American Hot Rod

Anybody else been watching this? I saw the finished '56 Chev at SEMA, so that's probably heightened my interest.

I know it's easy for some to take pot shots at Coddington, but those that have been around a while know he came from the trenches. He's worked hard and earned his reputations.........both good and bad!

Just some observations:

-Glad they haven't turned it into as much bickering as American Chopper, but then the Pauls' are big time "stars" now, even have AOL commercials. Of course if AOL had put the millions into customer service/product quality instead of advertising they might not have lost 850,000 customer in the 4th quarter of 2003.

-I'm not surprised Coddington doesn't have any of this old employees working for him anymore (with the exception of Roy the old metal man), the few attaboys he dispenses don't seem very sincere most of the time.

-The first '56 body they dragged in and tore apart shows that even the "pros" can buy a blivit.

-The reality of body work is, if you want them really "flat", you're gonna end up skim coating most of it.

-How does that geeky kid with the ball cap and black framed glasses talk without moving his lips?

-Charley, the body/paint guy, is an employee to die for. Dedicated, honest, hard working, doesn't whine, and knows what he's doing..........must be that Idaho upbringing. If I were to get back into that business again I think I'd hire him away.

-Discipline and morale must be a problem around there, half the time some of the workers don't show up. Might go back to why there aren't many old timers there.

-Seems weird to have the ex-wife as the bookkeeper, and the trophy wife working there too. Maybe that's the only way the ex can get the money they settled on.:HMMM:

-Speaking of money and bookkeeping, notice how they need a check each time something's delivered? Could it be that when he went banko last time he burned too many bridges? Or do they just recognize they're not too good at managing the business so they control spending by working on a cash basis?:eek:

-Nice to see them throw a birthday party for the mentally retarded cleanup guy. Looked like he had a blast. Shows there probably is a heart under those Hawaiian shirts.

-Lookin' at some of the cars in the background there are some nice rides comin' down the pipe. Although I'll bet their owners don't like seeing them just sitting there while the whole crew focuses on the show car...................especially if they think they're ahead on their progress payments.

-For all the whining we hear about the economy there are a lot of high dollar cars in there. Oh I forgot, this is an election year, so it's mandatory for about half the people to believe EVERYTHING is terrible no matter what reality is.

-For anyone who pays attention there is a lot to learn in this show even though the process is highly edited, and the producer's main goal is entertainment. For all that the film people probably aren't true car guys, they've managed to mix in a balanced dose of real world fabrication "problems" that even a pro shop runs into.

-That machined banjo style rearend in the Model A coupe is really something! (Ooops, that may have been on my buddie's local TV show that you guys don't see, can't remember now)

-No matter what you think of the guy, Coddinton's got "the eye"! (Although I really hate that yellow and blue color combo he did on the GG giveaway roadster)

Bob; I like to watch some of the shows to but I don't think I've seen that one. But I watch Jessie James/motorcycle/ and junk yard wars and some other stuff like that. Now I know people are gonna say junk yard wars? Why? Well you can really learn some cool tric's for modifications. And you get to watch some people make butt heads out of themselves. Getting mad really doesn't pay,we should all know that right.


Vegas

Don't think I could work for Coddington too long, seems like a jerk to me. Takes himself way too serious. hmmmmmm Maybe the ex owns so much of everything she has to be there. He does turn out some very nice cars.

I dont watch any of those "chopper" shows or any of the billet car shows. All they show you are useless show cars and bikes, I believe cars and bikes aremade to be driven, not shown.

Hey Suede, cars can be shown and driven. Not everything with billet is a trailer queen, and not everything with primer on the body is a record holder. Being a hot rodder gives me the right to build what I want the way I want to build it, but it does not give me the right to put the bad mouth on someone else's ride just because it is shiny and pretty. Beleive me, we can all take some useful hints on fabrication and aesthetics from these shows. I never have claimed to know it all, It makes learning so much more difficult.

I have been impressed with the last 2 American Hot Rod episodes. I'm not sure I would appreciate my new Boyd built '56 Chevy being referred to as the "junk yard dog" especially when you know what the average Boyd built car is worth,lol...It seems Charlie is very loyal and knows his way aroudn the shop very well..hated to hear that his father had cancer..lost my mom in 2000 from cancer..know how he feels.......I like these type of shows..a lot more entertaining than 90% of the other sitcom shows.

