The Velocity Channel

[msefren]

I enjoy watching the Velocity Channel. I often wonder when they start the bidding on some exotic car at $1.2 million and the hammer falls at $3 million or much more. Who are these people? Maybe I should return to FT employment?? I am enjoying retirement, however, and am satisfied driving my 2004 Dodge Dakota.

[Car-Guy]

I like Velocity too. I liked Speed (or Speedvison) before it closed shop a few years ago.

I've been to a lot of car auctions over the years and many (most) never have cars in that (1m+) price range. I've been to some auctions where the highest priced car sold was under 100k. Most local or regional auctions have most of the cars selling from ~15k to about 150k. I once got to ride in car worth over a million dollars (Bugatti) but it's the only one I've ever seen in person. Not a lot of 1m+ dollar cars out there in the real world. The ones that are out there, are usually (not always) parked in someones collection and not daily drivers.

I read an article about a year ago saying that the average sales price in the collector car auctions was between 60 and 70k. I'm not sure if there were counting Barrett Jackson and Sotheby and/or Mecums and others.

[braumeister]

There's a guy who lives not far from me who collects classic cars, and has dozens of them in the multimillion dollar range. Keeps them in a purpose-built "garage" where he can show them off to best advantage (not open to the public). He just has one full time employee whose sole duty is to look after his collection.

What I think is especially cool is that every one of his cars is kept street legal, and he drives every one at least once a year. That's pretty special.

[Jack_Pine]

I like velocity. I like Chasing Classic cars as well. Ilkie the first couple days oh Mecum. They are more in my range.

[Midpack]

I like Velocity too. My favs are Chasing Classic Cars, Wheeler Dealers and sometimes Fantomworks. I don't usually watch the auction shows.

[Bamaman]

I watch Velocity all the time, but reruns of old shows sometimes get old.

I used to work the pits for my college roommate for Formula Fords and a B Sports Racer. Met him down at Barber Motorsports track in Birmingham last week where they'd put his old Lotus on display.

I couldn't get over Barber's race trace--one of the premier sports car tracks in the world and one of the most beautiful park like pieces of property I've ever seen. Porsche had rented out the track, and were running their $200K 911's in street race situations. They had all the 2017's on the track, too.

I just wish I had the forethought to have bought one of the original Cobra's in 1964, but $6K was a lot of money. I spent my $3.5K on a 71 Challenger.

[Payin-the-Toll]

I love Velocity too. But you have to realize that most of the shows are very scripted (only got 10 days to completely rebuild a car for auction or whatever--don't think I'd want to own that car!). Didn't like it at first, but Fantomworks seems the most honest. God knows how much he charges (they've kind of stopped quoting prices), but when it shows 'day 216 of the build', you know someone is getting some quality work done. Also didn't like that 'Guild show out of Canada when it first started, but after they spent 5 years building a 30's Bugatti from only pictures and out of magnesium, they gained my respect.

[JoeWras]

It is my go-to channel when I need to just rest the brain and veg out.

I like everything, but especially Wheeler Dealers. Love all the British expressions. Couldn't stop laughing when Mike said he would "Tear a strip off Edd" for doing something a little too fancy. Kinder than "Tearing a new one."
Oh and who needs fenders when you can have wings?

The auctions are a lot of fun to watch. I'm not a gambler and I'm an lbym person, but I don't think I'd ever go to one of these auctions and tip back a few drinks. I just might buy. The excitement of an auction is intoxicating.

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Payin-the-Toll I love Velocity too. But you have to realize that most of the shows are very scripted

WHO CARES! It is veg-out fodder. Car porn. Whatever.

Edd also has a gaggle of mechanics behind him you barely see. I don't care.

Stop messing with my illusion!

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Payin-the-Toll I love Velocity too. But you have to realize that most of the shows are very scripted (only got 10 days to completely rebuild a car for auction or whatever--don't think I'd want to own that car!).

No kidding? But that's no different than almost everything on every network, including "reality shows." The only programs that aren't (completely) scripted are live sports, probably why they're usually the most popular viewing.

[Payin-the-Toll]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras WHO CARES! It is veg-out fodder. Car porn. Whatever. Edd also has a gaggle of mechanics behind him you barely see. I don't care. Stop messing with my illusion!

O.K.--I've learned something. Always figured that Edd did 99% of the work himself.
Don't really like the British ways--the 'bonnet' & 'boot' drive me nuts. And the way they pronounce 'aluminum' drives me crazy.

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Payin-the-Toll O.K.--I've learned something. Always figured that Edd did 99% of the work himself. Don't really like the British ways--the 'bonnet' & 'boot' drive me nuts. And the way they pronounce 'aluminum' drives me crazy.

I realized it was unfair to say 'gaggle.' But from what I have read, 99% is too much. He has help, which you do see from time to time. They are just not featured. All "work shows" are like this, and there's nothing wrong about it.

Edd does have a talent for art in motion, and that comes out on the show. He holds world records for moving beds, sofas, etc. Kind of fun.

One of the art projects he did recently on the show was a revamp of an AMC Pacer. It was -- out there. It included a body wrap consisting of honeycomb patterns. It ended up being one of the few cars they admitted to taking a pretty good loss on.

I'm not sure it is possible to improve a Pacer in any way.

[Ally]

Velocity is my husband's new favorite channel, thankfully taking over his previous favorite Foxnews. I like to watch some of the shows with him.


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