Studie on Fantom Works

[plee4139]

This is one of the better shows about old car restoration and on this show, S5, E 5, they're working on a yellow '50 Commander Convertible.

[E. Davis]

This is one of the better shows about old car restoration and on this show, S5, E 5, they're working on a yellow '50 Commander Convertible.

I watch the show frequently and they do good work but you would need really deep pockets to hire them for a restoration. I'm surprised they don't have EMT's on hand when they give the car owner the bill.

[plee4139]

Ha ha!I believe this is the only show of its kind where they actually do show the client the cost. It seems that in many if these jobs there's an emotional factor i.e., the car beonged to a parent or grandparent, etc. Sometimes I try to calculate how much the job would cost if done here on Long Island, so I just multiply it by 50 per cent. No EMTs needed for that.

[PackardV8]

I watch the show frequently and they do good work but you would need really deep pockets to hire them for a restoration. I'm surprised they don't have EMT's on hand when they give the car owner the bill.

Fantom is the only car restoration shop I've watched where they actually let the audience know what the project cost.

Ernie, JMHO, but Fantom is actually on the lower end of outrageously expensive, those "no sky too high" shows such as Texas Metal, Overhaulin' and Kendigit's Bitchin' Rides, the bill starts at $250,000 and goes up from there.

What CASOs should know is Kendigit Design is so booked up at that price point, they aren't accepting any commissions.

jack vines

[Silverplate]

Fantom only told what the cost was in early episodes. The later ones they not divulge the cost.

[6hk71400]

I watch the show frequently and they do good work but you would need really deep pockets to hire them for a restoration. I'm surprised they don't have EMT's on hand when they give the car owner the bill.

I watched one episode with this arrogant owner. It was the one where they put a 1950 passenger car spinner on a 1950 truck. It was left with bare metal, no primer and the bill was $100,000. I don't see any quality there. Since I pulled the plug on cable, I just see an occasional show like Motor Week on PBS on Sunday. When I see how much the new cars cost on the show, it boggles my mind. Thinking of depreciation and maintenance costs, all I have to do it look at my Hawk, Lark, and Lake Tahoe

Bob Miles
Proverb: a fool and his money are soon parted

[Bob Andrews]

I remember that episode. The lady who commissioned the work on the convertible was so excited to see it done but died suddenly right toward the end. I don't recall if she saw it or not.

[Bob Andrews]

Ernie, JMHO, but Fantom is actually on the lower end of outrageously expensive, those "no sky too high" shows such as Texas Metal, Overhaulin' and Kindigit's Bitchin' Rides, the bill starts at $250,000 and goes up from there.

What CASOs should know is Kindigit Design is so booked up at that price point, they aren't accepting any commissions.

jack vines

You are correct. I deal with guys who will hire Dave Kindig or Chip Foose or the Ring Brothers (or any of several others) to build them a $300K car, knowing they will be $100-$200K or maybe more upside down. They consider it fun.

A couple years back an old fella wanted to build his ultimate dream, basically a 1960 Cadillac custom station wagon. It was a multi-year build with a price IIRC of over $2 million. Just before completion he passed away. His family decided to see it through in his memory. The car was finished and shown a few times, won a few awards. Then the family decided to sell it at auction. I believe it sold for $95,000.

It's a big world out there.

[plee4139]

I remember that episode. The lady who commissioned the work on the convertible was so excited to see it done but died suddenly right toward the end. I don't recall if she saw it or not.

She probably saw the bill.

[Bob Andrews]

She probably saw the bill.

Actually, I believe it was sudden heart failure. She wasn’t very old. I believe she was having it done as a surprise for her husband. I doubt it had anything to do with the bill. They are given an estimate before they even agree to the work. Besides, I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone dying from a bill that didn’t even come before they died.

[Dan White]

Not sure if you guys know but the last Fantom Works show was in 2019. They were losing money in the shop and the show was a huge diversion from the mission of the company.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY6j7xwB2WM

[Jeffry Cassel]

He does warn people and actually tell them that a 1965 Mustang coupe 6 cyl might not merit a $80,000 restoration. He is very pricey by Westbrook standards; I don't think I'd want to have so much $ tied up in a car that I couldn't drive it. You'd think the show would supplement the shop's income?

[Dan White]

If you watch the video you can see how this type of show would be a major headache if you are trying to get work done. The video pretty well sums it up - Dan ended up $1M in debt on the shop side vs. money coming in on the show side.