American Hotrod - the series

adrian jaye · 02-09-2005, 12:15 AM

ok, for once a serious thread

have been watching this for a while. And was wondering on yalls thoughts on this program.

I really like the program, all the different characters, and how the build up the cars from scratch.

A few questions comments.

1> Theory that it is a scripted show, ie a docu-drama
2> Has anyone been to Boyyd Coddingtons ?
3> what are your favorite characters , mine are "Bluebear" and "Mike" and that grummpy guy who is close to retirement. and DUANE the guy who always gets mad
4> What about Boyyds hawaian shirts, he looks like a zz-top throwback
5> Last episode I caught (here in UK) was Rat Rod build off pt.3, where bluebear gets fired, I was sad about that !

Has anyone here ever made a rod ? or done up one.

Had anyone ever rodded a Porsche ?

cool

VINMAN · 02-09-2005, 03:50 AM

Boyds an arrogant, stuck-up douchebag!

white87911 · white87911's Garage

The show is so scripted that i do not watch it anymore.
Boyd is a jerk.
I have built a custom hot rod muscle car and it is so hard for me to believe that they have such incompetent people working there (therefor they are asked to play dumb).
Why do they (and American Chopper, etc.) always and i mean always have 2 weeks to do every project that they get?

The best show of this type are the ones from England "A bike is born" or " achopper is born" (where a guy builds a heicopter in his garage)

adrian jaye · 02-09-2005, 05:01 AM

There is a AH discussion group, and there seems to be a lot of boyyd haters and speculation that it is scripted.

ok

re: the 2 weeks, I've noticed that, but is that not because with the resources at hand thats the max. time it should take ?

so are we saying 100% it is scripted or assumed ? or is it simply the editing ?

the ..is born series.. ticks me off, the guy appears to do all the work himself, but for example the one he re-built the jag.. he "sends" it off to get the body stripped, then he send it off to get it "prepped" then he send it off to get t painted.

YOu only see him putting the odd bolt on, and of course there are the couple of people behind the scense who helps him anyway.

Wether AM is scripted or not, I enjoy watchnig the show.. I often wish I had a larger garage to do some projects in

asphaltgambler · 02-09-2005, 05:04 AM

I aggree with white87911. I've built or re-built most every vehicle I've owned. The time frames are rediculous, it is scripted that way for drama to played out for the TV audience.

On AHR do you ever notice all the cars in the background? Most are the ones from a prior emergency build still sitting there. The '56 Chevy, the aluma-tub, etc.

I really dig the English guy that rebuilds all sorts of stuff in his garage. He does it the way the average guy with little $$$ would; all with basic hand tools, a manual and lots of elbow grease. He usually states a build budget and then along the way gives a $ status and the final tally when it's up and running. Also he is entertaining using lots of comedy and admitting any errors.

adrian jaye · 02-09-2005, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by asphaltgambler
On AHR do you ever notice all the cars in the background? Most are the ones from a prior emergency build still sitting there. The '56 Chevy, the aluma-tub, etc.

Yeah I had notcied that !

I really dig the English guy that rebuilds all sorts of stuff in his garage. He does it the way the average guy with little $$$ would; all with basic hand tools, a manual and lots of elbow grease. He usually states a build budget and then along the way gives a $ status and the final tally when it's up and running. Also he is entertaining using lots of comedy and admitting any errors.

I'm not kocking "...is born shows" and again its very entertaining and works in a different way to AHR, but I still dont believe he does as much as he lets on, again half the work he gets done, is done by some speaclist or another. i.e. "well we need to get this xxxx to a proper bodyshop, where John will respray it properly"

kumma · 02-09-2005, 07:16 AM

The best epsiode was the one where the italian? family built the aluminum hot rod from scratch. I really like watching craftsmen work their trade. The technical aspect of the jobs, I could give a crap for the soap opera stuff like if this guy pissed off this guy or he came in late.

Of course american hot rod is scripted. people always looks off camera to say their lines, hard to read a cue card if you cant see them. American chopper is the worst, their like puppets on a string "I gotta tell ya..." Those jokers dont have an original thought or line in their head of the producers wont let them say it.

At least the writing or acting on souther steel is a little better, Its a show thats easier to watch with maybe a little less soap opera thrown in.

asphaltgambler · 02-09-2005, 08:04 AM

Man every time I watch AC it makes my blood boil! I was doing all the s--t those guys were 15yrs ago. Only I didn't / don't build those horrific looking raked-out abortions! Just goes to show money doesn't buy good taste.

