Speed Is the New Black (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 8 - Mini Car, Mega Power - full transcript
A lover of small cars and fast speeds has Noah and the team rebuild her 1970 Mini so she can race her boyfriend and enjoy zippy rides on country drives. A massive horsepower upgrade makes this Mini one huge beast.
COMING UP,
A PINT-SIZED IMPORT...
ONE MINI COOPER
THAT I'M DYING TO DRIVE.
...GETS A CCS BOOST
UNDER THE BONNET.
THIS THING'S GONNA
BE TERRIFYING.
AND A LUXURY ROADSTER...
WHAT YOU SEE
IS WHAT YOU GET.
OH, BOY.
...MAKES IT BACK TO THE ROAD.
- THERE YOU GO.
- I LOVE IT. BLOODY HELL.
TWO SMALL CARS...
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT.
...WITH A LOT OF PUNCH.
IT MAKES 170 HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
IT'S A EUROPEAN INVASION...
IT'S THE ALL-THRILL
MERCEDES GRILLE.
...IN THE GATEWAY CITY.
OKAY, NOAH,
WHERE'S MY CAR?
UH...
MAKING A CAR LOOK GOOD --
FOR US, THAT'S A GIVEN.
MAKING A CAR PERFORM --
THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY.
HERE AT CLASSIC CAR STUDIO,
MY TEAM OF VISIONARIES
AND MASTER CRAFTSMEN
TAKE CARS OF ALL KINDS
AND TRANSFORM THEM
INTO CUSTOM-TAILORED,
HIGH-PERFORMANCE RIDES.
YOU WANT TO WIN SHOWS?
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
YOU WANT TO WIN SHOWS
ANDHAUL ASS?
WE'RE THE SHOP FOR YOU.
BECAUSE HERE,
SPEED IS THE NEW BLACK.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING IN
TODAY,
AND THANKS FOR BRINGING
YOUR LITTLE CAR.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M EXCITED.
TODAY OUR CLIENT, STEPHANIE,
BROUGHT IN HER 1972 BMC MINI.
NOW, MINI COOPERS ARE TINY,
TINY, LITTLE CARS
KNOWN FOR THEIR HANDLING,
PRACTICALITY,
AND JUST BEING
ALL-AROUND FUN.
LET'S SEE WHAT STEPHANIE
WANTS TO DO.
IT WILL BE THE SMALLEST CAR
WE'VE EVER DONE AT THE SHOP.
WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER
SMALL BRITISH STUFF,
BUT THIS ONE
TAKES THE CAKE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
OWNED THE CAR?
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
WERE YOU, LIKE,
A MINI ENTHUSIAST
FOREVER AND EVER,
OR IS THIS A NEW THING?
FOREVER AND EVER.
YES.
I LOVE THE '72 MINI
BECAUSE THEY'RE FAST.
IT'S A RIGHT-HAND DRIVE,
AND IT'S THE FIRST CAR
I'VE EVER LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE
A STICK SHIFT ON.
SO, DOES IT RUN AND DRIVE
AT THE MOMENT?
NO.
NOT AT THE MOMENT.
AND WHY IS THAT?
SOMEBODY FORGOT TO PUT OIL
IN IT AND...
- AAH.
- ...AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP.
WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED, BUT
THE OIL WASN'T PUT BACK IN IT,
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED
A NEW ENGINE.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S CHECK OUT
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
REALLY QUICK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
HORSEPOWER THESE MADE,
BUT I'M GUESSING
ABOUT 50 OR 60,
WHICH IS FUN IN A CAR
THIS SMALL.
BUT WHAT I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO,
AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO TALK ANYBODY
INTO ACTUALLY DOING,
IS DOING A HONDA SWAP.
- RIGHT.
THE HONDAS ARE ALSO
FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CARS,
SO THEY FIT
RIGHT IN HERE,
WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF MAKING
ABOUT 200 HORSEPOWER.
SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT
FOUR TIMES THE HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
I'M GONNA FLY OFF THE ROAD.
THE HONDA MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE
IT COULD REALLY MAKE
THIS CAR QUICK.
I LOVE TO DRIVE FAST,
AND MY BOYFRIEND AND I LOVE
TO GO OUT AND RACE OUT
IN THE WINE COUNTRY.
SO, THAT'S GONNA BE PRETTY COOL.
LET'S CHECK OUT THE INTERIOR
REAL QUICK.
SO THIS IS ABOUT AS SIMPLE
AS THEY GET,
WHICH IS KIND
OF THE BEAUTY IF IT.
SO, I THINK NEW SEATS
ARE A MUST.
- YEAH.
- JUST TO MAKE IT NICE AND FRESH.
BUT I THINK DOING
THE SEATS,
THE DOOR CARDS AND THE DASH
AND NEW CARPETING,
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE IT
A LONG WAY.
DOES THIS CAR
HAVE A NAME?
IT DOES.
HER NAME IS GOLDIE.
- GOLDIE?
- YES.
- ALL RIGHT.
- AND I EVEN HAVE A KEY CHAIN
THAT LOOKS
EXACTLY LIKE THE CAR.
SO, THIS PUTS US IN A BIT
OF A PREDICAMENT.
UM, ONE, IF WE CHANGE
THE COLOR OF THE CAR...
YES?
...YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
COME UP WITH A NEW NAME.
- YEAH.
- TWO, I DON'T KNOW
HOW WE'RE GONNA REPAINT
THIS TINY CAR
TO MAKE IT ALL MATCH.
- RIGHT.
WELL, YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- I'M SURE.
- ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THIS THING SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KEEP UP WITH ANYTHING.
KIND OF CHECKS
ALL THE BOXES --
SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT,
IT'S GONNA HANDLE WELL
AND IT'S GONNA
HAVE THE POWER.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
- THANK YOU.
THIS IS GONNA BE COOL.
ALL RIGHT.
IS THIS A TOY
OR A REAL CAR?
FIRST THOUGHT TO MY MIND WAS,
"HOLY GOLDEN GOOSE EGG."
YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOLD?
I ACTUALLY THINK
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY.
SO STEPHANIE'S OWNED THIS CAR
FOR A WHILE.
SHE'S GOT A NEW MINI COOPER
SHE DRIVES AROUND.
AND SHE IS, LIKE,
TOTALLY GAME TO LET US
GO KIND OF CRAZY
WITH THIS.
LIKE, HOW FAST
ARE WE GOING HERE?
RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LIKE.
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO?
WHAT KIND OF IDEAS
ARE YOU GONNA TRY
AND THROW IN THIS LITTLE BOX?
- YEAH.
IT'S GONNA BE
REALLY STUPID FAST.
IT WILL HAVE AS MUCH
OR MORE HORSEPOWER
THAN A HAYABUSA MOTOR
CAN PRODUCE.
IF WE CAN DO A 4-CYLINDER
HONDA MOTOR,
AND THEY MAKE ABOUT
180 HORSEPOWER.
THAT'S A LOT
FOR THIS LITTLE CAR.
WHICH IS A STUPID AMOUNT
OF HORSEPOWER IN THIS,
BUT NOT
IN A REGULAR CAR.
- SOUNDS EASY, RIGHT?
- STILL JUST A LITTLE CAR.
IT ALWAYS SOUNDS EASY.
THERE'S GONNA BE
A LOT OF CUTTING, I'M SURE.
THERE'S GONNA BE QUITE A BIT,
BUT, I MEAN, REALLY,
I THINK THE KIND OF
BIG PICTURE IS,
LIKE, SIMPLE,
STUPID FAST,
AND WE GOT
TO SCARE STEPHANIE.
THIS IS CRAZY.
COSMETICALLY,
IT'S GOT A, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF CRAPPY,
OLDER PAINT JOB.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS DOOR'S
IN REALLY BAD CONDITION,
SO WE GOT TO STRIP IT DOWN.
- OKAY.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD KIND OF
COME UP WITH, LIKE,
A PAINT JOB
THAT GOES WITH IT.
ON THE INTERIOR, I MEAN,
FOR A CAR THIS SMALL,
THERE'S ACTUALLY
A LOT OF INTERIOR SPACE,
SO WE'LL JUST REDO
A WHOLE INTERIOR.
I DO LIKE THE CENTER
GAUGE IN THIS.
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
- THE CENTER GAUGE IS COOL.
'CAUSE YOU GOT
180 HORSEPOWER
GOING IN
A 2-POUND LITTLE BODY.
WE GONNA FATTEN UP
THE WHEEL AND TIRE?
YEP. WE CAN DO 13
ALL THE WAY AROUND,
AND THEN, JUST SOME REALLY,
REALLY STICKY TIRES.
I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY WIDE
FLARES ON THESE, TOO, SO...
SHE WANTS TO KEEP IT
KIND OF, LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE NOT
GONNA GO CRAZY WITH IT.
WE'RE GONNA GO CRAZY
ON THE MECHANICAL END,
BUT, COSMETICALLY, WE'LL
STRIP IT ALL DOWN, ALL NEW.
IT'S GONNA BE A TRUE-BLUE
LITTLE RACECAR.
- IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE RACECAR.
- IT'S GONNA BE TERRIFYING.
WHEN SHE HITS THE GAS,
IT'S GONNA SHOOT LIKE A ROCKET.
SHE'S NOT GONNA BE
READY FOR IT.
AND WITH THOSE TIRES,
THE THING'S GONNA HOOK.
YOU WANT TO SEE THE LITTLE
ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD?
- YEAH, LET'S SEE IT.
- YEAH, LET'S SEE IT.
- WHAT IS IT?
- DOES IT RUN NOW?
- NO, IT DOESN'T.
- 1,000 HORSEPOWER?
- MIGHT JUST...
- OH, MY GOD.
DUDE, THERE'S GONNA BE
A BIGGER MOTOR
THAN THAT FIT IN THERE?
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
CUT A LOT OUT.
I THINK ALL OF THIS
IS GOT TO GET CUT.
THE MORE WE CUT, THE LIGHTER
THE CAR GETS, TOO.
HOLY SMOKES.
MOTOR LOOKS LIKE
A LITTLE SEWING MACHINE.
IT DOES.
THE ALTERNATOR'S
BIGGER THAN THE MOTOR.
MINI CAR, BIG PROJECT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TORN DOWN
AND HAVE AT IT.
LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS.
- HE'S SMILING.
YOU'RE TURNING
BRITISH ON US.
- 180 HORSEPOWER?
- WHAT?
I GUESS WE'RE GONNA TEAR
THIS THING APART,
GET ALL THE TRIM, GLASS,
BODY PANELS OFF OF IT
SO WE CAN SEND IT BACK
TO THE MECHANICS.
THEY CAN RIP THE MOTOR OUT.
AND BY BODY PANELS,
YOU MEAN ALL FOUR PIECES?
YEAH, ALL FOUR PIECES.
I MEAN, THIS MINI ISN'T REALLY
MY CUP OF TEA.
GET IT?
LIKE IT'S A BRITISH CAR?
CUP OF TEA.
I JOKES.
THIS IS HELD ON
WITH ONE RUSTY SCREW,
NO SCREW,
NO SCREW AND A RIVET.
WHAT THE...?
HOW MANY PIECES ARE THERE
TO THIS?
WELL, THAT'S NOT
EVEN ON THERE.
THE PARTS THAT ARE COMING OFF
AREN'T IN THE BEST SHAPE,
BUT THE CAR, ITSELF,
IS IN DECENT CONDITION.
THANK YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH AN OLDER CAR LIKE THIS,
YOU'RE GONNA FIND SOMETHING
SOMEONE'S HAD THEIR HANDS ON,
OR 10 JOE BLOWS HAVE HAD
THEIR HANDS ON IT
AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
AND ALWAYS COMING THROUGH
AND TRYING TO NOT ONLY FIX
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR,
BUT NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE HACKED UP IN THE PAST.
I THINK THIS CAR'S MADE OUT
OF TEA AND CRUMPETS,
'CAUSE IT WEIGHS
NEXT TO NOTHING,
AND IT SEEMS PRETTY DAMN FLIMSY.
SO, WHILE I WAS TAKING
THE FENDER FLARES
OFF THE FRONT
OF THE MINI COOPER,
I NOTICE THERE'S A GIANT CRACK
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER.
LIKE, PRETTY MUCH, THE WHOLE
BOTTOM OF THE FENDER
IS BROKE OFF.
THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR
RUST ISSUE WE HAVE DOWN HERE,
SO I'M JUST GONNA
CUT THIS OUT,
MAKE A NEW PANEL
AND FIX IT REAL QUICK.
ASIDE FROM THAT, WE GOT
A HANDFUL OF DOOR DINGS TO FIX,
AND THIS CAR WILL BE READY
TO GO OVER TO PRIMER.
WE'VE GOT OUR PIECE OF METAL
MADE HERE,
PATCH PANEL
FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER.
THESE CLAMPS HOLD IT
IN PLACE REAL NICE.
THEY KEEP A NICE,
EVEN GAP SO THAT
THE WELD PENETRATES REAL NICE
AND THEY KEEP IT NICE AND FLUSH.
SO, ONCE I GRIND IT DOWN,
IT'LL BE SMOOTH AS SILK,
LIKE A BABY'S BOTTOM.
IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER,
I'D SAY SCOTT FRANCE
MADE THAT PANEL.
IF IT AIN'T STEEL,
IT AIN'T REAL.
WHOA!
THEY NAMED THIS MINI
GOLDIE AFTER HER COLOR,
BUT TODAY, JASON AND CHEYANNE
ARE PRIMING THE CAR.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE
WHAT THEY'RE GONNA CALL HER
AFTER THIS.
WE GOT THE MINI IN THE BOOTH
AND TAPED UP,
AND I'M READY TO PRIME IT.
WOW.
CHECK THAT OUT.
YOU DON'T SEE THESE CARS
EVERY DAY.
TODAY I HAVE A NEW CLIENT
COMING IN
WITH A 1959 MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL.
HE'S BEEN WORKING AWAY FOR YEARS
ON THIS THING,
BUT, HOPEFULLY, TODAY,
WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN
TO GET THIS THING
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SO HOW MANY YEARS
HAVE YOU OWNED THIS CAR?
