around to it one day is as much of owning an old crock as driving it. This is the same reasoning you see all the time with once nice cars gradually sink into folks driveways over the years.

[worldofceri]

I agree. Some of the friends and family (and probably the producers) don't really get the fact that having a project car on the go isn't just a means to an end for some car nuts but a source of enjoyment in itself.

 

But then I think there's genuine shock come the reveal; like they really haven't had a clue, which is great really as it's less 'staged', but also sometimes a little awkward. Once they get behind the wheel the smiles seem to broaden.

[autofive]

I agree. Some of the friends and family (and probably the producers) don't really get the fact that having a project car on the go isn't just a means to an end for some car nuts but a source of enjoyment in itself.

 

But then I think there's genuine shock come the reveal; like they really haven't had a clue, which is great really as it's less 'staged', but also sometimes a little awkward. Once they get behind the wheel the smiles seem to broaden.

 

all the cars so far have been owned by people who cant finish their projects, I think thats the point of the prog.

[trigger]

I think the programs great, It's a real "In ya face" to that shite that was on Channel 5, a number of hand overs have genuinely chocked me up too.

 

I think Fuzz has got a real winner on his hands.

[vulgalour]

Might be an idea to pass on Volksangyl's details in that case?

 

This has already been suggested to me (I have no idea if said person has made a submission to them). I'd happily play dumb if I got selected XD

[scooters]

Not seen it yet, I know fuzz decided to set up his restoration business about 3-4 years back when he jacked being tech ed at PC. Difficult time to set up slap in the recession, it was a few months after I sold him a Scimitar in usual chod condition I think the price was a case of wine. Anyroad, he has been doing some contributions to pc recently.

 

Suspect that the Daf decision had more to do with production appeal, fuzz being ex PC will be a Dafonista. Similar reason why most classic car mags are endless MG rebuild stories...Personally I prefer the Daf and have owned a brace of 44s, and a 55 marathon. Will get back into dafs once I have got the business a bit more established.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I wonder did that 'BL1300' lad off the blue have any contact with the TV crew about that DAF? if so maybe thats what put them off deciding to feature it. "Actually I am a skilled auto electrician with over 10 years experience" (despite only being 21) etc etc.

[purplebargeken]

I have no idea but we tried to keep any actual 'conversation' with the production company to a minimum ie; with Essex Daf folk.

 

Apparently you could see the Daf in the yard in one of the shots, no idea which one though.

[Joey spud]

Excellent show i think,best one on the tv,maybe a small gripe is that it could be a bit more in depth as it gets a bit rushed towards the the final 1/4 hour.

How about 90 mins to show more ''nuts an bolt'' stuff ?

I enjoy the honest 'banter' going on too (not like wheeler dealers),and the little road test they did thru the lanes on a freezing day was what its all about.

 

The old boy really was chuffed to get back behind the wheel of his old friend of nearly 50 years,i had a tear in my eye watching that.

 

So pleased the old Austin didn't get a total refurb too,if i was ever able to own something that old i would choose genuine oily rag over shiney 2pack paint anyday.

 

Any car shows i go to i am allways drawn to the genuine honest cars first,actually i can spend just as long in the car park geting my fix on old stuff...

[shedvan]

Might be an idea to pass on Volksangyl's details in that case?

 

I'd happily play dumb if I got selected XD

 

Type-casting is a bitch

[dieselnutjob]

is this it?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSx_51Ly ... xr_Gvfztws

[Joey spud]

is this it?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSx_51Ly ... xr_Gvfztws

 

Yep...