American Restoration (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Space Kowboy - full transcript
Rick and his team are given a crucial mission, completely restore a NASA helmet from the 1960s' Gemini missions. Will this project launch them out of this world, or will a fire cause them ...
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RESTORATION...
HOLY CRAP, ROGER.
THIS IS AWESOME.
IT'S A 1918 GAS CART.
- IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SPECIAL.
- OH, IT'S DEFINITELY
GONNA BE SPECIAL.
THIS IS COOL.
WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING
WITH SUCH HISTORICAL VALUE.
IF WE BREAK SOMETHING,
WE'RE GONNA BE IN BIG TROUBLE.
- GONNA DO A LITTLE RACING.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO
BE SAFE OUT THERE, OKAY?
NO RECKLESS, OUT-OF-CONTROL
SMASHING AND BANGING.
- I DON'T HAVE A
DRIVER'S LICENSE,
SO I'M NOT MAKING ANY PROMISES.
- REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY
WHEN THINGS WERE MADE BY HAND
AND PEOPLE TOOK
PRIDE IN THEIR WORK?
MY NAME'S RICK DALE,
AND I BRING THESE
THINGS BACK TO LIFE.
EVERY RESTORATION HAS
ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES.
THERE'S NO OWNER'S
MANUAL FOR WHAT WE DO,
BUT THERE'S NO JOB
WE CAN'T HANDLE.
HOLY CRAP, ROGER.
ROGER'S A CUSTOMER THAT I'VE HAD
FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
HE HAS A GREAT EYE.
HE BRINGS ME GREAT STUFF,
AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION.
THIS THING IS
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.
IT'S A 1918 GILBERT AND
BARKER MODEL T57 GAS CART.
- I'VE KNOWN RICK DALE
FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
I DON'T PLAN ON KEEPING
THE GAS CART MYSELF.
WE WANT TO RESTORE
IT AND MAKE IT UNIQUE
AND HAVE IT FOR SALE.
- THESE ARE REALLY RARE.
WHERE'D YOU FIND THIS?
- FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.
I JUST SAID, "$400,"
AND HE SAID, "SOLD."
- $400, THAT'S A GREAT PRICE.
THIS IS RIGHT AROUND $1,100
JUST THE WAY THIS SITS.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE GAS STATIONS
ON EVERY SINGLE
STREET BACK THEN,
THESE THINGS, THEY USED TO
PUSH AROUND ON THE STREETS
AND ACTUALLY
FILL CARS WITH THIS.
IT HOLDS 60 GALLONS,
AND BACK IN THE
DAY, WE PROBABLY HAD
AN EIGHT-GALLON TANK IN A T,
SO YOU HAD QUITE A FEW CARS
YOU COULD FILL UP WITH THAT.
- REALLY?
- COULD YOU JUST IMAGINE
PUSHING THIS THING AROUND,
UP HILLS, DOWN HILLS?
I MEAN, THIS GUY DEFINITELY
WAS SWEATING IT OUT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW
FOR THE FUN PART.
- WELL, I'VE GOT
A $2,500 BUDGET.
- WELL, THERE'S NO WAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY
ABOUT 40 HOURS IN
BODYWORK ON THIS ALONE,
AND IT'S MISSING SOME PARTS.
THEN I'M THINKING RIGHT ABOUT
PROBABLY FIVE HOURS IN PAINTING,
SO THIS IS GONNA RUN
YOU RIGHT AROUND $3,500
TO GET THE FULL THING RESTORED.
- I COULD GO THE $3,500,
BUT IT'S GONNA
HAVE TO BE SPECIAL.
- OH, IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA
BE SPECIAL FOR $3,500.
I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
- I THINK WE GOT A DEAL.
HE'S DONE SOME OTHER
PROJECTS FOR ME.
IF I TELL HIM TO MAKE IT UNIQUE
AND I'VE GOT A
BUDGET TO WORK WITH,
HE'LL DO HIS BEST TO MAKE
BOTH ELEMENTS HAPPEN.
- HE'S BUYING THESE MACHINES
AND PAYING TO HAVE THEM RESTORED
TO MAKE MONEY.
THE MORE MONEY HE
MAKES, THE MORE LIKELY HE IS
TO BRING MORE STUFF BACK.
- I HAVE A PACKAGE FOR YOU.
- WHAT'S UP?
- HERE.
- KELLY'S MY GIRLFRIEND.
AND SHE HANDLES ALL
THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
HERE AT THE SHOP.
AND SO WHEN I CAN'T MEET
WITH A CUSTOMER IN PERSON,
SHE GETS ALL THE INFO NEEDED
TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT?
- WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT.
- OKAY, WHAT'S THAT?
- ONE SMALL STEP FOR YOU.
- YOU READY?
- IS IT A SELF-HELP BOOK?
- OPEN IT UP.
- YEAH?
OH, MAN, THIS IS COOL.
- HOPE YOU AIN'T GOT NO
RADIATION IN THAT SUCKER.
- IT WAS USED FOR
NASA TO LOAD FUEL
INTO THE GEMINI SPACECRAFT.
- SO IT WASN'T ONE THAT WENT UP.
IT WAS THE GUY THAT WAS ON
THE GROUND FUELING THE RIGS.
IT'S GOT COOL STUFF.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT A PLACE IN
THERE FOR RADIO CONTROL.
IT'S GOT VENTS IN
IT FOR BREATHING.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S MADE OUT OF,
YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL PLASTIC.
IT PROBABLY WAS CRUSH-PROOF.
IT PROBABLY WENT INTO
DIFFERENT PRESSURES.
THE FRONT, YOU KNOW HOW
WE USE PLEXIGLAS AND STUFF?
THIS COULD BE THAT MATERIAL
LEXAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T SHATTER.
THE MAIN THING
FOR THIS THING WAS,
IS TO KEEP THE GUY FROM THE FUEL
THAT THEY WERE LOADING
IN INTO THE ROCKETS.
I MEAN, THAT STUFF
IS SERIOUS STUFF.
I MEAN, ZIPPITY-DOO-DAH,
YOU'RE DONE.
THE GEMINI MISSIONS
WERE THE FINAL MISSIONS
LEADING US UP TO ACTUALLY
PUTTING A MAN ON THE MOON.
WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING
WITH SUCH HISTORICAL VALUE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND
ANY PARTS FOR THIS.
SO AS FAR AS US
QUOTING THE CUSTOMER,
$500 TO PUT A PAINT JOB ON IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY OUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW
IS JUST MAKING THIS
PLEXIGLAS IN THIS SHAPE.
I MEAN, THIS COULD BE $300;
IT COULD BE $1,000 TO GET DONE.
AND YOU NOTICE
THAT THIS ONE'S CLEAR.
- HE DID MENTION THAT
HE WANTED THE TINT IN IT.
- YEAH.
- YEAH.
- YEAH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER TASK.
THERE AIN'T HUNDREDS
OF THESE THINGS
LAYING AROUND THE LANDFILLS.
IF WE BREAK SOMETHING
OR SCREW IT UP,
WE'RE GONNA BE IN BIG TROUBLE.
