Goblin Works Mod Shop

The latest series in the Goblin Works Garage franchise sees the Goblins modding cars for individuals with tired vehicles.  I haven't a clue how they are chosen or who provides the funding - they seem to have a budget of £10K for each one.

OK, it's going to be Discovery funding it.

But in the past, they've always claimed to be making money on their vehicles in a Gas Monkey sort of way - notice the similarities between GMG and GWG?

The GWG bit of the Discovery Website is here.

I have enjoyed the series so far - today I watched the episode where they turned this Mk.V Golf GTi belonging to "Joel from Camberley" from this:

into this:

Although you can't see the biggest change here in because Jimmy de Ville is stood in front of it.

Not only did they give the car Lambo-style scissor-doors (which was surprisingly easy - you can buy kits) but he also added, and this is the controversial bit, a "brushed aluminium with rivets" look for the doors breaking up the garish but attractive green triangly finish on the rest of the car.

It is the first time a car owner has admitted to not liking something on one of their mods.

The only irritating bit for me is the formulaic nature of the show.

1. Meet the car owner and the vehicle.
2. A Goblin takes the car for a test-drive.
3. Helen draws a picture of what they will be aiming for.
4. A Goblin or two goes out to research something that they will do to the car.
5. A Goblin goes somewhere with the car owner to get some ideas.
6. The Goblins have a three-way split video call to feed back what was discussed with the owner.
7. They get some bought-in parts and fit them.
8. (This is the really irritating bit) The owner phones whichever Goblin is in the workshop at the time to pretend they are missing their car and would like some clues as to what is happening with it).
9. The car gets wrapped.
10. The car gets finished off.
11. The Goblin from number 2 takes it out for another test-drive.
12. The car is returned to its owner.

Not a lot more to add except:

1. It all seems to be filmed in the original Wheeler Dealers workshop.
2. Rumours abound that Helen Stanley and Anthony Partridge are a couple.

Oooh!

Edd's Gone!!!

And I don't mean Edd The Duck.    

No, I mean the only other "Ed" who spells his name with two D's - Edd China:

I was going to do a posting today about Sunday's Top Gear - I had a couple of ideas and was definitely going to mention my favourite quote of the show:

"The Suspects are Joey from Friends and a bald guy in a bad suit."

or maybe I was going to complain about them dissing the Dolomite Sprint...

...which led into Rory Reid driving the most famous car on TV (if you watch car shows) - a Mark I Golf GTi carrying Reg. number A651FEJ:

Here's Jeremy with it:

 

and here it is on Car SOS:

This may well be it again but I'm not going to find the episode in the second series of Wheeler Dealers - Trading Up to find out:

It's not appeared on For The Love of Cars yet though.

And here we arrive at the big news story of today:

Discovery today announced established automotive expert Ant Anstead is the new co-host and master mechanic on the global hit series WHEELER DEALERS. After 13 seasons, longtime co-host and lead mechanic Edd China has decided to leave the series to pursue other projects. WHEELER DEALERS will continue for a season 14 later this year with current co-host Mike Brewer who will now be joined by Anstead. Ant Anstead is the former host of the Channel 4 series “For The Love Of Cars”

Wow!

Or I could have gone with...

"Opel cleared of diesel emissions cheating by French authorities"

...an Autocar story today which comes just after it was announced that Opel was to become part of the PSA Group which is part-owned by the French authorities.

No - the Edd news is much bigger.  A bit like him.

I'm Not a Fan of "The Apprentice"

Either the British version with Sir Lord Prince Alan Sugar:

 

Or the American version with Donald Trump:

I'm not particularly a fan of Mr.Sugar - but at least he likes cars and football.

 

And he isn't obsessed with the insane idea that Barack Obama wasn't born on US soil.

 

And his surname doesn't mean "fart".

 

Although the UK version of the show has produced its own vile creature.  She is either unbelievably ignorant or completely desperate for publicity.  So I'm not going to mention her name.  In either case she should be starved of the oxygen of said publicity.  In fact, I'd be quite happy for her just to be starved of oxygen full stop.

 

Anyway, I don't watch The Apprentice for the same reason I don't watch Big Brother - I discovered quite early on that I don't actually like any of the people taking part.

 

Good job apprentices in Germany have the right idea.

 

This Autoguide story from yesterday covers a couple of very fine concepts created by Volkswagen apprentices for the forthcoming Wörthersee festival where Audi/VW tuners congregate to show off their work.  this GTi based car is called the Dark Shine.  Ok, it probably loses something in translation but it still looks very desirable.

Meanwhile here's a story from last year about what Mini Apprentices got up to - a fun Mini Countryman Pick-Up:

I bet none of them wrote a mission statement first.

 

Now, all we need is a new show that shows genuinely talented apprentices like these at work.

 

While Al and Donny could be fired.