Wheeler Dealers
Encyclopedia
Wheeler Dealers is a British television series produced by Attaboy TV for the Discovery Channel, fronted by Mike Brewer
and mechanic Edd China
with assistance from technical advisor Paul Brackley. The premise of the show is that Brewer and China are on a mission to save repairable enthusiast vehicles, by repairing or otherwise improving an example of a particular make and model to a budget, then selling it to a new owner.
There have so far been nine series of the programme. Series 1 originally aired in 2003. The second half of Series 6 was aired in Autumn of 2009 on Discovery Real Time
. Series 5 was renamed to Wheeler Dealers: On the Road; in this series Mike and Edd expanded their searching of cars by heading out into Europe hoping to find classic cars to buy and restore.
In the United Kingdom, the programme is shown on Discovery Channel and is regularly repeated on Discovery Real Time
, Discovery Turbo
and Discovery Shed
. In the US, the programme is shown on Velocity.
in Series 6.
In Series 7, the format was changed from 2 x 30 minutes episodes to a single 1 hour episode.
Each project car is completed over two episodes, the project presentation usually following a format similar to this:
Nevertheless, the show is sufficiently in-depth to provide good overviews and insights to buying and improving older enthusiast vehicles.
Sometimes painting is done by hand using a spray-can in their workshop instead of going to professional painting workshop. This is usually reserved for vehicles where only a portion of the vehicle needs painting, or where the part being painted has little effect on the overall appearance. When Edd and/or Mike consider that the appearance of the paint will make a notable difference to the sale value, professional painting is undertaken. When the re-spray is done by others, it is usual for Edd to do the majority if not all of the preparation work prior to painting.
Also addressed on each vehicle are its service history, bodywork defects (e.g. rust, dents), worn-out interiors and accessories. Vehicles that have either been inactive for long periods of time or are purchased from outside the UK are restored and modified to pass the country's strict MOT tests.
, 1993 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Alpine A310
, 2000 BMW M5, 1970 Fiat Dino
and a 1992 Morgan +4
.
. For the USA series 9 Mike rented a Ford Expedition EL to go and see the cars except for the last episode where he used a Chevrolet Tahoe. Vehicles used by Mike in previous series include a Nissan Primera Estate
, a Subaru Legacy Estate
, a Honda Accord Estate
, a SsangYong Rexton II, a SsangYong Kyron
, a Land Rover Discovery 4 and a Ford Kuga
. When Mike traveled to France
to purchase the Citroën DS, he used a French-registered Opel Zafira
, which he rented whilst in France.
Series 1: All the vehicles done so far
Series 2 and 3: MGB GT
Series 4: Porsche 911 2.7S Targa
Series 5: Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL
Series 6: Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
Series 7: Lotus Elan S1
Series 8: Jaguar E-Type Series 3
Series 9: Dodge Charger
Mike Brewer (television presenter)
Mike Brewer is a British former car trader turned presenter of motoring television programmes. He currently presents Wheeler Dealers on Discovery Channel with Edd China....
and mechanic Edd China
Edd China
Edd China is a motor specialist who has been featured in British TV shows including Wheeler Dealers and Auto Trader, both alongside television presenter Mike Brewer. China has also appeared on various radio shows. He was educated at King Edward's School, Witley, and holds a degree in Engineering...
with assistance from technical advisor Paul Brackley. The premise of the show is that Brewer and China are on a mission to save repairable enthusiast vehicles, by repairing or otherwise improving an example of a particular make and model to a budget, then selling it to a new owner.
There have so far been nine series of the programme. Series 1 originally aired in 2003. The second half of Series 6 was aired in Autumn of 2009 on Discovery Real Time
Discovery Real Time
Discovery Real Time is a factual television channel owned by Discovery Networks Europe.It was originally launched in the UK in March 1992 as TLC, a British version of the US channel of the same name...
. Series 5 was renamed to Wheeler Dealers: On the Road; in this series Mike and Edd expanded their searching of cars by heading out into Europe hoping to find classic cars to buy and restore.
In the United Kingdom, the programme is shown on Discovery Channel and is regularly repeated on Discovery Real Time
Discovery Real Time
Discovery Real Time is a factual television channel owned by Discovery Networks Europe.It was originally launched in the UK in March 1992 as TLC, a British version of the US channel of the same name...
, Discovery Turbo
Discovery Turbo (UK)
Discovery Turbo is a British television channel devoted to programming about cars, bikes, boats, and planes. It launched on March 1 2007, replacing Discovery Wings and Discovery Kids.- Programming :*Fifth Gear*American Chopper*Monster Garage*Auto Trader...
and Discovery Shed
Discovery Shed
Discovery Shed is a TV channel in the United Kingdom from Discovery Networks Western Europe which replaced Discovery Real Time Extra. The channel launched on 20 March 2009....