EARLIER, A CUSTOMER DROPPED
OFF A 1918 GILBERT BARKER GAS CART.
FIRST STEP OF THE PROCESS
IS TO SANDBLAST
THE HELL OUT OF IT.
AFTER IT'S BEEN SANDBLASTED,
WE'RE GONNA BREAK
IT DOWN INTO PIECES.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, HOW'S IT GOING?
- IT'S GOING GOOD.
- GETTING THERE.
- MY IDEA ON THIS THING,
I WANTED TO DESIGN THIS
AFTER AN OLD GAS STATION
OUT IN CALIFORNIA
WHICH WAS HUGE
INTO THE RACING SCENE.
- RACING, HUH?
IT'S JUST NEVER
GONNA GO AWAY, IS IT?
- I'VE RACED SHIFTER
KARTS FOR NINE YEARS.
I LOVE RACING, AND RECENTLY,
TYLER'S GOTTEN INTO IT TOO.
I MAY BE OLD, BUT I
STILL CAN KICK HIS ASS.
- YOU CAN'T KICK MY ASS.
- ALL RIGHT, TYLER,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE
TRACK, AND WE'RE GONNA RACE.
- OKAY.
- THE LOSER SWEEPS
THE WHOLE SHOP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- WE IN?
- YEAH.
- GET THAT FINISHED.
- THERE'S NO WAY HE'S
GONNA BE ABLE TO BEAT ME.
I'M GONNA WHUP HIS ASS.
- NOW WE'RE UP TO THE PROCESS
- WE NEED TO TEAR THIS
DOWN REAL CAREFUL,
'CAUSE IT'S OLD AND IT'S RARE.
IF BRETTLY BREAKS ANYTHING
ON THIS NASA HELMET,
RICK'S GONNA CHEW MY ASS OUT.
SO I AM WATCHING
HIM LIKE A HAWK.
LET'S GET THIS SEAL OFF HERE.
BE CAREFUL WITH IT.
GET THIS GLASS OUT.
IT HAS TO BE REPLACED,
AND IT'S BROKE.
AND WE NEED A CRESCENT WRENCH
TO TAKE THIS LITTLE THING OFF.
LEFTY-LOOSEY, RIGHTY-TIGHTY.
WRONG WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TIGHTENING IT.
- LEFT.
- YES, AND YOU'RE
TURNING IT RIGHT.
- LEFT.
- YES, THIS LEFT,
YOUR OTHER LEFT.
THERE YOU GO.
- AFTER DISASSEMBLING
THE NASA HELMET,
THE FIRST PROCESS
IS TO SAND IT DOWN
AND THEN GET IT
READY FOR BODYWORK.
THIS THING'S GOT A
LOT OF OLD PAINT ON IT.
IN FACT, IT'S GOT
SOME MATERIAL ON IT
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF
WORK TO GET THE THING SMOOTH
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO GET READY TO PAINT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A
GAS CART FOR A FEW DAYS NOW.
THE GOAL OF THIS RESTORATION
IS TO MAKE IT FULLY FUNCTIONAL,
AND THAT MEANS IT NEEDS
TO BE ABLE TO HOLD GAS.
OKAY, TYLER, WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA POR-15 INSIDE THERE.
AND THE POR-15, WHAT
THAT'S GONNA DO FOR US
IS MAKE IT TO WHERE WHEN
THEY DO PUT FUEL IN IT,
IT DOESN'T END UP
CONTAMINATING THE FUEL.
THE RUST DOESN'T COME BACK UP.
IT ACTUALLY ACTS AS,
LIKE, A PLASTIC LINER.
CAN YOU POUR THAT IN THERE?
- NO, I'M GONNA MISS.
- THIS IS LIKE EPOXY,
SO YOU WANT TO KEEP
IT AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.
- WHY CAN'T I JUST
POUR IT IN THE BOTTOM
AND THEN BRUSH IT AROUND?
- THERE'S A DRAIN HOLE IN IT.
IT'S JUST GONNA ALL
COME OUT THE DRAIN HOLE,
AND THEN THE BOTTOM OF THE THING
IS GONNA BE RUINED, OKAY?
TYLER'S ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO CUT CORNERS.
AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO
ROOM FOR THAT IN THIS BUSINESS.
YOU HAVE TO GET
ONE HAND IN THERE,
AND YOU'RE GONNA START WITH
THE SIDES AND THE BOTTOM, OKAY?
- IT SMELLS LIKE DEATH IN HERE.
- WHAT'S DEATH SMELL LIKE?
- I DON'T KNOW.
- ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PROJECTS WE'VE HAD RECENTLY
IS A 1960s NASA HELMET.
BUT NOW WE'RE UP TO THE PROCESS
THAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT:
THE FACE SHIELD.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS,
I'M GONNA MIX UP
SOME PLASTER OF PARIS
AND MAKE A MOLD INSIDE
OF THE FACE SHIELD.
- THIS IS AN
EXPERIMENT, ALL RIGHT.
- FEEL LIKE THE FIRST GRADE?
- NO, TOO SMART FOR FIRST GRADE.
- I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M
GONNA PAY SOMEBODY $800
TO MAKE A PIECE
OF PLASTIC ONE TIME.
- HOW ARE WE LOOKING, RICK?
- I THINK WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, THIS BETTER HOLD.
IF WE BREAK IT, IT'S OVER, MAN.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER,
AND YOU'RE GONNA HOLD ON.
READY?
- YEAH.
- HERE WE GO.
OOH.
- FEEL IT.
- ALL RIGHT, AND THEN
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO
IS PUT IT IN AN OVEN,
PUT SOME PLEXIGLAS ON TOP OF IT,
AND SEE IF IT FLOWS DOWN.
- YOU THINK NASA WOULD APPROVE
THIS METHOD FOR THEIR HELMET?
- NO.
IT'S GOING, MAN.
IT'S JAMMING.
- LOOKING GOOD.
- MY MITTS ARE SMOKING.
YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A
CHALLENGE, I'M BORED.
AND I LOVE MAKING THINGS,
SO THIS IS NO BIG DEAL TO ME.
YOU READY?
HOUSTON...
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE PLASTIC DIDN'T BEND
AS EASY AS I THOUGHT.
IT STARTED WRINKLING.
- THAT'S A FREDDY KRUEGER MASK.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE ONE SOMEHOW.
- RICK, I'M YOUR FATHER.
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S GOING THERE.
- LOOKS BETTER
THAN THE OTHER ONES.
- WANT ME TO FIRE EXTINGUISH IT?
- GET IT.
HURRY IT UP.
I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED
THAT I COULDN'T MAKE
IT HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
THE DEADLINE'S
COMING RIGHT UP ON ME.
I GOT TOMORROW.
CUSTOMER'S COMING IN.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE
ABLE TO WHIP THIS THING OUT.
TO HAVE ONE MADE,
I'M LOOKING AT A WEEK.
SO I GOT TO DO SOMETHING QUICK.
THE GAS CART'S
REALLY COMING ALONG.
TYLER PREPPED IT WITH POR-15,
AND NOW IT'S ABLE TO HOLD GAS.
NEXT STEP IN THE
PROCESS IS PAINT.
