Wheeler Dealers

For the 1963 film, see The Wheeler Dealers.

Wheeler Dealers
Series 9 title card
Also known as	Wheeler Dealers: On the Road (Series 5)
Presented by	Mike Brewer Edd China
Theme music composer	The Wideboys
Opening theme	Balaclava
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	10
No. of episodes	121 (as of March 26, 2013)
Production
Running time	30 minutes (Series 1-6) 60 minutes (Series 7-)
Production company(s)	Attaboy TV
Broadcast
Original channel	Discovery Real Time (2003-2010) Discovery Channel (2011-present)
Original run	7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) – present
External links
Website

Wheeler Dealers is a British television series produced by Attaboy TV for the Discovery Channel, fronted by Mike Brewer and mechanic Edd China. The premise of the show is that Brewer and China are on a mission to save repairable enthusiast vehicles, by repairing or otherwise improving an example of a particular make and model to a budget, then selling it to a new owner. While Edd spends large amounts of time repairing each car, that time is not included in the final cost of the repairs.

There have so far been ten series of the programme and three different theme tunes have been used; the current one being Balaclava by The Wideboys. The previous theme was from V-The Production Library by Music 4. Series 1 originally aired in 2003. The second half of Series 6 was aired in Autumn of 2009 on Discovery Real Time. Series 5 was renamed to Wheeler Dealers: On the Road; in this series Mike and Edd expanded their car search by heading out into Europe hoping to find classic cars to buy and restore. Beginning with part 2 of Series 8, Mike further expanded their horizon by touring the United States.

In April 2013, a spin-off series titled Wheeler Dealers Trading Up was launched. This series has Mike traveling around the world to buy and sell used cars in different countries on a set budget.

Format [edit]

Each project spans a pair of 30-minute episodes, in which Mike buys a vehicle, turns it over to Edd for repairs, then sells it on. For the first series, the budget was £1000, for Series 2, £2000, and for Series 3, £3000. Budgets in subsequent series have varied, depending on the target vehicle. For example, a £10,000 budget was set on buying and restoring a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 in Series 6.

The presentation for each project usually follows a similar format. Through series 6, the project was presented in two 30-minute episodes. Starting with series 7, the format was changed to a single 1-hour episode.

Summary [edit]

The show was created with a DIYer in mind. The costs, and thus any profit or loss for a given project, are assessed without consideration of the labour costs of mechanic Edd China (the assumption is that a well-equipped and able enthusiast could complete all work himself) but if repairs require professional help, like a body resprays or windscreen replacements, they are added to the final cost.

Nevertheless, the show is sufficiently in-depth to provide good overviews and insights to buying and improving older enthusiast vehicles.

Sometimes, painting is done by hand using a spray-can in their workshop instead of going to professional painting workshop. This is usually reserved for vehicles where only a portion of the vehicle needs painting, or where the part being painted has little effect on the overall appearance. When Edd and/or Mike consider that the appearance of the paint will make a notable difference to the sale value, professional painting is undertaken. When the respray is done by others, it is usual for Edd to do the majority if not all of the preparation work prior to painting.

Also addressed on each vehicle are its service history, bodywork defects (e.g. rust, dents), worn-out interiors and accessories. Vehicles that have either been inactive for long periods of time or purchased from outside the UK are restored and modified to pass country's strict MOT tests.

First half [edit]

Mike and Edd start with a budget to buy and then fix up a vehicle.
Mike gives a brief history of the merits of the chosen model of vehicle.
Mike locates, negotiates for and buys the vehicle.
- (Starting from series 5, prospective cars Mike wanted to buy, but needed too much work, were shown. This also took place in Series 1, Episode 7)
Mike turns the vehicle over to Edd, and together they assess its needs.
- (Series 1-4 featured a camera trick that had "multiple clones" of Edd surveying the vehicle. This was dropped from series 5 onwards.)
Edd begins work, providing assessments of the work and its challenges.
Mike stops by Edd's shop for an overview of progress, and expenditures are reviewed. Oftentimes, Mike ridicules Edd on his work if the car looks unchanged or has been disassembled or prepped for a respray.