. In the US, the programme is shown on Velocity.
Format
Each project spans a pair of 30-minute episodes, in which Mike buys a vehicle, turns it over to Edd for repairs, then sells it on. For the first series, the budget was £1000, for Series 2, £2000, and for Series 3, £3000. Budgets in subsequent series have varied, depending on the target vehicle. For example, a £10,000 budget was set on buying and restoring a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4Ferrari GT4
The Ferrari 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 were mid-engined V8-powered 2+2 cars built by Ferrari. The 308 GT4 was introduced in 1973, supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975, and replaced by the Mondial 8 in 1980 after a production run of 2,826 vehicles...
in Series 6.
In Series 7, the format was changed from 2 x 30 minutes episodes to a single 1 hour episode.
Each project car is completed over two episodes, the project presentation usually following a format similar to this:
First episode
- Mike and Edd start with a budget to buy and then fix up a vehicle.
- Mike gives a brief history of the merits of the chosen model of vehicle.
- Mike locates, negotiates for and buys the vehicle.
- (Starting from series 5, prospective cars Mike wanted to buy, but needed too much work, were shown.)
- Mike turns the vehicle over to Edd, and together they assess its needs.
- (Series 1-4 featured a camera trick that had "multiple clones" of Edd surveying the vehicle. This was dropped from series 5.)
- Edd begins work, providing assessments of the work and its challenges.
- Mike stops by Edd's shop for an overview of progress, and expenditures are reviewed.
Second episode
- A quick review of the first episode.
- Mike (often) goes on a field trip to procure some required parts.
- Mike interviews an owner of a similar vehicle in top condition, then drives and comments on the car.
- (This section was dropped from series 5.)
- Edd finishes the work on the project vehicle.
- Mike returns to the workshop and discusses the finished vehicle with Edd.
- Mike drives the completed car, assessing improvements.
- (Starting from series 5, Mike and Edd test drive the finished vehicle together and discuss its resale value.)
- Mike sells the vehicle to a new owner. There is a final tally of expenditures and any "profit" or "loss".
- (Starting from series 5, prospective buyers that failed to buy the car are shown.)
Summary
The costs, and thus any profit or loss for a given project, are assessed without consideration of the cost of mechanic Edd China's time (assuming that a well-equipped and able enthusiast could complete all work himself) but if repairs require professional help, like body resprays or windscreen replacements, they are added to the final cost.Nevertheless, the show is sufficiently in-depth to provide good overviews and insights to buying and improving older enthusiast vehicles.
Sometimes painting is done by hand using a spray-can in their workshop instead of going to professional painting workshop. This is usually reserved for vehicles where only a portion of the vehicle needs painting, or where the part being painted has little effect on the overall appearance. When Edd and/or Mike consider that the appearance of the paint will make a notable difference to the sale value, professional painting is undertaken. When the re-spray is done by others, it is usual for Edd to do the majority if not all of the preparation work prior to painting.
Also addressed on each vehicle are its service history, bodywork defects (e.g. rust, dents), worn-out interiors and accessories. Vehicles that have either been inactive for long periods of time or are purchased from outside the UK are restored and modified to pass the country's strict MOT tests.