DO A NICE, FAST COAT
ON THE WHOLE PIECE, YEP.
AND SIT AND WAIT AWHILE.
- OKAY.
- OKAY?
DON'T T IMPATIENT.
AND IT WON'T RUN.
IT WILL NOT RUN.
THE SHIELD FOR THE NASA HELMET
WAS A LOT HARDER
TO DO THAN I THOUGHT.
I TRIED MULTIPLE
TIMES TO TRY TO SAVE
MY CUSTOMER AND ME
A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS.
BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
NOW I'M GONNA HAVE
TO PAY BIG BUCKS
TO GET ONE DONE BY AN EXPERT.
HEY, JOHN.
- HI, RICK.
- HOW YOU BEEN?
- HANGING IN THERE.
I OWN WE DO PLASTICS.
WE DO ALL KINDS OF
PLASTIC FABRICATIONS.
- SO HERE IT IS.
- OH, JEEZ.
- WE TRIED FOUR, FIVE TIMES,
AND WE CAUGHT THE STOVE
ON FIRE ON THE LAST TIME, SO...
- OKAY, I'LL DO WHAT I CAN DO.
- GOOD LUCK.
- YEAH, RICK HAD TO LEARN
THE HARD WAY ON THE PLASTIC.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
I DO THIS STUFF FOR A LIVING.
- SO WE GOT TWO ISSUES.
THE FIRST ONE IS OUR BUDGET.
WE CAN'T GO TOO HIGH
ON IT, SO I NEED TO KNOW.
AND THE SECOND
IS THE TIME FRAME.
I LITERALLY HAVE THE
CUSTOMER COMING IN TOMORROW.
- I'VE GOT TO MAKE
THE MOLD, OBVIOUSLY.
I'VE GOT TO DRY THE MATERIAL...
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY
MAKE THE PART.
COST FACTOR, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT PROBABLY...
75 TO 100 BUCKS.
- YOU NEARLY GOT ME KILLED,
AND WE COULD HAVE HAD
THIS DONE FOR 75 BUCKS.
- WELL, YOU LEARNED
SOMETHING, DIDN'T YOU?
- YEAH, PLASTIC IS
FLAMMABLE AT 500 DEGREES.
- AND TIME FRAME,
IF I CAN GET ON IT NOW,
UM...
I CAN HAVE IT FOR YOU
TOMORROW MORNING.
- OH, YOU THE MAN
IF YOU CAN DO THAT.
I GOT GOOSE BUMPS.
THAT FELT GOOD.
JOHN HAS THE EQUIPMENT
TO VACUUM-FORM PLASTIC
IN A RELATIVELY SIMPLE
AND INEXPENSIVE WAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE THINNER
THAN THE ORIGINAL SHIELD
BUT STILL JUST AS STRONG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ALLY APPRECIATE IT.
YOU'RE DOING US A HUGE FAVOR.
- ALL RIGHT, NOT A PROBLEM.
- YOU'RE THE MAN.
- THIS OUGHT TO BE AN
INTERESTING PROJECT.
- NOTHING ABOUT THIS GAS
CART PROJECT'S BEEN EASY.
BUT WE'RE ALMOST READY
TO SHOW IT TO THE CUSTOMER.
JUST A FEW FINAL TWEAKS,
AND WE'RE GONNA BE READY.
- YEAH, THAT LOOKS GOOD, KOWBOY.
- WORKING LIKE A CHAMP.
- I'M EXTREMELY SATISFIED
WITH THE WAY THIS
GAS CART CAME OUT.
I'M JUST HOPING ROGER IS TOO.
- HEY, RICK, WHERE ARE YOU?
THAT'S AWESOME.
BRING IT IN HERE.
LET'S FILL IT UP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- UNBELIEVABLE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
- YEAH?
- IT'S BETTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE.
THE CART IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS
GONNA TURN OUT LIKE IT DID.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO THIS THING?
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE HAD
WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN.
- YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE
ROUGH TO BEGIN WITH,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
THIS THING WAS RUSTED OUT.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT ONE NUT
AND BOLT THAT DIDN'T BREAK OFF.
AND LITERALLY NOTHING
MOVED. IT WAS ALL FROZEN STIFF.
BUT IF YOU PUMP THIS RIGHT NOW,
THIS THING GOES UP AND
DOWN AND SUCKS THE GAS UP.
- HOW YOU'D COME UP
WITH THE ORANGE PAINT?
- WELL, I'M WEST COAST, OKAY?
AND GILMORE WAS
A HUGE GAS STATION
JUST IN, LIKE, L.A.
THEY WERE ALSO,
LIKE, INDY CAR DRIVERS,
SO THEY HAD A RACING TEAM.
SO ME LOVING RACING,
I FIGURED WE'D DO
IT IN THOSE COLORS.
- IT LOOKS GREAT. I MEAN,
I REALLY LIKE THE COLOR.
JUST AWESOME.
SURPRISED WITH
THE PAINT, THE TIRES,
THE BRASS, THE CHROME.
EVERYTHING THAT HE DONE TO IT
WAS JUST EXCEPTIONAL.
I'M OVERWHMED WITH IT, REALLY.
OKAY, I'VE GOT $400 IN IT.
AND WE AGREED ON $3,500
TO DO THE RESTORATION.
ARE YOU STILL
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?
- YEP, YEP.
- OKAY, SO NOW
WE'RE ABOUT $3,900.
WHAT CAN WE SELL IT FOR?
- $7,000 FOR THIS.
NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
- SOMEBODY'S GONNA
PUT THIS IN THEIR GARAGE
NEXT TO THEIR OLD
INDY CAR THAT THEY GOT
THAT'S GOT "ROAR WITH
GILMORE" ON THE SIDE OF IT.
BINGO-BANGO, THERE YOU GO.
- WELL, IT MAKES
ME WANT TO GO OUT
AND TRY TO FIND ANOTHER ONE.
YEAH.
WORKING WITH
ROGER'S A GOOD DEAL.
HE MAKES HIS MONEY,
AND I MAKE MINE.
- AFTER LOOKING AT THE GAS CART,
HE DOES SUCH SUPERIOR WORK
THAT IT'S AN EASY SELL TO SELL
ANYTHING THAT HE RESTORES.
I'LL LOOK FOR SOME MORE.
- OH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
BRING ANOTHER IN.
- OKAY.
- WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD ON A NASA HELMET,
- WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD ON A NASA HELMET
THAT WAS MADE FOR
THE GEMINI MISSIONS.
THE HARDEST PART WAS TO
GET THE FACE SHIELD JUST RIGHT.
AND THIS TIME, I HAD
TO OUTSOURCE THAT
BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT DONE
IN THE TIME FRAME THAT I
NEEDED TO GET IT COMPLETED.
BUT IT'S NOT QUITE
READY JUST YET.
WE GOT SOME SPRAY TINT.
WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO TINT UP THE GLASS,
AND I THINK IT SHOULD LOOK GOOD.
AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER ARRIVES,
I'M HOPING HE'S
GONNA BE BLOWN AWAY.
