Car SOS

[Highnumbers]

I must say though, the programming offered in the UK is so much better than what we have here in the States.

Even shows like Car SOS are much greater quality and actually focus on the cars, their history and rebuilding them. There's plenty of great UK car shows as well - The Car's the Star, A Car is Reborn, Wheeler Dealer etc.

TV producers in the States just can't seem to make a show that isn't about making money. The entire focus of car shows like Fast n Loud, Counting Cars and American Pickers are all about how much money the cast is making off buying/selling a car. It's sad, really.

[zbarbera]

Well, to be fair we do get things like Car Crazy and My Classic car which are just about the love of the hobby and what's under the hood. And before Boyd Coddington died American Hot Rod was pretty great, once you got past the drama

Counting Cars started out pretty well, focusing on the work and the details but became more personality driven.

[1963'S']

I get fed up with Tim doing all the stupid 'Blagging' we all know these firms know he is coming and have been involved for weeks.
The show is only on for approx 50 mins due to the adverts but at least 20 to 25 mins is just entertainment stuff not the work on the cars.
I do like some of the stuff they have done and as said it must cost a fortune.
On some shows you can see huge amount of stuff has been done to the cars but it isn't mentioned, it's like the classic car fairies have done it!
I like to record it and fast forward the naff bits!
Steve

[java gt]

Totally agree Steve,that blagging s***e gets right up my nose,thank goodness for Sky plus and the forward button.If they could show more of Fuzz and the other restoration pixies work it would be excellent but then as Mark said,that would not appeal to the masses.

[mk1coopers]

I think (thanks to the forward wind button) my quickest time watching one of these is 8 minutes, I agree about the blags, it was good to see Pad's place on the AC restoration, impressive operation Paul

At the end of the day the Mini is back on the road, I'm sure the owner is happy to have a car he can have some fun with, was it done to my taste, not really, were there a lot of howlers in the show, yes, we all know there's no such thing as a production 1962 S.

I personally thought one of the biggest moments was the engine rebuild guys and the 'special badge' on the rocker cover that meant it had a race head direct from Weslake, if that's the case most of us are running around with one of those

[ace01]

Tim Shaw's antics are probably better suited to Cbbies.

[Dean]

just watched the last part of the show, (15 minutes,) where they showed the finished car to the camera and setting up the reveal part.
that pub is about 5 miles up the road from me, i did not recognise the bloke who owned the car, just makes me wonder if i see it about from time to time.

but i did get shocked seeing the wrong seats, seatbelt, 1 chrome and one black plastic window latch on one side, black bungs in the scuttle, wrong headlining. but over all they did make a good job of the finish, i did not see what it was like at the beginning or see what they did. wheels and tyres where a good choice, and they did put some period tyre on.

if he is on this forum or does view it from time to time, you have one nice car , you would more than likely know these points and i bet have already changed them back. or still have the parts at home.

the eastbourne and ram club has been going for years, there is a eastbourne mini club, but its not as big as it use to be and not as many of us have old minis on the road!

i keep an eye out for it on the road.

[Jeff R]

What I couldn't understand was the lack of rotor dip hole in the rear seat and the later sills. OK the sills may have been replaced, but the rear bulkhead? Later headliner too, as has been mentioned.

I know it was a MkII shell, so maybe it was bought from the factory as a replacement like this, perhaps in the mid '70s?

[miniminor]

I get fed up with Tim doing all the stupid 'Blagging' we all know these firms know he is coming and have been involved for weeks.
The show is only on for approx 50 mins due to the adverts but at least 20 to 25 mins is just entertainment stuff not the work on the cars.
I do like some of the stuff they have done and as said it must cost a fortune.
On some shows you can see huge amount of stuff has been done to the cars but it isn't mentioned, it's like the classic car fairies have done it!
I like to record it and fast forward the naff bits!
Steve

Yes totally agree, cringeworthy "comedy" adds nothing to the program, I suppose its to make the program appeal to more than pure petrol heads. Why not just do a sensible feature including Minilight wheels manufacturing process, Rimmers vast parts emporium without the so called blagging cr@p?

Finish of that car was tragic, paint and bodywork seemed great then the fitting up spoilt it with missing chrome trims very obvious, and cheapy modern spotlights, youd think with the money spent 4 x Lucas 400s wouldnt have been too hard to source?