OH, I'VE HAD IT
ABOUT 15 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, SHE IS OBVIOUSLY,
UM, IN A SORRY STATE
RIGHT NOW.
I BASICALLY TRIED TO RESTORE
IT MYSELF AT THE BEGINNING,
BUT DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH,
SO I WENT AND TOOK IT
TO A COUPLE OF SHOPS...
- YEAH?
...TO TRY AND,
YOU KNOW, GET THEM
TO DO RESTORATION FOR ME,
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
WHEN I TRANSITIONED
FROM ONE SHOP TO ANOTHER,
SOME PARTS WERE MISSING,
SO, UH...
OH, BOY.
SO, BASICALLY, WHAT YOU SEE
IS WHAT YOU GET.
OBVIOUSLY, I WANT IT
LOOKING AS SHE WAS...
YOU WANT IT PRISTINE, YEAH.
...BACK IN,
FROM 1959, YOU KNOW?
YEAH. SO THERE'S SOME SHOPS HERE
IN ST. LOUIS
THAT HAVE SOME OLD,
VINTAGE MERCEDES PARTS
LAYING AROUND.
WE HAPPEN TO KNOW
SOME OF THESE GUYS,
SO OUR NEXT STEP WILL BE,
WE'RE GONNA GO
AND WE'RE GONNA SEARCH THROUGH
ALL THEIR NOS PARTS
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
COME UP WITH FOR THIS CAR.
- OH, COOL.
- YOU KNOW, ONCE WE'VE GONE
THROUGH YOUR PARTS
THAT YOU BRING IN,
IN YOUR CRATE, WE'LL HAVE A LIST
AND WE'LL GO HUNTING.
DO WHAT YOU CAN,
AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS
WILL DO ME PROUD AND...
YEP.
...AND FIND THE ORIGINAL PARTS
TO GO WITH IT, YOU KNOW.
- WE'LL DO THAT.
- I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE A GO
OVER EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE REDONE.
I, YOU KNOW,
I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE
IF YOU WANT TO DO
SOMETHING WITH THE WHEELS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE
A LITTLE BIT PLAIN.
YEAH.
WELL, WE'LL TRACK DOWN
A PROPER SET OF HUBCAPS...
- YEAH.
...THE GRILLE AND...
I JUST WANT IT TO BE
A 1959 MERCEDES,
AS IT WAS IN '59...
- SURE.
...AND I JUST WANT
TO TAKE IT
DOWN THE MOTORWAY
AND GET THE WIND IN MY BEARD,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO...
- NO, WE REALLY DON'T.
- YEAH, NO.
- TRUE.
- WE DON'T, UM...
WE STILL
CAN'T GROW BEARDS.
- YOU CAN'T GROW BEARDS?
- YEAH, WE'VE TRIED.
THEY CALL YOU PATCH,
DO THEY?
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'VE GOT
A TALL ORDER ON THIS ONE,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GO FIND
ALL THESE CRAZY PARTS
THAT REALLY
AREN'T AVAILABLE ANYMORE.
I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S ONLY
ORIGINAL ONCE...
RIGHT.
...BUT TRY AND GET IT BACK
TO LIKE-ORIGINAL...
SURE.
...IS THE PATH
I WANT TO GO DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL GET IT
AS CLOSE AS WE CAN,
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO NAIL IT.
YEAH. CHEERS, MATE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
WHILE THIS IS NOT
OUR TYPICAL BUILD,
SOMETIMES IT'S FUN TO TAKE
ON A RESTORATION LIKE THIS
ON SUCH AN ICONIC CAR.
I REALLY LOVE THE STYLING
ON THESE CARS,
AND I THINK IT WILL
NEVER GET OLD.
THE MINI IS OUT OF PRIMER
AND INTO OUR MECHANIC'S HANDS,
BUT FIRST, SCOTT NEEDS
TO TEAR OUT THE OLD ENGINE
TO FIGURE OUT WE CAN FIT
THIS NEW HONDA MOTOR
INTO THAT
TINY ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
WELL, BEFORE WE CAN PUT
THE BADASS V-16
HONDA ENGINE IN THE MINI,
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE OLD ENGINE
AND DRIVETRAIN AND SUBFRAME OUT.
THAT'S CUTE.
ABOUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN TEARING DOWN
A CAR LIKE THIS
AND A FULL-SIZED CAR
IS THE BOLTS ARE SMALLER
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE
AS BIG OF AN IMPACT.
THIS THING'S GONNA BE FAST
AS HELL.
WHAT'S NEAT ABOUT
THESE OLD MINIS,
THEY ALL CAME FROM THE U.K.,
WHICH MEANT THEY WERE ALL
RIGHT-HAND DRIVE.
WHAT'S GONNA BE GOOD ABOUT THIS,
IN THIS CAR,
IS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE
ON THE SAME SIDE
AS YOUR OPPONENT
AT THE STOP LIGHT.
WHEN YOU CHALLENGE THEM
TO A RACE,
THEY ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO IGNORE YOU,
BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE
RIGHT THERE,
LITERALLY,
INCHES FROM THEIR FACE,
GIVING THEM THE EYE,
OUT THE WINDOW.
SINCE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OF THE MINI IS SO SMALL,
THE ENGINE ACTUALLY DROPS OUT
THROUGH THE BOTTOM,
INSTEAD OF COMING OUT
THROUGH THE TOP.
THIS ENGINE WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU
WERE GONNA MODIFY YOUR SEGWAY
OR MAYBE MAKE A HOVERBOARD
OUT OF IT,
PUT IT IN YOUR LAWN MOWER.
LOOK AT THAT LITTLE THING.
YOU JUST WANT TO
LEAVE IT ON HERE,
SO THE SCRAP GUY
CAN TAKE IT MONDAY?
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MINI HANDLE
A LOT BETTER,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT COILOVERS
IN THE BACK.
SO, SCOTT'S GONNA CONTINUE
TO TEAR DOWN AND FIGURE OUT
HOW TO GET
ALL THESE NEW PARTS INSTALLED.
THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE MINI
COOPER IS GONNA COME ALL OUT
IN ONE CRADLE ASSEMBLY.
IT'S GOT A, LIKE, A ROD HERE
THAT GOES TO THE WHEEL,
AND THEN IT PUSHES BACKWARDS
FOR THE SPRING ACTION
FOR THE DAMPENING.
WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF ALL THAT
AND JUST GO WITH A MORE
TRADITIONAL COILOVER SETUP.
SO, I'M GONNA START HACKING AWAY
AT THIS THING AND GET IT GOING.
NASTY
A HOT ONE.
OOP.
SO I'VE GOT THE REAR SUSPENSION
FOR THE MINI.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT SETUP
THAN FACTORY.
THIS IS JUST GONNA BE
A TRADITIONAL COILOVER SETUP.
SINCE THIS CAR IS JUST
A UNIBODY,
THE A-ARMS HAVE TO HOOK
TO SOMETHING,
SO THEY JUST HAVE THIS BAR HERE
THAT'S GONNA HOOK TO THE A-ARMS,
AND THEN, THE BAR ATTACHES
TO THE BACK OF THE BODY SHELL.
YOU GOT YOURS STARTED?
- YEAH.
- HERE WE GO.
COOL.
OUR 170-HORSEPOWER HONDA MOTOR
WILL NEVER FIT IN THE ORIGINAL
CRADLE OF THE MINI COOPER,
SO WE'VE GOT
A BRAND-NEW CUSTOM ONE
THAT'S GONNA FIT THIS MOTOR
JUST PERFECT,
AND ALL WE NEED TO DO
IS PUT IT UP IN THE CAR.
- WHAT UP, MY MAN?
- WHOO-EE.
WHETHER IT'S COOL OR NOT,
THIS IS OUR HORSEPOWER
RIGHT HERE.
FACTORY, THIS ORIGINAL
MINI ENGINE
WAS RATED AT 34 HORSEPOWER,
LIKE YOUR PANTS SIZE.
THAT'S LIKE
A SEWING MACHINE.
FROM 34 TO 170.
IT'S LIKE, WHAT, NEARLY FIVE
TIMES THE HORSEPOWER.
FIVE, EXACTLY.
ONE MINI COOPER
THAT I'M DYING TO DRIVE.
I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D SAY THAT.
- NO.
- SO, ARE YOU READY?
- I'M READY.
- LET'S DO IT.
A MINI COOPER BODY
IS A UNIBODY CAR,
SO THERE IS NO FRAME.
SO, WHAT WE HAVE
IS THIS ENGINE CRADLE,
WHICH IS SUPER-STRONG,
ALL-TUBULAR STEEL,
AND THAT HORSEPOWER WILL MOUNT
IN THAT CRADLE,
AND THEN, THAT CRADLE
WILL BOLT TO THIS BODY.
HOPEFULLY, IT GOES IN AS GOOD
AS THE KIT LOOKS.
MINE'S IN.
MAN, EVERYTHING, LIKE,
JUST BARELY CLEARS.
- YEAH.
- I'LL BET THEY MADE THE CRADLE
AS TIGHT AS THEY COULD
MAKE IT ON THE MOTOR.
EVEN WITH THE CUSTOM CRADLE
WE'RE USING ON THIS ENGINE SWAP,
THE FIT IS REALLY TIGHT,
SO SCOTT'S GONNA HAVE TO
CUT AWAY THE INNER WHEEL WELLS
TO MAKE THIS
ALL FIT JUST RIGHT.
THAT MIGHT BE
A V.I.N. NUMBER.
SO, WE'LL TRY NOT TO DESTROY
THAT IN CASE WE NEED TO SAVE IT.
BUT THIS CAN DEFINITELY GO.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WENT FROM THIS MUCH SPACE...
TO THIS MUCH SPACE NOW.
THAT'S GOOD.
NOW WE'RE READY TO SEE
HOW THE ENGINE CRADLE FITS.
WHAT'S GOING ON, SCOTTY?
UM, JUST MEASURING,
LIKE, FROM THE CENTER
OF THE MOUNTING BOLT
TO THE OUTSIDE
OF THE INTAKE...
I'M GONNA SAY 6 3/8.
6 3/8?
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT
ON THE BODY.
WE CAN GO...
- YOU COULD JUST LOOK AT IT.
- WHAT IS IT, 6 1/2?
YEAH, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT
AND TELL IT'S NOT.
DUDE, THIS IS GONNA BE
ALL UP IN THIS.
YEAH.
SO I MEASURED FROM THE BACK
OF THE NEW ENGINE CRADLE
TO THE BACK OF THE INTAKE,
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY
NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE
BETWEEN THAT
AND THE FIREWALL.
WE MIGHT HAVE
A SMALL PROBLEM HERE.
YOU MEAN THIS HONDA MOTOR
DON'T FIT
IN THIS MINI OVER HERE?
I DON'T THINK THIS
INTAKE'S GONNA WORK.
HOW WE GONNA FIX THIS,
SCOTT?
UH...
OUR NEW MOTOR HAS FIVE TIMES
THE HORSEPOWER
OF THE ORIGINAL ENGINE,
AND IT'S READY TO GET
INSTALLED IN THE MINI.
BUT, FIRST, THE GUYS
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO FIT A MUCH LARGER MOTOR
INTO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT
THE SIZE OF A GLOVE BOX.
WE MIGHT HAVE A SMALL
PROBLEM HERE.
YOU MEAN THIS HONDA MOTOR
DON'T FIT IN THIS MINI
OVER HERE?
I DON'T THINK THIS
INTAKE'S GONNA WORK.
THIS THING'S
LOOKIN' GOOD.
GOT THE HONDA MOTOR ALL SET UP
IN THE CRADLE HERE.
- YEP.
- THIS IS AS FAR AS WE GO.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE COMING OVER
HERE, FOR US TO TALK TO YOU.
OH, GOD.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
WELL, WE DID
A LITTLE MEASURING.
THIS ISN'T GONNA FIT.
THIS IS OUR FIREWALL.
SO, WE CAN, UH, CUT THAT OUT
AND HAVE THE INTAKE
IN THE CAR WITH US...
AND SO YOU CAN JUST
HAND-OPERATE THE THROTTLE.
- RIGHT.
- YEAH.
- I DON'T THINK SO.
- NO?
ALL RIGHT,
SO WHAT'S THE FIX?
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA CUT
THE INTAKE RUNNERS
AND THEN 90 IT UP.
HOLY SMOKES.
ALL RIGHT.
MAN, THIS THING'S
GONNA BE TIGHT IN THERE.
- YEAH.
- OKAY.
HAVE FUN, BOYS.
- SEE YA.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT OUR
INTAKE HERE FOR THE HONDA.
WHAT I NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO
IS CHOP IT OFF FIRST,
START SEEING
WHAT KIND OF CLEARANCE WE HAVE
AND TRY TO FIT
AN INTAKE IN HERE
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING TOO CRAZY.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA ADD THESE 90s TO IT,
TAKING THIS FROM HERE TO HERE,
FREEING UP A BUNCH OF ROOM
BACK HERE
ON THE FIREWALL
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TRY THIS.
ALL RIGHT, JUST GOT
THE INTAKE ALL FINISHED UP.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND
GET IT INSTALLED ON THE MINI.
LITTLE MOTOR FOR A LITTLE CAR.
HEY!
LET'S SEE IF THIS THING FITS.
GOOD.
HEY, CHECK THAT OUT.
SO WE GOT THE INTAKE IN,
IT'S FITTING PRETTY WELL.
IT'S NOT TOUCHING
THE FIREWALL ANYWHERE,
SO WE'RE GONNA GO WITH IT.
WHERE THE HELL
ARE YOU TAKING ME, CHARLES?
I KNOW
THESE TWO RUSSIAN GUYS.
THEY SPECIALIZE
IN EUROPEAN CARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF
IN A LITTLE BUILDING,
BUT IN THE ONE
BACK CORNER,
THEY'VE GOT
A BUNCH OF PARTS.
- YEAH?
- THEY TOLD ME --
WE'RE GONNA GO PARTS DIVING
IN THE BACK CORNER
OF A MYSTERIOUS SHOP?
HEY, IT'S BETTER THAN
DUMPSTER DIVING, ALL RIGHT?
THEY SAID, "YOU'RE WELCOME
TO COME OVER, GET DIRTY."