- I'M HERE TO PICK
UP MY NASA HELMET,
AND I'M KIND OF EXCITED
TO SEE THIS THING,
'CAUSE I THOUGHT,
"THERE IS NO WAY
ANYBODY'S GONNA BE ABLE
TO RESTORE THIS THING."
OH, NO WAY.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- HOW YOU DOING, MIKE?
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- WHAT THE HECK?
- NOT VERY OFTEN YOU GET
TO TRY ONE OF THOSE ON.
- HOLY...
- STRAIGHT OUT OF NASA.
- SMOKES.
- IS THAT COOL?
- THAT'S AWESOME, MAN.
- IT FEELS COOL.
GIVES ME GOOSE
BUMPS JUST HAVING IT ON.
- DANG. IT'S NIGHT AND
DAY WITH THIS HELMET.
UNBELIEVABLE.
HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU
GET IT TO LOOK LIKE THIS?
- THE SHIELD ON THE FRONT...
- YEAH.
- THAT IS AN ART FORM IN ITSELF
TO GET THAT SHAPE ON THERE.
WE HAD TO MAKE A NEW FACE SHIELD
BECAUSE OF THE
OTHER FACE SHIELD.
YOU KNOW HOW IT
WAS JUST DESTROYED.
THOSE CRACKS THAT WERE IN THERE,
THERE'S NO WAY I'D
ACTUALLY FIX THOSE.
BELIEVE ME, I GAVE
IT MY BEST SHOT.
AND WE ENDED UP HAVING
TO TAKE IT TO SOMEBODY.
I LEARNED WHAT YOU
CAN DO WITH PLEXIGLAS,
WHAT YOU CAN'T
DO WITH PLEXIGLAS.
THE VACUUM FORM WAY
WAS THE ONLY WAY TO DO.
NOW, THE ONLY THING
ABOUT VACUUM FORM,
THEY GOT TO USE THINNER
MATERIAL, YOU KNOW?
BUT THEY USED SUCH A
BULLETPROOF MATERIAL
THAT IT STILL...
SEE, IT STILL FEELS
LIKE THAT THICK STUFF.
END RESULT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
WITH HOW IT CAME OUT.
- LOOKS SO MUCH
BETTER THAN THE CLEAR.
JUST GIVES IT DARTH VADER
APPEARANCE, YOU KNOW?
- YEAH, OR THE LOOK ON
THE MOON, YOU KNOW?
WHEN THEY WERE ON THE MOON,
THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW, THAT...
- THE REFLECTION IN
THE DARK FACE SHIELD.
EVERY LITTLE DETAIL ON
THAT, IT JUST SHINES THROUGH.
- IT'S A WEIRD SHAPE,
SO WHEN YOU'RE ON IT,
YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SMOOTH.
IT WAS HARD TO GET
IT PERFECTLY SMOOTH.
- THE GUY I GOT IT FROM SAID
THAT EACH GUY WAS
ASSIGNED THAT HELMET,
AND THEY WERE HAND-BUILT.
THAT'S WHY THE
IRREGULARITIES WERE IN IT.
LOOK AT THOSE LOGOS.
HOW'D YOU DO THAT?
- THE LOGO WAS ALL HAND-DONE.
IT WAS A DECAL THAT A GUY MADE.
I MEAN, IT SHINES LIKE IT
WAS FACTORY BRAND-NEW.
YOU KNOW, A HELMET THAT
YOU WOULD GET FROM NASA.
- OKAY, RICK, SO HOW MUCH
IS THAT GONNA COST ME?
IS IT GONNA BE
OUT OF THIS WORLD?
- I WAS TALKING TO
YOU BEFORE ABOUT $500,
BUT WITH THE FACE SHIELD,
IT'S GONNA BE A TOTAL OF $600.
- WELL, JOB WELL DONE.
THIS THING'S UNBELIEVABLE.
TO HAVE THE WHOLE
HELMET RESTORED
IN THE CONDITION
IT'S IN NOW FOR $600
JUST BLOWS MY MIND.
- THAT'S ONE PIECE OF
HISTORY RIGHT THERE.
- YEAH.
- I MEAN, REALLY.
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD
EVEN PUT A PRICE ON THAT.
I REALLY, REALLY DON'T.
- IT'S GONNA BE A
GREAT DISPLAY PIECE
AND ON MY SHELF,
AND I'LL JUST KEEP IT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I MEAN, THE THING
WAS A HUNK OF JUNK,
READY TO GO IN A TRASH CAN.
MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO KILL ME.
- AND NOW I JUST...
I'M LEFT SPEECHLESS.
YOU'VE OUTDONE YOURSELF.
- THANK YOU. IT WAS A...
- OUTDONE YOURSELF.
- IT WAS A TOTAL PRIVILEGE
TO HAVE DONE THAT.
- I'M GONNA PUT IT ON AND
MOONWALK OUT OF HERE,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
- SEE YOU LATER, MIKE.
EARLIER, I MADE
A BET WITH TYLER,
AND THE LOSER OF IT HAS TO
SWEEP THE ENTIRE SHOP SLOT.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE
TRACK, AND WE'RE GONNA RACE.
- OKAY.
- THE LOSER SWEEPS
THE WHOLE THING.
I'VE GOT 30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL
I'M PICKING UP A
BROOM IN MY SHOP.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY.
THAT'S TYLER'S JOB.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, GLAD
TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE RACING.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO
BE SAFE OUT THERE, OKAY?
NO RECKLESS, OUT-OF-CONTROL
SMASHING AND BANGING.
- I AIN'T MAKING ANY PROMISES.
- UM, IT IS NOT TO
BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
THESE KARTS ARE VERY FAST.
45 MILES AN HOUR.
IF YOU CRASH HARD, YOU
COULD DEFINITELY GET HURT.
SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
- I'VE RACED MY WHOLE LIFE,
SO THEY STAND NO CHANCE.
I'LL DRIVE BACKWARDS
FASTER THAN THESE GUYS DRIVE.
- GO!
COME ON, TYLER, LET'S
SEE WHAT YOU GOT.
- MY BIGGEST COMPETITION'S
GOT TO BE MY DAD
'CAUSE HE'S BEEN AROUND LONGER.
HE THINKS HE KNOWS
WHAT HE'S DOING.
- LET BIG DADDY
TEACH YOU A LESSON.
- IF MY DAD TRIES
TO OVERTAKE ME,
I'LL JUST TAKE HIM OUT.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HURRY UP.
YOU'RE GOING SO SLOW.
- NO WAY IN HELL.
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL.
HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE LIKE I DO.
ALL RIGHT, NOW IT'S ON.
I GOT YOU.
- LAST TIME I WORE ONE OF THESE,
I ENDED UP IN JAIL.
I DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
SO I'M NOT MAKING ANY
PROMISES OUT THERE.
- YOU RACE LIKE MY GRANDMA.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
WHOO!
- WHO WON? LET ME CHECK IT OUT.
WHO WON?
UH, WHERE AM I?
OH, LOOK, I'M FIRST.
THAT'S WHO WON.
- I DIDN'T EXPECT
WHAT I JUST GOT HANDED
TO ME BACK THERE.
- SEE THAT?
THAT'S DEAD LAST, BUT SO WHAT?