Second half [edit]

A quick review of the first episode.
- (for series where each project is split into 2 episodes)
Mike (often) goes on a field trip to procure some required parts.
Mike interviews an owner of a similar vehicle in top condition, then drives and comments on the car.
- (This feature was dropped from series 5 onwards.)
Edd finishes the work on the project vehicle.
Mike returns to the workshop and discusses the finished vehicle with Edd.
Mike drives the completed car, assessing improvements.
- (Starting from series 5, Mike and Edd test drive the finished vehicle together and discuss its resale value.)
Mike sells the vehicle to a new owner. There is a final tally of expenditures and any "profit" or "loss".
- (Starting from series 5, prospective buyers that failed to buy the car are shown.)

Cast [edit]

Mike Brewer uses his skills as a former car trader to scout and buy used cars to be restored and sold for profit.

Edd China is the show's mechanic, who gives viewers tips on how to sort out and solve various car problems, as well as estimate how much a garage would charge for such repairs.

Paul Brackley, the series' technical advisor, makes sporadic appearances to either assist Edd in carrying heavy equipment in the garage or help Mike tow vehicles to the shop.

Series Overview [edit]

Wheeler Dealers [edit]

Series		Episodes	Originally aired
Series		Episodes	Series premiere	Series finale
	1	12	7 October 2003	11 November 2003
	2	12	10 February 2004	16 March 2004
	3	12	23 August 2005	4 October 2005
	4	12	29 August 2006	3 October 2006
	5	12	28 October 2008	6 December 2008
	6	20	5 May 2009	17 November 2009
	7	10	4 May 2010	9 November 2010
	8	10	5 April 2011	1 November 2011
	9	15	20 March 2012	6 November 2012
	10	6	19 February 2013	26 March 2013

Trading Up [edit]

Series		Episodes	Originally aired
Series		Episodes	Series premiere	Series finale
	1	6	2 April 2013	7 May 2013

Sweden Special [edit]

On April 2, 2012, the Swedish version of the Discovery Channel aired a special episode called Wheeler Dealers Sverige Special (Wheeler Dealers Sweden Special).^[1] In this episode, the presenters bought a Ford Mustang for 55,000 SEK. After having to refurbish the brake calipers, swap the engine and giving the car a new paint job, they were able to sell it for 135,000 SEK, giving them a total profit of 28,000 SEK. It is unclear whether Discovery Channel are planning on making this into a full series or just this episode.

Cars [edit]

Below is the list of cars featured on the series.

Series 1 (2003) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate
1/2	1/2	Porsche 924	£1,000	£700	£1,010	£1,500	+ £490	Replaced gear knob, door and wing mirrors, pulled and filled dent in rear quarter panel, repainted wheels, applied new decals, replaced handbrake lever, adjusted exhaust, engine service.	Before Mike sold the car, he gave a mini-primer on how to sell cars to maximize profits.	7 October 2003
3/4	3/4	Saab 900 Turbo	£1,000	£600	£1,035	£1,200	+ £165	Replaced interior (including carpets and door cards) from beige cloth to black/grey leather, brake discs and pads, electric window motors and exhaust back box; engine service.	First episode to use the Internet to buy and sell used cars. Original beige knee roll repainted grey when the replacement unit was damaged beyond repair.	14 October 2003
5/6	5/6	Volkswagen Golf Mk1 GTI	£1,000	£650	£1,165	£1,550	+ £385	Fitted new gear linkage kit, a new brake master cylinder, decals, dials and rev counter, painted GTI trims and fitted a refurbished set of Pirelli alloys.	Restored to original GTI specification.	21 October 2003
7/8	7/8	Austin Mini Mk1	£1,000	£300	£1,100	£1,300	+ £200	A-frame replaced and body welded. Door filled and whole body prepared for a full respray. New bumpers, HT leads, coil & boot lid. Repainted engine.	Flagged as totally original though it did have a sunroof.	28 October 2003
9/10	9/10	Mercedes-Benz W123 230E	£1,000	£400	£977	£1,500	+ £523	Replaced steering box and windscreen. Replaced and repainted right wing, new fuse for sunroof motor.	Car was found through an advertisement on a bulletin board at a local supermarket. Replacement right wing was painted free of charge.	4 November 2003
11/12	11/12	Ford Capri Laser 1.6	£1,000	£400	£945	£700	- £245	Replaced and repainted front wings, replaced front suspension bushes, exhaust gaskets, front bumper and fog lights.	Sold at a loss - blamed on lackluster finish of repainted wings, as well as the worn seats that were not addressed during the restoration. (First loss in the series).	11 November 2003
		Totals	£6,000	£3,050	£6,232	£7,750	£1,518