BUT I THOUGHT, "WHAT THE HELL
DO WE HAVE TO LOSE?"
IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
FROM THE SHOP,
AND THESE GUYS ARE FUN.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE
SCAVENGER HUNT.
DIG THROUGH, WE MIGHT END UP
WITH MORE STUFF
THAN WE WANTED TO.
CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- CHARLES.
HEY, YOU MUST'VE SAW US
ON YOUR SECURITY CAMERAS,
SNOOPING AROUND, HUH?
- YEAH. HOW ARE YOU?
- GOOD. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- VERY GOOD.
- THIS IS NOAH.
- NOAH.
- BOB.
I KNOW YOU CALLED ME ABOUT
SOME PARTS YOU NEED FOR THE 190.
JUST A COUPLE PIECES,
BUT WITHOUT THESE PARTS,
THIS CAR CAN'T BE FINISHED.
MERCEDES
IS WHAT WE LOVE.
- ALL RIGHT.
- WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE.
- OKAY.
- ALL RIGHT.
CHARLES, DO YOU KNOW
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?
SOME THROTTLE LINKAGE
FOR SOME SOLEX CARBURETORS...
- PLENUM.
- YEAH, PLENUM.
- AND, UH...
- FUEL LINE.
- YEAH, FUEL LINE.
- FUEL-LINE ASSEMBLY, YEAH.
- OKAY.
- WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU.
WELL, I SHOULD
BE ABLE TO HELP.
IS IT HOT UP THERE?
ALL RIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU CLIMB
UP HALFWAY AND HAND IT DOWN?
- CHARLES.
- ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S ONE BOX WE NEED
TO GO THROUGH HERE.
NO, I THOUGHT THESE WERE
FUEL LINES,
BUT THESE ARE...
- PORSCHE.
...NOT FUEL LINES.
THEY'RE JUST PORSCHE STUFF,
HERE.
UH-OH.
WE MIGHT BE STRIKING OUT.
HEY, WE'RE
IN THE RIGHT BOX.
THIS IS
THE FUEL-LINE RAIL
FOR THE SOLEX CARBURETORS
FOR THE MERCEDES.
- YEP, YEP.
- THERE'S LINKAGE.
- HERE WE GO.
- THERE'S THE LINKAGE.
- HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
- WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
WE'RE DOING GOOD.
I HAVE A PLENUM.
BUT IT'S OFF AN MG.
- NOPE.
- SO, THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
NEXT TIME.
YEAH, AT LEAST YOU GOT
TWO PIECES OUT OF THREE.
YEAH.
WE'LL GET THESE PARTS PUT ON,
AND THEN, JUST,
DEFINITELY GIVE US A CALL
IF YOU KNOW OF SOMETHING.
- ABSOLUTELY.
- WE APPRECIATE IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- COME ON OUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS MINI
INTO AS MUCH
OF A RACECAR AS POSSIBLE,
SO WE'RE PUTTING CUSTOM
SEATS IN THE FRONT.
BRYAN JUST HAS TO MAKE SOME
SEATS THAT MATCH FOR THE BACK.
WE PULLED THE BACKSEAT,
PULLED THE COVER OFF,
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MATCH
SOME OF THE PATTERN
WITH THE FRONT BUCKETS.
I NOTICED ON THE BACK REST
OF THE BACKSEAT,
THERE'S REALLY
NO SUPPORT BACK HERE,
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW, CONTEND WITH THAT.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT'S TACKY THAT I CAN TACK
THIS DOWN AND SEE THROUGH
TO MY LITTLE "DRAWRINGS,"
AND THAT WAY, I CAN TRANSFER
ALL THAT STUFF TO REALITY
AND MAKE TEMPLATES OUT OF IT.
THAT'S NICE.
NOW, I GUESS WE'LL SEE WHAT
THIS THING'S MADE OUT OF,
AND WE'LL REBUILD IT
AND MAKE IT BETTER.
WHAT'S A CAR WITHOUT DUCT TAPE?
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MAKE IT
A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE
FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY BE SITTING
IN THE BACKSEAT,
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT
SOME BURLAP OVER THERE,
KIND OF BLEND THROUGH THE WIRES
SO THEY'RE NOT SO PROTRUDING.
AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE'RE GONNA ADD
A LITTLE BIT MORE FOAM.
WENT AHEAD AND FINISHED
THE BACK REST
FOR THE BACKSEAT IN THE MINI.
NICE, SIMPLE DESIGN
FOR A LITTLE RACECAR.
IT'LL BE PRETTY COOL.
SO, WITH THE INTAKE ADJUSTMENT,
THE GUYS FINALLY GOT
THE ENGINE INTO THE MINI,
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT
OF FITMENT ISSUES AHEAD
BEFORE WE CAN CALL THIS
ONE COMPLETELY DONE.
THIS JUST
FLAT-OUT DOESN'T WORK.
TRYING TO FIT THE HONDA ENGINE
INTO THE MINI COOPER,
THE ALTERNATOR WILL WORK,
IF YOU PUT IT IN A CIVIC,
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA
WORK ON THIS THING.
BUT WE'LL GET IT IN THERE,
WE'LL GET IT DONE.
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT.
NEITHER DOES MY RADIATOR
OR FAN.
WELL, THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF
TO US WITH A BOX FULL OF PARTS,
AND CHARLES WAS ABLE
TO FIND THE REST.
SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO PUT
THE PUZZLE PIECES ALL TOGETHER
AND GET THIS THING
RUNNING FOR THE CLIENT.
OKAY, THIS '59 190SL
HAS A 1.9 LITER.
THE BASE MOTOR MADE
104 HORSEPOWER,
BUT WHEN FITTED WITH
THE DUAL CARBURETORS,
IT MADE 120 HORSEPOWER.
WE'RE INSTALLING THE OVERFLOW
LINE FOR THE FLOAT BOWL,
SO IF THE FLOAT
STICKS OR WHATEVER,
INSTEAD OF DRAINING
IT BACK IN THE ENGINE
WHEN THE FLOAT GETS STUCK
OR NEEDLE AND SEAT GET STUCK,
IT'LL DRAIN IT OUT
THIS TUBE, HERE.
WE GOT THE THROTTLE
LINKAGE SET UP
FOR THE DUAL
SOLEX CARBURETORS.
AND THEN, A SNAP.
THERE WE GO.
WHOO-HOO?
- LOOKS LIKE IT ACTUALLY FITS.
YEAH, IT'S A BIG-ASS PLENUM,
IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
IT BOLTS
ON THE CARBURETOR STRAIGHT,
SO THERE'S
NO ALIGNMENT ISSUES.
YOU DONE YET?
CHARLES, IS THAT YOU?
STARTING TO LOOK
LIKE AN ENGINE.
OKAY, NOW THAT
THAT'S WRAPPED UP,
WE'RE GONNA SET
THE BATTERY IN IT
AND SEE IF THIS THING
CRANKS OVER.
- ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY?
- YEAH.
SHE MAY NEED SOME HELP.
GIVE HER A TRY.
UH-OH.
- PRETTY GOOD.
GOT SOMETHING.
SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
WHOO-EE!
SHE'S A RUNNER.
WE GOT PRETTY LUCKY.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE
IN GOOD SHAPE.
IT'S GOOD TO GO.
WELL, THE GUYS WERE WORKING
ON THE MINI,
AND THEY STILL HAVE
NOT FOUND A PLACE
FOR ALL THE ENGINE COMPONENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, RANDY LUCKED
OUT AND FOUND A HEADER
THAT FITS BEHIND THE GRILLE.
NOW IT'S ONLY A MATTER
OF MAKING THAT ALTERNATOR FIT.
WELL, THAT'S JUST
NOT GONNA WORK.
TRIED REALLY HARD TO GET
THE STOCK HONDA ALTERNATOR
TO FIT
IN THIS ENGINE COMPARTMENT,
BUT IT'S JUST
NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, WE'RE GONNA GET A REALLY
SMALL ALTERNATOR,
AND IT STILL PUTS OUT THE POWER
THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED.
WHOO-EE.
THAT'S A LITTLE FELLA.
- YEP.
- SO, YOU THINK STOCK LOCATION?
THEY WANT IT IN THE FRONT.
IT'S STILL GONNA BE TIGHT,
BUT IT IS BEHIND THE HEADER.
YEAH.
JUST GONNA GET A SHORTER BELT
AND SPIN IT UP.
IT'LL WORK WELL.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD
AND WRAP UP THE ENGINE,
TIGHTEN EVERYTHING UP AND NUT
AND BOLT THE WHOLE FRONT CRADLE,
AND GET IT READY
TO GO BACK IN.
LAST THING TO DO IS INSTALL
THE CHAIN-LINK STEERING WHEEL
AND DRIVE IT
TO THE BODY SHOP.
YOU KIND OF EVEN IT OUT,
I THINK.
I SAID I THINK I AM.
OH, JESUS CHRIST.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
PUT IT IN REVERSE.
OKAY.
HEY, GUYS,
GOT YOU A MINI.
OHH!
WHAT THE IS THAT?
MEEP-MEEP.
MEEP.
- WANT TO GO FOR A RIDE?
- HEY, DAN.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH THIS GOOFY-ASS CAR?
WELL, IT'S A GOOD THING
IT'S IN A BODY SHOP.
COULD'VE JUST TIED A ROPE TO IT
AND DRUG IT OVER HERE.
WAIT. I WANT TO DRIVE.
- ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
OH, YOU WANT TO DRIVE,
OR DO YOU WANT TO RIDE?
- NO, I WANT TO DRIVE.
- OKAY, DRIVE.
IT'S LIKE I DRIVE A RED CAR.
IT'S GOT TWO PEDALS.
ARE YOU CHECKING
YOUR MIRRORS?
IT DOESN'T HAVE
ANY MIRRORS.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH,
I GUESS LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.
THAT LOOKS GREAT.
- THAT'S MY PARKING SPOT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE
ONE PERSON HOLD THE CAR
WHILE ANOTHER PERSON
SANDS IT.
COME ON, CHOOCH.
LET'S GO.
IT'S ALMOST NAP TIME.
- YEAH, THANKS, FELLAS.
WE GOT OUR MINI COOPER BACK.
APPARENTLY, IT'S READY
TO BE PAINTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL
THE MECHANICS
WERE SMOKING THIS MORNING,
BUT FOR SOME REASON,
THEY THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE.
I'M GONNA GET THIS PREPPED REAL
QUICK, SEND IT OVER TO PAINT.
DONE WITH THE BIG AREA.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GET IN THE
SMALL AREAS WITH THE LITTLE GUY.
PERFECT.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT
THE FINAL PIECES
ON THE MERCEDES
AND WRAP THIS THING UP.
WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO DO
IS TO PUT THE HUBCAPS
AND BEAUTY RINGS ON.
NOT AN EASY JOB ON THIS CAR,
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY DENTS
OR DINGS
FROM PUSHING THEM CAPS ON.
IN THAT CASE, EVEN THE EASIEST
JOBS CAN BE A HARD,
PAIN-IN-THE-BUTT JOB
ON A CAR AT THIS LEVEL.
FINE '59 HUBCAPS.
REAL-DEAL SEX APPEAL,
RIGHT THERE.
GONNA PUT THE GRILLE ON.
THIS IS A SMALL CAR
WITH A SMALL GRILLE,
AND WHEN YOU PUT THIS PART
IN THERE, THAT'S HUGE.
NO JOB TOO TOUGH
WHEN YOU GOT THE RIGHT STUFF.
IT'S THE ALL-THRILL
MERCEDES GRILLE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE GOT OUR HOOD
ALL LATCHED, FITTING GOOD.
SHE'S READY TO GO.
WE'RE PAINTING US
A 1972 MINI COOPER.
WE'RE GONNA SPRAY THIS A NICE,
BRIGHT-ASS LIME GREEN.
WE CAN GET AWAY WITH A LOT
ON THIS CAR, JUST,
FOR ONE, IT'S SUCH
A SMALL, LITTLE CAR.
PLUS, WE'RE GONNA PUT
A TWO-TONE ON IT.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ONE
LIKE IT AROUND.
THIS IS GREEN, BOY.
INCREDIBLE HULK!
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE
A LITTLE MORE GREEN.
YEAH. LOOKS LIKE
IT'S BEEN SLIMED.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE
THE BRIGHTEST GREEN
I'VE EVER SEEN ON ANY CAR.
- I'M GONNA SAY THE SAME.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A GREEN CAR
ROLLING AROUND LIKE THIS.
WELL, MAYBE ONCE WE PUT
ALL THE BLACK ON THIS THING,
IT'LL, LIKE,
TONE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT...
THAT'S WHAT
I WAS THINKING.
...BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE...
SO, THE FINAL DESIGN, REALLY,
IS TO FOLLOW THE BODY LINE
DOWN THE SIDE,
BRING IT UP AROUND THE COWL,
AND THEN DO A SINGLE STRIPE
COMING DOWN THE CENTER.
THIS'LL LOOK NICE.
RIGHT ON.
LET'S LAY THIS THING OUT THEN.
LET'S ROCK IT OUT.
IT IS HARD
TO SEE THE LINE.
I GREW UP ON A FARM
WITH MY GRANDPA
AND MY UNCLE ALWAYS, LIKE,
"HELPING" THEM WITH
FIXING TRACTORS AND STUFF,
SO I WENT TO COLLEGE
FOR PAINTING AND BODY
AND WELDING AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN, I STARTED WORKING
OUT IN KANSAS CITY,
AND STARTED LEARNING A LOT OF,
LIKE, RESTORATION STUFF,
AND I DECIDED THAT'S THE WAY
I WANTED TO GO.
PAINT, BODY, FAB, MECHANICS,
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH OLD CARS
IS WHAT I WANT TO DO FOREVER.
I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE TOP
CAR-BUILDING GIRLS OUT THERE.
SO, I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN
AROUND ALL GUYS
SINCE, LIKE, SOPHOMORE YEAR
OF HIGH SCHOOL,
AND I LEARNED REAL QUICK,
AND EARLY ON,
HOW TO BE AROUND THEM,
HOW TO JOKE AROUND THEM.
