Classic Car Rescue

Classic Car Rescue is a British reality television series produced by Blink Films and aired on Channel 5 for six weeks in 2012, as well as on Discovery Networks affiliates in international markets. Each one-hour episode documents the work of Cockney mechanic Bernie Fineman and his Canadian business partner Mario Pacione, as they purchase "shameful rust bucket" classic cars from scrapheaps, wastelands and backyards and restore them to their former glories. Having bought the "bargain wrecks," the pair must then source the parts needed to return the cars to the shiny, desirable motors they once were. At the end of each episode, the cars are appraised by automotive valuer Dylan Miles before being given away in a viewer competition.

Genre: Reality,

Actor:

Creator:

Country:

Type: tv

Season: 2

Episode: N/A

Duration: 43 minutes

Release: 2012-09-24

Rating: 5

Season 1 - Classic Car Rescue
2012-09-24
In the first episode, Bernie and Mario have to restore an E-Type in four weeks. After the first potential purchase, a U.S.-spec 2+2, proves too expensive at £14,000, Bernie buys a different U.S.-spec Series 2 2+2 with an automatic transmission for £12,000. This annoys Mario, as they had agreed not to spend over £10,000. Along with the mechanical and aesthetic restorations, the car is resprayed from its original white to Signal Red, despite Mario accidentally damaging the right rear wing when he backs the car up and hits an engine. A brand-new aftermarket sunroof is installed to fill the void left by the previous non-original modification. The original U.S.-spec bumpers are retained. Dylan Miles, a valuer from RM Auctions appraises the finished car at £30,000, giving them a profit of £9,600.[5]
2012-10-01
The second episode sees Bernie and Mario agree to restore a Porsche 911. The first one they find turns out to be completely stripped, so it is rejected. They settle on their second find, an incomplete silver 1977 model that they buy for £6,900. While the car is being stripped for painting, the mechanics suspect that it is a "cut and shut" due to the amounts of filler used above the firewall and the dodgy repair work on the roof, but this is debunked upon further inspection by Mario. After most of the mechanical work is done, the car is repainted Signal Orange, similar to an original colour that Porsche offered in the 1970s, and is fitted with a whale tail and a bespoke interior. Despite a dirty engine bay and some paint chips on the driver's side door frame, the finished car is valued at £22,000, giving them a profit of £8,100.[6]
2012-10-08
In this episode, Bernie and Mario go out to hunt down an MGB. They visit a collector who offers a rubber bumper B GT, but they reject the offer, as the car has been disassembled and it is unknown if all of the parts are intact. Bernie then visits a farmer who owns a barn filled with classic cars, including an Inca Yellow 1976 B GT. After much argument between Bernie and the farmer over the car's rotting state and the £800 asking price, Mario negotiates with the farmer over the phone and agrees to buy it for £500. Despite numerous mishaps including the rear suspension falling off the car lift and Bernie sacking the mechanics before rehiring them, the two-week restoration sees the car repainted in medium British racing green and have a chrome bumper conversion. The chrome grille chosen is of the 'honeycomb' style. The original fabric sunroof is also filled in. The finished car is valued at £5,000, giving them a profit of £1,600.[7]
2012-10-15
In this episode, Bernie travels to Mario's hometown of Toronto, Canada, to find a muscle car to restore. After considering a Chevrolet Nova, they decide to restore a Mustang. Their first find does not suit their budget, but Mario finds a 1969 convertible which already has a coat of primer applied, despite being in pieces and its engine is beyond saving. After the owner shows him a detailed report of the car's manufacture history and a reprint of the original factory sticker, as well as proof that the car is the only one to have been fitted with an electric clock, Mario buys it for CDN$5,000, which annoys Bernie as a convertible would be harder to restore than a hardtop.
2012-10-22
While still in Canada, Bernie and Mario search for a classic Cadillac and visit the home of millionaire Steve Plunkett, whose Cadillac collection is worth at least £10 million. The tour inspires them to hunt down a 1950s model. After the duo pass on a rusted Cadillac limousine (which may fetch a lot of money, but will cost too much to restore), Mario spends CDN$6,500 for a 1954 Cadillac Coupe De Ville that has been rusting in a barn and accommodating a family of mice for many years. The duo restores the car within a one-month window, during which, it is repainted from yellow to Argent Silver with a black roof (although Mario accidentally has it painted in an unattractive grey beforehand) and a green/grey interior. The finished car is valued at CDN$25,000, which gives them a profit of CDN$9,000 (roughly £6,000).
2012-10-29
Returning to the UK, Bernie and Mario set out to restore a Mini. After purchasing a blue 1975 Morris Mini 1000 and an original Morris Mini Minor owner's manual for £720, Bernie decides to restore the car in under one week, despite the copious amounts of rust and the engine running on only three cylinders. Various incidents occur as a result of Bernie's "traditional" approach, including a fire during some work on the floor panel. Bernie makes a deal with a local Mini specialist for some brightwork and new suspension trumpets. The car is repainted blue with white roof and racing stripes, and is fitted with a new exhaust system and grille-mounted fog lights. The car is examined and declared to have a value of £5,000 - a profit of £1,680.

