With our country’s love of motoring, the recent proliferation of car-centric shows on TV isn’t surprising. Here are six of our favorites at Toyota of Oxnard:
1. Top Gear
In 2012, Top Gear won the Guinness record for being ‘the most widely watched TV factual program in the world’. Originally a factual magazine style program providing reviews of latest car models and accessories, the format was changed in 2002 to a studio-based production with three presenters. While retaining its serious review of production models, the show also took on a humorous twist, with the presenters being sent on crazy and often impossible tasks, such as driving through a desert in old stripped down motors, or converting a three-wheel car into an aircraft. These antics created its cult following. A US version of the show had its debut on the History Channel in 2010.
2. Ultimate Build Off
Ultimate Build Off is a TV challenge show aired on the Discovery Channel. Every week, two auto shops from across America compete for a chance at glory and an ultimate $100,000 grand prize. Their task is to take ordinary trucks, cars, and other vehicles and convert them into a special design. This could include taking a hearse and converting it into a high-speed, turbo-charged carrier, or making a simple truck into a monster. The competing teams are judged, and the two best innovating teams will take on the ultimate challenge.
3. Overhaulin’
Hosted by Chip Fosse and available on Velocity TV, Overhaulin’ is a show that takes old wrecks of cars well past their sell-by date and gives them a new lease on life. Although basically an auto restoration program, Overhaulin’ does not simply return the car to its original condition. Instead it provides it with a ‘new spin’, much to the pleasure of its owner.
4. My Classic Car
Speed TV’s My Classic Car with Dennis Gage is a must-see for any classic car enthusiast. Each week, Gage takes the viewer on a journey through a classic car show or behind the scenes of a private collection and provides exciting insights into an endless list of classics. He also provides information about where to source parts and other necessary classic car maintenance items.
5. Pimp My Ride
MTV’s Pimp My Ride specializes in taking old cars owned cars by young Californians and making them customized rides their owners could only have previously dreamed about. The show’s host, rapper Xzibit, will pay a surprise visit to one lucky young viewer and then transform their car at famed body shop West Coast Customs.
6. Counting Cars
Now showing on the History Channel, Counting Cars is a unique type of auto restoration program. In this series, not only is the presenter tasked with restoring and customizing old cars, he also has to then sell them. It provides an exciting view into the world of restoration and custom car buying and selling.
