Salvage hunters classic cars

[franrca]

I wondered why I couldn't find the xjs listed in the episode guide and maybe this is why...it's on autotrader

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... obcid=soc3

Looks nice...if its been done well...seems a fair price.

[poprivet]

The program was on last night, any comments?

[cabriolet]

Hi,
I think the programme is pretty poor as Drew should listen more to his mechanic. Changing the car from a TWR lookalike to original features was always going to be very expensive. I suspect he will not get anywhere near his asking price of nearly 18k as you can find good ones a lot cheaper. The interest shown for the car on the programme at a classic car show, I believe was all about the show and it being filmed. I see Drew is still trying to sell a Morris Minor that he in my opinion made a bad mistake by painting a hatch design to the bodywork. He should stick to selling salvage as his radical ideas do not work for cars.
Alan

[franrca]

I thought it looked a lot better without the bodykit and 2 colour body, whether it was commercially sensible to do all the work it entailed or not. The end product looked much more asthetically pleasing IMHO.

I do find Drew P doesn't come across well on the TV...he may be a nice bloke, but he comes across as arrogant, opinionated and a bit smug; that said, it made a change that the XJS was introduced as a beautiful car with great lines etc as opposed to the usual ugly unreliable etc. I still suspect the asking price is fine for a pre-HE as they are rare and more so in good condition. It is still for sale though, so it might be a pup.

Personally Car SOS is my favourite viewing, although I can understand why some find it annoying and should concentrate on the tech aspects, but I think it works. Wheeler dealers would be better if they dropped the cheeky cockney and salvage hunters is just jumping on the bandwagon...overall though I'd still rather see these programmes than the usual tat that is on the screens...at least you get to see some different older cars.

[cabriolet]

I thought it looked a lot better without the bodykit and 2 colour body, whether it was commercially sensible to do all the work it entailed or not. The end product looked much more asthetically pleasing IMHO.

I do find Drew P doesn't come across well on the TV...he may be a nice bloke, but he comes across as arrogant, opinionated and a bit smug; that said, it made a change that the XJS was introduced as a beautiful car with great lines etc as opposed to the usual ugly unreliable etc. I still suspect the asking price is fine for a pre-HE as they are rare and more so in good condition. It is still for sale though, so it might be a pup.

Personally Car SOS is my favourite viewing, although I can understand why some find it annoying and should concentrate on the tech aspects, but I think it works. Wheeler dealers would be better if they dropped the cheeky cockney and salvage hunters is just jumping on the bandwagon...overall though I'd still rather see these programmes than the usual tat that is on the screens...at least you get to see some different older cars.

I agree with most of what you say and the saving grace is that the car was better for getting rid of the plastic bumpers. The problem with this programme you do not see much of the overall condition, and why would you buy one without seeing it on the ramp before parting with money. What I think really happens is that the cars are assessed more than what is shown on the TV before buying them to see if is realistic to repair them. Plus in my opinion I think buying the donor car for the XJS was set up prior to purchasing the car, as it would have been difficult to obtain good condition parts quickly. Looking at the pictures of the engine bay of this car on eBay it does not look well cared for to command the asking price. I find it hard to understand why the Pre HE cars command more money as they are dull in appearance and have poor efficiency. Sorry if I have upset any owners of these models, but I like to see a bit of chrome as opposed to black painted parts.
Regards
Alan

[franrca]

Yes, I used to abhor the pre-HEs, but have come to appreciate them as being the 'coolest' of all the XJS variants in the context of 1970s cars. Having said that, I wouldn't swap one for mine as I also love the looks, reliability and chrome (!) of the facelift models. At the risk of offending 80% of owners, it's the HE ones that I find are a compromise between one end and the other being the part-evolution of the model. I'll duck my head now

All these shows are heavily scripted / set-up - the Car SOS is probably the worst, but I guess as long as you accept that it's just an entertainment programme then it's acceptable. Discount blagging aside, I find it hard to believe that any of those cars are done in 3 week, although one of the forums on Pistonheads reckoned it was possible...