THEY ALWAYS PICK ON EACH OTHER,
THEY ALWAYS TRY
TO EMBARRASS EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO,
LIKE, COMPARE WHOSE IS BIGGER,
WHOSE IS BETTER, WHOSE IS WIDER.
IT'S NOT HOW BIG IT IS.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
THIS IS MY TOOL BOX,
AND THIS IS ALL I NEED.
YOU'D THINK, BY NOW,
THAT THEY WOULD LEARN
THAT THEY CAN DO A LOT
WITH AVERAGE-SIZED EQUIPMENT.
FOR THE MINI, WE CHOSE
A HONDA B16A2 MOTOR,
WHICH WILL GIVE US POWER,
REALLY NICE PERFORMANCE
AND A TON OF RELIABILITY.
I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR
THIS LITTLE SUCKER RIP.
ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON.
LET ME KNOW IF I'M GONNA
SMASH MY FINGERS.
HELLO.
OKEY-DOKEY.
WE GOT THE B16
IN THE MINI COOPER,
AND IT TAKES SOME FINAGLING
TO GET ALL THIS
INTO ALL THIS.
NOW THAT IT'S IN,
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD,
GET IT WIRED UP, FIRE IT UP
AND DO SOME BURNOUTS.
OKEY-DOKE.
FIRE IT UP, SEE WHAT IT DOES.
YEAH.
GIVE IT A MINUTE.
- I'D SAY IT RUNS PRETTY GOOD.
- YEAH.
- THAT'S GREAT.
- GOOD JOB.
THIS THING'S GONNA BE
TERRIFYING.
ABSOLUTELY.
RUNS GOOD.
KEEP COOKING.
MINI COOPER DASHES
ARE VERY FLAT,
AND WE WANTED
TO DO SOMETHING CUSTOM.
SO, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT
OUT OF FIBERGLASS TO KEEP IT
THAT LIGHT RACECAR FEEL,
ACTUALLY MAKE THAT PANEL
OUT OF STEEL,
AND THEN LACE IT
WITH FIBERGLASS,
AND THEN, JUST USE THE
FIBERGLASS PORTION OF THE DASH.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M A STEEL GUY,
SO THE FIBERGLASS IS NEW TO ME,
BUT I'M EXCITED
TO STRETCH MY SKILLS
AND BUILD SOMETHING CUSTOM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU THINK
YOU CAN ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH THAT?
GIVE IT A SHOT.
AIN'T GONNA HURT.
WE'RE GOOD.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA FIBERGLASS
THIS THING,
BUT DO IT
IN A KIND OF DIFFERENT WAY.
WE'RE GONNA DO A SWAYED
LAY ON THE BACKSIDE FIRST,
THEN DO SOME FIBERGLASSING
AROUND THE BACK OF THAT.
AND WHEN WE POP THAT OFF
OF THE MOLD,
WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE FRONT OF THIS,
IT'LL BE
A SWAYED-FINISHED PIECE.
GOOD THING IS,
IS IT'S BLACK.
THEN WE'RE GONNA DO
THIS ONE.
HMM.
I'M LEARNING.
- YEAH, HE'S TEACHING ME.
I'M BEING SCHOOLED.
THIS IS ROLLING OUT
ALL THAT AIR.
GONNA THROW
THE HEAT TO IT?
THROWING THE HEAT
TO IT.
- THAT FLIP SIDE.
- FLIP IT OVER.
HERE WE GO.
THERE IT IS.
MAN!
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT
OUR PIECE MADE.
THIS IS THE FACE OF THE DASH.
IT'S GOT THE COMPOUND CURVE,
EVERYTHING WE WERE GOING AFTER.
NOW I'M GONNA GO THROUGH AND
ACTUALLY PUT ALL THE GAUGES IN.
THERE YOU GO.
WE FINALLY HAVE THE 190SL
MERCEDES FINISHED UP
AND READY FOR ROY.
THERE YOU GO.
I LOVE IT. BLOODY HELL.
- IT'S BACK TOGETHER, AT LAST.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YEAH.
SO YOU BROUGHT US THE CAR
AND SOME PARTS.
I BROUGHT YOU
A BOX OF BITS.
AND THERE WAS A LOT
OF MISSING PARTS,
BUT WE PULLED THEM
ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
MATE, I LOVE IT.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG ROAD.
REALLY A BEAUTIFUL CAR.
YOU'VE DONE
A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO WE FOUND THE TRIM RINGS
AND THE CENTER CAPS.
IT WAS HARD TO FIND THEM.
WE HAD A COUPLE DIFFERENT SETS
WE WENT THROUGH.
SOME OF THEM
WERE IN HORRIBLE CONDITION.
OKAY.
WE GOT THE INTERIOR
ALL BACK TOGETHER.
SO, WE GOT THE CARPETING IN IT,
WE'VE GOT THE SEATS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR.
IT'S NICE TO SEE IT,
ALL IN ONE PIECE.
IT'S BLOODY LOVELY, MATE,
I'LL TELL YOU.
THE CREST AND THE FRONT GRILLE
WAS MISSING,
SO WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT
VERSIONS THAT CAME IN.
WE SWAPPED THE TWO SETS
TOGETHER,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE
A NICE-LOOKING SET.
AND THE GRILLE,
WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ
EMBLEM IN THE MIDDLE,
THE LITTLE BEEHIVE TURN SIGNALS.
IT JUST -- I MEAN,
WHAT A PACKAGE.
YEAH.
THAT LOOKS FANTASTIC.
YOU WERE MISSING
THIS INTAKE.
YOU WERE ALSO MISSING
SOME FUEL LINE.
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A LOT
OF THIS STUFF,
AND A LOT OF IT,
THEY REPRODUCED, WHICH IS GOOD.
AT OUR BUDDY BOB'S PLACE,
WE FOUND THROTTLE LINKAGE
AND A FUEL-RETURN LINE,
AND CHARLES WAS ACTUALLY
ABLE TO FIND
THAT INTAKE PLENUM ONLINE,
WHICH IS KIND
OF A RARE PIECE.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO.
- YEAH.
IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE, AND...
FROM 1959.
...AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL,
IT'S EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS
DELIVERED FROM THE FACTORY,
ORIGINALLY.
OKAY, MATE, LET'S GO.
IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS.
I NEED TO TAKE THIS
FOR A SPIN.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.
COME ON, MATE.
IT DRIVES HOW SHE LOOKS --
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
- YOU'VE GOT YOUR SUIT ON.
- I'VE GOT MY SUIT ON.
IT'S 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
- I KNOW.
- YOU'RE IN A CONVERTIBLE.
THE FASTER WE DRIVE,
THE COOLER YOU'LL BE.
LIVING WITHOUT THIS CAR FOR
SO LONG HAS BEEN REALLY HARD,
BECAUSE I'VE HAD IT
FOR 15 YEARS,
AND IT'S BEEN IN A BOX,
IT'S BEEN FROM SHOP TO SHOP.
NOW SHE IS EXACTLY AS SHE WAS
IN 1959, AS SHE SHOULD BE.
WHAT A NICE, LITTLE CAR.
IT'S GREAT THROUGH THE GEARS,
ACCELERATES GREAT --
OOH, THAT'S THE HORN.
WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST
FEW DETAILS ON THE MINI,
AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO GET EVERYTHING BUTTONED UP
SO WE CAN GET THE CAR
READY TO SHOW TO STEPHANIE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GETTING
OUR WINDOW SEALS ON HERE
FOR OUR MINI COOPER.
AND WE'LL GET THEM ON THERE,
AND THEN WE CAN ROPE
THE GLASS INTO THE PANELS.
- HERE, CHEYANNE.
- WHAT?
I BROUGHT YOU SOME WHEELS.
HERE'S THE CHALLENGE.
CAN YOU CURL THEM?
- OH, GOSH.
- COME ON.
- LET'S SEE.
- LET'S SEE HOW TOUGH YOU ARE.
I HEARD YOU'RE PRETTY TOUGH.
- I'M FREAKIN' SUPER WOMAN.
OH, GOSH, I DON'T THINK
I CAN DO IT.
SHE'S GETTING A GOOD,
OLD TENNIS GRUNT.
- NOPE.
- YEAH, YOU DID IT.
GOT TO MAKE
THAT GRR FACE.
I GOT THE 13x7s.
THEY'RE OUR COMPOUND WHEELS.
THEY'RE REALLY STICKY.
THEY'RE GREAT FOR RACING,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO WITH THIS CAR.
AND, FINALLY, CAN'T BUILD
A RACING MINI
WITHOUT A RACING GUMBALL
ON THE SIDE.
SINCE THIS IS
STEPHANIE'S SECOND MINI,
WE THOUGHT "02"
WOULD BE QUITE APPROPRIATE.
THE MINI LOOKS GREAT,
SOUNDS GREAT,
AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW IT
TO OUR CLIENT STEPHANIE.
OKAY, NOAH,
WHERE'S MY CAR?
- WELL...
- WHERE'S MY GOLDIE?
SO, IT'S NOT GOLD ANYMORE,
BUT I THINK
IT'S GOT A GOOD LOOK.
OH, MY GOD.
IS THAT REALLY THE CAR?
LOOK HOW COOL IT IS.
OH, MY GOD.
WOW.
THAT IS
SO FREAKIN' COOL.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- OH, MY GOD.
I THINK IT'S AMAZING.
SO WE'VE GOT THIS CUSTOM
GREEN COLOR,
AND THEN, ON THE TOP,
WE'VE GOT A REALLY COOL
METALLIC BLACK.
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT IT
LOOKED LIKE WHEN I FIRST SAW IT.
IT WAS AMAZING.
ON THE FRONT,
THE COOL THING IS,
THE SUSPENSION PACKAGE
WE USED IS ALL-NEW STUFF.
SO, WE'VE GOT COILOVERS
ALL THE WAY AROUND.
IN THE FRONT, BASICALLY,
IT'S OWN, CUSTOM, NEW CRADLE,
MADE OUT OF TUBULAR STEEL,
SO IT'S NICE AND STRONG.
SO, DOWN THE FRONT
OF THE HOOD,
WE WANTED TO BREAK IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE GOT THIS REALLY
COOL STRIPE.
WE DID THE GRILLE SURROUND
IN THE METALLIC BLACK, AS WELL,
BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THE SUN, IT'S GOT
A REALLY NICE FLAKE IN IT, SO...
- IT DOES.
OH, YEAH.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
- IT'S PRETTY NEAT.
- IT JUST SPARKLES.
IT'S SO COOL.
AND WE PUT ONE HELL
OF A POWER PLANT IN IT.
YEAH, WHAT'S THIS ENGINE
LOOK LIKE?
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU.
YEAH.
SO THIS IS A HONDA B16.
IT IS A JDM MOTOR,
SO IT'S A JAPANESE MOTOR.
OVERHEAD CAM,
TWIN OVERHEAD.
BUT IT MAKES
170 HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
AND WHAT WAS IT BEFORE?
50-ISH.
SO, BEFORE, IT COULD NOT
GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY,
AND NOW IT'S GONNA PROBABLY
BE FLYING DOWN THE ROAD,
IN EVERYBODY ELSE'S WAY.
SO, IT'S AWESOME, IT'S GONNA
PROVIDE RELIABILITY.
SO, IT'S READY TO ROCK.
- WOW.
- YEAH.
THEY SAID THE ONLY WAY
THAT POWER PLANT
WAS GONNA ACTUALLY STICK
TO THE ROAD, WHATSOEVER,
WAS WITH 7x13 TIRES,
SO PRETTY NEAT DEAL.
SO, THEY'RE
STICKY TIRES NOW?
THEY ARE THE STICKIEST
OF THE ICKIEST.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S CHECK OUT
THE INTERIOR REALLY QUICK.
OKAY.
COOL.
BRYAN AND MATT DID
A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THIS.
STARTING WITH THE DASH,
THE DASH WAS ORIGINALLY
A PIECE OF CARDBOARD.
WE WEREN'T GONNA HAVE THAT,
SO WE CUSTOM-MADE
IT OUT OF FIBERGLASS,
OFF OF A METAL MOLD WE MADE.
WE DID THE HEADLINER
IN ALCANTARA,
AND WE'VE GOT ALL-NEW,
BLACK MERCEDES-BENZ CARPETING.
THESE CUSTOM DOOR PANELS
ARE COOL,
BECAUSE WE TIED IN THE GREEN
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR.
- OH, YEAH.
- SO, PRETTY COOL, THERE.
OH, THAT'S VERY COOL.
A LITTLE TOUCH HERE
AND A LITTLE TOUCH THERE.
THEN, THESE ARE REALLY,
REALLY NICE SEATS,
AND I CHOSE THEM BECAUSE
THEY ARE BOTH COMFORTABLE,
HIGH-QUALITY,
AND THEY WILL HOLD YOU IN PLACE
WHEN YOU GO FLYING
AROUND A TURN.
MY NEW CAR IS SO FREAKIN' COOL,
LIKE,
"OH, MY GOSH, IT'S REALLY
GONNA BE A BADASS, FAST CAR."
- WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...
- OKAY.
YOU COULD'VE JUST DRIVEN IT
ON REGULAR STREETS,
BUT SINCE
IT HAS SO MUCH POWER
AND WE'VE UPDATED
ALMOST EVERYTHING,
I THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN
AND DRIVE IT ON THE TRACK.
YEAH.
THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.
- ALL RIGHT, HOP IN.
- LET'S GET IN.
AAH!
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS SO FREAKIN' COOL.
HERE WE GO.
OH, MY GOD.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT UP,
I WANTED TO TAKE OFF QUICK,
BUT I HAD NO IDEA, LIKE,
IT WAS GONNA BE
THAT FREAKIN' QUICK.
DOESN'T IT FEEL SO GOOD?
- OH, YEAH.
- OH, MY GOD.
- FUN, RIGHT?
WITH THOSE WHEELS, THOSE TIRES
THAT HE PUT ON,
YOU CAN GO AS FAST
AS YOU WANT AROUND THESE CURVES
AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE RACECAR,
A GO-KART ON THE BIG TRACK.
I MEAN, DO YOU NOT LOVE
THIS CAR?
- IT'S A LITTLE ROCKET.