I FINISHED.
---
- UP NEXT ON AMERICAN
RESTORATION...
HOLY CRAP, ROGER.
THIS IS AWESOME.
IT'S A 1918 GAS CART.
- IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SPECIAL.
- OH, IT'S DEFINITELY
GONNA BE SPECIAL.
THIS IS COOL.
WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING
WITH SUCH HISTORICAL VALUE.
IF WE BREAK SOMETHING,
WE'RE GONNA BE IN BIG TROUBLE.
- GONNA DO A LITTLE RACING.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO
BE SAFE OUT THERE, OKAY?
NO RECKLESS, OUT-OF-CONTROL
SMASHING AND BANGING.
- I DON'T HAVE A
DRIVER'S LICENSE,
SO I'M NOT MAKING ANY PROMISES.
- REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY
WHEN THINGS WERE MADE BY HAND
AND PEOPLE TOOK
PRIDE IN THEIR WORK?
MY NAME'S RICK DALE,
AND I BRING THESE
THINGS BACK TO LIFE.
EVERY RESTORATION HAS
ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES.
THERE'S NO OWNER'S
MANUAL FOR WHAT WE DO,
BUT THERE'S NO JOB
WE CAN'T HANDLE.
HOLY CRAP, ROGER.
ROGER'S A CUSTOMER THAT I'VE HAD
FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
HE HAS A GREAT EYE.
HE BRINGS ME GREAT STUFF,
AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION.
THIS THING IS
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME.
IT'S A 1918 GILBERT AND
BARKER MODEL T57 GAS CART.
- I'VE KNOWN RICK DALE
FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
I DON'T PLAN ON KEEPING
THE GAS CART MYSELF.
WE WANT TO RESTORE
IT AND MAKE IT UNIQUE
AND HAVE IT FOR SALE.
- THESE ARE REALLY RARE.
WHERE'D YOU FIND THIS?
- FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.
I JUST SAID, "$400,"
AND HE SAID, "SOLD."
- $400, THAT'S A GREAT PRICE.
THIS IS RIGHT AROUND $1,100
JUST THE WAY THIS SITS.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE GAS STATIONS
ON EVERY SINGLE
STREET BACK THEN,
THESE THINGS, THEY USED TO
PUSH AROUND ON THE STREETS
AND ACTUALLY
FILL CARS WITH THIS.
IT HOLDS 60 GALLONS,
AND BACK IN THE
DAY, WE PROBABLY HAD
AN EIGHT-GALLON TANK IN A T,
SO YOU HAD QUITE A FEW CARS
YOU COULD FILL UP WITH THAT.
- REALLY?
- COULD YOU JUST IMAGINE
PUSHING THIS THING AROUND,
UP HILLS, DOWN HILLS?
I MEAN, THIS GUY DEFINITELY
WAS SWEATING IT OUT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW
FOR THE FUN PART.
- WELL, I'VE GOT
A $2,500 BUDGET.
- WELL, THERE'S NO WAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY
ABOUT 40 HOURS IN
BODYWORK ON THIS ALONE,
AND IT'S MISSING SOME PARTS.
THEN I'M THINKING RIGHT ABOUT
PROBABLY FIVE HOURS IN PAINTING,
SO THIS IS GONNA RUN
YOU RIGHT AROUND $3,500
TO GET THE FULL THING RESTORED.
- I COULD GO THE $3,500,
BUT IT'S GONNA
HAVE TO BE SPECIAL.
- OH, IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA
BE SPECIAL FOR $3,500.
I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
- I THINK WE GOT A DEAL.
HE'S DONE SOME OTHER
PROJECTS FOR ME.
IF I TELL HIM TO MAKE IT UNIQUE
AND I'VE GOT A
BUDGET TO WORK WITH,
HE'LL DO HIS BEST TO MAKE
BOTH ELEMENTS HAPPEN.
- HE'S BUYING THESE MACHINES
AND PAYING TO HAVE THEM RESTORED
TO MAKE MONEY.
THE MORE MONEY HE
MAKES, THE MORE LIKELY HE IS
TO BRING MORE STUFF BACK.
- I HAVE A PACKAGE FOR YOU.
- WHAT'S UP?
- HERE.
- KELLY'S MY GIRLFRIEND.
AND SHE HANDLES ALL
THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
HERE AT THE SHOP.
AND SO WHEN I CAN'T MEET
WITH A CUSTOMER IN PERSON,
SHE GETS ALL THE INFO NEEDED
TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT?
- WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT.
- OKAY, WHAT'S THAT?
- ONE SMALL STEP FOR YOU.
- YOU READY?
- IS IT A SELF-HELP BOOK?
- OPEN IT UP.
- YEAH?
OH, MAN, THIS IS COOL.
- HOPE YOU AIN'T GOT NO
RADIATION IN THAT SUCKER.
- IT WAS USED FOR
NASA TO LOAD FUEL
INTO THE GEMINI SPACECRAFT.
- SO IT WASN'T ONE THAT WENT UP.
IT WAS THE GUY THAT WAS ON
THE GROUND FUELING THE RIGS.
IT'S GOT COOL STUFF.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT A PLACE IN
THERE FOR RADIO CONTROL.
IT'S GOT VENTS IN
IT FOR BREATHING.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S MADE OUT OF,
YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL PLASTIC.
IT PROBABLY WAS CRUSH-PROOF.
IT PROBABLY WENT INTO
DIFFERENT PRESSURES.
THE FRONT, YOU KNOW HOW
WE USE PLEXIGLAS AND STUFF?
THIS COULD BE THAT MATERIAL
LEXAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T SHATTER.
THE MAIN THING
FOR THIS THING WAS,
IS TO KEEP THE GUY FROM THE FUEL
THAT THEY WERE LOADING
IN INTO THE ROCKETS.
I MEAN, THAT STUFF
IS SERIOUS STUFF.
I MEAN, ZIPPITY-DOO-DAH,
YOU'RE DONE.
THE GEMINI MISSIONS
WERE THE FINAL MISSIONS
LEADING US UP TO ACTUALLY
PUTTING A MAN ON THE MOON.
WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING
WITH SUCH HISTORICAL VALUE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND
ANY PARTS FOR THIS.
SO AS FAR AS US
QUOTING THE CUSTOMER,
$500 TO PUT A PAINT JOB ON IT.
THIS IS PROBABLY OUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW
IS JUST MAKING THIS
PLEXIGLAS IN THIS SHAPE.
I MEAN, THIS COULD BE $300;
IT COULD BE $1,000 TO GET DONE.
AND YOU NOTICE
THAT THIS ONE'S CLEAR.
- HE DID MENTION THAT
HE WANTED THE TINT IN IT.
- YEAH.
- YEAH.
- YEAH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER TASK.
THERE AIN'T HUNDREDS
OF THESE THINGS
LAYING AROUND THE LANDFILLS.
IF WE BREAK SOMETHING
OR SCREW IT UP,
WE'RE GONNA BE IN BIG TROUBLE.
EARLIER, A CUSTOMER DROPPED
OFF A 1918 GILBERT BARKER GAS CART.