Season 2 - Classic Car Rescue
2014-04-14
In the first episode of series 2, Bernie and Mario look for a Porsche 928 to restore in three weeks. Because over 80% of all 928s sold in the UK were automatic, the manual version is rarer and can fetch more money. After struggling to find one in working condition, the duo buy a black 1991 928 GT at a specialist garage for £5,000, despite the car missing half of its interior and in need of a new paint job
2014-04-21
Mario travels to Milan, Italy, on the search for a Fiat 500 as his and Bernie's next project car. However, Bernie buys a non-running 1973 unit back in the UK for £1,500 against Mario's advice. Mario gives the team two weeks and a budget of £6,000 to restore the car.
2014-04-28
Mario and Bernie set their sights on buying and restoring a Mercedes-Benz R107 380 SL. The duo spot a rusty burgundy 1986 SL on an online auction and Mario buys it for £1,250 before Bernie even finishes assessing it. Mario gives the team four weeks and a £12,000 budget to bring the SL back in shape.
2014-05-12
In this episode, Mario and Bernie return to Toronto to hunt down and restore a Volkswagen Camper - particularly the pre-1968 split screen model. After finding no luck at a breakers' yard, Bernie flies home while Mario continues his search. He finds a green 1966 Camper that needs body work and a new interior, and pays CDN$7,500 (roughly £4,000). Mario gives the team four weeks and a budget of £10,000 to restore the Camper.
2014-05-19
Mario and Bernie look for a 1981 DeLorean to restore. After turning down a wrecked unit, the duo head to a barn to check out another DeLorean, only to discover that it is painted red over its stainless steel body, the engine does not start, and it is fitted with non-original wheels. Nonetheless, Mario buys it for CDN$9,500 (roughly £5,100).
2014-05-26
Bernie and Mario argue about buying a Ferrari Mondial 8 to restore. As a means to convince Bernie of the value of restoring Ferraris, he takes him to a Ferrari festival at Spa Grand Prix Circuit in Belgium. There, the duo are introduced to a blue Mondial wrapped in black and red body vinyl as a former track car before buying it for €10,000 (roughly £8,500).
2014-06-02
Bernie and Mario choose the Volkswagen Beetle as their next restoration project. They purchase a rusty blue 1974 Beetle from a car restorer for £450. Mario sets a restoration timeframe of three weeks and a budget of £3,000, which is later on raised to £9,000.
2014-06-09
Returning to Toronto, Mario and Bernie set their sights on restoring a Corvette C3 Stingray. The duo find a partially restored blue 1973 Stingray with layers of filler on its fibreglass body, missing trim, electrical issues, and a misfiring engine. Despite Bernie's objections, Mario buys it for CDN$14,000 (roughly £7,500).