- I KNOW.
A PINT-SIZED IMPORT...
ONE MINI COOPER
THAT I'M DYING TO DRIVE.
...GETS A CCS BOOST
UNDER THE BONNET.
THIS THING'S GONNA
BE TERRIFYING.
AND A LUXURY ROADSTER...
WHAT YOU SEE
IS WHAT YOU GET.
OH, BOY.
...MAKES IT BACK TO THE ROAD.
- THERE YOU GO.
- I LOVE IT. BLOODY HELL.
TWO SMALL CARS...
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT.
...WITH A LOT OF PUNCH.
IT MAKES 170 HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
IT'S A EUROPEAN INVASION...
IT'S THE ALL-THRILL
MERCEDES GRILLE.
...IN THE GATEWAY CITY.
OKAY, NOAH,
WHERE'S MY CAR?
UH...
MAKING A CAR LOOK GOOD --
FOR US, THAT'S A GIVEN.
MAKING A CAR PERFORM --
THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY.
HERE AT CLASSIC CAR STUDIO,
MY TEAM OF VISIONARIES
AND MASTER CRAFTSMEN
TAKE CARS OF ALL KINDS
AND TRANSFORM THEM
INTO CUSTOM-TAILORED,
HIGH-PERFORMANCE RIDES.
YOU WANT TO WIN SHOWS?
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
YOU WANT TO WIN SHOWS
ANDHAUL ASS?
WE'RE THE SHOP FOR YOU.
BECAUSE HERE,
SPEED IS THE NEW BLACK.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING IN
TODAY,
AND THANKS FOR BRINGING
YOUR LITTLE CAR.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M EXCITED.
TODAY OUR CLIENT, STEPHANIE,
BROUGHT IN HER 1972 BMC MINI.
NOW, MINI COOPERS ARE TINY,
TINY, LITTLE CARS
KNOWN FOR THEIR HANDLING,
PRACTICALITY,
AND JUST BEING
ALL-AROUND FUN.
LET'S SEE WHAT STEPHANIE
WANTS TO DO.
IT WILL BE THE SMALLEST CAR
WE'VE EVER DONE AT THE SHOP.
WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER
SMALL BRITISH STUFF,
BUT THIS ONE
TAKES THE CAKE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
OWNED THE CAR?
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
WERE YOU, LIKE,
A MINI ENTHUSIAST
FOREVER AND EVER,
OR IS THIS A NEW THING?
FOREVER AND EVER.
YES.
I LOVE THE '72 MINI
BECAUSE THEY'RE FAST.
IT'S A RIGHT-HAND DRIVE,
AND IT'S THE FIRST CAR
I'VE EVER LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE
A STICK SHIFT ON.
SO, DOES IT RUN AND DRIVE
AT THE MOMENT?
NO.
NOT AT THE MOMENT.
AND WHY IS THAT?
SOMEBODY FORGOT TO PUT OIL
IN IT AND...
- AAH.
- ...AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP.
WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED, BUT
THE OIL WASN'T PUT BACK IN IT,
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED
A NEW ENGINE.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S CHECK OUT
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
REALLY QUICK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
HORSEPOWER THESE MADE,
BUT I'M GUESSING
ABOUT 50 OR 60,
WHICH IS FUN IN A CAR
THIS SMALL.
BUT WHAT I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO,
AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO TALK ANYBODY
INTO ACTUALLY DOING,
IS DOING A HONDA SWAP.
- RIGHT.
THE HONDAS ARE ALSO
FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CARS,
SO THEY FIT
RIGHT IN HERE,
WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF MAKING
ABOUT 200 HORSEPOWER.
SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT
FOUR TIMES THE HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
I'M GONNA FLY OFF THE ROAD.
THE HONDA MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE
IT COULD REALLY MAKE
THIS CAR QUICK.
I LOVE TO DRIVE FAST,
AND MY BOYFRIEND AND I LOVE
TO GO OUT AND RACE OUT
IN THE WINE COUNTRY.
SO, THAT'S GONNA BE PRETTY COOL.
LET'S CHECK OUT THE INTERIOR
REAL QUICK.
SO THIS IS ABOUT AS SIMPLE
AS THEY GET,
WHICH IS KIND
OF THE BEAUTY IF IT.
SO, I THINK NEW SEATS
ARE A MUST.
- YEAH.
- JUST TO MAKE IT NICE AND FRESH.
BUT I THINK DOING
THE SEATS,
THE DOOR CARDS AND THE DASH
AND NEW CARPETING,
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE IT
A LONG WAY.
DOES THIS CAR
HAVE A NAME?
IT DOES.
HER NAME IS GOLDIE.
- GOLDIE?
- YES.
- ALL RIGHT.
- AND I EVEN HAVE A KEY CHAIN
THAT LOOKS
EXACTLY LIKE THE CAR.
SO, THIS PUTS US IN A BIT
OF A PREDICAMENT.
UM, ONE, IF WE CHANGE
THE COLOR OF THE CAR...
YES?
...YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
COME UP WITH A NEW NAME.
- YEAH.
- TWO, I DON'T KNOW
HOW WE'RE GONNA REPAINT
THIS TINY CAR
TO MAKE IT ALL MATCH.
- RIGHT.
WELL, YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- I'M SURE.
- ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THIS THING SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KEEP UP WITH ANYTHING.
KIND OF CHECKS
ALL THE BOXES --
SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT,
IT'S GONNA HANDLE WELL
AND IT'S GONNA
HAVE THE POWER.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
- THANK YOU.
THIS IS GONNA BE COOL.
ALL RIGHT.
IS THIS A TOY
OR A REAL CAR?
FIRST THOUGHT TO MY MIND WAS,
"HOLY GOLDEN GOOSE EGG."
YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOLD?
I ACTUALLY THINK
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY.
SO STEPHANIE'S OWNED THIS CAR
FOR A WHILE.
SHE'S GOT A NEW MINI COOPER
SHE DRIVES AROUND.
AND SHE IS, LIKE,
TOTALLY GAME TO LET US
GO KIND OF CRAZY
WITH THIS.
LIKE, HOW FAST
ARE WE GOING HERE?
RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LIKE.
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO?
WHAT KIND OF IDEAS
ARE YOU GONNA TRY
AND THROW IN THIS LITTLE BOX?
- YEAH.
IT'S GONNA BE
REALLY STUPID FAST.
IT WILL HAVE AS MUCH
OR MORE HORSEPOWER
THAN A HAYABUSA MOTOR
CAN PRODUCE.
IF WE CAN DO A 4-CYLINDER
HONDA MOTOR,
AND THEY MAKE ABOUT
180 HORSEPOWER.
THAT'S A LOT
FOR THIS LITTLE CAR.
WHICH IS A STUPID AMOUNT
OF HORSEPOWER IN THIS,
BUT NOT
IN A REGULAR CAR.
- SOUNDS EASY, RIGHT?
- STILL JUST A LITTLE CAR.
IT ALWAYS SOUNDS EASY.
THERE'S GONNA BE
A LOT OF CUTTING, I'M SURE.
THERE'S GONNA BE QUITE A BIT,
BUT, I MEAN, REALLY,
I THINK THE KIND OF
BIG PICTURE IS,
LIKE, SIMPLE,
STUPID FAST,
AND WE GOT
TO SCARE STEPHANIE.
THIS IS CRAZY.
COSMETICALLY,
IT'S GOT A, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF CRAPPY,
OLDER PAINT JOB.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS DOOR'S
IN REALLY BAD CONDITION,
SO WE GOT TO STRIP IT DOWN.
- OKAY.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD KIND OF
COME UP WITH, LIKE,
A PAINT JOB
THAT GOES WITH IT.
ON THE INTERIOR, I MEAN,
FOR A CAR THIS SMALL,
THERE'S ACTUALLY
A LOT OF INTERIOR SPACE,
SO WE'LL JUST REDO
A WHOLE INTERIOR.
I DO LIKE THE CENTER
GAUGE IN THIS.
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
- THE CENTER GAUGE IS COOL.
'CAUSE YOU GOT
180 HORSEPOWER
GOING IN
A 2-POUND LITTLE BODY.
WE GONNA FATTEN UP
THE WHEEL AND TIRE?
YEP. WE CAN DO 13
ALL THE WAY AROUND,
AND THEN, JUST SOME REALLY,
REALLY STICKY TIRES.
I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY WIDE
FLARES ON THESE, TOO, SO...
SHE WANTS TO KEEP IT
KIND OF, LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE NOT
GONNA GO CRAZY WITH IT.
WE'RE GONNA GO CRAZY
ON THE MECHANICAL END,
BUT, COSMETICALLY, WE'LL
STRIP IT ALL DOWN, ALL NEW.
IT'S GONNA BE A TRUE-BLUE
LITTLE RACECAR.
- IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE RACECAR.
- IT'S GONNA BE TERRIFYING.
WHEN SHE HITS THE GAS,
IT'S GONNA SHOOT LIKE A ROCKET.
SHE'S NOT GONNA BE
READY FOR IT.
AND WITH THOSE TIRES,
THE THING'S GONNA HOOK.
YOU WANT TO SEE THE LITTLE
ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD?
- YEAH, LET'S SEE IT.
- YEAH, LET'S SEE IT.
- WHAT IS IT?
- DOES IT RUN NOW?
- NO, IT DOESN'T.
- 1,000 HORSEPOWER?
- MIGHT JUST...
- OH, MY GOD.
DUDE, THERE'S GONNA BE
A BIGGER MOTOR
THAN THAT FIT IN THERE?
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
CUT A LOT OUT.
I THINK ALL OF THIS
IS GOT TO GET CUT.
THE MORE WE CUT, THE LIGHTER
THE CAR GETS, TOO.
HOLY SMOKES.
MOTOR LOOKS LIKE
A LITTLE SEWING MACHINE.
IT DOES.
THE ALTERNATOR'S
BIGGER THAN THE MOTOR.
MINI CAR, BIG PROJECT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TORN DOWN
AND HAVE AT IT.
LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS.
- HE'S SMILING.
YOU'RE TURNING
BRITISH ON US.
- 180 HORSEPOWER?
- WHAT?
I GUESS WE'RE GONNA TEAR
THIS THING APART,
GET ALL THE TRIM, GLASS,
BODY PANELS OFF OF IT
SO WE CAN SEND IT BACK
TO THE MECHANICS.
THEY CAN RIP THE MOTOR OUT.
AND BY BODY PANELS,
YOU MEAN ALL FOUR PIECES?
YEAH, ALL FOUR PIECES.
I MEAN, THIS MINI ISN'T REALLY
MY CUP OF TEA.
GET IT?
LIKE IT'S A BRITISH CAR?
CUP OF TEA.
I JOKES.
THIS IS HELD ON
WITH ONE RUSTY SCREW,
NO SCREW,
NO SCREW AND A RIVET.
WHAT THE...?
HOW MANY PIECES ARE THERE
TO THIS?
WELL, THAT'S NOT
EVEN ON THERE.
THE PARTS THAT ARE COMING OFF
AREN'T IN THE BEST SHAPE,
BUT THE CAR, ITSELF,
IS IN DECENT CONDITION.
THANK YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH AN OLDER CAR LIKE THIS,
YOU'RE GONNA FIND SOMETHING
SOMEONE'S HAD THEIR HANDS ON,
OR 10 JOE BLOWS HAVE HAD
THEIR HANDS ON IT
AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
AND ALWAYS COMING THROUGH
AND TRYING TO NOT ONLY FIX
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR,
BUT NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FIX
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE HACKED UP IN THE PAST.
I THINK THIS CAR'S MADE OUT
OF TEA AND CRUMPETS,
'CAUSE IT WEIGHS
NEXT TO NOTHING,
AND IT SEEMS PRETTY DAMN FLIMSY.
SO, WHILE I WAS TAKING
THE FENDER FLARES
OFF THE FRONT
OF THE MINI COOPER,
I NOTICE THERE'S A GIANT CRACK
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER.
LIKE, PRETTY MUCH, THE WHOLE
BOTTOM OF THE FENDER
IS BROKE OFF.
THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR
RUST ISSUE WE HAVE DOWN HERE,
SO I'M JUST GONNA
CUT THIS OUT,
MAKE A NEW PANEL
AND FIX IT REAL QUICK.
ASIDE FROM THAT, WE GOT
A HANDFUL OF DOOR DINGS TO FIX,
AND THIS CAR WILL BE READY
TO GO OVER TO PRIMER.
WE'VE GOT OUR PIECE OF METAL
MADE HERE,
PATCH PANEL
FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER.
THESE CLAMPS HOLD IT
IN PLACE REAL NICE.
THEY KEEP A NICE,
EVEN GAP SO THAT
THE WELD PENETRATES REAL NICE
AND THEY KEEP IT NICE AND FLUSH.
SO, ONCE I GRIND IT DOWN,
IT'LL BE SMOOTH AS SILK,
LIKE A BABY'S BOTTOM.
IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER,
I'D SAY SCOTT FRANCE
MADE THAT PANEL.
IF IT AIN'T STEEL,
IT AIN'T REAL.
WHOA!
THEY NAMED THIS MINI
GOLDIE AFTER HER COLOR,
BUT TODAY, JASON AND CHEYANNE
ARE PRIMING THE CAR.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE
WHAT THEY'RE GONNA CALL HER
AFTER THIS.
WE GOT THE MINI IN THE BOOTH
AND TAPED UP,
AND I'M READY TO PRIME IT.
WOW.
CHECK THAT OUT.
YOU DON'T SEE THESE CARS
EVERY DAY.
TODAY I HAVE A NEW CLIENT
COMING IN
WITH A 1959 MERCEDES-BENZ 190SL.
HE'S BEEN WORKING AWAY FOR YEARS
ON THIS THING,
BUT, HOPEFULLY, TODAY,
WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN
TO GET THIS THING
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SO HOW MANY YEARS
HAVE YOU OWNED THIS CAR?
OH, I'VE HAD IT
ABOUT 15 YEARS.
YOU KNOW, SHE IS OBVIOUSLY,
UM, IN A SORRY STATE
RIGHT NOW.