FIRST STEP OF THE PROCESS
IS TO SANDBLAST
THE HELL OUT OF IT.
AFTER IT'S BEEN SANDBLASTED,
WE'RE GONNA BREAK
IT DOWN INTO PIECES.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, HOW'S IT GOING?
- IT'S GOING GOOD.
- GETTING THERE.
- MY IDEA ON THIS THING,
I WANTED TO DESIGN THIS
AFTER AN OLD GAS STATION
OUT IN CALIFORNIA
WHICH WAS HUGE
INTO THE RACING SCENE.
- RACING, HUH?
IT'S JUST NEVER
GONNA GO AWAY, IS IT?
- I'VE RACED SHIFTER
KARTS FOR NINE YEARS.
I LOVE RACING, AND RECENTLY,
TYLER'S GOTTEN INTO IT TOO.
I MAY BE OLD, BUT I
STILL CAN KICK HIS ASS.
- YOU CAN'T KICK MY ASS.
- ALL RIGHT, TYLER,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE
TRACK, AND WE'RE GONNA RACE.
- OKAY.
- THE LOSER SWEEPS
THE WHOLE SHOP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- WE IN?
- YEAH.
- GET THAT FINISHED.
- THERE'S NO WAY HE'S
GONNA BE ABLE TO BEAT ME.
I'M GONNA WHUP HIS ASS.
- NOW WE'RE UP TO THE PROCESS
- WE NEED TO TEAR THIS
DOWN REAL CAREFUL,
'CAUSE IT'S OLD AND IT'S RARE.
IF BRETTLY BREAKS ANYTHING
ON THIS NASA HELMET,
RICK'S GONNA CHEW MY ASS OUT.
SO I AM WATCHING
HIM LIKE A HAWK.
LET'S GET THIS SEAL OFF HERE.
BE CAREFUL WITH IT.
GET THIS GLASS OUT.
IT HAS TO BE REPLACED,
AND IT'S BROKE.
AND WE NEED A CRESCENT WRENCH
TO TAKE THIS LITTLE THING OFF.
LEFTY-LOOSEY, RIGHTY-TIGHTY.
WRONG WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TIGHTENING IT.
- LEFT.
- YES, AND YOU'RE
TURNING IT RIGHT.
- LEFT.
- YES, THIS LEFT,
YOUR OTHER LEFT.
THERE YOU GO.
- AFTER DISASSEMBLING
THE NASA HELMET,
THE FIRST PROCESS
IS TO SAND IT DOWN
AND THEN GET IT
READY FOR BODYWORK.
THIS THING'S GOT A
LOT OF OLD PAINT ON IT.
IN FACT, IT'S GOT
SOME MATERIAL ON IT
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF
WORK TO GET THE THING SMOOTH
IN ORDER FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO GET READY TO PAINT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A
GAS CART FOR A FEW DAYS NOW.
THE GOAL OF THIS RESTORATION
IS TO MAKE IT FULLY FUNCTIONAL,
AND THAT MEANS IT NEEDS
TO BE ABLE TO HOLD GAS.
OKAY, TYLER, WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA POR-15 INSIDE THERE.
AND THE POR-15, WHAT
THAT'S GONNA DO FOR US
IS MAKE IT TO WHERE WHEN
THEY DO PUT FUEL IN IT,
IT DOESN'T END UP
CONTAMINATING THE FUEL.
THE RUST DOESN'T COME BACK UP.
IT ACTUALLY ACTS AS,
LIKE, A PLASTIC LINER.
CAN YOU POUR THAT IN THERE?
- NO, I'M GONNA MISS.
- THIS IS LIKE EPOXY,
SO YOU WANT TO KEEP
IT AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.
- WHY CAN'T I JUST
POUR IT IN THE BOTTOM
AND THEN BRUSH IT AROUND?
- THERE'S A DRAIN HOLE IN IT.
IT'S JUST GONNA ALL
COME OUT THE DRAIN HOLE,
AND THEN THE BOTTOM OF THE THING
IS GONNA BE RUINED, OKAY?
TYLER'S ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO CUT CORNERS.
AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO
ROOM FOR THAT IN THIS BUSINESS.
YOU HAVE TO GET
ONE HAND IN THERE,
AND YOU'RE GONNA START WITH
THE SIDES AND THE BOTTOM, OKAY?
- IT SMELLS LIKE DEATH IN HERE.
- WHAT'S DEATH SMELL LIKE?
- I DON'T KNOW.
- ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE
PROJECTS WE'VE HAD RECENTLY
IS A 1960s NASA HELMET.
BUT NOW WE'RE UP TO THE PROCESS
THAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT:
THE FACE SHIELD.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS,
I'M GONNA MIX UP
SOME PLASTER OF PARIS
AND MAKE A MOLD INSIDE
OF THE FACE SHIELD.
- THIS IS AN
EXPERIMENT, ALL RIGHT.
- FEEL LIKE THE FIRST GRADE?
- NO, TOO SMART FOR FIRST GRADE.
- I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M
GONNA PAY SOMEBODY $800
TO MAKE A PIECE
OF PLASTIC ONE TIME.
- HOW ARE WE LOOKING, RICK?
- I THINK WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, THIS BETTER HOLD.
IF WE BREAK IT, IT'S OVER, MAN.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER,
AND YOU'RE GONNA HOLD ON.
READY?
- YEAH.
- HERE WE GO.
OOH.
- FEEL IT.
- ALL RIGHT, AND THEN
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO
IS PUT IT IN AN OVEN,
PUT SOME PLEXIGLAS ON TOP OF IT,
AND SEE IF IT FLOWS DOWN.
- YOU THINK NASA WOULD APPROVE
THIS METHOD FOR THEIR HELMET?
- NO.
IT'S GOING, MAN.
IT'S JAMMING.
- LOOKING GOOD.
- MY MITTS ARE SMOKING.
YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A
CHALLENGE, I'M BORED.
AND I LOVE MAKING THINGS,
SO THIS IS NO BIG DEAL TO ME.
YOU READY?
HOUSTON...
WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
THE PLASTIC DIDN'T BEND
AS EASY AS I THOUGHT.
IT STARTED WRINKLING.
- THAT'S A FREDDY KRUEGER MASK.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE ONE SOMEHOW.
- RICK, I'M YOUR FATHER.
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S GOING THERE.
- LOOKS BETTER
THAN THE OTHER ONES.
- WANT ME TO FIRE EXTINGUISH IT?
- GET IT.
HURRY IT UP.
I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED
THAT I COULDN'T MAKE
IT HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
THE DEADLINE'S
COMING RIGHT UP ON ME.
I GOT TOMORROW.
CUSTOMER'S COMING IN.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE
ABLE TO WHIP THIS THING OUT.
TO HAVE ONE MADE,
I'M LOOKING AT A WEEK.
SO I GOT TO DO SOMETHING QUICK.
THE GAS CART'S
REALLY COMING ALONG.
TYLER PREPPED IT WITH POR-15,
AND NOW IT'S ABLE TO HOLD GAS.
NEXT STEP IN THE
PROCESS IS PAINT.
DO A NICE, FAST COAT
ON THE WHOLE PIECE, YEP.