[cabriolet]

Yes, I used to abhor the pre-HEs, but have come to appreciate them as being the 'coolest' of all the XJS variants in the context of 1970s cars. Having said that, I wouldn't swap one for mine as I also love the looks, reliability and chrome (!) of the facelift models. At the risk of offending 80% of owners, it's the HE ones that I find are a compromise between one end and the other being the part-evolution of the model. I'll duck my head now

All these shows are heavily scripted / set-up - the Car SOS is probably the worst, but I guess as long as you accept that it's just an entertainment programme then it's acceptable. Discount blagging aside, I find it hard to believe that any of those cars are done in 3 week, although one of the forums on Pistonheads reckoned it was possible...

Hi,
I am not offended as mine is a 1983 HE cabriolet and I love every aspect of it, but I have never driven a facelift version. I think they all have there quirks as the later ones suffered with scuttle rust due to the sealing of the windscreen. When you start adding driving aids such as ABS it has to have an effect to handling, but not having it is just part of owning older cars.
Regards
Alan

[RichardSEL]

I did video at Wandsworth as one of the courses sponsored by the dole in the 80's.
The tutor in the editing suite (tape in them thar days) said that there's always more rushes left on the cutting room floor than there's ever edited up and transmitted -- especially for drama docs. Otherwise
you end up with a mish-mash of crammed in bits that the subject specialists demand
be included. Important to them but confusing to the viewer who might not be so
knowledgeable in the subject.

Would I watch "The Edd China Show"? Of course. Would it command the number of viewers
that'd support that slots' advertising rate needed? I dunno

The sob-sob themes of Car Sausage (with that waste of space Tim Shaw) takes airtime away from
Fuzz Townsend's obvious skills' on display. But that's how the programme's been sold. It's a
product for the programme buyers, not us classic car freaks

[greeban]

For sure the prime aim of these programmes is entertainment but they give me encouragement, especially when you see the incredible transformation on cars by Car SOS. I too am sure that is some cases the time will be more than 3 weeks but this is entertainment but I have got some great ideas and tips from watching, especially from Ed China and Fuzz Townsend.

I do find Tim Shaw's scams tedious now although has been great to put a face to David Manners who has appeared several times now!

[lowebird]

Not my area of expertise although I love XKS's and I still have an original launch brochure in the loft somewhere, but I like all the comments about the spate of "lets fix a classic for tele" programs. I have to say that I can't stand car S.O.S, I know they do help people live their dreams but there is too much old flannel especially from Tim Shaw, what a waste of air he is. Similarly, Wheeler Dealers, again too much of the short chap flapping his jaws. The common theme for most of us I suspect is more of the actual work of fixing the cars and far less of the bunny trouble but of course that would not sell.
I much prefer the American programs ( hush my mouth ) such as Chasing Classics, Counting Cars and others. Although they are a bit light on the dirty stuff, I find them far more entertaining. Just my opinion of course.

[franrca]

I've found the US shows to be quite good - I like the ones mentioned and the FantomWorks one, where the owners sink an amazing/obscene amount of money into their cars...

Poor old Tim Shaw...his ears must be burning...I can cope with Mr Shaw and the backstory bits, but it's the constant re-capping that wastes so much time.

Fuzz has left Westgate now and they appear to have set up a Car SOS specific garage...their website is http://sosworkshop.co.uk/

Saw a Wheeler Dealers recently where they were doing up a Delorean...at the end they took it to a Delorean meet where other owners pawed over the car looking over it and each others. Now I like De Loreans, but I can't imagine a more boring gathering...they all look the same!! Watching the parade of cars arriving felt like I was experiencing an infinite loop. Found it amusing though

[PaulGover]

...
I find it hard to understand why the Pre HE cars command more money as they are dull in appearance and have poor efficiency.
...

Engine tweakers love the early cars because you can tune the engines to monster proportions - something like 500bhp. The HE fireball cylinder head is a masterpiece for economy, but is virtually impossible to uprate.

[johnw272151]

mmm some good shows

this i felt was the worst of them. thought the idea was to make money.. sorry to say this came across as vanity... paid for by tv company..

plenty of other good shows been enjoying bangers n cash... and flipping bangers..

need to see more Jags