Series 1
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Porsche 924 Porsche 924 The Porsche 924 is an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. A two-door, 2+2 coupé, the 924 replaced the 914 as the company's entry-level model, and was the model that finally retired the 912. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a... |
£1,000 | £700 | £1,010 | £1,500 | + £490 | Replaced gear knob, door and wing mirrors, pulled and filled dent in rear quarter panel, repainted wheels, applied new decals, replaced handbrake lever, adjusted exhaust, engine service. | |
| 3/4 | Saab 900 Turbo Saab 900 The Saab 900 was a car produced by Saab Automobile from 1978 until 1998 in two generations. The first generation from 1978 to 1993 is known as the "classic"; the generation from 1994 to 1998 is known as the "new generation" .... |
£1,000 | £600 | £1,035 | £1,200 | + £165 | Replaced interior (including carpets and door cards), front brake discs and pads, electric window motor and exhaust back box. | |
| 5/6 | Volkswagen Golf Mk1 GTI Volkswagen Golf Mk1 In May 1974, Volkswagen presented the first-generation Golf as a modern front-wheel-drive, hatchback replacement for the Volkswagen Beetle.-History:... |
£1,000 | £650 | £1,165 | £1,550 | + £385 | Fitted new gear linkage kit, a new brake master cylinder, decals, dials and rev counter, painted GTI trims and fitted a refurbished set of Pirelli Pirelli Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,... alloys. |
Restored to original GTI specification. |
| 7/8 | Austin Mini Mk1 | £1,000 | £300 | £1,100 | £1,300 | + £200 | A-frame Control arm thumb|right|300px|Double Wishbone SuspensionIn automotive suspension, an automobile's control arm or wishbone is a nearly flat and roughly triangular suspension member , that pivots in two places. The broad end of the triangle attaches at the frame and pivots on a bushing... replaced and body welded. Door filled and whole body prepared for a full respray. New bumpers, HT leads, coil & boot lid. Repainted engine. |
Flagged as totally original though it did have a sunroof. |
| 9/10 | Mercedes-Benz W123 230E Mercedes-Benz W123 W123 is the internal chassis-designation Mercedes-Benz used for their executive line of cars, manufactured between 1976 and 1985.The W123 models surpassed their predecessor, the W114 and W115 models, as the most successful Mercedes, selling 2.7 million cars before replacement by the W124 after 1985... |
£1,000 | £400 | £977 | £1,500 | + £523 | Replaced and repainted right wing, new fuse for sunroof motor. | Replacement right wing was painted free of charge. |
| 11/12 | Ford Capri Laser 1.6 Ford Capri Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986... |
£1,000 | £400 | £945 | £700 | - £245 | Replaced and repainted & wings, replaced front suspension bushes, exhaust gasket, front bumper and fog lights. | Sold at a loss - blamed on lackluster finish of repainted wings. (First loss in the series). |
Series 2
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Toyota MR2 MKI | £2,000 | £500 | £1,278 | £1,900 | + £622 | Replaced ignition barrel and boot lock, alternator, front wing, alloy wheels and windscreen. | First Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... ese vehicle in the series. |
| 3/4 | Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 | £2,000 | £1,000 | £1,653 | £2,200 | + £547 | Replaced gear linkage, exhaust, body trim, cam belt, water pump, petrol cap and parcel shelf. Sorted the rear suspension height, junked the after-market steering wheel and fitted a CD player. | |
| 5/6 | Suzuki SJ410 | £2,000 | £250 | £1,270 | £500 | - £770 | Repainted vehicle from white to black, modified suspension and oversized wheels for 8" extra ride height. Replaced busted engine. Fitted roll cage kit. | Converted to mini monster truck Monster truck A monster truck is a pickup truck, typically styled after pickup trucks' bodies, modified or purposely built with extremely large wheels and suspension... . Failed MOT test due to rust holes. (Second loss in the series). |
| 7/8 | BMW E30 325i Touring | £2,000 | £950 | £1,792.50 | £1,900 | + £107.50 | Painted new bonnet. New exhaust, performance air filter, clutch slave cylinder, fog lights and power steering fluid. Cosmetics: bumper capings, gear-shift gator, badge, and wheel hub caps. | First car bought at an auction instead of a private seller. Lowest profit in the series. A tear in the drivers seat was not repaired, and used to negotiate the seller price down. |
| 9/10 | MG B GT | £2,000 | £1,000 | £2,600 | £2,850 | + £250 | Numerous rust areas treated before full body respray. Seats recovered with stylish black refurb kit. Wheels refurbed. | |
| 11/12 | Predator Beach Buggy Dune buggy A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the... |
£2,000 | £200 | £3,700 | £3,900 | + £200 | Stripped car to bare chassis and installed beach buggy kit. | Original plan was to purchase and restore a Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003... . Purchased Beetle, which was derelict beyond restoration, was custom converted to mark the 40th anniversary of the Beach Buggy. |
Series 3
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Volkswagen Transporter T3 Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) The Volkswagen Type 2 was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter and was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Microbus in South Africa and as the Vanagon in North and South America.Larger and heavier than its... |
