Z3 on Bangers and Cash - Restoring Classics

[NeRo]

Well that's gone quick! This Thursday is the final episode of this series of Restoring Classics

This week, we restore one of Derek's favourites... an A35 Van! We also take our chances on a BMW Z3.

Could be an interesting watch, going by the Series 8, Ep 6 trailer - https://www.facebook.com/reel/975948425048232/

U & YESTERDAY Thursday 11th @ 8:00pm

• Freeview: Channel 27
• Sky: Channel 155
• Virgin Media: Channel 129
• Freesat: Channel 163

 

[Pingu]

It's an okay watch. Nothing particularly exciting - just the standard B&C restore fayre.

It's available to download.

 

[Pond]

It gets a bit 'samey' for me.
Buy a car from Good-ole-Derek for too much.
Send it to very very expensive restorers to do more than is reasonably required
Sell it via good-ole-Derek and lose thousands.
Rinse and repeat.

I know it's "just for TV" but it gets a bit tiresome IMO.

 

[Peter1450]

When I’ve flicked through terrestrial tv and come across some b & c it seems they have moved to larger premises but it looks like there’s nobody actually bidding in the building!

 

[David62]

When I’ve flicked through terrestrial tv and come across some b & c it seems they have moved to larger premises but it looks like there’s nobody actually bidding in the building!

That's right, actual auctions are no longer physically open to the public.

 

[Pond]

They also charge now for viewing cars on viewing days. Scandalous!
Even though they say the money goes to 'charity'. If I don't want to give to their 'charity' I can't view a car. I choose when and what charities I donate to, not Messrs Mathewsons.
So I won't be buying from Mathewsons anytime soon.

Ironically my best mate has just bought a 1968 Daimler from them. He didn't view it though.

 

[ktnez99]

Do the Matthewsons get paid for them being the “stars” of the show (their own show) or was it the show conceived by Derek to promote the business?

It appears to be filmed in a large shed-like building and I much prefer the smaller and interesting-looking site which was in the earlier series.

 

[Pond]

Do the Matthewsons get paid for them being the “stars” of the show (their own show) or was it the show conceived by Derek to promote the business?

It appears to be filmed in a large shed-like building and I much prefer the smaller and interesting-looking site which was in the earlier series.

Apparently they don't get directly paid for the show.
However.....they have benefited massively from the exposure. Mathewsons now auction ten times the number of cars each year than they did before B&C.
They personally also receive fees for many public 'appearances'.
It is rumoured that the Mathewsons' private collection of vehicles is the largest in the UK and the most valuable.

Auctioning cars is a 'good little earner' too. Fees from sellers AND buyers and absolutely no comeback on anything they sell.

Let's just say that B&C hasn't done them any harm!

 

[Ianmc]

They certainly know how to loose money restoring cars if the Z3 episode is anything to go by. Perhaps still cheap TV.

 

[Duncodin]

They certainly know how to loose money restoring cars if the Z3 episode is anything to go by. Perhaps still cheap TV.

Pretty much every episode is the same. They usually bid too much then, when they sell, they often don't get back what they spent to buy the car in the first place - ignoring what they spent restoring it.

Paying somebody else to do the work there really is no money in doing up old cars.

 

[Pond]

Paying somebody else to do the work there really is no money in doing up old cars.

I was talking to a chap at a show the other week who had an immaculate 1973 Vauxhall Viva 1300SL. It was like new. He told me he had spent nearly £30k getting it to this point. The car is worth about £7k as it is, as 1973 Vauxhall Vivas 1300SLs aren't exactly sought after.

 

[Duncodin]

They also charge now for viewing cars on viewing days. Scandalous!
Even though they say the money goes to 'charity'. If I don't want to give to their 'charity' I can't view a car. I choose when and what charities I donate to, not Messrs Mathewsons.
So I won't be buying from Mathewsons anytime soon.

Ironically my best mate has just bought a 1968 Daimler from them. He didn't view it though.

I too was just about to add with a 'shocked' omoji to Pond's post.

But allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment.

I remember an episode of Clarkson's Farm where he was telling us how much stuff gets stolen from his pub. Maybe he's exaggerating for telly but he reckons hundreds of drinks glasses - a week. They even steal the little mesh grid things from the bottom of the urinals [shock emoji].

There's a huge fan base for that kind of program - at least Clarkson sells a meal and a few beers before they steal his glass - and knife and fork - as souvenirs. As a business the costs of theft are just added to the price of the service.

But Mathewson's don't sell anything (unless you actually buy a car) - just 1000's of fans descending on their shed to wander about between the cars taking selfies of themselves putting mucky hand prints on the cars. No intention of actually bidding on anything.

So, I'd guess that 'charity payment' is just Mathewson's way of deterring at least some of the time wasters.

 

[Peter1450]

My wife’s first car was a Viva , then had a 2.3 Magnum , if the guy had spend 30 K on a Firenza it may have made sense !

 

[Pond]

There's a huge fan base for that kind of program - at least Clarkson sells a meal and a few beers before they steal his glass - and knife and fork - as souvenirs. As a business the costs of theft are just added to the price of the service.

But Mathewson's don't sell anything (unless you actually buy a car) - just 1000's of fans descending on their shed to wander about between the cars taking selfies of themselves putting mucky hand prints on the cars. No intention of actually bidding on anything.

So, I'd guess that 'charity payment' is just Mathewson's way of deterring at least some of the time wasters.

Yeah OK, but some would say that is 'the price of fame'. You have to take the bad with the good.
Mathewsons are in business to auction cars, apparently. If no-one sees the cars, not many are going to bid on them, are they?
So if they are trying to 'deter' many timewasters by charging for viewing, they could be shooting themselves in the foot. IMO.

We have a classic auctioneers near me. They are very similar to Mathewsons (without the TV series). You can view any of their next auction cars whenever you like. There are no specific 'viewing days' and they don't charge a penny unless you buy something. They also do the old fashioned auctions in a big building (with people allowed!) and drive the cars through as they are auctioned. Mathewsons' have started to behave like they are doing buyers a favour by allowing them to buy one of their cars (which aren't ever theirs).