Chasing Cars...................

asphaltgambler · 11-17-2009, 11:53 AM

This guy really iritates me...........................a few episodes ago his buddy (dealer) sells him ($16k ) a very nice early 60's Jag sedan that was traded in. Mean while back at his shop, his guys are doing a meticulous resto on a early Jag roadster.

Next sequence shows him at some high-end auction with both cars and he lists the sedan at no reserve ......and only gets $15K. Minus any listing/sales fees. The roadster was estimated between $100-125k and only brings $91K. He says "I broke even" If I broke even with that much work, I'd take it back home and re-think my position.

I'm in the business as well and would NEVEr list any car at auction with no reserve.........it's like playing with a loaded gun.....too risky. How the H#LL is this guy supposed to make money ?? It seems like he's always losing his #ss

Gogar · 11-17-2009, 11:59 AM

He "breaks even" when the check from the network comes in the mail.

audiman08 · 11-17-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

He "breaks even" when the check from the network comes in the mail.

Exactly, he makes money the way reality "stars" like the Kardashians make money...by letting cameras follow them everywhere.

asphaltgambler · 11-17-2009, 12:37 PM

I thought those 'checks' were pretty small .......................

stomachmonkey · 11-17-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I thought those 'checks' were pretty small .......................

But the royalties are huge.

My brother in law is the composer for a certain show that has been in the news a lot lately.

First couple of seasons checks paid the bills. Once syndication kicked in his quarterly checks were well into the 5 figures, 6 figures yearly, and he's not even on camera.

89911 · 11-17-2009, 01:10 PM

I watched those show and agree, it seems auctions are not where it is at. Another show "Wrecks to Richs" has also the same issues. The guy buys wrecks and puts tons of labor in them along with new drivetrains and engines and these cars can't break even. I guess they are making the money on clients.

daepp · daepp's Garage

He may look at those high end auctions as advertising. Don't discount the exposure you get there. e.g. have you ever visited f40motorsports.com?

herr_oberst · 11-17-2009, 01:16 PM

. . . and then there's the one from England,
(name escapes me now, "2 British Wankers" or something like that, ha ha)
where the freakishly tall mechanic works (apparently) for free.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

. . . and then there's the one from England,
(name escapes me now, "2 British Wankers" or something like that, ha ha)
where the freakishly tall mechanic works (apparently) for free.

Wheeler Dealers. Yeah - Ed is tall - can't see how even fits in some of the cars he works on.

But I agree - they make like 200 pounds or so on a "crackin' deal" car - that's probably not even enough to cover poor old Ed's hard work!

But at least "Wheeler Dealers" delivers something of worth - it shows how easy it can be to fix things mechanically, which ultimately can help in selling a car.

You fix it, and sell it for more $$ rather than sell it broken and cheap. <-- I think that is the message of Wheeler Dealers.

tangerine911S · 11-17-2009, 01:45 PM

I saw that episode and he was pretty pissed it seemed. Like he says, auctions are tricky things and you dont always come out on top. Most of the time he makes money, sometimes ALOT and sometimes a smaller percentage. But when you are dealing with $300K-$1M cars, a small percentage is still good money.

NineOhOne · 11-18-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I thought those 'checks' were pretty small .......................

I was contacted by one of those "Caught on Tape" shows. They paid me $900 for about 3 mins. of surveillance tape (an office cleaning person stealing from a petty cash box).

I know the "Real Housewives of NYC" get $30k per episode and the "Real Housewives of Orange County" are rumoured to be close to $50k per episode.

911Freak · 11-18-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

I know the "Real Housewives of NYC" get $30k per episode and the "Real Housewives of Orange County" are rumoured to be close to $50k per episode.

Yeppers.. A friend of my wife's on one of these shows on the east coast...
5 figures per episode and now that her estranged father passed away she's going to get paid even more

mossguy · 11-18-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

I know the "Real Housewives of NYC" get $30k per episode and the "Real Housewives of Orange County" are rumoured to be close to $50k per episode.

Is it 30-50k per wife per episode, or 30-50k to split amongst themselves?

Best,
Tom

911Freak · 11-18-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossguy

Is it 30-50k per wife per episode, or 30-50k to split amongst themselves?

Best,
Tom

My wife's friend clears close to 40k herself...the budget for half a dozen woman at 30-50k each is reasonable considering the low overhead of following a few people around town.. No sets to build, no fancy editing etc... it's one of many factors that makes reality TV so profitable

YMMV

NineOhOne · 11-18-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossguy

Is it 30-50k per wife per episode, or 30-50k to split amongst themselves?

Each.

mossguy · 11-18-2009, 04:38 PM

Thanks!

Tom

NineOhOne · 11-18-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossguy

Thanks!

...says Tom as he starts production of his own reality show.

hcariss · hcariss's Garage

This $$ figure per episode will not last long trust me I'm in Ad production. The TV ad spend is now 49% and the 'Internet' spend is 51%. Advertisers want more for their dollars than TV can offer. Soon we will be in primarily sponsored events or PPV series just like you can buy from I tunes. Lots of different commercials paying high salaries are a thing of the past.

asphaltgambler · 11-19-2009, 04:41 AM

ok.........ok...........so I'll just go back to my old bad habits and have a TV crew follow me around; we'll call it..............."Chasing Women" The premise (real and true) is where I lust/chase after big-breasted Irish Red-heads and end up heart broken and in debt.

But wait!! I'd get $$30K an episode !!! .............................I am SOOOOOOOO there !!

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

Question for the car selling guys:

I watch Chasing Classic Cars, and a lot of the time, for the rare cars, I wonder why he sells them at auction at all? Seems to me that you're betting there's going to be at least one someone and hopefully a few someones in the audience who appreciate the car and are willing to pay what it's worth. Instead, it seems like (on the show anyway) that there are few people really interested in the car, and so they get low-ball money.

Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to list the cars on the Internet for a time, so that that they get more exposure? Not necessarily eBay, but I'm sure there are a number of places online that are gathering points for people looking for classic cars.