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Episode Transcript
(NARRATOR) WE'RE GOING BACK, BACK, AND WAY BACK IN OUR SEARCH FOR FUTURE PROJECTS TO WRENCH ON. PLUS WE'LL MEET A YOUNG MUSCLE TRUCK FANATIC WHO MAKES A LIVING FLIPPING. THAT AND MORE TODAY ON TRUCK TECH.
(JEREMY) A BIG PERK BRINGING YOU THESE SHOWS FROM HERE AT THE TECH CENTER IS BEING ABLE TO WORK ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE'RE ALWAYS BROWSING THE CLASSIFIEDS, THE INTERNET, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AT SHOWS ABOUT VEHICLES THAT INTEREST YOU. (LT) THAT'S RIGHT, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD REALLY GOOD LUCK FINDING PROJECTS TO WORK ON THIS YEAR, AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THEM THEY'LL BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED FROM WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY, AND THEY'LL BE IN THREE VERY DIFFERENT STYLES. I MEAN WE'VE GOT AN OFF ROADER, WE HAVE A STREET ROD, AND WE'VE GOT ONE THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A NOSTALGIC FLAVOR TO IT. WHAT DO YOU SAY WE SHOW THEM? (JEREMY) LET'S DO IT MAN, I'M EXCITED. (LT) RIGHT OFF THE BAT WE WANTED TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLASSIC BODY STYLE TRUCKS THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY, THE SQUARE BODY CHEVY. SAY HELLO TO OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER. (JEREMY) MAN I LOVE THESE TRUCKS. NOW BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A KID MY DAD HAD A COUPLE OF THESE. NOW THEY WERE PICK UPS BUT THIS THING STILL BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES. NOW THOSE WERE BIG BLOCK TRUCKS. SO MAYBE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. NOW I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NOW WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THESE BLAZERS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE, AND MOST OF THEM WERE JUST EATEN UP WITH RUST. NOW THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SOLID. IT'S BEEN PAINTED BEFORE BUT THE PANELS SEEM TO BE PRETTY STRAIGHT. NOW I HAVE THIS FILLER DETECTOR THAT'S GONNA SHOW ME HOW MUCH MATERIAL IS ON THE PANEL, AND EVERYWHERE SEEMS TO CHECK OUT. THAT MADE THIS BLAZER REALLY STAND OUT TO ME, EVEN DOWN LOW WHERE THEY'RE MOST PRONE TO RUST IN THE DOOR CORNERS IT'S NOT EVEN SHOWING WE HAVE ANY FILLER IN IT, AND THAT'S AWESOME. UNDER THE HOOD WE'RE GONNA YANK OUT THIS OLD TBI 350 AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER SINCE WE HAVE A TON OF ROOM UNDER HERE. THE INTERIOR IN THIS BLAZER IS SUPER CLEAN, AND PULLING BACK THE CARPET JUST SHOWS HOW SOLID THE FLOORS ARE. (LT) WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOU GUYS AT HOME BUILDING SQUARE BODIES JUST LIKE THIS IN YOUR OWN SHOP, AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY THESE TRUCKS ARE SO POPULAR. THEY MADE TONS OF THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE SUPER AFFORDABLE TO BUY, EVEN A NICE ONE LIKE THIS, AND YOU CAN BUY ALMOST ANY REPLACEMENT PART YOU NEED ON THE AFTERMARKET. (JEREMY) THIS PARTICULAR BODY STYLE WAS STARTED WAY BACK IN 1973 AND SAW SEVERAL MAJOR REVISIONS THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE SPAN, WHICH ENDED IN 1991 WHEN GM WENT WITH A LESS BOXY, MORE ROUNDED VERSIONS OF THE BLAZER, SUBURBAN, AND SOME 3,500 SERIES TRUCKS. (LT) YEARS AGO ON OUR SISTER SHOW WE MET A GROUP OF HARDCORE WHEELERS IN THE COLORADO KFIVE CLUB. THESE GUYS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SHORT WHEEL BASE OF THESE TRUCKS AND MODIFIED THEM WITH HEAVY DUTY COMPONENTS LIKE BOMB PROOF AXLES TO BASICALLY PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN WE'VE EVER SEEN. (JEREMY) BUT WE'RE NOT GOING THAT DIRECTION. NOW WE COULD BUT IT WOULDN'T FIT OUR GOAL. THIS BLAZER WE'RE GOING TO CALL "PROJECT KLASSY KFIVE", MORE OF A LUXURY OFF ROADER. BEN HERMANCE OF HERMANCE DESIGN DID OUR RENDERING. AGAIN, SHORT WHEEL BASE, PLENTY OF ROOM FOR PEOPLE AND GEAR, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HACK IT UP. (LT) ONE OF THE GREAT DEBATES IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY IS WHETHER THE CHEVY EL CAMINO IS A CAR OR A TRUCK? (JEREMY) HEY, HEY, THERE'S NO CARS IN HERE. THIS IS A TRUCK. (LT) NO PERHAPS THAT DEBATE WILL NEVER BE SETTLED. YES IT IS BUILT ON A CHEVELLE FRAME, AND YES IT SHARES A LOT OF THE SAME SHEET METAL, BUT IT HAS A FULL BED, WHICH WAS ENOUGH FOR US TO CONVINCE THE SUITS TO LET US BUY THIS '67. IT'S ACTUALLY IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE, AND ALONG THE WAY SOMEBODY TURNED IT INTO A DRAGSTER, WHICH EXPLAINS THE SLICKS AND SKINNIES AS WELL AS THE 383 THAT SITS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. NOW THIS THING IS PRETTY PEPPY. WE'RE TOLD IT PUTS DOWN ABOUT 420 HORSEPOWER, BUT FOR US THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. WE'RE GONNA YANK THIS THING OUT, REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, AND MAYBE EVEN THROW SOME BOOST AT IT. (JEREMY) NOW THIS EL CAMINO'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, SO THAT MEANS THAT'S A GOOD START FOR US. NOW IT DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BODY DAMAGE, BUT THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT EASILY, BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME ARE THE DUAL FUEL DOORS. NOW THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION IN 1967 ON AN EL CAMINO TO HAVE DUAL TANKS. NOW THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY ADDED THIS LATER ON AND YOU CAN KINDA TELL IT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH THE BODY LINES. YOU CAN FEEL THE WELDS BACK HERE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO ADD THAT. SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHY DID THEY NEED SO MUCH FUEL, AND WHO WERE THEY RUNNING FROM? NOW THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE BED IS WHERE THEY MOUNTED THE TANK. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY USED A TRUCK TANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND IT ACTUALLY FITS PRETTY NICE. THEY PROBABLY GAINED 15 PLUS GALLONS OF FUEL OR SO. SO WE'LL YANK THIS EXTRA FUEL TANK OUT. WE'LL CUT THE FILLER DOOR OUT, PATCH IT UP, AND MAKE IT LOOK OE. NOW OUR PLANS FOR THIS EL CAMINO ARE, THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE WANT TO BUILD A THROW BACK TRUCK. SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN THE '70'S. NOW THIS IS GONNA GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE CUSTOM PAINT AND SHOW YOU SOME TECHNIQUES FOR THAT. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING THIS FOR GABRIEL SHOCKS. THIS IS THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THEIR HIGHJACKER AIR SHOCK. SO THEY SENT US OVER A RENDERING OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT HAPPEN. (NARRATOR) NEXT, CHITTYCHITTY BANGBANG AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON US. CAN WE GET THIS 87 YEAR OLD MOTOR TO CRANK? FIND OUT NEXT!
