02x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

We're up against a big dead long in this car now.

This time...

If we get it wrong...

If you're a big ball of flame...

The boys race to prepare the Alvis for a classic car magazine feature.

It's nearing completion.

Is it?

If you want to k*ll, don't do it in front of the magazine.

Our race car comes under intense scrutiny.

You see that?

Feel good.

Well, he's in the skit.

Oh, he's obviously on 40 in the skit.

We're going to need a big skit.

And Team Kog takes to the track for the very first time.

Oh, he's spun.

He's spun.

I think he's coming in.

He'll punch him.

Fire him up.

Let's go.

I've fulfilled a lifelong dream.

Is this all yours?

It's all ours.

I've set up a classic car restoration business with automotive wonder family Neil, Anthony

and Andrew Greenhouse.

But it's become a money pit.

Bad, bad, bad.

And if we don't break even soon...

But the budget's ten.

There's a real chance we may go bust.

I'm not going on a tour, is there, to be fair?

So I've come up with ambitious new plans.

Welcome to your club.

We've just got to push forward into the big league.

We're even going racing to find cars that need our help.

Now wouldn't be the time to give a business card.

I'm determined to turn my lifelong obsession...

Come on, little car.

..into a thriving business.

Will it turn over?

No.

Is this a good idea?

These have all been restored.

They're beautiful.

Pen and Farina Pajos.

Oh, I've always read these magazines.

All my life.

But I'm reading them with a different mindset now,

because this is my business, my industry.

And I've got the dawning of an idea.

Still in our workshop is the 1952 Alvis,

which is the first full restoration rate

that we've taken on as the smallest card.

And it's taken a lot longer

and cost a lot more than we quoted for.

But if I can get a magazine to express an interest

in doing a feature on the Alvis

and the smallest card,

that's got to be worth something to the business,

to make up for what we've lost on doing the job.

Imagine that's our Alvis with our name somewhere on the page.

Let's get it out there, get it seen.

I also think a magazine-feature deadline

will help spur the guys on to finish the car.

Ah, there we go.

Another day in the palace of fun.

Making the tea.

Don't I always...? No.

So I thought it was a bit funny.

My table isn't funny.

I know what's not funny. I don't even want to talk about it yet.

You've got to go and do the Alvis.

Yeah.

I don't want to startle you in, don't want to look at it.

I don't want to be in the same room, all building that in.

Should go fishing instead.

It's not a bit nice.

Can't see the end of it, that's the problem,

because there's just so much to do.

I feel like the bloke that's vulturing more in peace.

It never ends, because it's going to be 9 million volumes, isn't it?

Michael Fenton's Alvis, when we originally did the Essemet on it,

we didn't price it properly, and it's becoming immense,

and I mean an immense amount of work.

When it was new, it was a streamlined, hand-built, beautiful car.

And that's what Michael Fenton lived in.

I've known Michael Fenton for 30-odd years.

He's a good major, Mike.

But there's nothing worse than you make a good startle or something,

and then you realise that you're in really, really deep

and you're working for nothing.

There's lots of very technical, complicated things in that car.

That's the problem.

It's just...

It's a lot of work.

Hammond, are you up there?

Ziegler, hello.

Come with, come with.

I think it's the right time to step things up,

and I've had an idea for a way to do it.

This is your department, this is PR.

Hello, chaps.

Hello, chaps.

This is an Alvis. It's nearing completion.

Is it? Yeah.

The truth of the matter is, this car has taken us a lot longer

than anticipated. Effectively, we're paying...

Over budget. Oh, God, yes.

So, what if we were to use this by employing your PR skills

to generate some interest in the company,

and we can view that as recompense?

If we can get 20 grand worth of PR out of it...

Then it's a win-win.

So, the story is, out of the smallest cog

comes this beautifully restored Alvis.

And the classic carboys will love it,

especially with you beating all over it.

Will they?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me apply the cerebellum.

Careful. If you deliver me a cover, you'll get a raise.

Will I? Yes.

Johnny, good idea. Thank you.

The Alvis photo sh**t is my only current PR initiative.

My other brilliant idea is to go classic car racing,

the idea being we'll get to know all the people doing it,

and then they'll bring their classic cars to us to repair.

