Fantom Works

[YY1]

Agree on both points.

 

[Nick2317]

I have watched 2 episodes I think the main guy is a complete douchebag .....the one metal fab kid he has there has ALOT of talent ...kid is a hidden jewel

 

[satman72]

I just saw the show for the first time last night. I'm impressed with the Kyle (the kid). It looks like he has some real talent. The owner looks like he's a bit full of himself, but then again it could just be the editing, scripting, etc...

 

[george68hemirr]

that '63 stingray came out pretty badass! I think it's funny the douchey owner bought the car thinking it was "cherry" just because it was in storage for three decades, lol! Didn't even bother having an actual mechanic check it out before dropping a ton of cash (probably). Then almost $65k for fantomworks to fully restore it. Beautiful in the end, but yet another douche owner.

As for his "buddy" with the '66 (?) pony fastback, that guy was a dipshit, imo. I'll have to watch again to list details. Then in the end decided he didn't want the damn car, even though it turned out beautiful! I'm so curious how much they sold it for finally, probably a mint considering the prices i've seen on the show. I do like how much they did on that one '31 highboy for under $20k. That actually seemed reasonable, for the guy who's dad died.

As for the '64 impala, again beautiful full restoration from a rusted frame bucket. But seems like you could do it for cheaper than $97k, if you started out with a much nicer donor than that basket-case. Unless it's some super-rare model of impala (which i doubt) w/ rare motor, options, etc. Why the hell did they start with that junk, when you plan on spending almost six figures anyway? Seems like the difference in donor car would've been neglible. Just spend $15k - $20k on a nice donor with much of the interior and body intact to begin with.

I just don't get the "logic". Sure, turned out beautiful show winner in the end, but still, feel like the owners threw away $20k - $40k just so fantom could profit huge on labor cost.

i flipped when he said 97,000 for that 64 cheby

 

[YY1]

Makes the 70K counting cars Charger look like a good deal.

 

[daredevil]

They cant rebuild a motor. Every car gets a crate motor. I cant believe they took a numbers matching 63 vette and stuck a 350 crate motor in with 327 emblems on it.

 

[YY1]

Also agree with that.

I hate to see any show do that.

Fast and Loud did that with the 54 olds rocket.

The guy that bought it was upet about it, too.

You would think they would keep the original engine and let the prospective buyer know it was around.

 

[Budnicks]

They cant rebuild a motor. Every car gets a crate motor. I cant believe they took a numbers matching 63 vette and stuck a 350 crate motor in with 327 emblems on it.

Amen to that.... yeah a really good top end fab or restoration shop, "that knows anything at all, about the values of these type cars" & not just their bottom line/profit, won't or doesn't do that to a classic/vintage Corvette or let alone any other car that is being "Restored", then charge $65k to do it, especially that has the "original" engine & trans in it, when it could be a simple rebuild... maybe it's the car owners deal, but I seem to remember the Fantom Works owner guy recommending it... possibly because of the time restraints, but a rebuild on any SBC is a day or a couple days at the machine shop & a couple hrs for assembly & paint, it makes no "good" sense anyway... the build was a resto-mod type build thou too, not really a restoration

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I didn't like that fact that they so blatantly stuck a cheap *** 350 in that vette instead of a nicely build 327 I think that would have been better, then it was f'ed up too lol trans inspection cover lip bent in and hitting crank lmao the spit window top was a good idea and came out nice, but I agree that was not a $65k build even at OT It wa close $45 in my estimate so I think he got more than his margine out of that one. and I bet the owner is making payments too.

That rat rod for $20 was a great deal he was able to drive off in it and it was safe and legal that was really cool. I could see that all day long.

 

[bzabodyn]

Guys my car has been done for a few years - and yeah, it's a car you'd want to restore - #'s matching, one-owner, 59k orig miles '69 HEMI charger 4spd (oh, and the best part - it's red ;) ) 2200hrs total resto and 3 1/2yrs

I know I haven't been around here long but I've been on dodgecharger.com for a while and others.

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If you're looking, I know a couple of guys that do nice work.....

I'm always interested in finding good, local shops as I always have a project going on - case in point, I just bought the XV '68 GTX that I plan on doing some more work on (repain, custom interior/etc)...

BZ

 

[Budnicks]

bzabodyn nice rides

 

[thomas93254]

Tonight was a bit different. They unveiled a new project called Wounded Wheels. They take muscle cars and build them for veterans in wheel chairs, that only had a mini van as a driving option. While the had to cut up a SS Chevelle to do it I found it rather neat that they would put together a non profit foundation to do this. Being in a wheel chair my self it hit really close to home, though the loss of my leg was not in a war. It does show a different side to the owner of Fantom Works.

Thomas

 

[Furyous]

I like the show.. I think the Chevelle was way wrong for what he wants to do. I think a cool old wagon lowered would do the same job as what he wants. Do something like a 66 Coronet wagon with a 5.7 hemi, o/d,a/c,p/s,p/b would be a cool ride.. Lower it just a tad with some modern 17-18" wheels. This way they would have a new car in an old car body...

 

[Bruzilla]

I liked the Wounded Wheels concept, but the execution of it is pretty bad. The way this guy is doing it means it will be impossible to standardize anything, which means costs will always be prohibitive. Using vintage cars means you'll always have different cars coming in, which means everything will need to be redesigned and custom fabricated and modified for each body type.

He would be much better off coming up with a design for a Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Mustang, or other new car, get corporate sponsorship, and come up with one or two standardized designs that could be produced more efficiently and cost effectively.

And the ramp is a bad idea. He would be better off with a lift system that allows the driver to pull his/her chair alongside the car, hook up to the lift, and have the lift pick up the chair and pull it into position.

 

[bzabodyn]

Yeah, the ramp is a bad idea - notice how bad it blocked the drivers side vision when up? Not to mention how contorted the person in the wheelchair was having to get just to get in the car. Neat in concept and spirit but tough to execute.

BZ

 

[Ghosty]

I'm always interested in finding good, local shops as I always have a project going on - case in point, I just bought the XV '68 GTX that I plan on doing some more work on (repain, custom interior/etc)...

Cool restomod project! What 5spd did you go with? What was your experience with that company?

 

[thomas93254]

Yeah, the ramp is a bad idea - notice how bad it blocked the drivers side vision when up? Not to mention how contorted the person in the wheelchair was having to get just to get in the car. Neat in concept and spirit but tough to execute.

BZ

Maybe an electric t top of some type so the lift has the room to work and lift. Then once in the top would come down and seal.

Thomas

 

[Budnicks]

Yeah the Chevelle SS build was kind of wrong/weird looking for the intended usage, not sure if the concept can work in a Muscle Car with all the stuff that's needed... but his heart was in the right place... It's difficult to put 20#'s of crap in a 10# package for sure, there's a reason why they usually use Mini-Vans for that... In my eyes, I think he redeemed himself some, but I still don't care for the owner much at all... even thou he was a Vet & doing something nice for wounded Vets.... I do respect that

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$40k sticker shock on the 1929 Velie, seemed kind of high to me too, for what they did or atleast showed what they did.... he started @ $10k but the son was warned it could go to $100k... pretty freaken' pricey for what they did IMHFO.... way overpriced should be the theme of the show

 

[RJS]

I'm not going to get into all kinds of bellyaching of the owner is this or that.
The show is pretty decent for a TV show about cars.
I wish he would have addressed why they tape around alot of molding and chrome on some of the builds and why he painted the 57 Chevy wagon a dull green???
His crew really seems to enjoy what they are doing.

 

[bzabodyn]

TKO - not sure exactly which one - car was already outfitted with it.

BZ