Author Topic: Classic Car Rescue TV series - 1954 Coupe de Ville (Read 5142 times)

57eldoking · « **on:** December 30, 2014, 06:53:43 PM »

Just watched this episode of Classic car rescue. Beyond the typical fake reality-tv drama this is one of the most unrealistic TV restorations I've ever seen. At the end of the show it's presented as a complete restoration. It does look pretty nice but I'm sure there'll be countless issues underneath the surface. How they arrive at a $9500 total "restoration" cost is puzzling. This supposedly includes buying and then replating front & rear bumpers + grille, bodywork, paintwork, new tires, rust repairs, re-upholstery & all labor. Anyone who's ever restored or tried to restore a 50s Cadillac will immediately know these figures are ridiculous. I love it when old Cadillacs are featured on TV but this show presents a completely wrong picture of the complexity and costs involved in restoring these cars!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wXVoCcFx4go

TJ Hopland · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2014, 06:57:16 PM »

My favorite feature of those shows (besides the prices they claim they pay for stuff) is the time schedule. They always have a week to do what most people with a unlimited budget would take a month, and the rest of us that would be a year.

76eldo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2014, 07:12:41 PM »

Classic Car Rescue is a joke and they really did fluff over that Caddy and did a halfway cosmetic restoration on it. Of course the prices are totally unrealistic.

The episode of Overhauling with the 63 Eldorado was more realistic. Overhauling quietly let themselves out of the 7 day deadline and not the "trick" only lasts a few minutes, then they tell the car owner he is on Overhauling.

They did show in detail how many more parts are on a Cadillac and the complexity of the task.

I don't like what they did to the car but it did look nice when done.

Brian

57eldoking · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2014, 07:27:52 PM »

I also think Overhaulin' did a 56 Biarritz a long time ago, it was done original and the job looked pretty thorough from what I can remember. I've never been able to find that episode online.

57eldoking · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2014, 07:35:11 PM »

Just found it, although its dubbed in Spanish and it was a 56 Series 62 convertible not a Biarritz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf174MKP5nI

TJ Hopland · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2014, 08:02:11 PM »

Was that the one where they kept the original engine and did some decent looking custom wheels that had the white wall part of the wheel?

57eldoking · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2014, 08:09:55 PM »

The 56 was pretty much stock except engine color was the same peach color as the interior, aftermarket valve covers and Foose's name plastered across the air cleaner.

The 63 which is a recent episode did the custom wheels with whitewall and a modern LS3.

TJ Hopland · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2014, 08:13:49 PM »

I have seen a few examples of the white wall wheels. It seems like a great idea. It gives you a lot more tire and brake options but keeps a classic look. I wonder what they cost? Likely if I have to ask I can't afford em.

Bill Young · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2014, 08:28:36 PM »

I had to chime in on this one as I detest most of these shows with few exceptions. I do enjoy Graveyard carz show as Mark Worman does have an encyclopedic knowledge of late '60's and early '70's MoPars and I Love those Cars. Also some of the antics are amusing. I saw that episode where they do a basket case barn find '54 Cadillac Coupe. My distaste for these shows is that they lead people who have limited understanding of the time,cost and commitment involved in proper restoration of a Classic Car to feel they can pull a car out of a field where it has been rotting away for God knows how long and in a week with about one fifth the actual funds needed to properly restore that Car , all of a sudden you can make a profit from selling it. It's like I'm not a Doctor but I stayed at a Holliday Inn Express last night so let me take your appendix out. In reality I believe there are few cars you can have fully restored for you and not be well burried in it economically. One mans opinion.

David Greenburg · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2014, 08:43:50 PM »

I don't pay much attention to these shows, but from what I've seen, most don't include labor in the costs unless it's for work farmed out. So that's one way they keep the costs down.

57eldoking · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2014, 10:08:39 PM »

Quote from: TJ Hopland on December 30, 2014, 08:13:49 PM

I have seen a few examples of the white wall wheels. It seems like a great idea. It gives you a lot more tire and brake options but keeps a classic look. I wonder what they cost? Likely if I have to ask I can't afford em.

I don't know how I feel about white wall rims on wheels, Just doesn't sit well with me. Custom wheels that do resonate really well with me is the route taken by forum member INTMD8. 20" Custom factory look Brougham wheels look fantastic and 20 times better than what Foose came up with for the 63 Eldo!

The Tassie Devil(le) · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2014, 03:36:02 AM »

I looked at the supposedly rechromed front bumper, and there were a few dents still in the "bullets" You could see them when they spun them onto the bar.

Wish I could have got my Bumpers chromed for what they said.

Would hate to be paying the money that the appraiser said it was worth, seeing as it was only fixed in 4 weeks. All that rust underneath would take the entire time they worked on the car to cut out.

Bruce.

Dave Ventresca · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2014, 01:20:20 PM »

they are speaking Portuguese on that video of the 56 conv. Dave

Quentin Hall · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2014, 06:05:04 PM »

Talking Portuguese?? $10k full resto?? I think they are talking bull&@$#

57eldoking · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2015, 07:49:53 PM »

Quote from: Dave Ventresca on December 31, 2014, 01:20:20 PM

they are speaking Portuguese on that video of the 56 conv. Dave

Thanks Dave, obviously both my Spanish and Portuguese are pretty rusty

TJ Hopland · « **Reply #15 on:** January 01, 2015, 09:20:51 PM »

I caught part of a show today where they were trying to decide if they should spend $200 to have a new convertible top installed. I wonder what year that was supposed to be?

P Cedergren · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2015, 01:05:37 AM »

That Classic Car Rescue is a joke! The worst "restoration shop" I have ever seen. And what's the deal with all the British accents, is this a show made in Canada for broadcasting in the UK? I am making a promise: I will never watch another episode of Classic Car Rescue.
/Per 4218

The Tassie Devil(le) · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2015, 03:00:36 AM »

They do the show in both England and Canada, and I too would hate to be buying one of their "Restorations"

Bruce.

57eldoking · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2015, 04:17:02 AM »

Aren't they giving them away for free? At least they ask the viewers if they'd like to win whatever car they are featuring. I'd be leery of accepting some of the cars even if they were given to me.

Quote from: TJ Hopland on January 01, 2015, 09:20:51 PM

I caught part of a show today where they were trying to decide if they should spend $200 to have a new convertible top installed. I wonder what year that was supposed to be?

The same year where re-chroming front and rear 54 Cadillac bumpers + grille is $2000

Dan LeBlanc · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2015, 07:56:37 AM »

The ironic fact is, that the show is based out of the Province of Ontario - the most EXPENSIVE place in Canada to do chroming because Ontario has some of the strictest environmental regulations in Canada. $2000 wouldn't get much rechromed in Ontario, unless I'm wrong.

I've heard the cheapest province to get rechroming done in Canada is Manitoba.

Author Topic: Classic Car Rescue TV series - 1954 Coupe de Ville (Read 5142 times)

Bill Young