Series 2 (2004) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate
13/14	1/2	Toyota MR2 MKI	£2,000	£500	£1,278	£1,900	+ £622	Replaced ignition barrel and boot lock, alternator, left front wing, windscreen, exhaust pipe, door trim and tires; removed rust and repainted left rear wing, polished body work; bought replacement fourth wheel and refurbished rims; full engine service.	First Japanese car in the series.	10 February 2004
15/16	3/4	Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9	£2,000	£1,000	£1,653	£2,200	+ £547	Replaced gear linkage, exhaust, body trim, cam belt, water pump, petrol cap and parcel shelf. Sorted the rear suspension height, junked the after-market steering wheel and fitted a CD player.	Bought thru a newspaper advertisement, and Mike gave tips on what to say and do and what not to say when advertising a used car on the classified ads.	17 February 2004
17/18	5/6	Suzuki SJ410	£2,000	£250	£1,270	£500	- £770	Repainted vehicle from white to black, modified suspension and oversized wheels for 8" extra ride height. Replaced busted engine. Fitted roll cage kit.	First vehicle to be acquired through eBay. Converted to mini monster truck. Failed MOT test due to rust holes. (Second loss in the series).	24 February 2004
19/20	7/8	BMW E30 325i Touring	£2,000	£950	£1,792.50	£1,900	+ £107.50	Painted new bonnet. New exhaust, performance air filter, clutch slave cylinder, fog lights and power steering fluid. Cosmetics: bumper capings, gear-shift gaiter, badge, and wheel hub caps.	First car bought at an auction instead of a private seller. Lowest profit in the series. A tear in the drivers seat was not repaired, and used to negotiate the seller price down.	2 March 2004
21/22	9/10	MG B GT	£2,000	£1,000	£2,600	£2,850	+ £250	Numerous rust areas treated before full body respray from orange to Flame Red. Seats recovered with stylish black refurbish kit. Wheels refurbished.	Previous owner replaced the rubber bumpers with a chrome bumper set, a popular modification among MG enthusiasts.	9 March 2004
23/24	11/12	Predator Beach Buggy	£2,000	£200	£3,700	£3,900	+ £200	Stripped car to bare chassis and installed beach buggy kit, engine cleaned up and cylinder rockers adjusted, dynamo replaced with alternator, new exhaust system and chrome engine parts installed, rusted chassis replaced with a newer, shorter wheelbase unit, front drum brakes swapped with disc brakes, new tyres with chrome wheels.	Original plan was to purchase and restore a Volkswagen Beetle. Cheapest purchase in the entire series. Purchased Beetle, which was a barn find derelict beyond restoration, was custom converted to mark the 40th anniversary of the Beach Buggy.	16 March 2004
		Totals	£12,000	£3,900	£12,293.50	£13,250	£956.50