AND SIT AND WAIT AWHILE.
- OKAY.
- OKAY?
DON'T T IMPATIENT.
AND IT WON'T RUN.
IT WILL NOT RUN.
THE SHIELD FOR THE NASA HELMET
WAS A LOT HARDER
TO DO THAN I THOUGHT.
I TRIED MULTIPLE
TIMES TO TRY TO SAVE
MY CUSTOMER AND ME
A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS.
BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
NOW I'M GONNA HAVE
TO PAY BIG BUCKS
TO GET ONE DONE BY AN EXPERT.
HEY, JOHN.
- HI, RICK.
- HOW YOU BEEN?
- HANGING IN THERE.
I OWN WE DO PLASTICS.
WE DO ALL KINDS OF
PLASTIC FABRICATIONS.
- SO HERE IT IS.
- OH, JEEZ.
- WE TRIED FOUR, FIVE TIMES,
AND WE CAUGHT THE STOVE
ON FIRE ON THE LAST TIME, SO...
- OKAY, I'LL DO WHAT I CAN DO.
- GOOD LUCK.
- YEAH, RICK HAD TO LEARN
THE HARD WAY ON THE PLASTIC.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
I DO THIS STUFF FOR A LIVING.
- SO WE GOT TWO ISSUES.
THE FIRST ONE IS OUR BUDGET.
WE CAN'T GO TOO HIGH
ON IT, SO I NEED TO KNOW.
AND THE SECOND
IS THE TIME FRAME.
I LITERALLY HAVE THE
CUSTOMER COMING IN TOMORROW.
- I'VE GOT TO MAKE
THE MOLD, OBVIOUSLY.
I'VE GOT TO DRY THE MATERIAL...
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY
MAKE THE PART.
COST FACTOR, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT PROBABLY...
75 TO 100 BUCKS.
- YOU NEARLY GOT ME KILLED,
AND WE COULD HAVE HAD
THIS DONE FOR 75 BUCKS.
- WELL, YOU LEARNED
SOMETHING, DIDN'T YOU?
- YEAH, PLASTIC IS
FLAMMABLE AT 500 DEGREES.
- AND TIME FRAME,
IF I CAN GET ON IT NOW,
UM...
I CAN HAVE IT FOR YOU
TOMORROW MORNING.
- OH, YOU THE MAN
IF YOU CAN DO THAT.
I GOT GOOSE BUMPS.
THAT FELT GOOD.
JOHN HAS THE EQUIPMENT
TO VACUUM-FORM PLASTIC
IN A RELATIVELY SIMPLE
AND INEXPENSIVE WAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE THINNER
THAN THE ORIGINAL SHIELD
BUT STILL JUST AS STRONG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ALLY APPRECIATE IT.
YOU'RE DOING US A HUGE FAVOR.
- ALL RIGHT, NOT A PROBLEM.
- YOU'RE THE MAN.
- THIS OUGHT TO BE AN
INTERESTING PROJECT.
- NOTHING ABOUT THIS GAS
CART PROJECT'S BEEN EASY.
BUT WE'RE ALMOST READY
TO SHOW IT TO THE CUSTOMER.
JUST A FEW FINAL TWEAKS,
AND WE'RE GONNA BE READY.
- YEAH, THAT LOOKS GOOD, KOWBOY.
- WORKING LIKE A CHAMP.
- I'M EXTREMELY SATISFIED
WITH THE WAY THIS
GAS CART CAME OUT.
I'M JUST HOPING ROGER IS TOO.
- HEY, RICK, WHERE ARE YOU?
THAT'S AWESOME.
BRING IT IN HERE.
LET'S FILL IT UP.
- ALL RIGHT.
- UNBELIEVABLE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
- YEAH?
- IT'S BETTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE.
THE CART IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS
GONNA TURN OUT LIKE IT DID.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO THIS THING?
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE HAD
WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN.
- YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE
ROUGH TO BEGIN WITH,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
THIS THING WAS RUSTED OUT.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT ONE NUT
AND BOLT THAT DIDN'T BREAK OFF.
AND LITERALLY NOTHING
MOVED. IT WAS ALL FROZEN STIFF.
BUT IF YOU PUMP THIS RIGHT NOW,
THIS THING GOES UP AND
DOWN AND SUCKS THE GAS UP.
- HOW YOU'D COME UP
WITH THE ORANGE PAINT?
- WELL, I'M WEST COAST, OKAY?
AND GILMORE WAS
A HUGE GAS STATION
JUST IN, LIKE, L.A.
THEY WERE ALSO,
LIKE, INDY CAR DRIVERS,
SO THEY HAD A RACING TEAM.
SO ME LOVING RACING,
I FIGURED WE'D DO
IT IN THOSE COLORS.
- IT LOOKS GREAT. I MEAN,
I REALLY LIKE THE COLOR.
JUST AWESOME.
SURPRISED WITH
THE PAINT, THE TIRES,
THE BRASS, THE CHROME.
EVERYTHING THAT HE DONE TO IT
WAS JUST EXCEPTIONAL.
I'M OVERWHMED WITH IT, REALLY.
OKAY, I'VE GOT $400 IN IT.
AND WE AGREED ON $3,500
TO DO THE RESTORATION.
ARE YOU STILL
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?
- YEP, YEP.
- OKAY, SO NOW
WE'RE ABOUT $3,900.
WHAT CAN WE SELL IT FOR?
- $7,000 FOR THIS.
NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL.
- SOMEBODY'S GONNA
PUT THIS IN THEIR GARAGE
NEXT TO THEIR OLD
INDY CAR THAT THEY GOT
THAT'S GOT "ROAR WITH
GILMORE" ON THE SIDE OF IT.
BINGO-BANGO, THERE YOU GO.
- WELL, IT MAKES
ME WANT TO GO OUT
AND TRY TO FIND ANOTHER ONE.
YEAH.
WORKING WITH
ROGER'S A GOOD DEAL.
HE MAKES HIS MONEY,
AND I MAKE MINE.
- AFTER LOOKING AT THE GAS CART,
HE DOES SUCH SUPERIOR WORK
THAT IT'S AN EASY SELL TO SELL
ANYTHING THAT HE RESTORES.
I'LL LOOK FOR SOME MORE.
- OH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
BRING ANOTHER IN.
- OKAY.
- WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD ON A NASA HELMET,
- WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD ON A NASA HELMET
THAT WAS MADE FOR
THE GEMINI MISSIONS.
THE HARDEST PART WAS TO
GET THE FACE SHIELD JUST RIGHT.
AND THIS TIME, I HAD
TO OUTSOURCE THAT
BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT DONE
IN THE TIME FRAME THAT I
NEEDED TO GET IT COMPLETED.
BUT IT'S NOT QUITE
READY JUST YET.
WE GOT SOME SPRAY TINT.
WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO TINT UP THE GLASS,
AND I THINK IT SHOULD LOOK GOOD.
AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER ARRIVES,
I'M HOPING HE'S
GONNA BE BLOWN AWAY.