I BASICALLY TRIED TO RESTORE
IT MYSELF AT THE BEGINNING,
BUT DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH,
SO I WENT AND TOOK IT
TO A COUPLE OF SHOPS...
- YEAH?
...TO TRY AND,
YOU KNOW, GET THEM
TO DO RESTORATION FOR ME,
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
WHEN I TRANSITIONED
FROM ONE SHOP TO ANOTHER,
SOME PARTS WERE MISSING,
SO, UH...
OH, BOY.
SO, BASICALLY, WHAT YOU SEE
IS WHAT YOU GET.
OBVIOUSLY, I WANT IT
LOOKING AS SHE WAS...
YOU WANT IT PRISTINE, YEAH.
...BACK IN,
FROM 1959, YOU KNOW?
YEAH. SO THERE'S SOME SHOPS HERE
IN ST. LOUIS
THAT HAVE SOME OLD,
VINTAGE MERCEDES PARTS
LAYING AROUND.
WE HAPPEN TO KNOW
SOME OF THESE GUYS,
SO OUR NEXT STEP WILL BE,
WE'RE GONNA GO
AND WE'RE GONNA SEARCH THROUGH
ALL THEIR NOS PARTS
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
COME UP WITH FOR THIS CAR.
- OH, COOL.
- YOU KNOW, ONCE WE'VE GONE
THROUGH YOUR PARTS
THAT YOU BRING IN,
IN YOUR CRATE, WE'LL HAVE A LIST
AND WE'LL GO HUNTING.
DO WHAT YOU CAN,
AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS
WILL DO ME PROUD AND...
YEP.
...AND FIND THE ORIGINAL PARTS
TO GO WITH IT, YOU KNOW.
- WE'LL DO THAT.
- I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE A GO
OVER EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE REDONE.
I, YOU KNOW,
I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE
IF YOU WANT TO DO
SOMETHING WITH THE WHEELS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE
A LITTLE BIT PLAIN.
YEAH.
WELL, WE'LL TRACK DOWN
A PROPER SET OF HUBCAPS...
- YEAH.
...THE GRILLE AND...
I JUST WANT IT TO BE
A 1959 MERCEDES,
AS IT WAS IN '59...
- SURE.
...AND I JUST WANT
TO TAKE IT
DOWN THE MOTORWAY
AND GET THE WIND IN MY BEARD,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO...
- NO, WE REALLY DON'T.
- YEAH, NO.
- TRUE.
- WE DON'T, UM...
WE STILL
CAN'T GROW BEARDS.
- YOU CAN'T GROW BEARDS?
- YEAH, WE'VE TRIED.
THEY CALL YOU PATCH,
DO THEY?
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'VE GOT
A TALL ORDER ON THIS ONE,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GO FIND
ALL THESE CRAZY PARTS
THAT REALLY
AREN'T AVAILABLE ANYMORE.
I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S ONLY
ORIGINAL ONCE...
RIGHT.
...BUT TRY AND GET IT BACK
TO LIKE-ORIGINAL...
SURE.
...IS THE PATH
I WANT TO GO DOWN.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL GET IT
AS CLOSE AS WE CAN,
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO NAIL IT.
YEAH. CHEERS, MATE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
WHILE THIS IS NOT
OUR TYPICAL BUILD,
SOMETIMES IT'S FUN TO TAKE
ON A RESTORATION LIKE THIS
ON SUCH AN ICONIC CAR.
I REALLY LOVE THE STYLING
ON THESE CARS,
AND I THINK IT WILL
NEVER GET OLD.
THE MINI IS OUT OF PRIMER
AND INTO OUR MECHANIC'S HANDS,
BUT FIRST, SCOTT NEEDS
TO TEAR OUT THE OLD ENGINE
TO FIGURE OUT WE CAN FIT
THIS NEW HONDA MOTOR
INTO THAT
TINY ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
WELL, BEFORE WE CAN PUT
THE BADASS V-16
HONDA ENGINE IN THE MINI,
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE OLD ENGINE
AND DRIVETRAIN AND SUBFRAME OUT.
THAT'S CUTE.
ABOUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN TEARING DOWN
A CAR LIKE THIS
AND A FULL-SIZED CAR
IS THE BOLTS ARE SMALLER
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE
AS BIG OF AN IMPACT.
THIS THING'S GONNA BE FAST
AS HELL.
WHAT'S NEAT ABOUT
THESE OLD MINIS,
THEY ALL CAME FROM THE U.K.,
WHICH MEANT THEY WERE ALL
RIGHT-HAND DRIVE.
WHAT'S GONNA BE GOOD ABOUT THIS,
IN THIS CAR,
IS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE
ON THE SAME SIDE
AS YOUR OPPONENT
AT THE STOP LIGHT.
WHEN YOU CHALLENGE THEM
TO A RACE,
THEY ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO IGNORE YOU,
BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE
RIGHT THERE,
LITERALLY,
INCHES FROM THEIR FACE,
GIVING THEM THE EYE,
OUT THE WINDOW.
SINCE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OF THE MINI IS SO SMALL,
THE ENGINE ACTUALLY DROPS OUT
THROUGH THE BOTTOM,
INSTEAD OF COMING OUT
THROUGH THE TOP.
THIS ENGINE WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU
WERE GONNA MODIFY YOUR SEGWAY
OR MAYBE MAKE A HOVERBOARD
OUT OF IT,
PUT IT IN YOUR LAWN MOWER.
LOOK AT THAT LITTLE THING.
YOU JUST WANT TO
LEAVE IT ON HERE,
SO THE SCRAP GUY
CAN TAKE IT MONDAY?
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MINI HANDLE
A LOT BETTER,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT COILOVERS
IN THE BACK.
SO, SCOTT'S GONNA CONTINUE
TO TEAR DOWN AND FIGURE OUT
HOW TO GET
ALL THESE NEW PARTS INSTALLED.
THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE MINI
COOPER IS GONNA COME ALL OUT
IN ONE CRADLE ASSEMBLY.
IT'S GOT A, LIKE, A ROD HERE
THAT GOES TO THE WHEEL,
AND THEN IT PUSHES BACKWARDS
FOR THE SPRING ACTION
FOR THE DAMPENING.
WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF ALL THAT
AND JUST GO WITH A MORE
TRADITIONAL COILOVER SETUP.
SO, I'M GONNA START HACKING AWAY
AT THIS THING AND GET IT GOING.
NASTY
A HOT ONE.
OOP.
SO I'VE GOT THE REAR SUSPENSION
FOR THE MINI.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT SETUP
THAN FACTORY.
THIS IS JUST GONNA BE
A TRADITIONAL COILOVER SETUP.
SINCE THIS CAR IS JUST
A UNIBODY,
THE A-ARMS HAVE TO HOOK
TO SOMETHING,
SO THEY JUST HAVE THIS BAR HERE
THAT'S GONNA HOOK TO THE A-ARMS,
AND THEN, THE BAR ATTACHES
TO THE BACK OF THE BODY SHELL.
YOU GOT YOURS STARTED?
- YEAH.
- HERE WE GO.
COOL.
OUR 170-HORSEPOWER HONDA MOTOR
WILL NEVER FIT IN THE ORIGINAL
CRADLE OF THE MINI COOPER,
SO WE'VE GOT
A BRAND-NEW CUSTOM ONE
THAT'S GONNA FIT THIS MOTOR
JUST PERFECT,
AND ALL WE NEED TO DO
IS PUT IT UP IN THE CAR.
- WHAT UP, MY MAN?
- WHOO-EE.
WHETHER IT'S COOL OR NOT,
THIS IS OUR HORSEPOWER
RIGHT HERE.
FACTORY, THIS ORIGINAL
MINI ENGINE
WAS RATED AT 34 HORSEPOWER,
LIKE YOUR PANTS SIZE.
THAT'S LIKE
A SEWING MACHINE.
FROM 34 TO 170.
IT'S LIKE, WHAT, NEARLY FIVE
TIMES THE HORSEPOWER.
FIVE, EXACTLY.
ONE MINI COOPER
THAT I'M DYING TO DRIVE.
I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D SAY THAT.
- NO.
- SO, ARE YOU READY?
- I'M READY.
- LET'S DO IT.
A MINI COOPER BODY
IS A UNIBODY CAR,
SO THERE IS NO FRAME.
SO, WHAT WE HAVE
IS THIS ENGINE CRADLE,
WHICH IS SUPER-STRONG,
ALL-TUBULAR STEEL,
AND THAT HORSEPOWER WILL MOUNT
IN THAT CRADLE,
AND THEN, THAT CRADLE
WILL BOLT TO THIS BODY.
HOPEFULLY, IT GOES IN AS GOOD
AS THE KIT LOOKS.
MINE'S IN.
MAN, EVERYTHING, LIKE,
JUST BARELY CLEARS.
- YEAH.
- I'LL BET THEY MADE THE CRADLE
AS TIGHT AS THEY COULD
MAKE IT ON THE MOTOR.
EVEN WITH THE CUSTOM CRADLE
WE'RE USING ON THIS ENGINE SWAP,
THE FIT IS REALLY TIGHT,
SO SCOTT'S GONNA HAVE TO
CUT AWAY THE INNER WHEEL WELLS
TO MAKE THIS
ALL FIT JUST RIGHT.
THAT MIGHT BE
A V.I.N. NUMBER.
SO, WE'LL TRY NOT TO DESTROY
THAT IN CASE WE NEED TO SAVE IT.
BUT THIS CAN DEFINITELY GO.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WENT FROM THIS MUCH SPACE...
TO THIS MUCH SPACE NOW.
THAT'S GOOD.
NOW WE'RE READY TO SEE
HOW THE ENGINE CRADLE FITS.
WHAT'S GOING ON, SCOTTY?
UM, JUST MEASURING,
LIKE, FROM THE CENTER
OF THE MOUNTING BOLT
TO THE OUTSIDE
OF THE INTAKE...
I'M GONNA SAY 6 3/8.
6 3/8?
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT
ON THE BODY.
WE CAN GO...
- YOU COULD JUST LOOK AT IT.
- WHAT IS IT, 6 1/2?
YEAH, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT
AND TELL IT'S NOT.
DUDE, THIS IS GONNA BE
ALL UP IN THIS.
YEAH.
SO I MEASURED FROM THE BACK
OF THE NEW ENGINE CRADLE
TO THE BACK OF THE INTAKE,
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY
NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE
BETWEEN THAT
AND THE FIREWALL.
WE MIGHT HAVE
A SMALL PROBLEM HERE.
YOU MEAN THIS HONDA MOTOR
DON'T FIT
IN THIS MINI OVER HERE?
I DON'T THINK THIS
INTAKE'S GONNA WORK.
HOW WE GONNA FIX THIS,
SCOTT?
UH...
OUR NEW MOTOR HAS FIVE TIMES
THE HORSEPOWER
OF THE ORIGINAL ENGINE,
AND IT'S READY TO GET
INSTALLED IN THE MINI.
BUT, FIRST, THE GUYS
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO FIT A MUCH LARGER MOTOR
INTO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT
THE SIZE OF A GLOVE BOX.
WE MIGHT HAVE A SMALL
PROBLEM HERE.
YOU MEAN THIS HONDA MOTOR
DON'T FIT IN THIS MINI
OVER HERE?
I DON'T THINK THIS
INTAKE'S GONNA WORK.
THIS THING'S
LOOKIN' GOOD.
GOT THE HONDA MOTOR ALL SET UP
IN THE CRADLE HERE.
- YEP.
- THIS IS AS FAR AS WE GO.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE COMING OVER
HERE, FOR US TO TALK TO YOU.
OH, GOD.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
WELL, WE DID
A LITTLE MEASURING.
THIS ISN'T GONNA FIT.
THIS IS OUR FIREWALL.
SO, WE CAN, UH, CUT THAT OUT
AND HAVE THE INTAKE
IN THE CAR WITH US...
AND SO YOU CAN JUST
HAND-OPERATE THE THROTTLE.
- RIGHT.
- YEAH.
- I DON'T THINK SO.
- NO?
ALL RIGHT,
SO WHAT'S THE FIX?
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA CUT
THE INTAKE RUNNERS
AND THEN 90 IT UP.
HOLY SMOKES.
ALL RIGHT.
MAN, THIS THING'S
GONNA BE TIGHT IN THERE.
- YEAH.
- OKAY.
HAVE FUN, BOYS.
- SEE YA.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT OUR
INTAKE HERE FOR THE HONDA.
WHAT I NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO
IS CHOP IT OFF FIRST,
START SEEING
WHAT KIND OF CLEARANCE WE HAVE
AND TRY TO FIT
AN INTAKE IN HERE
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING TOO CRAZY.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA ADD THESE 90s TO IT,
TAKING THIS FROM HERE TO HERE,
FREEING UP A BUNCH OF ROOM
BACK HERE
ON THE FIREWALL
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TRY THIS.
ALL RIGHT, JUST GOT
THE INTAKE ALL FINISHED UP.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND
GET IT INSTALLED ON THE MINI.
LITTLE MOTOR FOR A LITTLE CAR.
HEY!
LET'S SEE IF THIS THING FITS.
GOOD.
HEY, CHECK THAT OUT.
SO WE GOT THE INTAKE IN,
IT'S FITTING PRETTY WELL.
IT'S NOT TOUCHING
THE FIREWALL ANYWHERE,
SO WE'RE GONNA GO WITH IT.
WHERE THE HELL
ARE YOU TAKING ME, CHARLES?
I KNOW
THESE TWO RUSSIAN GUYS.
THEY SPECIALIZE
IN EUROPEAN CARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF
IN A LITTLE BUILDING,
BUT IN THE ONE
BACK CORNER,
THEY'VE GOT
A BUNCH OF PARTS.
- YEAH?
- THEY TOLD ME --
WE'RE GONNA GO PARTS DIVING
IN THE BACK CORNER
OF A MYSTERIOUS SHOP?
HEY, IT'S BETTER THAN
DUMPSTER DIVING, ALL RIGHT?
THEY SAID, "YOU'RE WELCOME
TO COME OVER, GET DIRTY."
BUT I THOUGHT, "WHAT THE HELL
DO WE HAVE TO LOSE?"
IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
FROM THE SHOP,
AND THESE GUYS ARE FUN.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE
SCAVENGER HUNT.
DIG THROUGH, WE MIGHT END UP
WITH MORE STUFF
THAN WE WANTED TO.
CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- CHARLES.
HEY, YOU MUST'VE SAW US
ON YOUR SECURITY CAMERAS,
SNOOPING AROUND, HUH?
- YEAH. HOW ARE YOU?
- GOOD. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- VERY GOOD.
- THIS IS NOAH.
- NOAH.
- BOB.
I KNOW YOU CALLED ME ABOUT
SOME PARTS YOU NEED FOR THE 190.
JUST A COUPLE PIECES,
BUT WITHOUT THESE PARTS,
THIS CAR CAN'T BE FINISHED.
MERCEDES
IS WHAT WE LOVE.
- ALL RIGHT.
- WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE.
- OKAY.
- ALL RIGHT.
CHARLES, DO YOU KNOW
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?
SOME THROTTLE LINKAGE
FOR SOME SOLEX CARBURETORS...
- PLENUM.
- YEAH, PLENUM.
- AND, UH...
- FUEL LINE.
- YEAH, FUEL LINE.
- FUEL-LINE ASSEMBLY, YEAH.
- OKAY.
- WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU.
WELL, I SHOULD
BE ABLE TO HELP.
IS IT HOT UP THERE?
ALL RIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU CLIMB
UP HALFWAY AND HAND IT DOWN?
- CHARLES.
- ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S ONE BOX WE NEED
TO GO THROUGH HERE.
NO, I THOUGHT THESE WERE
FUEL LINES,
BUT THESE ARE...
- PORSCHE.
...NOT FUEL LINES.
THEY'RE JUST PORSCHE STUFF,
HERE.
UH-OH.
WE MIGHT BE STRIKING OUT.
HEY, WE'RE
IN THE RIGHT BOX.
THIS IS
THE FUEL-LINE RAIL
FOR THE SOLEX CARBURETORS
FOR THE MERCEDES.
- YEP, YEP.
- THERE'S LINKAGE.
- HERE WE GO.
- THERE'S THE LINKAGE.
- HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
- WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
WE'RE DOING GOOD.
I HAVE A PLENUM.
BUT IT'S OFF AN MG.
- NOPE.
- SO, THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
NEXT TIME.
YEAH, AT LEAST YOU GOT
TWO PIECES OUT OF THREE.
YEAH.
WE'LL GET THESE PARTS PUT ON,
AND THEN, JUST,
DEFINITELY GIVE US A CALL
IF YOU KNOW OF SOMETHING.
- ABSOLUTELY.
- WE APPRECIATE IT.
- ALL RIGHT.
- COME ON OUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS MINI
INTO AS MUCH
OF A RACECAR AS POSSIBLE,
SO WE'RE PUTTING CUSTOM
SEATS IN THE FRONT.
BRYAN JUST HAS TO MAKE SOME
SEATS THAT MATCH FOR THE BACK.
WE PULLED THE BACKSEAT,
PULLED THE COVER OFF,
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MATCH
SOME OF THE PATTERN
WITH THE FRONT BUCKETS.
I NOTICED ON THE BACK REST
OF THE BACKSEAT,
THERE'S REALLY
NO SUPPORT BACK HERE,
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW, CONTEND WITH THAT.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT'S TACKY THAT I CAN TACK
THIS DOWN AND SEE THROUGH
TO MY LITTLE "DRAWRINGS,"
AND THAT WAY, I CAN TRANSFER
ALL THAT STUFF TO REALITY
AND MAKE TEMPLATES OUT OF IT.
THAT'S NICE.
NOW, I GUESS WE'LL SEE WHAT
THIS THING'S MADE OUT OF,
AND WE'LL REBUILD IT
AND MAKE IT BETTER.
WHAT'S A CAR WITHOUT DUCT TAPE?
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MAKE IT
A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE
FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY BE SITTING
IN THE BACKSEAT,
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT
SOME BURLAP OVER THERE,
KIND OF BLEND THROUGH THE WIRES
SO THEY'RE NOT SO PROTRUDING.
AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE'RE GONNA ADD
A LITTLE BIT MORE FOAM.
WENT AHEAD AND FINISHED
THE BACK REST
FOR THE BACKSEAT IN THE MINI.
NICE, SIMPLE DESIGN
FOR A LITTLE RACECAR.
IT'LL BE PRETTY COOL.
SO, WITH THE INTAKE ADJUSTMENT,
THE GUYS FINALLY GOT
THE ENGINE INTO THE MINI,
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT
OF FITMENT ISSUES AHEAD
BEFORE WE CAN CALL THIS
ONE COMPLETELY DONE.
THIS JUST
FLAT-OUT DOESN'T WORK.
TRYING TO FIT THE HONDA ENGINE
INTO THE MINI COOPER,
THE ALTERNATOR WILL WORK,
IF YOU PUT IT IN A CIVIC,
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA
WORK ON THIS THING.
BUT WE'LL GET IT IN THERE,
WE'LL GET IT DONE.
IT JUST DOES NOT FIT.
NEITHER DOES MY RADIATOR
OR FAN.
WELL, THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF
TO US WITH A BOX FULL OF PARTS,
AND CHARLES WAS ABLE
TO FIND THE REST.
SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO PUT
THE PUZZLE PIECES ALL TOGETHER
AND GET THIS THING
RUNNING FOR THE CLIENT.
OKAY, THIS '59 190SL
HAS A 1.9 LITER.
THE BASE MOTOR MADE
104 HORSEPOWER,
BUT WHEN FITTED WITH
THE DUAL CARBURETORS,
IT MADE 120 HORSEPOWER.
WE'RE INSTALLING THE OVERFLOW
LINE FOR THE FLOAT BOWL,
SO IF THE FLOAT
STICKS OR WHATEVER,
INSTEAD OF DRAINING
IT BACK IN THE ENGINE
WHEN THE FLOAT GETS STUCK
OR NEEDLE AND SEAT GET STUCK,
IT'LL DRAIN IT OUT
THIS TUBE, HERE.
WE GOT THE THROTTLE
LINKAGE SET UP
FOR THE DUAL
SOLEX CARBURETORS.
AND THEN, A SNAP.
THERE WE GO.
WHOO-HOO?
- LOOKS LIKE IT ACTUALLY FITS.
YEAH, IT'S A BIG-ASS PLENUM,
IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
IT BOLTS
ON THE CARBURETOR STRAIGHT,
SO THERE'S
NO ALIGNMENT ISSUES.
YOU DONE YET?
CHARLES, IS THAT YOU?
STARTING TO LOOK
LIKE AN ENGINE.
OKAY, NOW THAT
THAT'S WRAPPED UP,
WE'RE GONNA SET
THE BATTERY IN IT
AND SEE IF THIS THING
CRANKS OVER.
- ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY?
- YEAH.
SHE MAY NEED SOME HELP.
GIVE HER A TRY.
UH-OH.
- PRETTY GOOD.
GOT SOMETHING.
SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
WHOO-EE!
SHE'S A RUNNER.
WE GOT PRETTY LUCKY.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE
IN GOOD SHAPE.
IT'S GOOD TO GO.
WELL, THE GUYS WERE WORKING
ON THE MINI,
AND THEY STILL HAVE
NOT FOUND A PLACE
FOR ALL THE ENGINE COMPONENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, RANDY LUCKED
OUT AND FOUND A HEADER
THAT FITS BEHIND THE GRILLE.
NOW IT'S ONLY A MATTER
OF MAKING THAT ALTERNATOR FIT.
WELL, THAT'S JUST
NOT GONNA WORK.
TRIED REALLY HARD TO GET
THE STOCK HONDA ALTERNATOR
TO FIT
IN THIS ENGINE COMPARTMENT,
BUT IT'S JUST
NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, WE'RE GONNA GET A REALLY
SMALL ALTERNATOR,
AND IT STILL PUTS OUT THE POWER
THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED.
WHOO-EE.
THAT'S A LITTLE FELLA.
- YEP.
- SO, YOU THINK STOCK LOCATION?
THEY WANT IT IN THE FRONT.
IT'S STILL GONNA BE TIGHT,
BUT IT IS BEHIND THE HEADER.
YEAH.
JUST GONNA GET A SHORTER BELT
AND SPIN IT UP.
IT'LL WORK WELL.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD
AND WRAP UP THE ENGINE,
TIGHTEN EVERYTHING UP AND NUT
AND BOLT THE WHOLE FRONT CRADLE,
AND GET IT READY
TO GO BACK IN.
LAST THING TO DO IS INSTALL
THE CHAIN-LINK STEERING WHEEL
AND DRIVE IT
TO THE BODY SHOP.
YOU KIND OF EVEN IT OUT,
I THINK.
I SAID I THINK I AM.
OH, JESUS CHRIST.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
PUT IT IN REVERSE.
OKAY.
HEY, GUYS,
GOT YOU A MINI.
OHH!
WHAT THE IS THAT?
MEEP-MEEP.
MEEP.
- WANT TO GO FOR A RIDE?
- HEY, DAN.
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH THIS GOOFY-ASS CAR?
WELL, IT'S A GOOD THING
IT'S IN A BODY SHOP.
COULD'VE JUST TIED A ROPE TO IT
AND DRUG IT OVER HERE.
WAIT. I WANT TO DRIVE.
- ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
OH, YOU WANT TO DRIVE,
OR DO YOU WANT TO RIDE?
- NO, I WANT TO DRIVE.
- OKAY, DRIVE.
IT'S LIKE I DRIVE A RED CAR.
IT'S GOT TWO PEDALS.
ARE YOU CHECKING
YOUR MIRRORS?
IT DOESN'T HAVE
ANY MIRRORS.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH,
I GUESS LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.
THAT LOOKS GREAT.
- THAT'S MY PARKING SPOT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE
ONE PERSON HOLD THE CAR
WHILE ANOTHER PERSON
SANDS IT.
COME ON, CHOOCH.
LET'S GO.
IT'S ALMOST NAP TIME.
- YEAH, THANKS, FELLAS.
WE GOT OUR MINI COOPER BACK.
APPARENTLY, IT'S READY
TO BE PAINTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL
THE MECHANICS
WERE SMOKING THIS MORNING,
BUT FOR SOME REASON,
THEY THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE.
I'M GONNA GET THIS PREPPED REAL
QUICK, SEND IT OVER TO PAINT.
DONE WITH THE BIG AREA.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GET IN THE
SMALL AREAS WITH THE LITTLE GUY.
PERFECT.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT
THE FINAL PIECES
ON THE MERCEDES
AND WRAP THIS THING UP.
WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO DO
IS TO PUT THE HUBCAPS
AND BEAUTY RINGS ON.
NOT AN EASY JOB ON THIS CAR,
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY DENTS
OR DINGS
FROM PUSHING THEM CAPS ON.
IN THAT CASE, EVEN THE EASIEST
JOBS CAN BE A HARD,
PAIN-IN-THE-BUTT JOB
ON A CAR AT THIS LEVEL.
FINE '59 HUBCAPS.
REAL-DEAL SEX APPEAL,
RIGHT THERE.
GONNA PUT THE GRILLE ON.
THIS IS A SMALL CAR
WITH A SMALL GRILLE,
AND WHEN YOU PUT THIS PART
IN THERE, THAT'S HUGE.
NO JOB TOO TOUGH
WHEN YOU GOT THE RIGHT STUFF.
IT'S THE ALL-THRILL
MERCEDES GRILLE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE GOT OUR HOOD
ALL LATCHED, FITTING GOOD.
SHE'S READY TO GO.
WE'RE PAINTING US
A 1972 MINI COOPER.
WE'RE GONNA SPRAY THIS A NICE,
BRIGHT-ASS LIME GREEN.
WE CAN GET AWAY WITH A LOT
ON THIS CAR, JUST,
FOR ONE, IT'S SUCH
A SMALL, LITTLE CAR.
PLUS, WE'RE GONNA PUT
A TWO-TONE ON IT.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ONE
LIKE IT AROUND.
THIS IS GREEN, BOY.
INCREDIBLE HULK!
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE
A LITTLE MORE GREEN.
YEAH. LOOKS LIKE
IT'S BEEN SLIMED.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE
THE BRIGHTEST GREEN
I'VE EVER SEEN ON ANY CAR.
- I'M GONNA SAY THE SAME.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A GREEN CAR
ROLLING AROUND LIKE THIS.
WELL, MAYBE ONCE WE PUT
ALL THE BLACK ON THIS THING,
IT'LL, LIKE,
TONE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT...
THAT'S WHAT
I WAS THINKING.
...BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE...
SO, THE FINAL DESIGN, REALLY,
IS TO FOLLOW THE BODY LINE
DOWN THE SIDE,
BRING IT UP AROUND THE COWL,
AND THEN DO A SINGLE STRIPE
COMING DOWN THE CENTER.
THIS'LL LOOK NICE.
RIGHT ON.
LET'S LAY THIS THING OUT THEN.
LET'S ROCK IT OUT.
IT IS HARD
TO SEE THE LINE.
I GREW UP ON A FARM
WITH MY GRANDPA
AND MY UNCLE ALWAYS, LIKE,
"HELPING" THEM WITH
FIXING TRACTORS AND STUFF,
SO I WENT TO COLLEGE
FOR PAINTING AND BODY
AND WELDING AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN, I STARTED WORKING
OUT IN KANSAS CITY,
AND STARTED LEARNING A LOT OF,
LIKE, RESTORATION STUFF,
AND I DECIDED THAT'S THE WAY
I WANTED TO GO.
PAINT, BODY, FAB, MECHANICS,
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH OLD CARS
IS WHAT I WANT TO DO FOREVER.
I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE TOP
CAR-BUILDING GIRLS OUT THERE.
SO, I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN
AROUND ALL GUYS
SINCE, LIKE, SOPHOMORE YEAR
OF HIGH SCHOOL,
AND I LEARNED REAL QUICK,
AND EARLY ON,
HOW TO BE AROUND THEM,
HOW TO JOKE AROUND THEM.
THEY ALWAYS PICK ON EACH OTHER,
THEY ALWAYS TRY
TO EMBARRASS EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO,
LIKE, COMPARE WHOSE IS BIGGER,
WHOSE IS BETTER, WHOSE IS WIDER.