(JEREMY) WE'VE BEEN ON SORT OF A SHOPPING SPREE GIVING YOU GUYS A SNEAK PEAK TO THE PROJECTS WE'RE GONNA BUILD THIS SEASON ON TRUCK TECH. WE'VE SHOWN YOU OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER AND A CLASSIC '67 EL CAMINO THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET A LITTLE CRAZY WITH, AND THIS, PROBABLY THE OLDEST THING ON FOUR WHEELS TO EVER COME INTO THE TECH CENTER, A 1930 MODELA PICK UP TRUCK. (LT) MAN HOW DO YOU ALWAYS END UP BEHIND THE WHEEL? (JEREMY) YOU KNOW WHAT'S SAD ABOUT THIS? THIS IS ABOUT AS FAST AS IT MOVES UNDER ITS OWN POWER. (LT) WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO BUILD A STREET ROD FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND WE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW TO FIND A TRUCK FROM THE '20'S OR '30'S THAT IS THIS COMPLETE AND IN ACTUALLY PRETTY DECENT SHAPE. (JEREMY) YEAH EVEN THOUGH THEY BUILT ALMOST FIVE MILLION AMODELS ALL TOGETHER IN GENERAL THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ONES I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME TO BE THIS ORIGINAL AND THIS COMPLETE. THIS THING IS AWESOME AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRUCKS OUT THERE. (LT) YOU KNOW THE BEST PART IS UNDER THE HOOD IS STILL ALL ORIGINAL.
BACK IN THE DAY THIS WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A VERY STATE OF THE ART POWER PLANT. IT'S A 201 CUBIC INCH FLATHEAD FOUR CYLINDER THAT PUTS DOWN 40 HORSEPOWER. (JEREMY) THIS SAME ENGINE POWERED THE LAST FEW PRODUCTION YEARS OF THE MODELT, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AUTOMOBILES OF ALL TIME, BUT HENRY FORD KNEW HE HAD TO UP THE ANTE IF AMERICANS WOULD DROP DOWN ANYWHERE FROM $385 FOR A NEW ROADSTER TO $1,400 FOR A TOWN CAR. HIS ANSWER WAS THE MODELA.
HALF A MILLION WERE SOLD BEFORE THEY EVEN ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE, BUT WHEN THEY DID SALES HELP BRING US OUT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. (LT) FORD USED HIS ENGINEERING BACKGROUND TO HELP SIMPLIFY MASS PRODUCTION. A CHASSIS WOULD STOP AT EACH STATION WHERE PARTS WERE FITTED UNTIL THE CAR WAS FINISHED. IT WAS SIMPLE GENIUS. SAME GOES FOR ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THE INLINE FOUR FEATURED AN UP DRAFT CARBURETOR, SIX VOLT GENERATOR, TWO BLADE FAN, MECHANICAL WATER AND OIL PUMPS, AND ELECTRIC START. YOU COULD STILL START IT WITH A CRANK IF YOU HAD TO SINCE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THAT GREAT. EVEN THOUGH THIS ENGINE IS ALMOST 90 YEARS OLD IT ACTUALLY SHARES A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ENGINES THAT WERE BUILT EVEN UP INTO THE '90'S. IT'S GOT A CARBURETOR WITH A MECHANICAL CHOKE LINKAGE AND THROTTLE. IT'S GOT A DISTRIBUTOR WITH A MANUAL SPARK ADVANCE. IT'S GOT FOUR SPARK PLUGS, AND I MEAN INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU GET? (JEREMY) AIR, FUEL, SPARK! (LT) HEY IT'S GOT THE INGREDIENTS. (JEREMY) THE TRICK IS GETTING ALL OF THESE INGREDIENTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS THING STARTED BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU IT'S NOT THAT EASY. NOW THE FORD AMODEL WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT HAD CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS, A CLUTCH PEDAL, BRAKE PEDAL, AND THROTTLE ALL IN THE FLOOR, BUT STARTING THIS THING NOT SO CONVENTIONAL. FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE IGNITION'S ON AND IT'S IN NEUTRAL. GAS VALVE ON, SPARK ADVANCE ALL THE WAY UP TO RETARD THE TIMING, HAND THROTTLE ABOUT HALF WAY, ADJUST THE CHOKE VALVE CLOCKWISE AND THEN BACK OUT ABOUT A QUARTER TURN, PULL THE CHOKE OUT, AND THEN YOUR STARTER BUTTON'S IN THE FLOOR, AND ONCE THIS THING FIRES UP, ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALL THE WAY UP, CHOKE BACK IN, READY TO RIDE. (LT) WE KNOW THIS ENGINE HASN'T RUN IN A VERY LONG TIME AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO START AN ENGINE THAT'S BEEN SITTING, AND WE'RE GONNA START BY TAKING OFF THE HOOD. GRAB THAT SIDE FOR ME. (JEREMY) NOW THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE OUR ENGINE ISN'T SEIZED UP. SO WE'LL GRAB AHOLD OF THE FAN AND THE BELT, GIVE IT A LITTLE TURN, AND LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD TO GO. (LT) THE ENGINE HASN'T TURNED OVER IN A VERY LONG TIME. SO THE CYLINDERS WILL BE COMPLETELY DRY AND HAVE NO LUBRICATION. WE'RE GONNA PULL THE FOUR SPARK PLUGS AND ADD A LITTLE BIT OF WD 40 TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF LUBRICATION WHEN WE GO TO START IT UP.