Series 3 (2006) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes
25/26	1/2	Volkswagen Transporter T3	£3,000	£1,100	£3,825	£1,500	- £2,325	Fixed sliding door and fitted window, lowered suspension, rock and roll bed, installed camper van appliances, full-body vinyl wrap, painted interior light blue, added artificial grass carpeting and fitted new exhaust & hubcaps.	Original plan was to purchase and restore a Type 2. T3 works van converted to mini mobile home. First use of a full-body vinyl wrap instead of a respray. First diesel engine in the series. Bought by Edd, largest loss in the series (Third loss in the series).
27/28	3/4	Lancia Delta HF Integrale 8v	£3,000	£2,300	£3,087	£3,800	+ £713	Replaced front brake discs, front suspension bushes & track rods, battery, alternator, radiator, grille, pedal covers, wing mirrors, carpets, gearstick and wheel centre caps. Red paint deep polished. Mini-service done.	Acquired through eBay. Originally a non-running unit with a rare factory right-hand drive conversion and no MOT.
29/30	5/6	Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth	£3,000	£2,700	£3,585	£3,500	- £85	Replaced cassette player head unit with CD player. Hydraulic suspension replaced. Exhaust components replaced. New tyres on all corners.	(Fourth loss in the series)
31/32	7/8	Range Rover Series I Vogue SE	£3,000	£1,600	£2,035	£2,000	- £35	Replaced boot, rear door and roof lining changed, automatic transmission fluid replaced.	Originally planned for LPG conversion, but canceled due to MOT failure and conversion costs. Last vehicle sold at a loss in the series until Series 9. (Fifth loss in the series).
33/34	9/10	Mazda MX-5 NA	£3,000	£1,600	£2,715	£3,600	+ £885	Replaced convertible hood and interior, installed chrome trims, performance air filter and chassis braces, repaired and repainted corroded A-pillar, stock alloys upgraded to 15" white Enkei factory units from the second generation (NB) model.	Mike showed a selling technique by buying the car in the winter and selling the car during the more sunnier months to capitalize on the convertible aspects of the car.
35/36	11/12	Porsche 928	£3,000	£1,600	£4,950	£6,000	+ £1,050	Full body respray to original Cocoa color, replaced headlight switch and brake calipers, repaired dents on driver's side door and rear wing, changed aftermarket BBS rims to refurbished factory "tele-dial" rims.	Originally purchased as a non-running unit with no MOT and no service records. Sold at asking price with a full tank of petrol.
		Totals	£18,000	£10,900	£20,197	£20,400	£203

Series 4 (2007) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes
37/38	1/2	Porsche 911 2.7S Targa	£6,000	£5,000	£7,040	£8,450	+ £1,410	Replaced U.S. spec bumper extensions with Europe-spec ones. Gearbox replaced with reconditioned unit. Replaced clutch and left-side mirror. Fixed and reconditioned targa top. Removed chrome trim on wheel wells and painted wheel centre caps black. Mini-service done.	U.S. spec car imported from California with a full body respray done less than a year before purchase. Sold at asking price. Was featured on Wheeler Dealers Revisited, when Edd found the car at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife, and drove it round there.
39/40	3/4	Jeep CJ7	£4,000	£1,100	£3,772	£3,900	+ £128	New leaf springs and shock absorbers, new clutch master and slave cylinders, new seats, steering wheel and roof assembly, door cards refurbished, two tyres replaced, new mirrors and bonnet catches.	First American vehicle in the series. Originally purchased as a non-running barn find with complete service and MOT records.
41/42	5/6	Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce	£4,000	£2,200	£3,125	£4,500	+ £1,375	Filled dents in nose, front end respray, replaced manifold couplings, UK spec headlights, patched rust holes in driver's side footwell.	Original Italy-spec model that was previously coloured blue under the red paint. Sold at asking price. Revisited in 2010. Has new carburettors, but bodywork is starting to go at rear wheel arches.
43/44	7/8	BMW E24 635CSi	£4,000	£2,000	£3,060	£3,700	+ £640	Replaced rear drop links and front suspension control arms, added strut brace, replaced exhaust system, replaced rubber door seals, Canadian alloy wheels replaced with factory BBS units, cloth interior swapped with leather interior.	Car was previously sent to Canada for several years before returning to the UK, resulting in a lackluster set of alloy wheels. It was also recently repainted before purchase. A second 635CSi (which failed an MOT test due to underside rust) was purchased for £350 through eBay as a donor vehicle.
45/46	9/10	Chevrolet Corvette C4	£4,000	£2,100	£3,021	£3,800	+ £779	Replaced door panel fabric, replaced digital instrument panel with a reconditioned unit, fixed faulty wiring on pop-up headlamp motor, repainted targa roof and door mirrors, replaced missing headliner, added chrome cover parts for engine bay, replaced fan thermostat wiring, replaced exhaust system, air conditioner recharged, wheels refurbished, car polished and waxed.	Acquired through eBay. Door card fabric and headliner were built from scratch using acoustic carpet, as genuine replacement parts are too expensive to import from the U.S. Faded paint on the body was used to mark down the selling price.
47/48	11/12	Lexus LS400	£4,000	£1,300	£3,108	£3,300	+ £192	Headlamps upgraded to HID, front suspension wishbones replaced, air conditioner LCD replaced, rear bumper repainted, alloy wheels and tires upgraded to Lexus IS 17" units, side indicator housings swapped with clear lenses with orange bulbs, Bluetooth hands-free phone kit added to stereo.	Car was upgraded to be sold as a starter executive car targeting new/younger middle management type buyers.
		Totals	£26,000	£13,700	£23,126	£27,650	£4,525