£3,000 | £1,100 | £3,825 | £1,500 | - £2,325 | Fixed sliding door, lowered suspension, fitted window, rock and roll bed, installed camper van appliances, full-body vinyl wrap, and fitted new exhaust & wheel hubs. | Original plan was to purchase and restore a Type 2 Volkswagen Type 2 The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory... . T3 works van converted to mini mobile home. First use of a full-body vinyl wrap instead of a respray. Bought by Edd, largest loss in the series (Third loss in the series). First diesel engine in the series. |
| 3/4 | Lancia Delta Integrale 8v | £3,000 | £2,300 | £3,087 | £3,800 | + £713 | Front brake disks, front suspension bushes & track rods, battery & alternator, radiator and grill changed, and mini service. Pedal covers, wing mirrors, carpets & gearstick renewed. Red paint deep polished. | Rare right-hand drive conversion. |
| 5/6 | Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth | £3,000 | £2,700 | £3,585 | £3,500 | - £85 | Replaced cassette player head unit with CD player. Hydraulic suspension replaced. | (Fourth loss in the series). |
| 7/8 | Range Rover Series I | £3,000 | £1,600 | £2,035 | £2,000 | - £35 | Replaced boot, rear door and roof lining changed, automatic transmission fluid replaced. | Originally planned for LPG Autogas Autogas is the common name for liquefied petroleum gas when it is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles as well as in stationary applications such as generators. It is a mixture of propane and butane.... conversion, but canceled due to MOT failure and conversion costs. Last vehicle sold at a loss in the series. (Fifth loss in the series). |
| 9/10 | Mazda MX-5 NA | £3,000 | £1,600 | £2,715 | £3,600 | + £885 | Replaced convertible hood and interior, repaired and repainted corroded A-pillar. | |
| 11/12 | Porsche 928 Porsche 928 The Porsche 928 was a sports-GT car sold by Porsche AG of Germany from 1978 to 1995. Originally intended to replace the company's iconic 911, the 928 attempted to combine the power, poise, and handling of a sports car with the refinement, comfort, and equipment of a luxury sedan to create what some... |
£3,000 | £1,600 | £4,950 | £6,000 | + £1,050 | Replaced headlight switch, resprayed and repaired dents on driver's side and rear wing, changed alloy wheels to the original style. |
Series 4
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Porsche 911 2.7S Targa | £6,000 | £5,000 | £7,040 | £8,450 | + £1,410 | Replaced U.S. spec bumper extensions with Europe-spec ones. Gearbox replaced with reconditioned unit. | U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... spec car imported from California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... . |
| 3/4 | Jeep CJ7 | £4,000 | £1,100 | £3,772 | £3,900 | + £128 | Clutch reservoirs and slave cylinder replaced, new seats and roof, 2 new tyres, new suspension | First American vehicle in the series. |
| 5/6 | Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce Alfa Romeo Spider The Alfa Romeo Spider is a roadster produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1993 . Widely regarded as a design classic, it remained in production for almost three decades with only minor aesthetic and mechanical changes... |
£4,000 | £2,200 | £3,125 | £4,500 | + £1,375 | Filled dents in nose, front end respray, replaced manifold couplings, UK spec headlights, patched rust holes in driver's side footwell. | Revisted in 2010. Has new carbs but bodywork is starting to go at rear wheelarches. |
| 7/8 | BMW E24 635CSi BMW E24 The BMW E24 series was the first BMW 6 Series coupé, produced by the German automaker BMW between the 1976 and 1989 model years. The 6 Series name reappeared with the BMW E63 chassis beginning in the 2004 model year. The E24 borrowed heavily from contemporary 5-series cars .- Model history :The... |
£4,000 | £2,000 | £3,060 | £3,700 | + £640 | Replaced alloy wheels and cloth interior. | A second 635CSi (which failed an MOT test) was purchased for £350 for its leather interior and original alloy wheels. |
| 9/10 | Chevrolet Corvette C4 Chevrolet Corvette C4 The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1984 through 1996 model years. The editors of Consumer Guide stated: "The first fully redesigned Corvette in 15 years was more sophisticated and more practical than the beloved Shark... |
£4,000 | £2,100 | £3,021 | £3,800 | + £779 | Replaced door panel fabric, new instrument panel. | |
| 11/12 | Lexus LS400 | £4,000 | £1,300 | £3,108 | £3,300 | + £192 | HID lights fitted, suspension arm bushes replaced, stereo LCD fixed, bumper repainted |
Series 5: On the Road
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL Mercedes-Benz R107 The Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 automobiles were produced from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the Mercedes, after the G-Class. They were sold under the SL and SLC model names. The R107 replaced the W113 SL-Class in 1972 and was replaced by the R129... |
£5,000 | €6,900 (£5,400) | £6,920 | £7,900 | + £980 | Replaced front brake disks, full exhaust, hood, aftermarket wheels and steering wheel for originals, and repaired rust patch on front. | Purchased in Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... . |
