American Restoration
 

I know this is just entertainment, but ....

Yesterday on History Channel, they did a sequence of American Pickers, American Restoration, and Pawn Stars where the end result was a perfectly restored '57 Chevy 150 coupe for roughly $76,000.

Is this the market value of a perfectly restored '57 Chevy 150 coupe?

Seems to me they could have gone to Mecum's Auction on Velocity and picked up a completed one for roughly half that, but then there would have been no show (3 hours revenue lost).

American Restoration seems to place some interesting values on their completed work, which may make sense on a $$$/time basis, but you wonder why the purchasers spend that kind of money for the end result (which admittedly may have sentimental value).

All of these shows rely on fake drama. This one had a deadline to be a birthday present, and they started too late with the whole process.

I like watching HOW they do various restorations, but "the Story" is insulting. Same for IRT--I watched the first year or two, but then "the drama" got to be too much.

If its on TV--there is a script and a "story" no matter how much they tell you that it "real".

Its funny about "American Restorations" in the early day when just a side shoot of Pawn Stars - they would refurb a (whatever) Coke Machine for $800. Now on their own show its $8000. Ah the drama always kills these shows.

I saw an episode one time where they restored an old fridge and repainted it a turqoise color with a racing stripe down the middle. He told the poor sap that his ref was worth something like $4k.

I found the same fridge, painted it the same color, with the same racing stripe, and I had a hard time getting $1200 bucks for it.

Before:
Attachment 97128

After:
Attachment 97129

My cost on that was about $500. + 10ish hours of labor.

What did they charge for the refrig restore, if you remember?

Same issue with slot machines they've restored...
CoinOpCollectorForum.com :: View topic - Did anyone see the Rol-A-Top on American Restorations?

Anybody have a reaction to the value of the 57 Chevy?

I do not remember exactly, but it was around $3500. He told him it was worth like 5 grand or something crazy like that.

I feel sorry for the guy when he tries to cash out! He would be lucky to get a grand for it. My ref was 100% original shelves, etc.

Yeah!! your Coke machine isn't worth much, I will take it off your hands for $200. :D

You have a memory like an elephant. Its funny, because I got the coke machine from the guy I sold the fridge to.

Now that sounds like Pawn Stars!

Ads Chumlee would say, "That Rocks". :D

All these shows, and going back to Boyd Coddington's show all parade what "dysfunctional" really means.

I think that their estimated time on doing certain things like sand blasting and such are really inflated. :D

I've got a buddy who knows all about antique-related reality tv shows, let me give him a call and get him down here.

Does he know Newman? :D

The said Chevy just recently caught fire and got a bit crispy.