It is genius, but genius can be expensive.

So, I'd initially budgeted about 10 grand

to turn the MGB GT into a race car.

And I have a feeling we've already spent that. I don't know.

There's not a lot left in the poll,

and we are due to go testing soon at a proper racetrack.

So, to get ready for that,

I've invited an MG racing expert to come along and give the car a once-over,

just to have a look.

There might be a few tweaks, hopefully nothing major.

A guy called Richard Froggo,

who specialises in building and racing MGBs.

So, if he can save us making one error, it's worth it.

I might even make him a coffee. It's worth that much.

If our race car is slow and uncompetitive,

it won't be much of an advert for the business.

Richard, hello, mate.

So, everybody, meet Richard Froggo.

This is the cog race team you're looking at.

This is as far as we've got.

I can tell you a few things, for a start.

You're at least an inch too high at the back,

so you want to go down an inch to an inch and a half.

I'm absolutely going to take notes.

If you don't flare the edge of your wheel arches inside,

you'll cut the tyres to ribbons when you're calling them off.

Yeah, she wants to flare them.

You've got to pull your safety gear.

Yes.

You've got no fire extinguisher.

You've got no battery cut-off switch.

You'll need to have remote pulls on the outside

so you can cut both off.

The other thing to think about is a bit of ventilation for the driver.

Because if he's doing a long race, 40 minutes,

he's going to get really hot in there.

You see that?

That fuel filter is a potential fire hazard.

Put it in the skip.

There's two lumps of steel.

So again, put them in the skip.

Take the radiator panel out.

Put it this side of the bolts.

And that way, you're getting more cold air

going straight through the radiator.

Pullies on your alternator and your water pump

are way too small.

Your brakes.

I wouldn't have recommended these brakes if I was you.

Anti-roll bar.

That's about the softest change.

You need a really big, thick, stiff roll bar.

Your rubber bellows are shot.

Your bellows are worn out, sir.

All the under seal.

That's weight you don't need.

The best thing to do with it is put it in the skip.

We're going to need a bigger skip.

You are going to need a bigger skip.

Yes, OK.

Yes.

Car basically is quite good.

It's bits and pieces.

Nearly four pages of bits and pieces.

That didn't go as I'd hoped.

In my mind, it was going to be, oh, Rach, team,

this is amazing.

It's good to go.

Not, there's more to spend.

Any cost, you're probably talking about five grand.

Really?

Another 5K.

I mean, I can just see Kamala and Mindy's face.

It's a little cross.

But I can't throw away the 10 that I've spent.

So I've got to spend another five.

I'm going to be in trouble.

May not go up.

Smallest thing here is the c*ck rod.

That little one.

It's got a touch of short man syndrome.

Don't know anybody like that.

Dude, dude, dudey, dudey, don't do that.

I think it's a tricky line that Richard's walking.

But despite all of my concerns when this all started,

there are some positives.

He has invested in it.

He hasn't actually given time to it and everything.

I'm not exactly sure how serious Richard is

about this whole racing lark.

But I'm imagining it's quite serious

on account of the amount of time and effort

that's been put into preparing the car.

I'm worried that he's sort of selling the guys

into the whole race team thing,

being something to prop up the business.

But alongside that is the real Richard Hammond.

Which is, I just want to have a go in a racing car.

I want to own a racing car.

I want to go racing.

And Richard is highly competitive.

He will want to win.

And I'm sure it will be fun.

But every hour of fun is an hour less

actually making money in the workshop.

So we just have to make sure

that he doesn't get carried away with it.

Oh, Zoggy.

Hello, mate.

Hello, mate. How are you?

I'm all right.

Well, no, if you're asking, I'm not all right.

Racing is just costing a fortune.

It goes on and on.

And the MGB will never stop eating money.

But it doesn't matter.

You're not asking about that.

What can I do for you?

Well, I just want to add to your stress level then.

Oh, God. Why?

I've arranged for a classic car magazine

to come and take some pictures of the Colgan with Elvis.

And they want to do it,

you know, sooner rather than later.

When is it?

When are they taking the pictures?

Well, they'd like to come in the next couple of weeks or so.

