Anyone see the 1970 Shelby GT500 Restoration on the Show Fantomworks?

[Bob Gaines]

Three pictures of the car just because we all know that the link will die at some point in the future, leaving readers wondering what we were discussing or seeing in the link.

Not the completed car but in progress pictures.

My first thought is it is sad example for a supposed high quality concours restoration. It is obvious by the pictures that they are unaware of how the cars were put together and or build techniques used from the factory. I am glad I did not watch the show because it would be more frustrating to see the mistakes then entertaining.

[Coralsnake]

Its very difficult to describe to someone what a "concours" restoration is....that is why the term is so mis-used.

Im not knocking the work done, Im sure their Camaro and Simca restorations are very similar.

These are specialty cars and require specialist to achieve high quailty, historically correct builds.

[corbins]

Watched quite a few of the shows... I believe they are on a $80/hr rate for everything based on some of his bill reviews with owners. He is a drama queen , maybe just for the show , who knows. But I have never seen a finished product that would qualify as "concours" quality. And I think the show has since been cancelled ?

[Bigblock]

This may be the Shelby where the driver side exhaust manifold bangs the shock tower on a hard rev. He blows this off that this happened with a bunch of Mustangs with 'SCJs' because the metal was sloppy aligned and assembled. It tells me the shock tower got pushed in because of accident or rust. If you see the owners usual lack of shock when they look at the bill I have to believe the TV show is picking some or all of the cost.

[TOBKOB]

Soooo many mistakes but one of the most obvious is the before pictures show the upper cowl was blacked out but the after pictures shows body color. I wonder what the build date was.

TOB

[Coralsnake]

I do recall some comments in the show sbout the exhaust manifold hitting the engine compartment side. They seemed to indicate it as a problem inherant to all similar cars.

I don't not believe that is the case

[stangman39]

I'd love to know the details of the TV/production financials involved.
Are people drawn so much to having their car on TV?  I've never seen this show where the final bill discussion isn't very high!

[427heaven]

The automotive restoration business attracts many oddball, wierdos and misfits, especially for television. We are drawn to the shows that we relate to its owners or not. Would I go to Gas Monkey garage to discuss my project NO, Dick I mean Richard doesn't know the difference between an allen wrench or a box wrench. How about the 3 women that do oil changes and check air pressures for your project  Or the bald headed guy that makes chicken soup out of chicken SH.. I do love that guys ingenuity to adapt and overcome must of been ex military. How about the odd tattooed little guy from GAS Galpin Ford that makes some customs for his clientele, or Dan the drama man. Only one I seem to like these days is KINDIGIT designs, his men do beautiful work.

[gt350hr]

   How much of the bill is "covered" by "the show" ?  I heard it was significant. Dan complained how the filming got "in the way" of the work and retakes and staging the shots really slowed the work down. Yes he is a drama queen for sure.

[richflorence]

Talked to him at the NRA show a couple of years back when he was there to judge the show. Nice enough in person, but said the filming gets in the way of work. He told us then that he agreed to do only one more year of the show at that time. Someone asked him if any of the customer's bill was paid by the producers, and he said "no". He did say he doesn't endorse any of the equipment used at the shop, but in the last year, that changed. And yes, he got a pretty good payday from the Discovery Channel for doing the show. He told us that new hires were forbidden to "talk" on TV unless they had been employed there for more than 6 months.

[sfm5]

I wouldn't consider the work they do at Fantom Works "correct" or even close to concourse. More of a custom shop where they take people's problem cars and make them work by using parts from just about anything. Every customer seems to have a "story", often a tale of woe from another shop, and Dan then cobbles things back together. I can't watch the show any more because of the fake drama.

[Don Johnston]

I wonder about rehab (restoration???) shops like this one consider their primary concours parts supplier to be Pookie or similar.

[J_Speegle]

I wonder about rehab (restoration???) shops like this one consider their primary concours parts supplier to be Pookie or similar.

More likely their primary supplier is an online catalog for one of the shops welling reproduction parts. Quick, no hunting/searching, to your door step and often described as "concours correct"