Flipping threw the channels I find they are working on a '58 Vette. I used to think that this show was pretty real. That is until they work on a car that I know. What a bunch of fake BS. Now I figure all of the rest of the cars that they feature are dramatized crap.

 

I’m watching the same show right now. A lot of problems with it so far.

 

I don't know that I've seen any of these shows that treat a C1 (or a C2 for that matter) the way we would...

 

Fantom Works started as an interesting show with some actual value. It has turned into a bunch of *** clowns creating drama for the camera. Too bad.

 

I actually enjoy FWs and a few of the other shows, however, I take them for what they are: entertainment and nothing more. If I’m looking for technical expertise and info, I come to this forum

BTW, posts on these reality car shows are becoming as numerous as “what oil should I use”, “pertronix or points”

 

Just like the others, do a big burnout in a customer car and slam on the brakes. I doubt that they know how to air up a tire. They sure wouldn't touch anything I own.

 

I didn't see the show (watching 24 hrs of Daytona instead), so tell us, what exactly is all the 'fake BS' ?

 

3.... 2...... 1...... Brake check!!!!!

 

I have never seen a dirtier shop
Every car is covered in dust and dirt
Guy painting an engine out in the open - you know there is overspray all over every car
The workmanship looks sub par at best
Watched the same episode - what a joke

 

We can start with the customer wanting an interior color change from black to red. Blah blah "that will cost $20k extra". But in the end it's ok because the bill came in less than 10% over estimate. They find the motor is not original. So they find an original all matching motor. They show the customer that it's a real matching number '58 because the bolts on valve covers are staggered.He is amazed of the condition of the chassis because the floor is so nice. Then horror when they see a part of the frame had been cut out for the headers. Luckily his guy has enough talent to save the frame.

 

You gotta see the FW episode where they "designed" and built a "split window coupe" hardtop for a C2.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 

I wonder if they used one of the same tops that were being sold in the late 80s

 

I think they actually made their own, but at a cost waaaay over the ones we remember from the old days.

 

I saw one today with a blue on blue 67 convertible Dan was making a big deal about the headlight bucket tab for the cover bring striped out. in stead of using a "J" clip or filling the hole in with epoxy and drilling and taping the epoxy they took a over sized screw and made it work but the hole time worrying about it breaking

 

In the episode tonight there were two of them hanging in the background from the steel rafters. One red and one white.

 

I was sure a friend of mine had a SWC removable hardtop in the 80s, but I thought maybe my memory was failing. Thanks for confirming there may still be some accountable brain cells left.

 

A friend tried to buy one, he was told they weren't production ready yet....they hadn't even ironed out the issues with the prototype at the time. I think the price was close to $8k..

 

This is my takeaway from that program:

The customer was a ~50 year-old PA man who knew little about cars, let alone old Corvettes. He had just bought a "good" '58 Corvette with two tops in FL, and he had paid $65,000. To me his car looked like a $30,000 project car that had previous bodywork done on both ends. However, it did have a rust-free chassis.

The Fantom Works initial estimate was $50,000 in parts and $35,000 in labor to correct all the things that were "wrong". This estimate included no interior work. The Fantom Works guy said anytime you can buy a C1 for less than $100K you know it's going to have problems.

The initial work scope was replacing the non-original 2x4 engine and 4-speed with a single four-barrel "numbers matching engine and transmission", repainting the black/silver exterior with black/silver 2-stage urethane, replacing the tubing headers with iron exhaust manifolds, installing new tires, turning the brake drums, and patching header clearance cut-outs in the front frame rails.

The Fantom Works owner suggested adding a $20,000 interior re-do to the scope that the owner accepted. It included a color change from charcoal to '59 - '62 red, not '58 red. The new dash pad and vinyl seats did NOT have the '58 pebble-grain surface. The steering wheel installed was a smaller diameter aftermarket thing. The radio speaker was surrounded by a silver '59 - '62 retainer ring.

The final cost for this work was about $90,000, making this a $155,000, repainted '58 Corvette with a custom interior and a replacement 230 hp engine. The car owner seemed pleased.

The episode was called "Shake and Bake" for some reason. It's available "On Demand" through my cable service (xfinity).

 

Yep, pretty much.

 

Not a fan of that show. I’ve been watching Bitchin Rides and am in awe of their fabrication capability. I ran into Dave, the owner, at BJ auction and had a 10min conversation with him. He was down to earth. I asked him what it cost to have a car fabricated and he said average is $250k. Watching the show I can see why.

Ed