Oh, OK.

I think we can do it.

Mate, that's brilliant.

And I will see you very soon.

Cheers. God bless.

Bye.

Dad is a tight deadline to have the car completely ready.

It's reliant upon us being able to finish the engine,

get the wiring loom back in.

But the guys do respond to deadlines.

Right.

Anything to do now is call Neil Greenhouse and tell him.

And it's a deadline.

He loves deadlines.

He'll be happy about this.

It'll be motivated.

I mean, watch.

One of the advantages of this, it'll spur them on them.

Give it to me.

Hello.

Hello.

It's me.

Hi, mate. Hi.

Yep. Not bad at all.

A genius idea has been born.

Yep. Two weeks.

What, from nine?

Oh, OK.

OK.

All right.

Talk to you later.

Our head of global PR and Richard have booked a photo sh**t

for the Elvis with a magazine.

It should be good.

Good if we can get it done.

But we're talking a month's worth of work in two weeks.

He was pleased.

Yep.

He was pleased.

And trying to put a seven-year-old wiring back into that car

is going to be nothing but short of a miracle, try and get it in there.

I don't know.

All I can do is try.

All I can do is try.

Look at the state of that.

I think it's got wiry loom arthritis.

Look at the wires.

They're stiff.

And there's been bits all bulged in there.

So we've got to have a bit of thinking, you know,

because if we get it wrong, and we turn the ignition on,

and it's wired up wrong, then it becomes sparkicus.

And you're a big ball of flame.

And we don't want that happening.

I reckon best thing to do there is order a new wiring link.

And I know a company, and they'll actually make looms.

So we need to make a phone call and see if we can get one.

One of the best things about my brilliant Alvis photo sh**t plan

isn't just that it salvages some value from a job we're losing money on,

but also it signals the end of that job.

And with the Alvis gone, we'll be able to start

on the super-air, Bentley R-Type we've got in.

And the owner, Dean, I hope, will want us to take it to concourse level,

make it perfect, which is good news,

because that would be two years' worth,

two years of money towards our overheads.

And when it's finished, it will really put us on the map.

So with that in mind,

Dean, the owner, is coming in today and is bringing with him

some Bentley experts to help us make a plan for doing that job.

It's exciting.

This is moving up a level, finally.

Chaps!

Hello, hello, hello, gentlemen.

We have pretty much a royal visit today.

We have got Dean himself,

and we've got one of their Rolls-Royce Concorde judges.

So one of the judges, plus probably the world's leading expert

on Bentley Type R's of this period.

So this is a big deal for us.

OK.

Gentlemen, hello.

I'm Richard. Hello, Richard, I'm Mike.

Mike, nice to meet you.

Gary, nice to meet you.

Come on in to the smallest cog.

Hello, how are you?

Nice to see you.

Nice to see you.

Well.

Obviously, of course, yeah.

Gentlemen, visitors, we have Mike and Gary

and bring particular expertise because...

Served me time in 1970s, onwards on Rolls-Royce Bentley.

So you know these cars.

Inside out.

And your Concorde judge.

Concorde judge, yes.

Right, today is my understanding.

This is more than a fact-finding mission,

really to interrogate what you want to do with the car,

what you guys can tell us about how far that means

the car's got to go to do that.

So how far do you want to go with this car?

You want to take this to Concorde?

I would like to be in a position

that we could take it to Concorde.

What we're also looking for is a reliable, drivable car.

It will take me down to Cornwall,

Padstow, and have some Brixton food.

Oh, I know you like to enjoy yourself, didn't you?

We all know that.

Right, should we have a look at the car?

That's a greaser for the prop shaft.

Ah, yeah.

That's an oil dripper.

One of the most important things on the car

is to make sure that the one-shot lubrication system

is working correctly.

So would you like to have a drive?

Test it?

Don't be setting off to Cornwall, though, eh?

It hasn't been done yet.

Help yourself.

OK, I'll climb in and fire it up.

It probably will start.

It's a good start.

Yeah.

I knew it.

Are you all piling in?

I've got it, Padstow.

Yeah, we'll have a nice one.

We'll give you regards to Rick.