WITH A BATTERY CONNECTED, CHECK FOR POWER AT THE IGNITION COIL. PERFECT, THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT POWER. NEXT I'LL DISCONNECT THE MAIN COIL WIRE, AND WEAR SOME GLOVES AND USE RUBBER HANDLE PLIERS TO INSULATE MYSELF FROM SHOCK. I'LL HOLD THE WIRE ABOUT A QUARTER INCH FROM A GOOD GROUND POINT. WE'LL TURN THE ENGINE OVER AND WE SHOULD SEE A SPARK. ALL RIGHT, HIT IT, PERFECT! (JEREMY) WE'VE GOT COMPRESSION, SPARK, AND NOW WE NEED FUEL. TO SAVE TIME WE INSTALLED A FUEL FILTER TO CATCH ANY DIRT FROM THE TANK TO THE CARBURETOR. (LT) FEET GETTING WET? (JEREMY) NOT YET. (LT) THERE WE GO, PERFECT, HIT IT! [ engine cranking ] (LT) COME ON! I HEARD SOMETHING! (JEREMY) COME ON BABY! (LT) GOT SMOKE! OH SO CLOSE. OKAY I'VE GOT THIS CHOKE, YOU DO THE THROTTLE. [ engine cranking and firing up ]
(JEREMY) KEEP GOING BABY, COME ON. SHE'S RIGHT THERE MAN. SHE WANTS TO STAY RUNNING. [ engine idling ]
(LT) YEAH, LOOK HOW SMOOTH IT IS, AWESOME!
(JEREMY) MAN IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE FLATHEAD FOUR TICK AGAIN BUT SHE'S GOING AWAY, AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT ENGINE'S TAKING ITS PLACE, AND AS FOR THE STYLE OF BUILD, JUST USE YOUR IMAGINATION. (NARRATOR) AHEAD! (JUSTIN) IT'S A LOT OF QUICK THINKING AND IT HAPPENS FASTER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE. (NARRATOR) FEELING THE RUSH AT A MECUM AUCTION. [ auctioneer chanting ]
(LT) ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED THE MOST IS WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR PROJECT TRUCKS ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THEM. (JEREMY) CASE IN POINT, OUR 1955 FORD F-100. THIS TRUCK HAS THE CLASSIC STYLINGS OF A RETRO STREET ROD TRUCK WITH A MODERN POWER PLANT UNDER THE HOOD, A BRAND NEW TWIN TURBO FORD ECOBOOST. (LT) ONCE WE PUT THE TRUCK THROUGH ITS PACES AND TOOK ALL THE PICTURES WE COULD POSSIBLY TAKE WE DECIDED TO HIT THE ROAD AND GET THIS BABY SOLD SO WE COULD BUY MORE PROJECTS. (JEREMY) SO WE TRAILERED HER UP TO LOUISVILLE, AND THE KENTUCKY EXPO CENTER. HOME THIS WEEKEND FOR MECUM AUCTIONS. (DANA) RESERVE'S OFF, RESERVE'S OFF! (JEREMY) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. IT'S LIKE A TRAVELING CARNIVAL OF EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE. 13 CITIES ARE CHOSEN EACH YEAR FOR THIS MADE FOR TV EVENT. (LT) BUT TO BE HERE IN PERSON AND EXPERIENCE THE SHEER VOLUME OF COOL CARS AND TRUCKS, NOT TO MENTION THE BIDDING ACTION ON THE BLOCK. [ auctioneer chanting ] (LT) IT'S JUST PLAIN COOL! DANA MECUM IS THE DEAL MAKER. HIS SON FRANK IS HEIR APPARENT AND RUNS THE SHOW ALONG WITH ABOUT 170 SUPPORT STAFF. THEY'VE MADE MECUM AUCTIONS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION COMPANY. (DANA) AFTER DOING THIS FOR 30 YEARS EVERY AUCTION THERE'S STILL SOME NEW CIRCUMSTANCE, A NEW WAY TO WORK A DEAL TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT'S UNCHARTED WATER. (FRANK) WE KNEW 25 YEARS AGO WHAT THIS WOULD BE. IT JUST TOOK EVERYBODY ELSE THAT MANY YEARS TO CATCH UP TO US. (JEREMY) SO HOW EASY IS IT TO SELL YOUR RIDE AT MECUM? DO WHAT WE DID. SEND IN AN APPLICATION, FILL OUT THE PACKET THEY SEND YOU, WHICH INCLUDES YOUR ENTRY FEE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO MAIL IN YOUR TITLE. THEN ALL YOU'VE GOTTA DO IS SHOW UP. (JOHN) YOU KNOW ONE THING ABOUT MECUM AUCTIONS, WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VALUES OR TYPES OF CARS. ANY SINGLE PERSON THAT WANTS TO BRING A VEHICLE TO MECUM AUCTION IS GONNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO SHOW IS THE SPECTRUM AND THE VARIETY OF WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE COLLECTOR CAR WORLD. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE $100,000 DOLLAR PLUS CARS. WE KNOW THAT AND OUR BUYERS KNOW THAT TOO. (JEREMY) HEY MAN! ( ) WELCOME TO MECUM. (LT) WE CHECKED IN TWO DAYS BEFORE OUR LOT HITS THE AUCTION BLOCK, AND IF YOUR PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER THEY TAKE YOUR KEYS AND SHE'S GONE. DOES IT HURT TO WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE DRIVE YOUR TRUCK AWAY? (JEREMY) IT'S LIKE BEING CHEATED ON. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. (LT) HERE'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS. BUYERS PAY A 10 PERCENT COMMISSION. SELLERS, OR CONSIGNERS AS THEY CALL YOU, PAY 10 PERCENT IF YOU SET A RESERVE BUT SELL IT NO RESERVE AND THAT COMMISSION DROPS TO FIVE. BIDDERS REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR $100 BUCKS, AND THAT GETS YOU AND A GUEST IN THE DOOR. (JOHN) YOU PAY THE $100 DOLLARS. WE TAKE A $500 DOLLAR CREDIT AUTHORIZATION ON A MAJOR CREDIT CAR OR $500 DOLLAR CASH DEPOSIT. YOU PAY WITH A CHECK WHEN YOU BUY THE CAR. YOU TAKE THE CAR HOME WITH YOU. WE HOLD THE TITLES FOR THREE WEEKS WAITING FOR ALL THE CHECKS TO CLEAR, SIMPLE AS THAT. (LT) NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR LAST CHANCE. WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO GO WITH A RESERVE ON THIS TRUCK AND I THINK WE'RE LEANING TO NO RESERVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? (JEREMY) I THINK AT NO RESERVE IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE FOR US TO SELL THE TRUCK. PLUS AT NO RESERVE IT MAY PEAK A LITTLE INTEREST WITH THE BIDDERS. THEY MAY START BIDDING AND HEY, MAY NOT STOP. (LT) HEY THAT MEANS MORE MONEY FOR NEW PROJECTS RIGHT? (JEREMY) EXACTLY. (LT) WELL THERE WE GO, NO RESERVE. (JEREMY) NO RESERVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING.