I find myself tuning more often to Discovery Channel, TLC, Speed Channel, etc., as a matter of fact they have become the main stations i watch. Im just sick of regular tv and like to see whats happening in the real world, and they also have programs on things im interested in. Rodder/builder shows, good or bad are still better then anything else on the boob tube

OK it's not like I'm an old hand at Hot Rod building or anything but some of the stuff they pull on there is so stupid I find even myself screaming at the TV.

Example-reworking the door latch. Here they are paying guys serious buck to jack with a busted up, old latch when for the same money they spent on labor they could have just ordered in a new latch. Same goes for the hood hinges, no wonder Boyd went bankrupt last time he ran a business.

Oh and Boyd, what a JERK. I'm really surprised he can keep even the untalented, unskilled people around for very long. I'd be very curious to see what his turnover rate is like.

Abe

How does that machinist talk without moving his lips? How do you know when he is lying? Went bankrupt? Well with machinist making little wheels and "stealing" tools from across the shop I guess it could happen. Yeah I might be a little bummed to see my car in the background while everyone in the shop is working on the "Junkyard Dog". Then again we don't see what happens when the camera is in the paint booth or the office. It is a good show and much better than the first. Anyone watch "Rides" on TLC tuesdays at 9:00? Odd things happen there too.

I really look forward to watching this show. I think Charlie really helps set the tone of the shop with the character setups of the various employees. It's cool to see the detail that's put into the work performed. I don't know much about Boyd's buisiness acumen but I do know his reputation for quality built cars, it is funny to see some of the guys running into the same problems I do on my own Rod. I really get a kick out of the machinist everyone is talking about, actually he is the head of that part of the shop. I only regret we didn't get to see him jump that ramp on his wheel skates. That would have been a real hoot! I don't think Boyd is so bad, he seems to really care for his guys. I also get a kick out of his ex, who hasn't seen someone like this in their workplace. Hearing Boyd went bankrupt before I think she is helping that from happening again, and it's lots of fun seeing her do that. I only hope we get to see more shows and more Rods!

I really look forward to watching this show. I think Charlie really helps set the tone of the shop with the character setups of the various employees. It's cool to see the detail that's put into the work performed. I don't know much about Boyd's buisiness acumen but I do know his reputation for quality built cars, it is funny to see some of the guys running into the same problems I do on my own Rod. I really get a kick out of the machinist everyone is talking about, actually he is the head of that part of the shop. I only regret we didn't get to see him jump that ramp on his wheel skates. That would have been a real hoot! I don't think Boyd is so bad, he seems to really care for his guys. I also get a kick out of his ex, who hasn't seen someone like this in their workplace. Hearing Boyd went bankrupt before I think she is helping that from happening again, and it's lots of fun seeing her do that. I only hope we get to see more shows and more Rods!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Mempho
I really look forward to watching this show. I think Charlie really helps set the tone of the shop with the character setups of the various employees. It's cool to see the detail that's put into the work performed. I don't know much about Boyd's buisiness acumen but I do know his reputation for quality built cars, it is funny to see some of the guys running into the same problems I do on my own Rod. I really get a kick out of the machinist everyone is talking about, actually he is the head of that part of the shop. I only regret we didn't get to see him jump that ramp on his wheel skates. That would have been a real hoot! I don't think Boyd is so bad, he seems to really care for his guys. I also get a kick out of his ex, who hasn't seen someone like this in their workplace. Hearing Boyd went bankrupt before I think she is helping that from happening again, and it's lots of fun seeing her do that. I only hope we get to see more shows and more Rods!

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We heard you the first time! hahaha!

Sorry, my finger gets too fast for it's own good sometimes

I guess I'm like most when it comes to Boyd and what I think, but he not a personal friend and therefore I probably don't really know him. You do know that he and Gary Meadors are twins, as they shop at the same store and dress alike. Anyway, I like the show as it gives me a look at the pro's having the same problems with fit, overheating on new engine, etc. I like the fact that there is a bunch on new young guys (anything under 60 is young) that are carrying on metal work and the like, this is especially true of the kid from WY Tech. There a lot of these guys out there with a true interest in building cars. I always watch it. Its damn sure better than Showtime and Lifetime Network. I would really like it if Ron Covell had a show like this where we could really see how it's done. Or maybe even a Popular Hot Rodding show.