Im afraid that there are very few car restoration programs that hold my attention without me shouting at the TV when they get it wrong.
But to end on a positive, its miles and miles better than those two buffoons from Classic Car Rescue!

[fricsman]

Thought that was a poor restoration, I'd have been very dissatisfied with it if it had been my car and they'd changed the colour from original. The one thing that couldn't easily be put right. Surprised Fuzz put his name to that programme.

[mk1]

Its just TV.

I watched it and I did cringe mightily on more than one occasion.

But if you are going to hand your knackered old car (that will probably never get restored) over to a TV company to be "done up" you get what you are given.

For FREE I reckon it was an OK job, not my cup of tea though.

[mab01uk]

Can't stand watching Car SOS at the best of times, only watched this one because it was a Mini but nodded off after first half hour, recorded it so will catchup with the rest of this cringe making episode with the aid of the fast forward button sometime.....

[Dr S]

It's all being taken a bit seriously? I saw a bitsa in a shed that wasn't going anywhere get turned back into a viable road car. It wasn't factory right but that was the case before it came out the shed.

The blagging doesn't add much to it but my lad likes it more than watching someone weld...

Admittedly they could have build something more valuable with that identity.

[mk1]

Admittedly they could have build something more valuable with that identity.

In a way, it's nice that they didn't.

[Chewie Baker]

i must admit i love the show.
Tims blagging is a great advert for the local businesses they use.
And if I'm very honest then i'll admit to welling up at the end of some of the shows when they hand the cars over to some of those guys who are in a bad way health wise

I've thought about writing up to the show complaining of a black finger nail in the hope of them finishing mine
Then again, i'd also want the correct headlining

[mk1coopers]

Apparently the car will be on the Carole Nash stand at Beaulieu on Sunday

Blagging - not needed and in my opinion it could make the suppliers seem foolish for falling for it, even though it's scripted, and we know they are just playing along no doubt some people out there think it's real.

The whole ethos of the show - great, the people they do the cars for certainly look to deserve some good fortune with what has happened in their lives

The restorations - never seen one so can't comment on the quality, they look good on the TV, perhaps it was just because it was a Mini and we have a little more knowledge of them we could spot the errors, I've certainly not noticed them straying too far from original specs with previous cars they have done like they seem to have with this car.

[billycooper]

Apparently the car will be on the Carole Nash stand at Beaulieu on Sunday

Blagging - not needed and in my opinion it could make the suppliers seem foolish for falling for it, even though it's scripted, and we know they are just playing along no doubt some people out there think it's real.

The whole ethos of the show - great, the people they do the cars for certainly look to deserve some good fortune with what has happened in their lives

The restorations - never seen one so can't comment on the quality, they look good on the TV, perhaps it was just because it was a Mini and we have a little more knowledge of them we could spot the errors, I've certainly not noticed them straying too far from original specs with previous cars they have done like they seem to have with this car.

Yeah I think that about sums it up for me, even after my scathing initial words

[rolesyboy]

Cor you lot are a mean bunch. I honestly think it is one of the best shows for classic cars. Most of the content is about the car and they do what looks like a respectable job of the restoration.
The show has a great intent. It revives a pile of sh#t car that would otherwise fester in a damp garage, puts a smile on some poor buggers face, and the show is hosted by two genuine enthusiasts. Granted the blagging bit is naff but 45 minutes of just knocking back filler would be see viewers switching off in their droves.
Sure they get some of the detail wrong but they aren't Mini specialists (or Mini-dribblers as affectionately referred to in the past).
I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to Minis but I still learn stuff off this forum regularly.
As I recall there was a show with an Londoner called Bernie(??) who committed some heinous classic car crimes when it comes to restorations. Now that was bad....
I'm in!

[mk1]

As I recall there was a show with an Londoner called Bernie(??) who committed some heinous classic car crimes when it comes to restorations. Now that was bad....
I'm in!



WANTED!

Bernie Fineman

For crimes against humanity!

[rolesyboy]

'Is that a genuine 1960-fwee Mk4 Cooper S?? Its the right colours, and has a Benny Light Gwill.'
Yep, that's the programme