Jennifer,

Although I have only watched a couple of episodes of Wrecks to Riches, I will say that I enjoyed the show. I have a few points to make that are positive, and a few that are negative.


1. From a car standpoint, I applaud Barry for taking what would probably end up in the crusher, and saving it. By using sister cars or "clones", he recreates a piece of nostalgia and puts a new spin on it. This is to be commended.

2. As far as the value of the cars goes, I don't think, and I know for a fact that Barry isn't making tons of money on these cars. They create notoriety, and exposure for his business, not to mention what he makes on the show.
50,000.00 isn't out of line for cars of the caliber. Has anyone bought a gallon of custom paint lately? Beautiful cars are expensive when they are built by a marquis builder, regardless if it's Chip Foose, Boyd Coddington or Barry White.

3. Musclecars were made at the pinnacle of American might, and they are sacred to alot of folks, so when they are cloned, or modified, many people's feathers get ruffled. Barry started out with junk, so it's not like he took an original Hemi Cuda and gutted it.

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Now for the negative stuff.

I hate the fake drama of the shows. It's cookie cutter and I can't stand it. I also hate the gag crap that they pull on Overhaulin. It drives me nuts and when they do that, I turn the channel. --HOKIE

I would like to see more of the real problems shop owners face, not the made for TV stuff. I hate that. I hated watching Barry chew on the dorky vo-tech kids.

I own an upstart engine shop that is on the ground level, and if you want to make a real reality show, bring the cameras down to my place.

"On the next episode of "American Engine Builder", Brian applies for foodstamps, and watch him kick the crap out of a non-paying customer."


Anyway, take some of the cars down the 1/4 mile. That would be entertaining. I like the angle of going to the junkyard and haggling with the seller. Shop around and get some parts from some other businesses nationwide. Focus on some of those things and other people. Make it real. Not staged. I hate fakes stuff.


Okay, I'm finished rambling.

Thanks to Jennifer and Becky for clarifying what we've seen and commented on. I do enjoy the show, but like most of the others, hate the "deadline" BS. I really hope they expand a little more on some of the ideas and techniques used to produce the fine looking cars we get to see. The last episode I saw was the '69 Mustang. Beautiful end result, but most of the progam seemed to be montage (sp?) footage around the auction used as filler. I think we'd all rather see someone working on the cars, leading us to our own ideas.

Thanks again.

-Joe

Here is a direct quote from Barry's website in regards to the show:

'What exactly is a Super Muscle Car, you might ask? A Super Muscle Car is any muscle car that has been taken past the restored level and modified to take advantage of today's technological advancements in performance, engine management, suspension, and braking, while updating the styling themes of the original car. Any car that was available as a muscle car originally is fair game.

You don't have to start with a numbers-matching LS-6 Chevelle, when you can pick up a six-cylinder “grandma car” and get the same result! We'll show you how to take a slow, rusted, hulk and turn it into a tire smoking piece of art! We'll even show you where to get the parts that we use on the show to create your own Super Muscle Car!"

In defense of Overhaulin', the premise of the show is that they have to somehow "steal" a car from someone with the help of an "insider" and keep it under wraps for seven days while they work on it. The pranks are a neccessary evil of the show in order to maintain the surprise at the end of the show. Now I ask you, if your hot rod was missing or stolen, wouldn't you be thrilled to get the end result if Chip took your car. Staying safety wired in the pissed off position for 7 days while my dream car was built would be well worth putting up with the pranks.

I would agree with that, however is seems like Overhaulin' has the same story line every week, and it's really getting long in the tooth. I am really glad that us Gearheads now have shows that we can finally watch, get some information (well, a little) that we can use on our build-ups-hey, it wasn't that long ago that we really didn't have anything, right? But...how many times can we watch Chip put down a two-tone Paint job and big Wheels (unless, of course, it was our Wheels!)? Granted, the Bronco on last night's show was put back to visually stock, but it's like a Parade of Advertisers.

For now, and I hope for later, I like Wreck to Riches the best-maybe because it's still kinda fresh, and as NAIRB said, it's fun to watch Barry haggle. I think it would be cool to see something different, say a Pro-Streeter with a Blower hanging out the Hood, or anything that our collective group would applaud. Barry, Jen and Becky I salute you-keep up the good work (just show us more of it!).

You have a good point there, Window. If you really look at this seasons' episodes, in my opinion, the best one was "Overlord". That was the one where Chip's Ford truck was done. After what he's done for other people, it was nice to see him get Overhauled! At any rate, I say we gearheads need to call Wednesday nights on TLC our own!

To be honest, Chip does do great work, but his vision for my car probably wouldn't match mine and I'd be a little upset after a week of Pranks, my car being stolen and returned in a state I probably won't like. I'm absolutely positive they would do a much better job than I would, but it would not be the car I wanted. I like door handles, I want a certain engine, I don't want it lowered with 20" Foose wheels. I don't want my original frame thrown away because it's quicker to order one.
And if they put a Crate Chevy in my Pontiac, they wouldn't be able to air my response.
Hmmm, I guess this means they won't be showing up at my house.

As far as seeing Barry haggle, the prices he pays for wrecks is outragous, he could get the same cars here for 1/4 the price. But that's California pricing I suppose.

Another question for the girls.
Does the investment total in the car include all shop hours as paid hours, including volunteer hours?

I have to agree wholeheartedly. Foose, Berry and yes even Boyd's shops all do great work but my vision for my car wouldn't be how they would do it. Big wheels suck, slammed so low you can't drive it sucks, and a Chevy small block in anything except a Chevy sucks. (Sorry Chevy guys.)

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Isn't Barry's shop in CA?

Im number 100

Congratulations!!!!

I think you read his post wrong. Barry's shop is in California but 428HO is in South Carolina. So in SC Barry could get the cars for 1/4 of what he is paying in California.

It is cool to get some feedback from the people who are actually on the show and work in the shop. I hope they hang around and post some other places on Hotrodders and not just in this post to defend themselves.

The cars they build are awesome but I still can't quit thinking about the factory connectors.

guess I will throw my nickel in.

Not sure if the show is scripted , but they need to rename it to: " lets build a car Ardel Brown will buy at auction"

I am sure the cars are nice when finished but the building process to finished car is predictable & a "yawn" .

I removed the show from my Tivo list of shows to record

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Be kind to your children... some day they may be decide what nursing home to put you in

Sorry you did that, Crosley. The show is not scripted, the cameras catch things as they happen, and the editors arrange them to their liking. As for Ardell, we can't help the fact that he follows the auction circuits. He was doing that long before we came along, and we had no idea who he was when we went to the first auction. He just happens to like being on camera, and he likes the cars we build. Hopefully this next season there will be more people bidding against him.

I for one await the new season. As I said previously, anything to do with these kind of cars is welcome in my home. No matter what my wife says!!! I am king!!! I control the remote!!!!! I decide what we watch!!!! No more dorky home shows!!! I want more car shows!!!!! Opps, here she comes. Got to send this!!!