| 3/4 | Lotus Esprit S3 | £5,000 | £3,600 | £4,385 | £6,200 | + £1,815 | Replaced complete interior, cambelt, exhaust manifold, Lotus shock absorbers. Fixed leaky sunroof and had engine service. | Tested at the Lotus test track. Sold for export to Gibraltar. |
| 5/6 | Fiat 500 Fiat 500 The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa.... |
£5,000 | €2,900 (£2,300) | £5,700 | £6,500 | + £800 | Full respray with stripes front to back, replacement 650cc engine & gearbox, Right hand drive headlights. | Purchased in Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... . It broke down halfway back to the UK and needed towing back. |
| 7/8 | Land Rover Series III Stage One V8 | £5,000 | £1,000 | £2,230 | £2,750 | + £520 | Converted to run on LPG or petrol. Repainted some parts black and added some black metal trim. Roll bar and some lights fitted. | Tested at Land Rover's off-road circuit. Final sale on-screen was £3,000, but the buyer backed out at the last minute, according to Mike's ending narration. |
| 9/10 | Citroën DS Citroën DS The Citroën DS is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1955 and 1975. Styled by Italian sculptor and industrial designer Flaminio Bertoni and the French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre, the DS was known for its aerodynamic futuristic body design and innovative... |
£5,000 | €4,800 (£3,800) | £5,185 | £7,000 | + £1,815 | Right-hand-drive headlights, replaced wing mirror, seat covers, clock, and suspension reservoir | Purchased in France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... . |
| 11/12 | Bentley Mulsanne Turbo | £5,000 | £3,250 | £6,200 | £8,000 | + £1,800 | Full respray and colour change, replaced headlamps and grill. Leather-painted the seats. | Original plan was to purchase and restore a Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Motors Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine... . |
Series 6 (First part - Spring 2009)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Triumph Spitfire 1500 | £5,000 | £2,400 | £3,432 | £4,600 | + £1,168 | Cylinder head had new guides and hardened valves fitted, rear shock absorbers replaced, brightwork re-chromed, and dif replaced. Oil and filter changed. | Will now run on unleaded fuel |
| 3/4 | Porsche 944 Turbo | £5,000 | £2,800 | £5,660 | £6,650 | + £990 | Engine computer retuned, roll cage added, disk brakes uprated, wheels painted | Converted to track-ready vehicle. Mike particularly hated the colour Edd chose for the wheels |
| 5/6 | Audi Quattro Audi Quattro The Audi Quattro is a road and rally car, produced by the German automobile manufacturer Audi, now part of the Volkswagen Group. It was first shown at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show on 3 March.The word quattro is derived from the Italian word for "four"... |
£5,000 | £3,800 | £4,568 | £5,450 | + £882 | Interior replaced, clutch reservoir renewed, bumpers repainted, rear wheel bearings replaced | Signed off with "Auf Wiedersehen" |
| 7/8 | Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003... |
£5,000 | £1,600 | £4,809 | £6,600 | + £1,791 | Front luggage floor welded, engine replaced, body resprayed. | Originally planned on Series 2 (which became the Predator Beach Buggy project). |
| 9/10 | Jaguar XJS Jaguar XJS The Jaguar XJ-S is a luxury grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Jaguar from 1975 to 1996. The XJ-S replaced the E-Type in September 1975, and was based on the XJ saloon. It had been developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor... |
£5,000 | £1,000 | £1,691 | £2,450 | + £759 | Replaced transmission spring, steering gaiter, bonnet, gearbox oil filter, and headlining. Repainted bonnet scuttle, grill, and repaired centre console veneer. |
Series 6 (Second part - Autumn 2009)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/12 | Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 Ferrari GT4 The Ferrari 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 were mid-engined V8-powered 2+2 cars built by Ferrari. The 308 GT4 was introduced in 1973, supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975, and replaced by the Mondial 8 in 1980 after a production run of 2,826 vehicles... |
£10,000 | £8,750 | £11,880 | £13,000 | + £1,120 | Body dents pulled out and panel fibre-glassed, replaced exhaust manifold, a full respray, and wheels refurbished. | First project to go over £10,000. |
| 13/14 | Mini City 1000 Mini The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers... |
£5,000 | £700 | £2,290 | £2,600 | + £310 | New alloys, engine chromes, full body vinyl wrap, black interior inc race seats, replaced radius swing arm, dashboard/speedometer kit and choke cable. | Customized for auction at a Mini 50th anniversary gathering in Longbridge Longbridge Longbridge is an area of Birmingham, England. For local government purposes it is a ward within the district of Northfield.Since 1905, the area has been dominated by the Longbridge plant, which produced Austin, Nash Metropolitan, Morris, British Leyland, and most recently MG Rover cars... . Second car in series to use a full-body vinyl wrap. |
| 15/16 | TVR S2 TVR S Series The TVR S Series was announced at the 1986 NEC motor show. Due to a massive positive response the car went into production in less than 12 months, with 250 pre-manufacture orders... |
