Was watching Junkyard Wars on TLC last week with my son. The series is now showing the new British shows. So the big US SUVs chassies are out, and Land Rovers are in. While watching the contestants scrounging through the junk yard, and what do I see? A red 1800 coupe on top of one of the heaps, and what may have been a yellow coupe on the ground with the hood up! From the quick glances of the cars, neither looked smashed up or rusted out. Perfect for restoration or parting out. My heart sank seeing these classics on a scrap heap, but at least it was on a fun to watch engineering show. Who knows, maybe some day the engines from these cars will be used on one of the contraptions, and the virtures of the engines will be demonstrated for the whole world to see.

Tonight, power river boats!

Gary D

The U S Junkyard Wars are shot here in Los Angeles.I talked to one assistant director of the show and it turns out that the contestants do get "some help".In other words they tell the producers what their project will be and the items will be "found" in the "junk yard" when they are looking for them.
So those Volvos might have been bought for the show.After I found out the "truth" I stopped watching their show.Also they are not filming in a real junkyard but on a huge set.It is TV afterall.

Oh Yeah, the junk yard is "seeded" with the stuff needed to do the construction. I have lost count of how many new batteries, hydraulic hoses, tires, and valves I have seen on the show. Thought it was a little bit of a stretch to "find" in the junk yard all the heavy duty 4WD transfer cases for the monster truck shows. Recently they had a special show on how the show is produced. They admit openly that the junkyard is not a real junk yard, and the designs of the "experts" is reviewed for safety and feasibility. Then the junkyard is seeded with the parts. Yes, it is a bit staged, but my son and I still find it interesting how some of the contraptions are fabricated from junk. As a science/engineering type working for a university, it is useful to occasionally watch a show like this to get ideas for building stuff with almost no budget.

True, the 1800s I saw in the current British shows are probably just part of the set. But hey, you never know!

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Gary D