(LT) WELL HERE WE ARE. IT'S FINALLY AUCTION DAY. WE'RE WALKING THROUGH THE STAGING AREA, CHECKING OUT SOME CARS AS THEY WAIT THEIR TURN TO CROSS THE BLOCK, AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE GET TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH OUR '55 IS GONNA GO FOR. MAN THIS A REAL SHELBY? EVERY VEHICLE HERE AT MECUM HITS THE BLOCK RESERVE OR NO RESERVE. RESERVE MEANS THERE'S A HIDDEN MINIMUM PRICE THE SELLER IS WILLING TO ACCEPT. (JEREMY) NO RESERVE MEANS IT WILL SELL REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE. ( ) THIS IS A 1945 DUMP TRUCK. ( ) I BROUGHT A 1970 PLYMOUTH AAR CUDA. ( ) IT'S A 1948 CHEVROLET 3,100 SERIES. (JEREMY) YOU NAME IT YOU'LL SEE IT HERE, FROM AN ORIGINAL '62 GALAXIE TO THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME'S MOTOR HOME, AND OF COURSE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND THE FOLKS HERE TOO RUN THE GAMBIT. (JOHN) WE KIND OF BREAK IT OUT INTO THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. NUMBER ONE ARE THE COLLECTORS. PEOPLE THAT KIND OF LIKE TO BUY AND SELL CARS, DIFFERENT CARS IN AND OUT OF THEIR COLLECTIONS. THEN THERE'S THE GUY THAT LIKES TO COME IN AND MAYBE JUST BUY ONE CAR, HIS DREAM CAR. AND THEN ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CROWD REPRESENTS DEALERS. (JUSTIN) I'M HERE TO SELL SOME CARS HERE AT THE MECUM LOUISVILLE SALE. I'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF INVENTORY HERE I'VE GOT TO MOVE. ( ) HI, HOW ARE YOU? (JUSTIN) GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? ( ) YOU CAN SHUT THE TRUCK OFF. I WANT TO CHECK THE VIN NUMBER, AND WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. (LT) JUSTIN CHROBAK FROM FLORIDA IS A MECUM REGULAR, AND ONE OF THE YOUNG GUNS WHO'S TURNED HIS PASSION INTO A FULL TIME JOB. (JUSTIN) I BUY AND SELL CLASSIC CARS. I DO SOME LIGHT RESTORATIONS, MOSTLY DETAILING, AND JUST TRY TO MOVE AS MANY CARS AS I CAN IN A YEAR, AND I MOSTLY DO IT THROUGH AUCTION. HERE AT LOUISVILLE I HAVE ANYTHING RANGING FROM A '57 THUNDERBIRD TO A '65 CHEVY C-10 PICK UP, TO A '70 MUSTANG, '65 MUSTANG FASTBACK, '70 CHEVELLE. A LOT OF MUSCLE CARS, A LOT OF LOUD IN YOUR FACE HORSEPOWER CARS. I TYPICALLY TRY TO SELL AROUND 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF THE INVENTORY I BRING TO A MECUM AUCTION FOR ROUND NUMBERS. (LT) WHICH MEANS FOR THIS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND JUSTIN MUST SELL SEVEN OF THE 12 TRUCKS AND CARS HE'S BROUGHT TO LOUISVILLE. (JOHN) YOU SEE THAT THERE'S SOME YOUNG GUYS THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH AN INTEREST IN KIND OF PICKING UP THE TORCH AND YOU KNOW RUNNING WITH IT. I THINK WE FIRST MET JUSTIN PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, MAYBE DOWN IN FLORIDA, BROUGHT A COUPLE OF CARS, AND HE'S BECOME ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONSIGNERS NOW. (JUSTIN) OKAY SO THE PROCESS OF CONSIGNING A CAR AT ANY AUCTION IS AN ARDUOUS TASK BUT MECUM HAS REALLY STREAM LINED HOW EASY IT IS TO SUBMIT A CONTRACT, SUBMIT PHOTOS. THEY'RE A VERY WELL OILED MACHINE. THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO CONSIGN CARS AND GET THEM UP ON THEIR WEBSITE QUICK. ( ) YOU READY TO GO? (JUSTIN) YEP, READY TO GO! THEY KNOW WHAT PLACEMENT IS GOOD FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CAR AND THEY KIND OF TAKE A LOT OF THE HEADACHES THAT YOU MIGHT FIND BEING A FIRST TIME SELLER OUT OF THE EQUATION. ( ) $13 BUY IT? (JUSTIN) IF YOU GET $13 ON THE BLOCK WE'LL TAKE THE RESERVE OFF. IN THE LONG RUN IT JUST MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR YOU. ONCE IT'S ON THE BLOCK THEY COME UP TO YOU. THEY KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, AND YOU KIND OF START THE NEGOTIATION FROM THERE AND HOPE THAT YOU GET A LOT OF BIDDING ACTIVITY. ( ) SELL IT? ( ) RESERVE IS OFF! (LT) WHILE JUSTIN'S MAKING MONEY ON THE BLOCK WE'RE IN THE STAGING AREA WAITING FOR OUR TURN. (JEREMY) I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WE'RE KIND OF GAMBLING AT PUTTING OUR F-100 UP AT NO RESERVE, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN THE BIDDING STARTS IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SITTING WITH A HOT HAND AT THE POKER TABLE. ADRENALINE'S PUMPING, YOUR HEART IS RACING, IT'S JUST PLAIN FUN. (LT) THE AUCTIONEER STARTS HIGH AND LOWERS THE OPENING BID UNTIL SOMEONE BITES. THEY BIT AT $20,000, AND FROM WHAT WE COULD TELL WE HAD FIVE BIDDERS IN ON THE ACTION, TWO ON THE PHONE AND THREE ON THE FLOOR. ( ) THEY'RE PROBABLY ASKING $42,000.
(JEREMY) YOU KNOW I'M SITTING THERE TALKING TO THE GUYS WATCHING THE MONITOR AT THE SAME TIME. JUST INCREDIBLE HOW QUICKLY THE PRICE WAS JUMPING UP. (JOHN) AND IT'S PAYING OFF MY FRIEND. WE'RE ALREADY AT $45,000 BUCKS AND STILL CLIMBING. ( ) BID'S $46,000. ( ) $47,000! (JEREMY) AND JUST LIKE THAT THE BID JUMPED $7,000. THAT'S WHERE THE ABSENTEE BIDDERS DROPPED OUT WITH TWO LEFT. (LT) THAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND. (AUCTIONEER) $57,000, NOW $60,000. $60,000 GOING ONCE, $57,000, $60,000 TWICE, SOLD, $57,000 DOLLARS! (JEREMY) WE DID PRETTY WELL AND OUR WINNING BIDDER GOT ONE HECK OF A TRUCK. JUST EVENTUALLY SOLD A MAJORITY OF HIS LOTS AT SUBSEQUENT MECUM AUCTIONS, AND IT'S THE RUSH THAT WILL KEEP HIM COMING BACK. (JUSTIN) IT'S A LOT OF FUN. IT'S MY DRUG. ONE OF MY INNOCENT DRUGS IN LIFE. I DON'T DO ANY DRUGS. I PLAY HOCKEY AND I DO THIS. THESE ARE MY DRUGS.