£5,000 | £2,550 | £3,040 | £4,250 | + £1,210 | Replaced brake servo, track-rod ends (and did wheel alignment), re-cored radiator, electrics checked, re-trimmed front seats. | |
| 17/18 | Land Rover Discovery TDI | £5,000 | £1,500 | £2,731 | £3,000 | + £269 | Added roof rack, rear door ladder, snorkel, under tray protection and diff guards, light guards and front bumper spotlights. Replaced power steering box. | Converted to expedition off-roader Off-road vehicle An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks... . |
| 19/20 | BMW M3 E36 Convertible | £5,000 | £4,500 | £5,580 | £5,950 | + £370 | Replaced gearbox and interior, refurbished the alloy wheels and replaced the alarm unit. |
Series 7 (First part - Spring 2010)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jensen Interceptor III Jensen Interceptor The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for an earlier car made between 1950 and 1957... |
£5,000 | £5,000 | £5,430 | £6,500 | + £1,070 | Cut out rust and replace steel in passenger foot well, replace brake master cylinder, replace steering rack, clean and feed leather interior. | |
| 2 | Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth | £5,000 | £4,100 | £5,920 | £6,200 | + £280 | Gearbox rebuilt, clutch replaced, interior renewed, valve stem oil seals & guides replaced, alloy wheels upgraded, front bumper repainted. | |
| 3 | Volkswagen T2 panel van Volkswagen Type 2 The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory... |
£5,000 | £2,500 | £8,465 | £9,450 | + £985 | Full body orange respray, 1641cc engine rebuild & exhaust. New tailgate, driver door, leather seats, wheels, door cards and carpet. | Originally planned on Series 3 (which became the T3 Transporter project). Was the biggest renovation cost of the series so far. |
| 4 | BMW 840Ci | £5,000 | £3,500 | £5,040 | £5,750 | + £710 | Repair body damage to drivers door and professional respray, replace fan and re-gas air conditioning, replace trans-cooler, fit new windscreen, refurbish alloy wheels | |
| 5 | Triumph Stag Triumph Stag The Triumph Stag is a British car that was sold between 1970 and 1978 by the Triumph Motor Company, styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti.-Design and styling:... |
£5,000 | £3,400 | £4,529 | £5,500 | + £971 | Replace cam cover gasket, replace radiator with improved unit, replace differential gasket, replace hood and frame, replace front bumper and polish brightwork. | |
Series 7 (Second part - Autumn 2010)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Bond Bug Bond Bug The Bond Bug was a small British two seat, three wheeled sports car of the 1970s. Following the purchase of Bond Cars Limited, Reliant commissioned Tom Karen of Ogle Design to design a fun car. It was a wedge-shaped microcar, with a lift-up canopy and side screens instead of conventional doors... |
£5,000 | £2,500 | £3,261 | £5,550 | + £2,289 | Gearbox and canopy, brake shoes and dif half shaft oil seals replaced. | The only three-wheeled car featured in the series. Restored for the Bond Bug 40th anniversary gathering, featuring designer Tom Karen Tom Karen Tom Karen is a British industrial designer of Czech origin. He was Managing Director and Chief Designer of Ogle Design from 1962 until 1999. He oversaw design of the Bush Radio TR130 radio, the Raleigh Chopper, the Bond Bug, the Reliant Scimitar GTE, the Anadol A1 , an award-winning series of... . |
| 7 | Volvo P1800 Volvo P1800 -History:The project was started in 1957 because Volvo wanted a sports car, despite the fact that their previous attempt, the P1900, had been a disaster, with only 68 cars sold. The man behind the project was an engineering consultant to Volvo, Helmer Petterson, who in the 1940s was responsible for... |
£5,000 | £5,000 | £5,795 | £8,350 | + £2,555 | Replaced fuel gauge, fuel tank and sender. Cylinder head valves updated with hardended units and replaced front shocks and springs. Twin carbs were rebuilt. | Mike owned one, and this was the type of car driven by Simon Templar Simon Templar Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s... in the 1960s television series The Saint The Saint (TV series) The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the... . |
| 8 | Land Rover Defender | £5,000 | £3,000 | £5,677 | £6,000 | + £323 | Fitted hi-lift camshaft, alloy wheels, steering wheel and seat bottoms, grill, bumper and decal, doors, windows into the back and a full respray. | Farm vehicle turned into a Chelsea tractor. |
| 9 | Subaru Impreza WRX | £5,000 | £3,250 | £5,255 | £5,400 | + £145 | Performance air filter and exhaust added, ECU remapped, clutch, brakes, calipers and alloy wheels uprated, bonnet stripes added | First Japanese car featured since Series 4. 243 bhp finished machine tested on Rockingham Raceway. |
| 10 | Lotus Elan S1 | £5,000 | £8,500 | £11,685 | £16,700 | + £5,015 | Exhaust renewed in stainless steel, ball joints renewed, custom CV joint assemblies fitted, wheels refurbished and red/white respray done. | Tested at Gurston Down Hill Climb. |
Series 8 (Spring 2011)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguar E-Type Series 3 | £15,000 | £13,250 | £16,090 | £18,500 | + £2,410 | Replaced bonnet underpanel, complete exhaust, repaired oil leak from dif seal, wheels refurbished, sills & bonnet repainted, door card and carpets renewed and seats re-upholstered. | Most expensive project in the series up to that point (later surpassed by the US series). |