When it's not done, there will be

a bit of a different smell inside.

It does smell a bit moldy at the moment.

It should be a bit fresh, yeah.

Oil pressure's holding up OK.

It's good.

Oil pressure, yeah, is the way it should be.

Temperature's OK.

So you reckon we're firing on five?

On five, not six.

Tell you what, for the five that are working,

it pulls really well.

Yeah.

Now, please, it's not just a heap of dritish metal.

Right, it works.

Very good.

It pulls on some cylinders?

Some.

Some.

He reckons five.

So let's get engine out and assess

and then make a plan.

It's about replacing renew, rebuild,

specialists if needed for things like axles,

assess the engine, do that all the way through mechanically.

So I'm very pleased that we've got to this situation

because I can see the excitement in everybody's eyes,

which gives me also the right level of confidence

and comfort that we're going to get it done

right together.

Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming over.

Yeah, my pleasure.

All the very best.

See you soon.

We'll have it done next week.

It went perfect.

Everybody got on well.

They cherished the moment to share

and exchange their wealth of experience

and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve.

Richard put this company on the map from scratch

and as an entrepreneur to support that

entrepreneurial spirit he has, that's great fun.

That went well as a really positive step

and the thing about Dee, he's more than a customer.

He's like a benefactor.

He's kind of adopted my little business

and he's so well connected in that Bentley world

he could get that car done by anybody

and let's be honest, he could afford to.

But no, he's chosen us

and he wants to work with us to make it happen.

He's a real friend of the company.

It's testing day for our MGB.

We're taking the car to local race circuit Landau

so we can fine tune the setup

and basically find out if it's any good.

This is my first proper experience as team boss

and I am interested to see how the car does.

Does it fall apart?

Does it overheat?

Need to put Anthony through his paces,

work out how he does.

It's a real big proving day.

See it flowing basically,

with Anthony, white knuckle,

gripping the steering wheel.

Right, car is on, it's not coming off.

And we're off.

The main thing is this is our day.

It's not...

Oh yeah, we've got the whole circuit.

And it's just us.

So whatever happens, you're with like, you know, your team.

We are here, gentlemen.

And so is our final team member,

Abi, Anthony's racing instructor

and our pro driver.

Abi knows exactly how a race car should handle.

So her feedback will be invaluable.

Yes, this is Andrew.

That's Neil.

This is Dad, right?

This is Dad.

Hello, nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

How are you?

Here he is, the racing driver.

So are you clobbering up?

Kit on.

Begin.

Sighted.

Yeah.

Yes.

It is.

So it starts getting real now, Ed?

My stomach's telling me it's getting real.

See you in a bit.

Cubicle 2.

Back in a minute.

I've got a feeling this is not how Lewis Hamilton gets ready for a race.

Here they come.

One of them, lean, mean, controlled, focused athlete.

And the other one, Anthony.

Team, looking good.

Look at them drivers.

So the first job of the day is we need to just get the car out

and make sure it is functioning.

Abi, does it make sense for you to go on your own?

Yeah, sounds good.

Is anybody else suddenly nervous about what we're doing to this car?

They're anxious.

They're anxious.

Why? I'm excited.

Because it's like we've spent a long time gearing up for

this actual moment when Abi launches it on track now.

Think of the worst, think of the best.

Are you going to be this wildly optimistic all day

because you're in your favourite place in the world?

Yes.

Right, OK.

It'll be all right.

All right.

We're good.

Good luck.

And see you in a bit.

I'm closing this now.

We're entrusting our little creations

to a racing driver and they're all mad.

Starting stopwatch now.

Oh, there she goes.

Oh, she hasn't pulled straight out.

That's a good thing.



She'd give it the beans now, isn't she?

Oh, bangs.

Ooh.

That's the springs.

I reckon the back ends keep stepping.

Them shockers are upright, aren't they?

Yeah, they were backing off a fair bit.

Yeah, 53.7.

She took a second and a half there.

Coming in.

We were a bit worried.

It looked real bouncy on the back end.

It is a bit bouncy.

So one thing that I would say is kind of gripping

and letting go all the time at the rear.

So you kind of want it to slide a little bit more.