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(JEREMY) A BIG PERK BRINGING YOU THESE SHOWS FROM HERE AT THE TECH CENTER IS BEING ABLE TO WORK ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE'RE ALWAYS BROWSING THE CLASSIFIEDS, THE INTERNET, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AT SHOWS ABOUT VEHICLES THAT INTEREST YOU. (LT) THAT'S RIGHT, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD REALLY GOOD LUCK FINDING PROJECTS TO WORK ON THIS YEAR, AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THEM THEY'LL BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED FROM WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY, AND THEY'LL BE IN THREE VERY DIFFERENT STYLES. I MEAN WE'VE GOT AN OFF ROADER, WE HAVE A STREET ROD, AND WE'VE GOT ONE THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A NOSTALGIC FLAVOR TO IT. WHAT DO YOU SAY WE SHOW THEM? (JEREMY) LET'S DO IT MAN, I'M EXCITED. (LT) RIGHT OFF THE BAT WE WANTED TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CLASSIC BODY STYLE TRUCKS THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY, THE SQUARE BODY CHEVY. SAY HELLO TO OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER. (JEREMY) MAN I LOVE THESE TRUCKS. NOW BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A KID MY DAD HAD A COUPLE OF THESE. NOW THEY WERE PICK UPS BUT THIS THING STILL BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES. NOW THOSE WERE BIG BLOCK TRUCKS. SO MAYBE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. NOW I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. NOW WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THESE BLAZERS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE, AND MOST OF THEM WERE JUST EATEN UP WITH RUST. NOW THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SOLID. IT'S BEEN PAINTED BEFORE BUT THE PANELS SEEM TO BE PRETTY STRAIGHT. NOW I HAVE THIS FILLER DETECTOR THAT'S GONNA SHOW ME HOW MUCH MATERIAL IS ON THE PANEL, AND EVERYWHERE SEEMS TO CHECK OUT. THAT MADE THIS BLAZER REALLY STAND OUT TO ME, EVEN DOWN LOW WHERE THEY'RE MOST PRONE TO RUST IN THE DOOR CORNERS IT'S NOT EVEN SHOWING WE HAVE ANY FILLER IN IT, AND THAT'S AWESOME. UNDER THE HOOD WE'RE GONNA YANK OUT THIS OLD TBI 350 AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER SINCE WE HAVE A TON OF ROOM UNDER HERE. THE INTERIOR IN THIS BLAZER IS SUPER CLEAN, AND PULLING BACK THE CARPET JUST SHOWS HOW SOLID THE FLOORS ARE. (LT) WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOU GUYS AT HOME BUILDING SQUARE BODIES JUST LIKE THIS IN YOUR OWN SHOP, AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY THESE TRUCKS ARE SO POPULAR. THEY MADE TONS OF THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE SUPER AFFORDABLE TO BUY, EVEN A NICE ONE LIKE THIS, AND YOU CAN BUY ALMOST ANY REPLACEMENT PART YOU NEED ON THE AFTERMARKET. (JEREMY) THIS PARTICULAR BODY STYLE WAS STARTED WAY BACK IN 1973 AND SAW SEVERAL MAJOR REVISIONS THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE SPAN, WHICH ENDED IN 1991 WHEN GM WENT WITH A LESS BOXY, MORE ROUNDED VERSIONS OF THE BLAZER, SUBURBAN, AND SOME 3,500 SERIES TRUCKS. (LT) YEARS AGO ON OUR SISTER SHOW WE MET A GROUP OF HARDCORE WHEELERS IN THE COLORADO KFIVE CLUB. THESE GUYS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SHORT WHEEL BASE OF THESE TRUCKS AND MODIFIED THEM WITH HEAVY DUTY COMPONENTS LIKE BOMB PROOF AXLES TO BASICALLY PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN WE'VE EVER SEEN. (JEREMY) BUT WE'RE NOT GOING THAT DIRECTION. NOW WE COULD BUT IT WOULDN'T FIT OUR GOAL. THIS BLAZER WE'RE GOING TO CALL "PROJECT KLASSY KFIVE", MORE OF A LUXURY OFF ROADER. BEN HERMANCE OF HERMANCE DESIGN DID OUR RENDERING. AGAIN, SHORT WHEEL BASE, PLENTY OF ROOM FOR PEOPLE AND GEAR, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HACK IT UP. (LT) ONE OF THE GREAT DEBATES IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY IS WHETHER THE CHEVY EL CAMINO IS A CAR OR A TRUCK? (JEREMY) HEY, HEY, THERE'S NO CARS IN HERE. THIS IS A TRUCK. (LT) NO PERHAPS THAT DEBATE WILL NEVER BE SETTLED. YES IT IS BUILT ON A CHEVELLE FRAME, AND YES IT SHARES A LOT OF THE SAME SHEET METAL, BUT IT HAS A FULL BED, WHICH WAS ENOUGH FOR US TO CONVINCE THE SUITS TO LET US BUY THIS '67. IT'S ACTUALLY IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE, AND ALONG THE WAY SOMEBODY TURNED IT INTO A DRAGSTER, WHICH EXPLAINS THE SLICKS AND SKINNIES AS WELL AS THE 383 THAT SITS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. NOW THIS THING IS PRETTY PEPPY. WE'RE TOLD IT PUTS DOWN ABOUT 420 HORSEPOWER, BUT FOR US THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. WE'RE GONNA YANK THIS THING OUT, REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, AND MAYBE EVEN THROW SOME BOOST AT IT. (JEREMY) NOW THIS EL CAMINO'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, SO THAT MEANS THAT'S A GOOD START FOR US. NOW IT DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BODY DAMAGE, BUT THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT EASILY, BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME ARE THE DUAL FUEL DOORS. NOW THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION IN 1967 ON AN EL CAMINO TO HAVE DUAL TANKS. NOW THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY ADDED THIS LATER ON AND YOU CAN KINDA TELL IT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH THE BODY LINES. YOU CAN FEEL THE WELDS BACK HERE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO ADD THAT. SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHY DID THEY NEED SO MUCH FUEL, AND WHO WERE THEY RUNNING FROM? NOW THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE BED IS WHERE THEY MOUNTED THE TANK. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY USED A TRUCK TANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND IT ACTUALLY FITS PRETTY NICE. THEY PROBABLY GAINED 15 PLUS GALLONS OF FUEL OR SO. SO WE'LL YANK THIS EXTRA FUEL TANK OUT. WE'LL CUT THE FILLER DOOR OUT, PATCH IT UP, AND MAKE IT LOOK OE. NOW OUR PLANS FOR THIS EL CAMINO ARE, THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE WANT TO BUILD A THROW BACK TRUCK. SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN IN THE '70'S. NOW THIS IS GONNA GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE CUSTOM PAINT AND SHOW YOU SOME TECHNIQUES FOR THAT. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING THIS FOR GABRIEL SHOCKS. THIS IS THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THEIR HIGHJACKER AIR SHOCK. SO THEY SENT US OVER A RENDERING OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT HAPPEN. (NARRATOR) NEXT, CHITTYCHITTY BANGBANG AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON US. CAN WE GET THIS 87 YEAR OLD MOTOR TO CRANK? FIND OUT NEXT!