| 2 | Mini Moke Mini Moke The Mini Moke is a vehicle based on the Mini and designed for the British Motor Corporation by Sir Alec Issigonis. The name comes from "Mini"—the car with which the Moke shares many parts—and "Moke", which is an archaic dialect term for donkey... |
£7,000 | £5,800 | £7,080 | £7,200 | + £120 | Radiator and cooling fan uprated. Suspension modded for a conical spring type. Frame rust fixed. White hood and interior fitted. | Australian built car. 1275cc Metro engine. |
| 3 | Range Rover P38 | £3,000 | £2,100.36 | £3,042 | £3,500 | + £458 | Changed satnav control unit, air suspension pump, front anti-roll bar bushes, side headlight, added front and rear lettering, tinted windows. | It broke down on the way back due to a bust air suspension pump and needed towing back. |
| 4 | Austin-Healey "Frogeye" Sprite | £5,000 | £4,500 | £7,475 | £8,600 | + £1,125 | Front drum brakes swapped for disks. brightwork professionally polished, engine & gearbox removed for a full new colour respray. New seatcover kit fitted. New alloy wheels fitted. | The oldest car to be featured in the series featuring a 1275cc uprated engine. |
| 5 | Saab 9-3 Turbo Convertible | £3,000 | £2,400 | £3,350 | £3,750 | + £400 | Replaced turbocharger, ignition coil pack and spark plugs, a headlight lens, ignition key barrel, aerial, gearstick knob, badge, pulled out some dents and fitted a steering rack brace kit. | Newest car featured in the series so far. |
Series 9: USA (Autumn 2011)
| Episode No. | Vehicle | Budget | Purchase Price | Final Cost After Restoration | Final Selling Price | Profit/Loss | Work Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Charger | Unknown | $23,000 £14,000 |
£18,160 | £20,000 | + £1,840 | Front wheel bearings replaced, new gear linkage installed to sort poor gear select problem, faulty power steering pump replaced, modified rear spring hangers replaced with stock ones, faulty headlamp motor replaced so signature headlamps open and close properly, signature horn from The Dukes of Hazzard The Dukes of Hazzard The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard... installed. |
Restoration price includes £1,840 shipping, £777 import tax, £1000 travel expenses. |
| 2 | Delorean DMC-12 | Unknown | $15,500 £9,650 |
£14,715 | £20,500 | + £5,785 | Dents in stainless steel panels removed, rear louver panel fixed with fiberglass and repainted, flywheel/crankshaft oil seal replaced, interior revamped with new seat covers, new gear shift gaiter, new carpets and new instrument binnacle, faulty window motors replaced, left rear light lens replaced and wheels re-furbished. | Restoration price includes £2,500 import tax & shipping, £1000 travel expenses. Highest profit in the series. |
| 3 | Chevrolet 3100 Chevrolet Advance Design General Motors' first major redesign post-World War II, the Advance Design series was billed as a bigger, stronger, and sleeker design. First available on Saturday June 28, 1947, these trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until March 25, 1955, when the Task Force Series... |
$10,000 | $8,650 £5,400 |
£10,993 | £13,600 | + £2,607 | Engine upgraded from single to twin carburetors, engine bay re-sprayed, flatbed floor wood replaced, soundproofing installed inside the cab to reduce engine noise and vibrations, painted grill replaced with chrome one and new wheels fitted. | Restoration price includes £1,950 shipping, £300 import tax and £1000 travel expenses. First pickup truck in the series. |
| 4 | Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Volkswagen Karmann Ghia The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a 2+2 coupe and convertible marketed from 1955 to 1974 by Volkswagen – combining the chassis and mechanicals of the Type 1 , styling by Luigi Segre of the Italian carrozzeria Ghia, and hand-built bodywork by German coach-builder Karmann.The Karmann Ghia was... |
£10,000 | $10,000 £6,000 |
£10,450 | £11,500 | + £1,050 | Gearbox re-furbished, engine removed and engine bay cleaned including fitting of new soundproof firewall lining panels, hole in the trunk left from auxiliary heater welded over with new metal, black exterior sills stripped and re-sprayed to match the color of the car, interior re-furbished with new dash panels, new carpets and new door cards, exterior cosmetics such as front badge and chrome door trim fitted. | Restoration price includes £2,050 import tax & shipping and £1000 travel expenses. |
| 5 | Chevrolet Bel Air 210 | $15,000 | $6,700 £4,000 |
£13,504 | £16,000 | + £2,496 | New carburetor and air filter; full respray (yellow with white roof); new bumpers, grill and chrome trim; new wheels; new horn ring and interior pieces; original vinyl seats and carpet cleaned. | Restoration price includes £2,155 import tax & shipping and £1000 travel expenses. Carburetor caught fire in Florida. |
Series 10 (Spring 2012)
Series 10 will feature 15 cars and will, reportedly, include 1974 Porsche 914Porsche 914
The Porsche 914 or VW-Porsche 914 is a mid-engined, targa-topped two-seat roadster designed, manufactured and marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976.- Development :...
