Sauveurs de trésors

Usually, my tastes are very similar to Drew Pritchard's - when it comes to quirky objects and antique furniture, that is. He has a very keen eye for what is commercial, and to keep restorations at a sensible level, retaining original patina where this is appropriate and renovating nly when necessary.

Enter "Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars" and we see a completely different side of Drew. Suddenly, the man has NO TASTE whatsoever! Always pushing for meaningless modifications that detract from the vehicle's value, always doing way too much or way too little, thinking black is a good colour on any car... OMG!

With every car Drew and Paul "restore", they demonstrate an eye-watering ignorance about marque history and correct detailing. Also, their focus is only on cosmetics - why not spend a few quid on new shock absorbers or a rebuilt head instead of spending thousands on painting brake calipers and adding decals? This is nothing but turd polishing, total botch jobs that only Arthur Daley could approve of. So please, stick to the antiquities!

Of all the various television series that followed the American Pickers approach this for me is the most enjoyable.

There are several reasons I think this show works so well, first would be the concentration on architectural salvage. This sets the show apart and also allow for some really interesting finds, they also focus on furniture which can also be equally impressive.

Another reason is the greater breadth history that is available in Britain which allows for much older artifacts and often of more significance. When looking at architectural salvage and furniture this history can make for truly impressive finds. This history also allows for some incredible locations including castles and industrial sites that are hundreds of years old.

Still another is the restoration and re-purposing aspect which allows the viewer to see the final product - and perhaps better understand what Drew saw when he made the purchase.

The final reason is a strong host an also the addition of a narrator which adds to the presentation.

Usually like this type of show as I have been involved in the same thing for some time,but,there is something rather off & sly about this guy. Maybe it's the way it swans around with that huge chip on it's shoulder knowing it's going to screw the last penny out of those that actually did all the work to begin with & end up making,in some cases,big money out of the deal,to me he's a scabby peasant.

I dig this kind of show but after watching a few episodes, this just felt a bit lazy. He didn't actually go out and find anything in the wild, just drove around visiting other junk dealers and actual demo reclaimers that do all of the real eyeballing and work. It is well-produced but I did not really enjoy the host nor the premise of a blowhard "brain" not really doing any hunting just going to known contacts and beating them down on the cameras for their best bits. It would be more interesting to actually go with the demo crews and junk dealers who actually find the things this guy buys to sell. Oh well, plenty of other shows in this genre and I gave it a chance.

I saw this series only for objects and places. For the stuffs stories and for stories of the owners. Obvious, it is a series for marketing about a business , so apparences are not more than the crust. But beautiful things and their travel across time are just good things and enough, against doses of selfishness, arrogance, greed or supperficiality of great Drew Pritchard.