(JEREMY) WE'VE BEEN ON SORT OF A SHOPPING SPREE GIVING YOU GUYS A SNEAK PEAK TO THE PROJECTS WE'RE GONNA BUILD THIS SEASON ON TRUCK TECH. WE'VE SHOWN YOU OUR '89 KFIVE BLAZER AND A CLASSIC '67 EL CAMINO THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET A LITTLE CRAZY WITH, AND THIS, PROBABLY THE OLDEST THING ON FOUR WHEELS TO EVER COME INTO THE TECH CENTER, A 1930 MODELA PICK UP TRUCK. (LT) MAN HOW DO YOU ALWAYS END UP BEHIND THE WHEEL? (JEREMY) YOU KNOW WHAT'S SAD ABOUT THIS? THIS IS ABOUT AS FAST AS IT MOVES UNDER ITS OWN POWER. (LT) WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO BUILD A STREET ROD FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND WE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW TO FIND A TRUCK FROM THE '20'S OR '30'S THAT IS THIS COMPLETE AND IN ACTUALLY PRETTY DECENT SHAPE. (JEREMY) YEAH EVEN THOUGH THEY BUILT ALMOST FIVE MILLION AMODELS ALL TOGETHER IN GENERAL THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ONES I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME TO BE THIS ORIGINAL AND THIS COMPLETE. THIS THING IS AWESOME AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRUCKS OUT THERE. (LT) YOU KNOW THE BEST PART IS UNDER THE HOOD IS STILL ALL ORIGINAL.
BACK IN THE DAY THIS WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A VERY STATE OF THE ART POWER PLANT. IT'S A 201 CUBIC INCH FLATHEAD FOUR CYLINDER THAT PUTS DOWN 40 HORSEPOWER. (JEREMY) THIS SAME ENGINE POWERED THE LAST FEW PRODUCTION YEARS OF THE MODELT, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AUTOMOBILES OF ALL TIME, BUT HENRY FORD KNEW HE HAD TO UP THE ANTE IF AMERICANS WOULD DROP DOWN ANYWHERE FROM $385 FOR A NEW ROADSTER TO $1,400 FOR A TOWN CAR. HIS ANSWER WAS THE MODELA.
HALF A MILLION WERE SOLD BEFORE THEY EVEN ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE, BUT WHEN THEY DID SALES HELP BRING US OUT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. (LT) FORD USED HIS ENGINEERING BACKGROUND TO HELP SIMPLIFY MASS PRODUCTION. A CHASSIS WOULD STOP AT EACH STATION WHERE PARTS WERE FITTED UNTIL THE CAR WAS FINISHED. IT WAS SIMPLE GENIUS. SAME GOES FOR ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THE INLINE FOUR FEATURED AN UP DRAFT CARBURETOR, SIX VOLT GENERATOR, TWO BLADE FAN, MECHANICAL WATER AND OIL PUMPS, AND ELECTRIC START. YOU COULD STILL START IT WITH A CRANK IF YOU HAD TO SINCE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THAT GREAT. EVEN THOUGH THIS ENGINE IS ALMOST 90 YEARS OLD IT ACTUALLY SHARES A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ENGINES THAT WERE BUILT EVEN UP INTO THE '90'S. IT'S GOT A CARBURETOR WITH A MECHANICAL CHOKE LINKAGE AND THROTTLE. IT'S GOT A DISTRIBUTOR WITH A MANUAL SPARK ADVANCE. IT'S GOT FOUR SPARK PLUGS, AND I MEAN INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU GET? (JEREMY) AIR, FUEL, SPARK! (LT) HEY IT'S GOT THE INGREDIENTS. (JEREMY) THE TRICK IS GETTING ALL OF THESE INGREDIENTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS THING STARTED BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU IT'S NOT THAT EASY. NOW THE FORD AMODEL WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT HAD CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS, A CLUTCH PEDAL, BRAKE PEDAL, AND THROTTLE ALL IN THE FLOOR, BUT STARTING THIS THING NOT SO CONVENTIONAL. FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE IGNITION'S ON AND IT'S IN NEUTRAL. GAS VALVE ON, SPARK ADVANCE ALL THE WAY UP TO RETARD THE TIMING, HAND THROTTLE ABOUT HALF WAY, ADJUST THE CHOKE VALVE CLOCKWISE AND THEN BACK OUT ABOUT A QUARTER TURN, PULL THE CHOKE OUT, AND THEN YOUR STARTER BUTTON'S IN THE FLOOR, AND ONCE THIS THING FIRES UP, ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALL THE WAY UP, CHOKE BACK IN, READY TO RIDE. (LT) WE KNOW THIS ENGINE HASN'T RUN IN A VERY LONG TIME AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO START AN ENGINE THAT'S BEEN SITTING, AND WE'RE GONNA START BY TAKING OFF THE HOOD. GRAB THAT SIDE FOR ME. (JEREMY) NOW THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE OUR ENGINE ISN'T SEIZED UP. SO WE'LL GRAB AHOLD OF THE FAN AND THE BELT, GIVE IT A LITTLE TURN, AND LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD TO GO. (LT) THE ENGINE HASN'T TURNED OVER IN A VERY LONG TIME. SO THE CYLINDERS WILL BE COMPLETELY DRY AND HAVE NO LUBRICATION. WE'RE GONNA PULL THE FOUR SPARK PLUGS AND ADD A LITTLE BIT OF WD 40 TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF LUBRICATION WHEN WE GO TO START IT UP.
WITH A BATTERY CONNECTED, CHECK FOR POWER AT THE IGNITION COIL. PERFECT, THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT POWER. NEXT I'LL DISCONNECT THE MAIN COIL WIRE, AND WEAR SOME GLOVES AND USE RUBBER HANDLE PLIERS TO INSULATE MYSELF FROM SHOCK. I'LL HOLD THE WIRE ABOUT A QUARTER INCH FROM A GOOD GROUND POINT. WE'LL TURN THE ENGINE OVER AND WE SHOULD SEE A SPARK. ALL RIGHT, HIT IT, PERFECT! (JEREMY) WE'VE GOT COMPRESSION, SPARK, AND NOW WE NEED FUEL. TO SAVE TIME WE INSTALLED A FUEL FILTER TO CATCH ANY DIRT FROM THE TANK TO THE CARBURETOR. (LT) FEET GETTING WET? (JEREMY) NOT YET. (LT) THERE WE GO, PERFECT, HIT IT! [ engine cranking ] (LT) COME ON! I HEARD SOMETHING! (JEREMY) COME ON BABY! (LT) GOT SMOKE! OH SO CLOSE. OKAY I'VE GOT THIS CHOKE, YOU DO THE THROTTLE. [ engine cranking and firing up ]
(JEREMY) KEEP GOING BABY, COME ON. SHE'S RIGHT THERE MAN. SHE WANTS TO STAY RUNNING. [ engine idling ]
(LT) YEAH, LOOK HOW SMOOTH IT IS, AWESOME!
