Roadworthy Rescues

I was an automotive channel binge watcher for years, loving old vehicles, driving them, fixing them up. But I have stopped watching the shows that were on due to several factors. First, taking an old car apart and pouring endless amounts of money that most of us don't have to turn it into nothing reminiscent of its original state. Essentially a brand new vehicle now with a hundred grand in it. The best part of having an old vehicle is all of it, the feel of it, the smell of it, the way it handles and sounds, otherwise just go buy a new car!! My lifelong search was for original survivors that have not been destroyed by wealthy bored people who didn't ever appreciate the original vehicles. I also got really tired of the ridiculous shows that spent more time filming people doing everything but actually working on a car. I like Derek, his sense of humor, not afraid to get dirty, doesn't have a perfect $100k show car at the end. I will be watching this in hopes it doesn't go the way the rest of them do when they are a popular show.

Finally a more down to earth auto DIY semi-resto show that's more in line with what the average auto DIY enthusiast can do with your typical garage tools. Most of the auto enthusiast shows on main stream TV show upgrades and builds that require auto training, high tech shop, and skill well outside the scope of your typical home garage mechanic/DIYr. Derek demonstrates what to expect and what is required to bring an old junker that's been rotting for the last 20years back to life (on-site) and at least mobile enough to get it back to your house. The tools Derek uses "onsite" are the typical ones a garage mech has on hand as well and can relate to the basic repairs being done on the show while at same time throwing out humorous metaphors in his dialogue.

All the other polished high end car shows pushing out $200K show car builds (none of us can afford) need to take note of the Roadworthy Rescue format that actually encompasses the average car enthusiasts budget, abilities, and process to get vehicles up and running even if they sat for years. No fancy metal forming tools, high end paint mixing room/paint booth, or colored pencil drawings of concept cars in this program. No these rescues aren't going to SEMA but most of us average car folks aren't going to SEMA either.

Great program and the only car program I record/watch. Breakout the weed eater, floor jack, and don't forget to taste the engine oil!

As a lifetime car lover, I relate to what Derek has done to get the cars back on the road. Just keep to the track of the show. Bring them back to life and not have a ton of off camera work to make them run and function. I enjoy the different terms for things and his odd ball ratios used to describe things. I wouldn't mind jumping in, getting the hands dirty to assist on a build. He relates well to a lot of shade tree mechanics. Perhaps show a few things about points in old distributors and things done in the past to show this generation how things worked in the past. I will be watching season 2!

If a guy was looking for a car show that doesn't feature expensive builds that a guy could never afford, featured many of the same techniques a guy used himself under the shade of a tree back in the day, and presented it all in a style Red Green would find humorous and entertaining then Derek (of Vice Grip Garage fame) and Roadworthy Rescues is a guy's choice.

Spending an hour with Derek is like spending quality time with a guy's friends turning wrenches on the latest project with hopes of gettin' 'er going in time to head to town for an evening. The good natured humor of the host adds to the charm of the program which never loses sight of the idea that a feller, or fellette, doesn't have unlimited time and money and must work with what he has. And when it's all done maybe, just maybe, a guy might just have a decent going to town rig.

Roadworthy Rescues is an instant classic and a breath of fresh air in the endless conga line of car and reality shows. If you can only watch one car show this it.