IT'S NOT HOW BIG IT IS.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
THIS IS MY TOOL BOX,
AND THIS IS ALL I NEED.
YOU'D THINK, BY NOW,
THAT THEY WOULD LEARN
THAT THEY CAN DO A LOT
WITH AVERAGE-SIZED EQUIPMENT.
FOR THE MINI, WE CHOSE
A HONDA B16A2 MOTOR,
WHICH WILL GIVE US POWER,
REALLY NICE PERFORMANCE
AND A TON OF RELIABILITY.
I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR
THIS LITTLE SUCKER RIP.
ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON.
LET ME KNOW IF I'M GONNA
SMASH MY FINGERS.
HELLO.
OKEY-DOKEY.
WE GOT THE B16
IN THE MINI COOPER,
AND IT TAKES SOME FINAGLING
TO GET ALL THIS
INTO ALL THIS.
NOW THAT IT'S IN,
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD,
GET IT WIRED UP, FIRE IT UP
AND DO SOME BURNOUTS.
OKEY-DOKE.
FIRE IT UP, SEE WHAT IT DOES.
YEAH.
GIVE IT A MINUTE.
- I'D SAY IT RUNS PRETTY GOOD.
- YEAH.
- THAT'S GREAT.
- GOOD JOB.
THIS THING'S GONNA BE
TERRIFYING.
ABSOLUTELY.
RUNS GOOD.
KEEP COOKING.
MINI COOPER DASHES
ARE VERY FLAT,
AND WE WANTED
TO DO SOMETHING CUSTOM.
SO, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT
OUT OF FIBERGLASS TO KEEP IT
THAT LIGHT RACECAR FEEL,
ACTUALLY MAKE THAT PANEL
OUT OF STEEL,
AND THEN LACE IT
WITH FIBERGLASS,
AND THEN, JUST USE THE
FIBERGLASS PORTION OF THE DASH.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M A STEEL GUY,
SO THE FIBERGLASS IS NEW TO ME,
BUT I'M EXCITED
TO STRETCH MY SKILLS
AND BUILD SOMETHING CUSTOM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU THINK
YOU CAN ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH THAT?
GIVE IT A SHOT.
AIN'T GONNA HURT.
WE'RE GOOD.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA FIBERGLASS
THIS THING,
BUT DO IT
IN A KIND OF DIFFERENT WAY.
WE'RE GONNA DO A SWAYED
LAY ON THE BACKSIDE FIRST,
THEN DO SOME FIBERGLASSING
AROUND THE BACK OF THAT.
AND WHEN WE POP THAT OFF
OF THE MOLD,
WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE FRONT OF THIS,
IT'LL BE
A SWAYED-FINISHED PIECE.
GOOD THING IS,
IS IT'S BLACK.
THEN WE'RE GONNA DO
THIS ONE.
HMM.
I'M LEARNING.
- YEAH, HE'S TEACHING ME.
I'M BEING SCHOOLED.
THIS IS ROLLING OUT
ALL THAT AIR.
GONNA THROW
THE HEAT TO IT?
THROWING THE HEAT
TO IT.
- THAT FLIP SIDE.
- FLIP IT OVER.
HERE WE GO.
THERE IT IS.
MAN!
ALL RIGHT, SO WE GOT
OUR PIECE MADE.
THIS IS THE FACE OF THE DASH.
IT'S GOT THE COMPOUND CURVE,
EVERYTHING WE WERE GOING AFTER.
NOW I'M GONNA GO THROUGH AND
ACTUALLY PUT ALL THE GAUGES IN.
THERE YOU GO.
WE FINALLY HAVE THE 190SL
MERCEDES FINISHED UP
AND READY FOR ROY.
THERE YOU GO.
I LOVE IT. BLOODY HELL.
- IT'S BACK TOGETHER, AT LAST.
- IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YEAH.
SO YOU BROUGHT US THE CAR
AND SOME PARTS.
I BROUGHT YOU
A BOX OF BITS.
AND THERE WAS A LOT
OF MISSING PARTS,
BUT WE PULLED THEM
ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
MATE, I LOVE IT.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG ROAD.
REALLY A BEAUTIFUL CAR.
YOU'VE DONE
A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO WE FOUND THE TRIM RINGS
AND THE CENTER CAPS.
IT WAS HARD TO FIND THEM.
WE HAD A COUPLE DIFFERENT SETS
WE WENT THROUGH.
SOME OF THEM
WERE IN HORRIBLE CONDITION.
OKAY.
WE GOT THE INTERIOR
ALL BACK TOGETHER.
SO, WE GOT THE CARPETING IN IT,
WE'VE GOT THE SEATS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR.
IT'S NICE TO SEE IT,
ALL IN ONE PIECE.
IT'S BLOODY LOVELY, MATE,
I'LL TELL YOU.
THE CREST AND THE FRONT GRILLE
WAS MISSING,
SO WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT
VERSIONS THAT CAME IN.
WE SWAPPED THE TWO SETS
TOGETHER,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE
A NICE-LOOKING SET.
AND THE GRILLE,
WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ
EMBLEM IN THE MIDDLE,
THE LITTLE BEEHIVE TURN SIGNALS.
IT JUST -- I MEAN,
WHAT A PACKAGE.
YEAH.
THAT LOOKS FANTASTIC.
YOU WERE MISSING
THIS INTAKE.
YOU WERE ALSO MISSING
SOME FUEL LINE.
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A LOT
OF THIS STUFF,
AND A LOT OF IT,
THEY REPRODUCED, WHICH IS GOOD.
AT OUR BUDDY BOB'S PLACE,
WE FOUND THROTTLE LINKAGE
AND A FUEL-RETURN LINE,
AND CHARLES WAS ACTUALLY
ABLE TO FIND
THAT INTAKE PLENUM ONLINE,
WHICH IS KIND
OF A RARE PIECE.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO.
- YEAH.
IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE, AND...
FROM 1959.
...AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL,
IT'S EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS
DELIVERED FROM THE FACTORY,
ORIGINALLY.
OKAY, MATE, LET'S GO.
IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS.
I NEED TO TAKE THIS
FOR A SPIN.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.
COME ON, MATE.
IT DRIVES HOW SHE LOOKS --
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
- YOU'VE GOT YOUR SUIT ON.
- I'VE GOT MY SUIT ON.
IT'S 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
- I KNOW.
- YOU'RE IN A CONVERTIBLE.
THE FASTER WE DRIVE,
THE COOLER YOU'LL BE.
LIVING WITHOUT THIS CAR FOR
SO LONG HAS BEEN REALLY HARD,
BECAUSE I'VE HAD IT
FOR 15 YEARS,
AND IT'S BEEN IN A BOX,
IT'S BEEN FROM SHOP TO SHOP.
NOW SHE IS EXACTLY AS SHE WAS
IN 1959, AS SHE SHOULD BE.
WHAT A NICE, LITTLE CAR.
IT'S GREAT THROUGH THE GEARS,
ACCELERATES GREAT --
OOH, THAT'S THE HORN.
WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST
FEW DETAILS ON THE MINI,
AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO GET EVERYTHING BUTTONED UP
SO WE CAN GET THE CAR
READY TO SHOW TO STEPHANIE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GETTING
OUR WINDOW SEALS ON HERE
FOR OUR MINI COOPER.
AND WE'LL GET THEM ON THERE,
AND THEN WE CAN ROPE
THE GLASS INTO THE PANELS.
- HERE, CHEYANNE.
- WHAT?
I BROUGHT YOU SOME WHEELS.
HERE'S THE CHALLENGE.
CAN YOU CURL THEM?
- OH, GOSH.
- COME ON.
- LET'S SEE.
- LET'S SEE HOW TOUGH YOU ARE.
I HEARD YOU'RE PRETTY TOUGH.
- I'M FREAKIN' SUPER WOMAN.
OH, GOSH, I DON'T THINK
I CAN DO IT.
SHE'S GETTING A GOOD,
OLD TENNIS GRUNT.
- NOPE.
- YEAH, YOU DID IT.
GOT TO MAKE
THAT GRR FACE.
I GOT THE 13x7s.
THEY'RE OUR COMPOUND WHEELS.
THEY'RE REALLY STICKY.
THEY'RE GREAT FOR RACING,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO WITH THIS CAR.
AND, FINALLY, CAN'T BUILD
A RACING MINI
WITHOUT A RACING GUMBALL
ON THE SIDE.
SINCE THIS IS
STEPHANIE'S SECOND MINI,
WE THOUGHT "02"
WOULD BE QUITE APPROPRIATE.
THE MINI LOOKS GREAT,
SOUNDS GREAT,
AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW IT
TO OUR CLIENT STEPHANIE.
OKAY, NOAH,
WHERE'S MY CAR?
- WELL...
- WHERE'S MY GOLDIE?
SO, IT'S NOT GOLD ANYMORE,
BUT I THINK
IT'S GOT A GOOD LOOK.
OH, MY GOD.
IS THAT REALLY THE CAR?
LOOK HOW COOL IT IS.
OH, MY GOD.
WOW.
THAT IS
SO FREAKIN' COOL.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- OH, MY GOD.
I THINK IT'S AMAZING.
SO WE'VE GOT THIS CUSTOM
GREEN COLOR,
AND THEN, ON THE TOP,
WE'VE GOT A REALLY COOL
METALLIC BLACK.
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT IT
LOOKED LIKE WHEN I FIRST SAW IT.
IT WAS AMAZING.
ON THE FRONT,
THE COOL THING IS,
THE SUSPENSION PACKAGE
WE USED IS ALL-NEW STUFF.
SO, WE'VE GOT COILOVERS
ALL THE WAY AROUND.
IN THE FRONT, BASICALLY,
IT'S OWN, CUSTOM, NEW CRADLE,
MADE OUT OF TUBULAR STEEL,
SO IT'S NICE AND STRONG.
SO, DOWN THE FRONT
OF THE HOOD,
WE WANTED TO BREAK IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE GOT THIS REALLY
COOL STRIPE.
WE DID THE GRILLE SURROUND
IN THE METALLIC BLACK, AS WELL,
BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THE SUN, IT'S GOT
A REALLY NICE FLAKE IN IT, SO...
- IT DOES.
OH, YEAH.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
- IT'S PRETTY NEAT.
- IT JUST SPARKLES.
IT'S SO COOL.
AND WE PUT ONE HELL
OF A POWER PLANT IN IT.
YEAH, WHAT'S THIS ENGINE
LOOK LIKE?
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU.
YEAH.
SO THIS IS A HONDA B16.
IT IS A JDM MOTOR,
SO IT'S A JAPANESE MOTOR.
OVERHEAD CAM,
TWIN OVERHEAD.
BUT IT MAKES
170 HORSEPOWER.
OH, MY GOD.
AND WHAT WAS IT BEFORE?
50-ISH.
SO, BEFORE, IT COULD NOT
GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY,
AND NOW IT'S GONNA PROBABLY
BE FLYING DOWN THE ROAD,
IN EVERYBODY ELSE'S WAY.
SO, IT'S AWESOME, IT'S GONNA
PROVIDE RELIABILITY.
SO, IT'S READY TO ROCK.
- WOW.
- YEAH.
THEY SAID THE ONLY WAY
THAT POWER PLANT
WAS GONNA ACTUALLY STICK
TO THE ROAD, WHATSOEVER,
WAS WITH 7x13 TIRES,
SO PRETTY NEAT DEAL.
SO, THEY'RE
STICKY TIRES NOW?
THEY ARE THE STICKIEST
OF THE ICKIEST.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S CHECK OUT
THE INTERIOR REALLY QUICK.
OKAY.
COOL.
BRYAN AND MATT DID
A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THIS.
STARTING WITH THE DASH,
THE DASH WAS ORIGINALLY
A PIECE OF CARDBOARD.
WE WEREN'T GONNA HAVE THAT,
SO WE CUSTOM-MADE
IT OUT OF FIBERGLASS,
OFF OF A METAL MOLD WE MADE.
WE DID THE HEADLINER
IN ALCANTARA,
AND WE'VE GOT ALL-NEW,
BLACK MERCEDES-BENZ CARPETING.
THESE CUSTOM DOOR PANELS
ARE COOL,
BECAUSE WE TIED IN THE GREEN
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR.
- OH, YEAH.
- SO, PRETTY COOL, THERE.
OH, THAT'S VERY COOL.
A LITTLE TOUCH HERE
AND A LITTLE TOUCH THERE.
THEN, THESE ARE REALLY,
REALLY NICE SEATS,
AND I CHOSE THEM BECAUSE
THEY ARE BOTH COMFORTABLE,
HIGH-QUALITY,
AND THEY WILL HOLD YOU IN PLACE
WHEN YOU GO FLYING
AROUND A TURN.
MY NEW CAR IS SO FREAKIN' COOL,
LIKE,
"OH, MY GOSH, IT'S REALLY
GONNA BE A BADASS, FAST CAR."
- WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...
- OKAY.
YOU COULD'VE JUST DRIVEN IT
ON REGULAR STREETS,
BUT SINCE
IT HAS SO MUCH POWER
AND WE'VE UPDATED
ALMOST EVERYTHING,
I THOUGHT WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN
AND DRIVE IT ON THE TRACK.
YEAH.
THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.
- ALL RIGHT, HOP IN.
- LET'S GET IN.
AAH!
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS SO FREAKIN' COOL.
HERE WE GO.
OH, MY GOD.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT UP,
I WANTED TO TAKE OFF QUICK,
BUT I HAD NO IDEA, LIKE,
IT WAS GONNA BE
THAT FREAKIN' QUICK.
DOESN'T IT FEEL SO GOOD?
- OH, YEAH.
- OH, MY GOD.
- FUN, RIGHT?
WITH THOSE WHEELS, THOSE TIRES
THAT HE PUT ON,
YOU CAN GO AS FAST
AS YOU WANT AROUND THESE CURVES
AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE RACECAR,
A GO-KART ON THE BIG TRACK.
I MEAN, DO YOU NOT LOVE
THIS CAR?
- IT'S A LITTLE ROCKET.
- I KNOW.