Want it softened off on the back a little bit?

You can try it.

Give it a go.

That's what today's about.

So you're putting them both at 18 fully?





Suspension issue aside, I reckon we've built a pretty handy little machine.

But we need to know how it'll fare against other proven race cars.

And helpfully, Richard Froggert has lent us one.

So key thing is, Abby showed us how fast this car will get back.

We now need to know how far that is.

Off our competitor.

What other cars would do.

So I have got another MGB.

So let's just get you round in that, if you don't mind.

And just turn in enough laps until you say, yeah, that's what this car can give.

Looks like his rear suspension is working.

It's quicker in that corner.

Yeah.

It's planted, isn't it?

Why don't we paint it white and put our logos on?

I'll volunteer that.

Here it comes.

That sounds lovely.



Well, hang on.

We're not on that stuff.

She hit 53, didn't she?

Yeah, 53.



So that's not bad.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's good.

And we've got a lot of stuff to sort of, we would be keeping up.

Abby, thank you.

That's exactly what we wanted out today.

We did something good.

That is genuinely pleasing.

I'm thrilled.

Now it's my turn.

Yes.

Enjoy.

So go out for a few laps.

Don't overdo it.

Trust me.

You're not trying to break track records.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

You're trying to prove consistency and you can bring the car back.

Good luck.

Right, he's off.

I don't expect Ant to match Abby's time in our engine.

But if we're going to be competitive,

he needs to lap the track in under a minute.

This is the moment of truth for him now, isn't it?

He's galloping along, though.

He is, isn't he?

Oh, he's spun.

Well, he'll have spoiled his overalls.

Let's try it.

Watch his run.

Come on, Anthony.



Ooh, that's good, isn't it?

Give me a bit more helmet in there, now we're good.

He's got it down to 56, getting the hang of it, isn't he?

Really good.

I think he's going to flip.

For a pant change.

It's amazing how quick it goes.

Brilliant.

Well done, mate.

And your first spin, so that's done.

And there were no other cars around you to collect.

No.

You didn't stick it in the wall.

You just went on the grass a bit.

This is a totally different world to what I'm used to.

No, you're good, mate.

Quicker and quicker.

I'm happy with that.

Get a proper little adrenaline rush.

Especially when you're going sideways, looking at the side window,

thinking I shouldn't be going this way.

There's smoke coming under the bonnet.

Hold the bonnet, check your oil.

What's the oil pressure like?

Good.

Breathing a bit, isn't it?

Just as fast as that cap on it.

See it there, that?

The engine's got a bit warm and it's evaporated some of the water.

We're not sure of that pressure cap.

It's suitable for this engine.

Though you've got to really just know we're testing,

which is what we're doing today.

Then you cool down, chop up some water, and then she'll be okay.

Really, genuinely pleased with the way today went and all the results we got.

Because we didn't just drive down and drive around in circles

and didn't learn anything.

We learned lots.

We learned that Anthony has got talent.

He's got a promise.

He's a man for the job.

We also learned the car is only around a second

off the pace of a properly sorted regular race car.

And I've been impressed how quickly the boys have tackled the problems.

If we can do that on race day, Team Cog might just surprise people.

We learned improvements we need to make to the car.

Race suspension is the first issue.

Those springs are too stiff.

This cooling issue, we've got to work it out.

It's dropped water, they're looking at it now.

I'd rather work that out today.

We've got one more test session before we race.

So that's the car we're racing.

With Neil's a*s hanging out of it.

Oh, just turn around to see them.

Just drop 50p in the meter and see if it'll work faster.

With just three days until we unveil the Alvis to the press,

Neil's hooking up the new wiring loop.

It looks and is horribly complicated,

but Neil assures me he knows what he's doing.

I think I'm excited to be when it works, if it works.

Yeah, the word fuel and miswiring doesn't worry me at all.

What we don't want is to get it wrong because we get it wrong.

Massive fire.

This is very scary.

Running about screaming.

Yeah, we don't want that.

How far off completing the wiring are we?

I'll be telling you, this has been an absolute nightmare,

even though I thoroughly enjoyed it.

But if we get this going now and we can get the wiring

and this thing starts, then that's 99% done.