Series 5 (On the Road) (2008) [edit]

This series marks a dramatic change in production value. Mike travels around Europe to source target cars when local examples are either too expensive to buy or too rusty to work on. Aside from being the first to travel outside the UK, several production elements have changed. For example, the segment where Mike interviews people with similar cars has been dropped, giving the series more focus on the car being restored. In addition, Edd joins Mike in the car's final test drive before the sale.

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate
49/50	1/2	Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL	£5,000	€6,900 (£5,400)	£6,920	£7,900	+ £980	Replaced front brake discs and calipers, full exhaust, convertible hood, exhaust system, aftermarket wheels and steering wheel for originals, repaired rust patch on front right wing, changed headlamps to UK-spec units.	Purchased in Germany. Car originally had no MOT in Germany due to the lack of a catalytic converter. First car purchased over the planned budget. Restoration price includes £400 travel expense and a credit of £135 from selling the aftermarket wheels and steering wheel.	28 October 2008
51/52	3/4	Lotus Esprit S3	£5,000	£3,600	£4,385	£6,200	+ £1,815	Replaced complete interior, cambelt, exhaust manifold, shock absorbers. Fixed leaky aftermarket sunroof and had engine service.	Car had failed its MOT due to faulty exhaust and rear suspension prior to purchase. Restored car brought to the Lotus test track. Sold for export to Gibraltar.	4 November 2008
53/54	5/6	Fiat 500	£5,000	€2,900 (£2,300)	£5,700	£6,500	+ £800	Full body respray from blue to white with red and green vinyl stripes front to back, replacement 650cc Abarth engine and gearbox, right-hand drive headlights.	Purchased in Italy. It broke down halfway back to the UK and needed towing back. Restoration price includes £500 travel expense. Sold at asking price.	11 November 2008
55/56	7/8	Land Rover Series III Stage One V8	£5,000	£1,000	£2,230	£2,750	+ £520	Converted to run on LPG or petrol. Repainted some parts black and added some black metal trim. Roll bar and some lights fitted.	Previous owner abandoned restoration project after car was repainted in the wrong shade of Inca Yellow. Restored car tested at Land Rover's off-road circuit. Final sale on-screen was £3,000, but the buyer backed out at the last minute, according to Mike's ending narration.	18 November 2008
57/58	9/10	Citroën DS Super 5	£5,000	€4,800 (£3,800)	£5,185	£7,000	+ £1,815	Right-hand drive headlights, replaced suspension reservoir, right-side wing mirror, seat covers and clock.	Purchased in France. Restoration price includes £400 travel expense. A scratch on the right front wing was left unpainted, with Mike calling it part of the car's "character".	25 November 2008
59/60	11/12	Bentley Mulsanne Turbo	£5,000	£3,250	£6,200	£8,000	+ £1,800	Full respray and colour change from blue to Storm Grey, replaced headlamps and grille, repainted leather seats to original blue finish.	Original plan was to purchase and restore a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, but the only unit at the car dismantler had faulty bodywork. Dismantler offered the Bentley instead. Sold at asking price.	2 December 2008
		Totals	£30,000	£19,350	£30,620	£38,350	£7,730

Series 6 (2009) [edit]

This series marks the first use of a rotating platform to display the restored vehicle.