(JEREMY) MAN IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE FLATHEAD FOUR TICK AGAIN BUT SHE'S GOING AWAY, AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT ENGINE'S TAKING ITS PLACE, AND AS FOR THE STYLE OF BUILD, JUST USE YOUR IMAGINATION. (NARRATOR) AHEAD! (JUSTIN) IT'S A LOT OF QUICK THINKING AND IT HAPPENS FASTER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE. (NARRATOR) FEELING THE RUSH AT A MECUM AUCTION. [ auctioneer chanting ]
(LT) ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED THE MOST IS WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR PROJECT TRUCKS ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THEM. (JEREMY) CASE IN POINT, OUR 1955 FORD F-100. THIS TRUCK HAS THE CLASSIC STYLINGS OF A RETRO STREET ROD TRUCK WITH A MODERN POWER PLANT UNDER THE HOOD, A BRAND NEW TWIN TURBO FORD ECOBOOST. (LT) ONCE WE PUT THE TRUCK THROUGH ITS PACES AND TOOK ALL THE PICTURES WE COULD POSSIBLY TAKE WE DECIDED TO HIT THE ROAD AND GET THIS BABY SOLD SO WE COULD BUY MORE PROJECTS. (JEREMY) SO WE TRAILERED HER UP TO LOUISVILLE, AND THE KENTUCKY EXPO CENTER. HOME THIS WEEKEND FOR MECUM AUCTIONS. (DANA) RESERVE'S OFF, RESERVE'S OFF! (JEREMY) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. IT'S LIKE A TRAVELING CARNIVAL OF EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE. 13 CITIES ARE CHOSEN EACH YEAR FOR THIS MADE FOR TV EVENT. (LT) BUT TO BE HERE IN PERSON AND EXPERIENCE THE SHEER VOLUME OF COOL CARS AND TRUCKS, NOT TO MENTION THE BIDDING ACTION ON THE BLOCK. [ auctioneer chanting ] (LT) IT'S JUST PLAIN COOL! DANA MECUM IS THE DEAL MAKER. HIS SON FRANK IS HEIR APPARENT AND RUNS THE SHOW ALONG WITH ABOUT 170 SUPPORT STAFF. THEY'VE MADE MECUM AUCTIONS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION COMPANY. (DANA) AFTER DOING THIS FOR 30 YEARS EVERY AUCTION THERE'S STILL SOME NEW CIRCUMSTANCE, A NEW WAY TO WORK A DEAL TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT'S UNCHARTED WATER. (FRANK) WE KNEW 25 YEARS AGO WHAT THIS WOULD BE. IT JUST TOOK EVERYBODY ELSE THAT MANY YEARS TO CATCH UP TO US. (JEREMY) SO HOW EASY IS IT TO SELL YOUR RIDE AT MECUM? DO WHAT WE DID. SEND IN AN APPLICATION, FILL OUT THE PACKET THEY SEND YOU, WHICH INCLUDES YOUR ENTRY FEE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO MAIL IN YOUR TITLE. THEN ALL YOU'VE GOTTA DO IS SHOW UP. (JOHN) YOU KNOW ONE THING ABOUT MECUM AUCTIONS, WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VALUES OR TYPES OF CARS. ANY SINGLE PERSON THAT WANTS TO BRING A VEHICLE TO MECUM AUCTION IS GONNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO SHOW IS THE SPECTRUM AND THE VARIETY OF WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE COLLECTOR CAR WORLD. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE $100,000 DOLLAR PLUS CARS. WE KNOW THAT AND OUR BUYERS KNOW THAT TOO. (JEREMY) HEY MAN! ( ) WELCOME TO MECUM. (LT) WE CHECKED IN TWO DAYS BEFORE OUR LOT HITS THE AUCTION BLOCK, AND IF YOUR PAPERWORK IS IN ORDER THEY TAKE YOUR KEYS AND SHE'S GONE. DOES IT HURT TO WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE DRIVE YOUR TRUCK AWAY? (JEREMY) IT'S LIKE BEING CHEATED ON. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. (LT) HERE'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS. BUYERS PAY A 10 PERCENT COMMISSION. SELLERS, OR CONSIGNERS AS THEY CALL YOU, PAY 10 PERCENT IF YOU SET A RESERVE BUT SELL IT NO RESERVE AND THAT COMMISSION DROPS TO FIVE. BIDDERS REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR $100 BUCKS, AND THAT GETS YOU AND A GUEST IN THE DOOR. (JOHN) YOU PAY THE $100 DOLLARS. WE TAKE A $500 DOLLAR CREDIT AUTHORIZATION ON A MAJOR CREDIT CAR OR $500 DOLLAR CASH DEPOSIT. YOU PAY WITH A CHECK WHEN YOU BUY THE CAR. YOU TAKE THE CAR HOME WITH YOU. WE HOLD THE TITLES FOR THREE WEEKS WAITING FOR ALL THE CHECKS TO CLEAR, SIMPLE AS THAT. (LT) NOW THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR LAST CHANCE. WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO GO WITH A RESERVE ON THIS TRUCK AND I THINK WE'RE LEANING TO NO RESERVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? (JEREMY) I THINK AT NO RESERVE IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE FOR US TO SELL THE TRUCK. PLUS AT NO RESERVE IT MAY PEAK A LITTLE INTEREST WITH THE BIDDERS. THEY MAY START BIDDING AND HEY, MAY NOT STOP. (LT) HEY THAT MEANS MORE MONEY FOR NEW PROJECTS RIGHT? (JEREMY) EXACTLY. (LT) WELL THERE WE GO, NO RESERVE. (JEREMY) NO RESERVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING.