Right, can you get to the key?

Yes.

Right, can you balance it on your knee like that?

Yes.

Comfortable there.

No.

Two seconds.

Right, this is a big moment now.

Is it a neutral?

I don't know.

Yes.

Right, now, just be very careful now.

I want you to make sure you've seen any smoke in that dash you've shaved.

Right, now, turn the key.

Oh, turn the key so we press the starter button.

Is that the white one here?

Yeah, one of the S on.

Oh, yeah.

Ah-ha-ha-ha!

Oh, my!

No!

Oh, my God!

Something worked!

Okay, lovely.

It worked!

They've hit you and all.

Turn off the key.

Just making the battery.

Does that mean this car is going to move forwards to paint?

Yeah.

It's only been 25 years we've been at it.

Yeah, getting quicker.

And now you can make it look beautiful.

Yeah, well, thanks for telling me, yeah.

Okay, all right.

Yeah, well, then, thanks.

One of Dean's business colleagues is called.

I don't know what to say.

It's absolutely heartbreaking.

Dean is dead.

Dean crumbs behind his Bentley.

They've got it downstairs.

And who was a friend?

Dean.

It was an accident in his boat.

That's all that's known for the moment.

And he has gone.

It's just so hard to grasp that a person without much energy and life about him.

No, it's, it's, it's poor family.

That's a bad day.

That's a really bad day.

It's hard.

Just a shock made there.

You've left us.

He's going to be messed, especially by Dad and Richard, I tell you.

As I see it, being sensible and pragmatic and respectful,

all we can do is cover this up and everything.

Opiolity has shook us all a lot.

We all know Dean's large in the life.

And to imagine that he ain't going to be around just doesn't seem real.

We would love to do the car.

And money that their family decides to do, we'll go along with.

It's nothing to do with money.

We wanted to do that car for Dean because it was Dean.

And he shared our vision and passion to do it.

And that was the main thing about it was that makes it so sound.

Somehow we have to pick ourselves up and carry on.

Right now, a looming press deadline for the Elvis.

Feels like it could be a welcome distraction.

Every time we paint anything, I do think of the pressure on the painter.

Because no matter how good the work is up to that point

and how many problems they've solved,

the first thing the customer sees is the paint.

Seven months and hundreds and hundreds of hours leading up to this moment.

And I don't want to ruin a job that's taken seven months to get in the paint room.

You can feel attention.

He is painting, he's just dusting it on lightly.

Yeah, it's a beautiful color.

It is looking amazing.

We will not know until it's finished,

dried, de-masked and under proper daylight.

That'll be the moment.

Can't learn any more.

It's going to be good.

Beautiful paint work is one thing.

Putting the car back together is another.

And we've only got 12 hours until the photo sh**t.

Let's not panic.

I'm just having a small, nervous breakdown.

Nothing to worry about at the moment.

Well, it's now half seven.

We've got still a bonnet issue, which is going to be in an hour or two, I reckon.

And then we've got the whole interior's put in.

And then, probably about three o'clock in the morning,

if we're lucky, we might have to go for a test ride.

But we've never been beaten by a deadline and we won't know.

Oh, look at that.

No, he wants to play.

Right and early, I'm off to the smallest cog.

Today is a big day.

It's the great unveiling of the Alvis.

And Danny from Practical Classics is going to feature the car

on the cover of next month's edition.

A little bird tells me that the cogs have worked almost

through the entire night to get the car ready for Danny today.

What did you do with your two hours sleep?

Hour and half sleep.

Hour and half? What are you doing?

Well, I've got an half hour drive overnight.

You've got, like, three minutes.

Chaps, that's an heroic effort.

What time did you...



If you want to k*ll me, don't do it in front of the magazine.

Stand easy by your beds.

Yes, well...

This is Danny from Practical Classics.

And you have the great unveiling, is it?

Yeah, I would...

Well, you've done it.

Let's come do it.

Oh, I can't wait.

You ready?

Oh, wow.

All right, guys, amazing.

And it's simply unrecognizable as the car he bought in.

You paint it here as well?

Yeah, yeah.

It's fabulous.

And so, so difficult to do well with all these compound curbs.

