So I had a thought about Wheeler Dealers.

I love Wheeler Dealers. It's probably my favorite car show out there next to Top Gear.

My thought is, could they make an American version?

I would say yes. They would need to keep it the same format, which is the whole "modern classics" theme. The only problem I see is that they would have an obnoxious host that would make you just not want to watch. Mike Brewer has that cheeky British enthusiasm that I can handle, but his American version would just be annoying.

When I think of the cars that they could do, I feel like I would see a lot of what passes through the GRM forums

Then again, because it would be the American version, it could be a tragic disaster and they would try to only do American cars or something.

SWMBO and I were just talking about this while watching "Motor City Motors"...

We figure it'd end up just like the rest of the reality TV we have in the US. You know where you have the deep voiced narrator pointing out all the obvious?

Example: Mike: "I just bought this Chrysler Sebring for a penny over scrap, but it needs a lot of work before we can sell it." Booming Narrator Voice: "Mike just bought this Chrysler Sebring for a penny over its total value, if he cant fix it for resale cheap he's out to lose an entire penny!"

I also think there's some sort of "American Reality TV Law" that would require the producers in the US to find a version of Ed and Mike who are related, and who have no people skills, so they can insert the seemingly obligatory "family drama".

I agree with that. I would think that they would just turn it into a horrible show that us the car guy community would just hate.

I already hate 95% of the car shows on TV.

I sum up the current situation of reality TV with this question.
Why do they have to yell at each other to make a cake?

US-Wheeler Dealer would be less about the cars and rather just about some false drama created between two guys who deal in used cars. My guess is the two guys would not much like each other or at the very least, not like the buyers/sellers.

As much as I love that show, I'd rather not see American reality TV mess it all up.

One of the things I like about the show is they're working on cars we didn't get in the US.

An american version would also have a ridiculous deadline, and I am sure all cars would have to be finished for a set time at an auction ('cause we americans love our auction shows).

I would also bet that the names of all the components would be changed to "parts" so instead of the mechanic saying "we are waiting on the CV joint" you would get to see an angry guy on the phone shouting "Where are my parts!" While booming announcer voice talks about how many days til the car has to be at the auction.

Just imagine chop, cut, rebuild or desert car kings with a lot more product placement "We are installing these new splitfire spark plugs, because they will fix everything wrong with the car. Afterwards we will top up the oil with Z-max" type crap.

I know it would be terrible, but I don't think this is one you could pin simply on advertiser driven US television. Don't get me wrong. It would be a large part, but the US cookie cutter "reality show" formula would ensure it was totally unwatchable.

I love that show, but to see all the work they do to make a couple hundred "quid" is insane.....

It seems like they go to all the trouble to turn the cars into an excellent example, and then sell it for a middle of the road price. I've seen him leave around half of his profit on the table by not setting asking high enough.

If the show wouldn't work on US tv, what about a YouTube channel or blog sponsored by year one or another parts remanufacturer that documents the purchase, fixing up, and sale of these modern classics

DrBoost wrote: As much as I love that show, I'd rather not see American reality TV mess it all up.

What he said

vdubinsd wrote: I love that show, but to see all the work they do to make a couple hundred "quid" is insane.....

Exactly!

Strizzo wrote: It seems like they go to all the trouble to turn the cars into an excellent example, and then sell it for a middle of the road price. I've seen him leave around half of his profit on the table by not setting asking high enough. If the show wouldn't work on US tv, what about a YouTube channel or blog sponsored by year one or another parts remanufacturer that documents the purchase, fixing up, and sale of these modern classics

Sort of seems like a natural for a webisode type format sponsored by autotrader or the like.

They would somehow make it a "beat the clock" competition. Or one team vs. another. Somehow they'd figure out a way that it would never be Mike and Edd having a great time fixing up a neat car and feeling really good about their work. Someone would get angry, someone would come in and be overly judgmental about the choices they made. Someone would throw something.

In other words, it would be lame. I, like the OP, absolutely LOVE the show.

vdubinsd wrote: I love that show, but to see all the work they do to make a couple hundred "quid" is insane.....

Yeah, but I don't think that's the point. And the little they make is only if you take Edd's work as free labor. I think it's just a fun way to do a car show.

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

vdubinsd wrote: I love that show, but to see all the work they do to make a couple hundred "quid" is insane.....

Yeah, but I don't think that's the point. And the little they make is only if you take Edd's work as free labor. I think it's just a fun way to do a car show.

I think that the whole show is "You can do this too" type of car show. To show that normal people can flip cars with a limited budget and to make a little money. Edd is constantly giving advice on how to do stuff and how difficult certain tasks are to a normal person.

Eh, maybe. Could be me. I see it more as a "you can buy a cheap car, put some work into it and have something nice". If I've learned a lesson about flipping cars it's "there ain't no money in it".

I like watching what Edd does because he draws the line at about the same place I do. He doesn't do paint work and he doesn't rebuild transmissions. He sent the head on the Ford Cosworth out to a machine shop. Well done Edd. Makes me feel like I'm not as bad at wrenching as I think I am. He does, however, make things look a lot easier than they usually are for me.

Well it doesn't help he has a lift

Edd has done some paint work in past episodes, but I agree he has seemed to farm it out over the past couple of series to make the show more realistic.

I really liked the show they did on the classic Mini where he demonstrated some simple rust repair.

It's also cool and he doesn't use air tools as often as a pro probably would.