- I'M HERE TO PICK
UP MY NASA HELMET,
AND I'M KIND OF EXCITED
TO SEE THIS THING,
'CAUSE I THOUGHT,
"THERE IS NO WAY
ANYBODY'S GONNA BE ABLE
TO RESTORE THIS THING."
OH, NO WAY.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- HOW YOU DOING, MIKE?
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
- WHAT THE HECK?
- NOT VERY OFTEN YOU GET
TO TRY ONE OF THOSE ON.
- HOLY...
- STRAIGHT OUT OF NASA.
- SMOKES.
- IS THAT COOL?
- THAT'S AWESOME, MAN.
- IT FEELS COOL.
GIVES ME GOOSE
BUMPS JUST HAVING IT ON.
- DANG. IT'S NIGHT AND
DAY WITH THIS HELMET.
UNBELIEVABLE.
HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU
GET IT TO LOOK LIKE THIS?
- THE SHIELD ON THE FRONT...
- YEAH.
- THAT IS AN ART FORM IN ITSELF
TO GET THAT SHAPE ON THERE.
WE HAD TO MAKE A NEW FACE SHIELD
BECAUSE OF THE
OTHER FACE SHIELD.
YOU KNOW HOW IT
WAS JUST DESTROYED.
THOSE CRACKS THAT WERE IN THERE,
THERE'S NO WAY I'D
ACTUALLY FIX THOSE.
BELIEVE ME, I GAVE
IT MY BEST SHOT.
AND WE ENDED UP HAVING
TO TAKE IT TO SOMEBODY.
I LEARNED WHAT YOU
CAN DO WITH PLEXIGLAS,
WHAT YOU CAN'T
DO WITH PLEXIGLAS.
THE VACUUM FORM WAY
WAS THE ONLY WAY TO DO.
NOW, THE ONLY THING
ABOUT VACUUM FORM,
THEY GOT TO USE THINNER
MATERIAL, YOU KNOW?
BUT THEY USED SUCH A
BULLETPROOF MATERIAL
THAT IT STILL...
SEE, IT STILL FEELS
LIKE THAT THICK STUFF.
END RESULT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
WITH HOW IT CAME OUT.
- LOOKS SO MUCH
BETTER THAN THE CLEAR.
JUST GIVES IT DARTH VADER
APPEARANCE, YOU KNOW?
- YEAH, OR THE LOOK ON
THE MOON, YOU KNOW?
WHEN THEY WERE ON THE MOON,
THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW, THAT...
- THE REFLECTION IN
THE DARK FACE SHIELD.
EVERY LITTLE DETAIL ON
THAT, IT JUST SHINES THROUGH.
- IT'S A WEIRD SHAPE,
SO WHEN YOU'RE ON IT,
YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SMOOTH.
IT WAS HARD TO GET
IT PERFECTLY SMOOTH.
- THE GUY I GOT IT FROM SAID
THAT EACH GUY WAS
ASSIGNED THAT HELMET,
AND THEY WERE HAND-BUILT.
THAT'S WHY THE
IRREGULARITIES WERE IN IT.
LOOK AT THOSE LOGOS.
HOW'D YOU DO THAT?
- THE LOGO WAS ALL HAND-DONE.
IT WAS A DECAL THAT A GUY MADE.
I MEAN, IT SHINES LIKE IT
WAS FACTORY BRAND-NEW.
YOU KNOW, A HELMET THAT
YOU WOULD GET FROM NASA.
- OKAY, RICK, SO HOW MUCH
IS THAT GONNA COST ME?
IS IT GONNA BE
OUT OF THIS WORLD?
- I WAS TALKING TO
YOU BEFORE ABOUT $500,
BUT WITH THE FACE SHIELD,
IT'S GONNA BE A TOTAL OF $600.
- WELL, JOB WELL DONE.
THIS THING'S UNBELIEVABLE.
TO HAVE THE WHOLE
HELMET RESTORED
IN THE CONDITION
IT'S IN NOW FOR $600
JUST BLOWS MY MIND.
- THAT'S ONE PIECE OF
HISTORY RIGHT THERE.
- YEAH.
- I MEAN, REALLY.
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD
EVEN PUT A PRICE ON THAT.
I REALLY, REALLY DON'T.
- IT'S GONNA BE A
GREAT DISPLAY PIECE
AND ON MY SHELF,
AND I'LL JUST KEEP IT
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I MEAN, THE THING
WAS A HUNK OF JUNK,
READY TO GO IN A TRASH CAN.
MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO KILL ME.
- AND NOW I JUST...
I'M LEFT SPEECHLESS.
YOU'VE OUTDONE YOURSELF.
- THANK YOU. IT WAS A...
- OUTDONE YOURSELF.
- IT WAS A TOTAL PRIVILEGE
TO HAVE DONE THAT.
- I'M GONNA PUT IT ON AND
MOONWALK OUT OF HERE,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
- SEE YOU LATER, MIKE.
EARLIER, I MADE
A BET WITH TYLER,
AND THE LOSER OF IT HAS TO
SWEEP THE ENTIRE SHOP SLOT.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE
TRACK, AND WE'RE GONNA RACE.
- OKAY.
- THE LOSER SWEEPS
THE WHOLE THING.
I'VE GOT 30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL
I'M PICKING UP A
BROOM IN MY SHOP.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY.
THAT'S TYLER'S JOB.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, GLAD
TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE RACING.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO
BE SAFE OUT THERE, OKAY?
NO RECKLESS, OUT-OF-CONTROL
SMASHING AND BANGING.
- I AIN'T MAKING ANY PROMISES.
- UM, IT IS NOT TO
BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
THESE KARTS ARE VERY FAST.
45 MILES AN HOUR.
IF YOU CRASH HARD, YOU
COULD DEFINITELY GET HURT.
SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND.
- I'VE RACED MY WHOLE LIFE,
SO THEY STAND NO CHANCE.
I'LL DRIVE BACKWARDS
FASTER THAN THESE GUYS DRIVE.
- GO!
COME ON, TYLER, LET'S
SEE WHAT YOU GOT.
- MY BIGGEST COMPETITION'S
GOT TO BE MY DAD
'CAUSE HE'S BEEN AROUND LONGER.
HE THINKS HE KNOWS
WHAT HE'S DOING.
- LET BIG DADDY
TEACH YOU A LESSON.
- IF MY DAD TRIES
TO OVERTAKE ME,
I'LL JUST TAKE HIM OUT.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HURRY UP.
YOU'RE GOING SO SLOW.
- NO WAY IN HELL.
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL.
HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE LIKE I DO.
ALL RIGHT, NOW IT'S ON.
I GOT YOU.
- LAST TIME I WORE ONE OF THESE,
I ENDED UP IN JAIL.
I DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
SO I'M NOT MAKING ANY
PROMISES OUT THERE.
- YOU RACE LIKE MY GRANDMA.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
WHOO!
- WHO WON? LET ME CHECK IT OUT.
WHO WON?
UH, WHERE AM I?
OH, LOOK, I'M FIRST.
THAT'S WHO WON.
- I DIDN'T EXPECT
WHAT I JUST GOT HANDED
TO ME BACK THERE.
- SEE THAT?
THAT'S DEAD LAST, BUT SO WHAT?
I FINISHED.