The paint is gorgeous.

Who's your sprayman?

I painted this one, but...

You did?

Yeah, congratulations.

Oh, thank you very much.

Absolutely beautiful.

We need to take some photographs.

This is going to be a cover car,

and it's also going to be a major feature in the magazine.

We want to make this look like it's still in the workshop.

Fine.

Like it's just been finished, let's be honest about this.

Well, it has.

That's exactly right.

A few hours ago.

I restored it myself.

I did all of this.

You've sunk a lot of your life and funds into this place,

and here is one of the initial results.

It's a fantastic job.

Yeah, well, it's an important car to us,

because, and this whole thing came about,

Neil and Anthony had restored several of my cars.

And like everybody else in the county,

anybody who's found them is delighted by their work.

It's a bit surreal.

Never, ever in my world extremes did I ever think I'd

mention, talking to Danny Hopkins about a car that we've done.

It's been a tremendous amount of work,

and it's been a very long road to get that car done.

But it's nice to feel actually appreciated for what you can actually do.

And the title of this particular feature in the magazine is Resto Heroes.

So you can all feel like the 4AM was worth it.

Okay, that's good.

There's just one thing left to do with the Elvis.

Coming nice and tight, that's it.

Give it back to its owner.

Elvis is leaving the building.

If he doesn't start, I'm just trying to open it.

Come on, old girl.

Oh, that is nice, isn't it?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Very freaky.

It's going, it's going.

It's going, absolutely.

I can't believe this could be done.

Oh, I promise not to come back.

We're definitely going.

Come on, Elvis, we're going home.

When this car came to us, it didn't drive, did it?

No.

The engine block was full of crud and rust and rubbish

and everything was nasty about it.

Look at it now, driving, going along like it should do,

and it's having a life again.

I like Michael Fenton, he should be a very happy man.

But the car is never finished until the customer's happy with it.

And I want to see what his reaction is.

Having owned the car since, I think, 1976 or thereabouts,

you kind of feel it's part of the family.

I think this is an opportunity to say thank you to the car

by giving it another lease of life.

Getting the Elvis back, it will be something pretty unique.

It's a pretty exciting moment, I have to say.

Ah, I think I hear the seductive thrill

of a six-cylinder engine.

And here they are.

Amazing.

Looks fantastic.

Terrific.

Absolutely terrific.

Your car, sir?

Well, I must say.

Hello, Michael.

It's a bit of a change.

It's different from when it left here, isn't it?

It is.

It's a little different, mate.

And the door's shut properly.

Yes, everything works.

I'd forgotten quite what an elegant-looking machine it is.

Well, Michael, you should probably try it on.

Now it's all done.

Might as well give it a go, see if it still fits.

Oh, lovely.

Sounds very, very nice.

Well, voodoo.

All I can say is, thank you.

Absolutely terrific.

That's the culmination of, I don't know,

how long have we known each other?





May there be another 30?

Yeah, hopefully.

That'd be just about time to do another car in that time.

No, no, no.

Right, we're going to leave you with it.

I'm really pleased that you're happy with it.

Terrific.

And Richard, thank you very much.

If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be doing what he's doing now

and what he does best.

Well, I'm glad he does it to such good effect.

Enjoy the car.

Look forward to seeing it around the county.

You will.

Right, we've got to lift.

Come on.

Let's go and get it.

Well, boy, I'll miss.

We'll miss you.

See, well, the place is going to be the same without tea.

No, no.

It's been there so long.

It's on the ordinary survey map, eh?

I think it's absolutely terrific.

She looks absolutely lovely.

So, I mean, that paint work on it is blemish free.

Neil is fantastic.

He just doesn't compromise.

In fact, he probably doesn't compromise to his own detriment.

He's done a fantastic job.

Absolutely amazing.

You, this is like an intervention.

You can't just say, I'm going to do this.

It will be great.

Watch.

Wait a minute.

Anton is in trouble.

He's coming into the pits.

You're going to need a drill.

Do we have a drill?

No, we don't have a drill.

This will do us a lot of good as a team.

Or destroy us.

We flog it to death racing tomorrow.

We could do irreparable damage to that engine.

Possibly, yeah.