I think that Ron Covell sells a video series. Yes panel pounding is an art. I hope to learn it some day, damn this fiberglass kit car!:LOL:

I do like some of the cars he builds

http://public.fotki.com/wackydave/ca...ngtons_garage/

I have enjoyed this show, but I like the Rides show on TLC even better. In that one you see the feature designer Chip Foose at least do some work. The Speed channel has several new shows starting up the 16th of this month that I am looking forward to. I don't recall the names right now, but you can check them out at

http://www.speedtv.com

Pat

Yeah Pat, they've done some interesting stuff there on Rides. I think their approach is a little different. Not only are they trying to squeeze an entire feature into a one hour show, they're also bouncing all over the car hobby map. That's probably a good thing for those who either have, or want to develope, a broad interest. A couple weeks ago they did all that bling-bling modifying to the high end rides for athletes/music people that was informative, though I couldn't get interested in a steady diet of it. The feature on the ebay Mustang last week was interesting, another car that was at SEMA. Again, trying to pack all that was done into a one hour format sort of short changed the amount of work that went into it. It reminds me of some of those shows that show house remodeling. In an hour they get a year's worth of work done. Makes it look easy.;)

The one persistant distraction on Rides is the cadence of Priestly's narration. They could probably increase their viewership if they got him to change it, or got someone in there that drinks coffee!

All of these shows will have something of value for the person who has an open mind and can be attentive. The closed minded "know it alls",,,,,,,,,,,,, well, that's why they demonstrate their ignorance of so many things.

Thanks for the Speed Channel info. Looks like there's going to be more stuff on than I'll have time to watch. I guess that's cable TV at it's best......................carving out a bunch of little niches for folks to select from.

I really like "American Hot Rod". Sure, some of the bickering is staged or encouraged, but it's more accurate than any other show on tv. Charlie, Roy, and that bald young guy seem to be the only ones who know anything. Most of those other guys are just trying to look good on camera, and don't seem to have much pride in their work.

The thing that encourages me the most is seeing how the "pros" have problems with everything just like me. Several guys I know that have watched the show have a greater respect for what I am trying to accomplish. I can say that I have learned some things from the show.

American Chopper- Good entertainment value. I like the show, but I really haven't learned much about building anything. Mikey is hilarious, but the popularity seems to be going to Paulie's head.

Monster garage- Pretty good most of the time...depends on the project and the builders. What's with the shemale?


Two guys garage, Horse Power TV, Trucks- Everything fits perfect. Let's take a coffee break and talk about carwax. Thanks Pal!

Ok Bob; Look's like you got a good thread going here. I think there is alot of good shows like these,And I enjoy watching some of them.As long as I can learn some thing from them. Butt I don't enjoy watching some one talk to every one else like they are a pice of crap, You can ask some one to do some thing and be nice about it.Not a butt head like some of the guys on the shows are. They need to go home and watch them self on TV to see how dumb they really look to other people.


Vegas

Hi Fellas, I enjoyed the show as well - though I too wish they would focus more on the building than the drama, though I can see that might limit viewership (what would AC be without the bickering). One of my favorite parts was watching the interior guys (having never seen that process before).

Curious what you guys estimate the parts cost to be on this car?
Art Morrison Chassis/tranny/brakes e.t.c. $20?
AS&P full-house Crate $15?
Interior/Paint e.t.c.

The final product sure was pretty.

Jordan

Jordan, my guess would be that your numbers so far are pretty close, though the whole chassis with the indi rear and all could go a bit higher. A Gabe interior is probably an easy $10, the paint work around $15. Those one off wheels (at least the first set :))weren't cheap either. You know there were a couple a ton of overtime hours in there. I'm sure the owner didn't set the deadline to make SEMA, more likely it was Coddington dovetailing with the TV bit. So did he cut the guy a "deal" on that part of it? NOT LIKELY! All up I'd have to guess that thing went out the door close to $200 maybe even north of that. Gotta pay for that Coddington name ya know!!

I heard the owner claim it was the nicest '56 in the world. Well, as long as he believes that I guess that's okay. I've seen the car, and it's nice, very nice...............................but not the nicest I've ever seen. There are lots of folks who will be shocked and scoff at this kind of price/car, but it's the reality of a high level pro built car. And there are guys who've earned the dough to be able to afford it. And hey, it's their money, they can spend it any way they want.