Two things I will admit: The son does do excellent metal fab and I love Mikey, so dumb /stoned that he's funny!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 02-09-2005, 11:25 AM

The show is COMPLETELY scripted. Boyd Coddigton is an ***hole

89911 · 02-09-2005, 01:36 PM

I'm glad I'm not alone. I posted this a few month ago:

Boyd Coddington...Worst Boss in the World??

I guess what strikes me most is how he can't see what an incredible ass he is when he watches the show. I guess he is too busy buying Hawaiian shirts at TJ Max.

mtelliott · 02-09-2005, 02:00 PM

What happened to the paint shop guy. I caught the very end of one show and it showed that he died. Does anyone know what happened?

AC rocks. Yes, it's getting old. But Mikey makes it fun and the metal fab is awesome.
AH sucks. I don't think it's scripted, but a lot of the conversation is forced.

Stanley · 02-09-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtelliott
What happened to the paint shop guy. I caught the very end of one show and it showed that he died. Does anyone know what happened?

lol, no the paint shop guy did not die. His name is Charley and he now works for Chip Foose. IMO he was only one there that did any real work and he had a really good attitude. He was just sick of Boyd's deadlines and his over all manner.

What’s the story between Boyd and Chip Foose. From what I have gathered Chip used to work for Boyd and they had some kind of falling out and they now hate each other?? I also heard that Chip is the only reason why Boyd is where he is today because he helped start the shop and gain Boyd a good reputation.

asphaltgambler · 02-09-2005, 03:49 PM

I don't think Chip is entirely responsible for Boyds success. Boyd has been around for some time and was doing some really progressive stuff even in the late 70's.

I have not met the guy one on one but friends have told me that when they attended a couple major events that he was arogant as Hell.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by asphaltgambler
I really dig the English guy that rebuilds all sorts of stuff in his garage. He does it the way the average guy with little $$$ would; all with basic hand tools, a manual and lots of elbow grease. He usually states a build budget and then along the way gives a $ status and the final tally when it's up and running. Also he is entertaining using lots of comedy and admitting any errors.

WHat show is this? Sounds very cool!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 02-09-2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asphaltgambler

I have not met the guy one on one but friends have told me that when they attended a couple major events that he was arogant as Hell.

to put it lightly...

white87911 · white87911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cstreit
WHat show is this? Sounds very cool!

Here is a link to a interview with the guy who does the show. It goes by A lane is born, a chopper is born, a bike is born, a trike is born, et., you can find it on the discovery channel but i have not seen it recently.

asphaltgambler · 02-10-2005, 05:34 AM

cstreit the show is on one of the other channels (not Discovery) just for the life of me can't remember which other one it is! Maybe travel or Modern marvels channel

scottmandue · 02-10-2005, 12:51 PM

Both shows HAVE to be scripted... why else would every show go down EXACTLY the same and why would guys make such asses of themselves in front of the camera?

Some of the fab work is interesting but I find it difficult to sit through an entire show without switching to the food channel.
AC build some pretty looking stuff but gawd those hogs must weight a ton! Not my idea of fun on two wheels.

Southern steel is pretty cool, not so much soap opera (yet)... now that I think about it that's what AH and AC are... soap operas for men! just like "friends" was a soap opera masquerading as a sit-com.

I think Biker build off is my favorite... and the Goodwood speed festival(s) gotta love anything with the name Goodwood... and Victory by design.

john walker's workshop · 01:24 PM

that blond aussie guy builds the best stuff. lean and mean. did you see that cool trike recently? i hate all that froo-froo crap the tuetels hang on their bikes. i wouldn't be caught dead riding any of them. boyd's stomach stapling made him pretty cranky didn't it. why would anyone, after watching those shows, ever take their business to those guys? fight and bittch, throw tools, kick stuff around, idiot employees, etc. AC does mostly bolt on stuff, and their water cutter does the rest. cool machine. i watched an AC show recently where they fried a new engine on the dyno because it wasn't getting oil. duh, isn't that the first thing you would check before it ran more than a few seconds? crikey!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

I don't know if it's the new season, but the Americn Hot Rod soap opera has me confused.

So Mike is leaving... Charlie already left. And didn't Al leave several episodes ago? He seems to be back, working on the '59 Chevy disaster. Roy is obviously fed up...

Soon, it looks like Boyd & Duh-wayne will maybe have to do some work...