(LT) WELL HERE WE ARE. IT'S FINALLY AUCTION DAY. WE'RE WALKING THROUGH THE STAGING AREA, CHECKING OUT SOME CARS AS THEY WAIT THEIR TURN TO CROSS THE BLOCK, AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE GET TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH OUR '55 IS GONNA GO FOR. MAN THIS A REAL SHELBY? EVERY VEHICLE HERE AT MECUM HITS THE BLOCK RESERVE OR NO RESERVE. RESERVE MEANS THERE'S A HIDDEN MINIMUM PRICE THE SELLER IS WILLING TO ACCEPT. (JEREMY) NO RESERVE MEANS IT WILL SELL REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE. ( ) THIS IS A 1945 DUMP TRUCK. ( ) I BROUGHT A 1970 PLYMOUTH AAR CUDA. ( ) IT'S A 1948 CHEVROLET 3,100 SERIES. (JEREMY) YOU NAME IT YOU'LL SEE IT HERE, FROM AN ORIGINAL '62 GALAXIE TO THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME'S MOTOR HOME, AND OF COURSE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND THE FOLKS HERE TOO RUN THE GAMBIT. (JOHN) WE KIND OF BREAK IT OUT INTO THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. NUMBER ONE ARE THE COLLECTORS. PEOPLE THAT KIND OF LIKE TO BUY AND SELL CARS, DIFFERENT CARS IN AND OUT OF THEIR COLLECTIONS. THEN THERE'S THE GUY THAT LIKES TO COME IN AND MAYBE JUST BUY ONE CAR, HIS DREAM CAR. AND THEN ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CROWD REPRESENTS DEALERS. (JUSTIN) I'M HERE TO SELL SOME CARS HERE AT THE MECUM LOUISVILLE SALE. I'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF INVENTORY HERE I'VE GOT TO MOVE. ( ) HI, HOW ARE YOU? (JUSTIN) GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? ( ) YOU CAN SHUT THE TRUCK OFF. I WANT TO CHECK THE VIN NUMBER, AND WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. (LT) JUSTIN CHROBAK FROM FLORIDA IS A MECUM REGULAR, AND ONE OF THE YOUNG GUNS WHO'S TURNED HIS PASSION INTO A FULL TIME JOB. (JUSTIN) I BUY AND SELL CLASSIC CARS. I DO SOME LIGHT RESTORATIONS, MOSTLY DETAILING, AND JUST TRY TO MOVE AS MANY CARS AS I CAN IN A YEAR, AND I MOSTLY DO IT THROUGH AUCTION. HERE AT LOUISVILLE I HAVE ANYTHING RANGING FROM A '57 THUNDERBIRD TO A '65 CHEVY C-10 PICK UP, TO A '70 MUSTANG, '65 MUSTANG FASTBACK, '70 CHEVELLE. A LOT OF MUSCLE CARS, A LOT OF LOUD IN YOUR FACE HORSEPOWER CARS. I TYPICALLY TRY TO SELL AROUND 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF THE INVENTORY I BRING TO A MECUM AUCTION FOR ROUND NUMBERS. (LT) WHICH MEANS FOR THIS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND JUSTIN MUST SELL SEVEN OF THE 12 TRUCKS AND CARS HE'S BROUGHT TO LOUISVILLE. (JOHN) YOU SEE THAT THERE'S SOME YOUNG GUYS THAT ARE OUT THERE WITH AN INTEREST IN KIND OF PICKING UP THE TORCH AND YOU KNOW RUNNING WITH IT. I THINK WE FIRST MET JUSTIN PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, MAYBE DOWN IN FLORIDA, BROUGHT A COUPLE OF CARS, AND HE'S BECOME ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONSIGNERS NOW. (JUSTIN) OKAY SO THE PROCESS OF CONSIGNING A CAR AT ANY AUCTION IS AN ARDUOUS TASK BUT MECUM HAS REALLY STREAM LINED HOW EASY IT IS TO SUBMIT A CONTRACT, SUBMIT PHOTOS. THEY'RE A VERY WELL OILED MACHINE. THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO CONSIGN CARS AND GET THEM UP ON THEIR WEBSITE QUICK. ( ) YOU READY TO GO? (JUSTIN) YEP, READY TO GO! THEY KNOW WHAT PLACEMENT IS GOOD FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CAR AND THEY KIND OF TAKE A LOT OF THE HEADACHES THAT YOU MIGHT FIND BEING A FIRST TIME SELLER OUT OF THE EQUATION. ( ) $13 BUY IT? (JUSTIN) IF YOU GET $13 ON THE BLOCK WE'LL TAKE THE RESERVE OFF. IN THE LONG RUN IT JUST MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR YOU. ONCE IT'S ON THE BLOCK THEY COME UP TO YOU. THEY KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, AND YOU KIND OF START THE NEGOTIATION FROM THERE AND HOPE THAT YOU GET A LOT OF BIDDING ACTIVITY. ( ) SELL IT? ( ) RESERVE IS OFF! (LT) WHILE JUSTIN'S MAKING MONEY ON THE BLOCK WE'RE IN THE STAGING AREA WAITING FOR OUR TURN. (JEREMY) I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WE'RE KIND OF GAMBLING AT PUTTING OUR F-100 UP AT NO RESERVE, AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN THE BIDDING STARTS IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SITTING WITH A HOT HAND AT THE POKER TABLE. ADRENALINE'S PUMPING, YOUR HEART IS RACING, IT'S JUST PLAIN FUN. (LT) THE AUCTIONEER STARTS HIGH AND LOWERS THE OPENING BID UNTIL SOMEONE BITES. THEY BIT AT $20,000, AND FROM WHAT WE COULD TELL WE HAD FIVE BIDDERS IN ON THE ACTION, TWO ON THE PHONE AND THREE ON THE FLOOR. ( ) THEY'RE PROBABLY ASKING $42,000.
(JEREMY) YOU KNOW I'M SITTING THERE TALKING TO THE GUYS WATCHING THE MONITOR AT THE SAME TIME. JUST INCREDIBLE HOW QUICKLY THE PRICE WAS JUMPING UP. (JOHN) AND IT'S PAYING OFF MY FRIEND. WE'RE ALREADY AT $45,000 BUCKS AND STILL CLIMBING. ( ) BID'S $46,000. ( ) $47,000! (JEREMY) AND JUST LIKE THAT THE BID JUMPED $7,000. THAT'S WHERE THE ABSENTEE BIDDERS DROPPED OUT WITH TWO LEFT. (LT) THAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND. (AUCTIONEER) $57,000, NOW $60,000. $60,000 GOING ONCE, $57,000, $60,000 TWICE, SOLD, $57,000 DOLLARS! (JEREMY) WE DID PRETTY WELL AND OUR WINNING BIDDER GOT ONE HECK OF A TRUCK. JUST EVENTUALLY SOLD A MAJORITY OF HIS LOTS AT SUBSEQUENT MECUM AUCTIONS, AND IT'S THE RUSH THAT WILL KEEP HIM COMING BACK. (JUSTIN) IT'S A LOT OF FUN. IT'S MY DRUG. ONE OF MY INNOCENT DRUGS IN LIFE. I DON'T DO ANY DRUGS. I PLAY HOCKEY AND I DO THIS. THESE ARE MY DRUGS.