, 1993 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Alpine A310
Alpine A310
The Alpine A310 was a sports car built by French manufacturer Alpine, from 1971 to 1984.Dieppe-based Alpine, once an independent company specialising in faster Renaults, later a Renault subsidiary, established a fine competition history with the Alpine A110 winning the 1973 Monte Carlo Rally and...
, 2000 BMW M5, 1970 Fiat Dino
Fiat Dino
The Fiat Dino is an exotic front-engined, rear-drive sports car manufactured between 1966 and 1973. It was an intermediate step towards creating Ferrari's "Dino" and the two are often confused...
and a 1992 Morgan +4
Morgan +4
The Morgan Plus 4 is a larger and more powerful version of the Morgan Motor Company's 4/4 model and was made between 1950 and 1969. The model was revived in 1985 and filled the gap between the 4/4 and the Plus 8 until 2000; it was again revived in 2005.After World War II Morgan had re-introduced...
.
Other vehicles
Mike has used a number of vehicles to travel to the sites of the prospective vehicles and/or tow them if they are not in running order. For the series 8 he has returned to using a Nissan X-TrailNissan X-Trail
The Nissan X-Trail is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 2001. It was one of Nissan's first crossover SUVs and was released about the same time as several other companies competing car-based compact SUVs including the Ford Escape and its Mazda Tribute sibling,...
. For the USA series 9 Mike rented a Ford Expedition EL to go and see the cars except for the last episode where he used a Chevrolet Tahoe. Vehicles used by Mike in previous series include a Nissan Primera Estate
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
, a Subaru Legacy Estate
Subaru Legacy (fourth generation)
-Japanese Model:On May 23, 2003, Fuji Heavy Industries debuted the fourth generation Legacy B4 Sedan and Touring Wagon for the Japanese Domestic Market. The Legacy was presented the 2003–2004 Japan Car of the Year, Subaru's first win for the award...
, a Honda Accord Estate
Honda Accord (Japan and Europe seventh generation)
The seventh-generation Honda Accord for the European and Japanese markets was a mid-sized sedan and wagon, sold by Honda from 2002 to 2008.The European and JDM Accords were integrated on the previous Japanese Accord's chassis, but with a new body. No longer made in Swindon, those Accords are all...
, a SsangYong Rexton II, a SsangYong Kyron
Ssangyong Kyron
The SsangYong Kyron is a compact 'soft-roader' SUV built by SsangYong Motor Company. It has a / Mercedes-Benz diesel engine and was designed by MG's Ken Greenly...
, a Land Rover Discovery 4 and a Ford Kuga
Ford Kuga
The Ford Kuga is a compact crossover SUV designed and produced by Ford. The car is based on the C1 platform that also form the underpinnings of the Ford Focus and Ford C-MAX...
. When Mike traveled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to purchase the Citroën DS, he used a French-registered Opel Zafira
Opel Zafira
The Opel Zafira is a compact MPV engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel. The Zafira is sold under the Vauxhall marque in the United Kingdom.- Zafira A :...
, which he rented whilst in France.
Intro vehicles
The opening sequences feature the cars that were worked on throughout their corresponding seasons.Series 1: All the vehicles done so far
Series 2 and 3: MGB GT
Series 4: Porsche 911 2.7S Targa
Series 5: Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL
Series 6: Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
Series 7: Lotus Elan S1
Series 8: Jaguar E-Type Series 3
Series 9: Dodge Charger