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate
Part I
61/62	1/2	Triumph Spitfire 1500	£5,000	£2,400	£3,432	£4,600	+ £1,168	Cylinder head had new guides and hardened valves fitted to run on unleaded fuel, rear shock absorbers replaced, brightwork re-chromed, and differential replaced, oil change performed.	Much like the Mazda MX-5 build, Mike bought the car in the winter to repair and sell in the spring to take advantage of the Spitfire's convertible aspects when he sold it on.	5 May 2009
63/64	3/4	Porsche 944 Turbo	£5,000	£2,800	£5,660	£6,650	+ £990	Engine management computer retuned from 235 bhp to 260 bhp, rollcage added, shock absorbers and brake pads upgraded, Sparco racing seats with four-point harnesses installed, added second set of wheels for racing, removed sound deadening fabric and CD changer.	Acquired through eBay. Converted to track-ready vehicle and brought to Porsche test track. Mike particularly hated the orange colour Edd chose for the racing wheels.^[2]	12 May 2009
65/66	5/6	Audi Quattro	£5,000	£3,800	£4,568	£5,450	+ £882	Seats refurbished, new clutch reservoir installed, bumpers repaired and repainted, rear wheel bearings replaced.	Worn shifter knob was also replaced, but not mentioned in the episode.	19 May 2009
67/68	7/8	Volkswagen Beetle	£5,000	£1,600	£4,809	£6,600	+ £1,791	Front luggage floor welded, engine replaced with reconditioned unit, new bumpers and hubcaps, body resprayed to original Gulf Blue colour, brakes adjusted.	Acquired through eBay. Originally planned on Series 2 (which became the Predator Beach Buggy project).	26 May 2009
69/70	9/10	Jaguar XJS 3.6	£5,000	£1,000	£1,691	£2,450	+ £759	Replaced transmission spring, steering gaiter, bonnet, gearbox oil filter and headlining. Repainted bonnet scuttle, grill, and repaired centre console veneer.	Bought from a dealer that got the car as a trade-in.	2 June 2009
Part II
71/72	11/12	Ferrari Dino 308 GT4	£10,000	£8,750	£11,880	£13,000	+ £1,120	Body dents pulled out and holes in the front undercarriage panel patched with fiberglass, exhaust manifold replaced, a full respray, and wheels refurbished.	First project to go over £10,000.	20 October 2009
73/74	13/14	Mini City 1000	£5,000	£700	£2,290	£2,600	+ £310	New gold alloys, engine chrome parts, full body vinyl wrap in carbon fiber pattern with white bonnet stripes and Union Jack roof pattern, new black interior with Cobra racing seats, replaced left radius swing arm, dashboard/speedometer kit and choke cable.	Customized for auction at a Mini 50th anniversary gathering in Longbridge. Second car in series to use a full-body vinyl wrap.	27 October 2009
75/76	15/16	TVR S2	£5,000	£2,550	£3,040	£4,250	+ £1,210	Replaced brake servo, track-rod ends (and did wheel alignment), re-cored radiator, electrics checked, lubricated left side power window mechanism, re-trimmed front seats.	Acquired through eBay.	3 November 2009
77/78	17/18	Land Rover Discovery TDI	£5,000	£1,500	£2,731	£3,000	+ £269	Added roof rack, rear door ladder, snorkel, under tray protection and diff guards, light guards and front bumper spotlights. Replaced power steering box.	Converted to expedition off-roader.	10 November 2009
79/80	19/20	BMW M3 E36 Convertible	£5,000	£4,500	£5,580	£5,950	+ £370	Replaced gearbox, interior and alarm unit, refurbished alloy wheels.	Sold at asking price.	17 November 2009
		Totals	£55,000	£29,600	£45,861	£54,550	£8,869

Series 7 (2010) [edit]

This series drops the two-part format in favour of a single one-hour episode format.

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate
Part I
81	1	Jensen Interceptor III	£5,000	£5,000	£5,430	£6,500	+ £1,070	Cut out rust and welded new steel in passenger foot well, replaced brake master cylinder and steering rack, leather interior cleaned and restored, wheels polished.	Car was missing the air conditioning system, which was not reinstated due to cost. Restored car brought to Millbrook Proving Ground for its test drive.	4 May 2010
82	2	Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth	£5,000	£4,100	£5,920	£6,200	+ £280	Gearbox rebuilt, clutch replaced, valve stem oil seals & guides replaced, seats, door cards and steering wheel replaced, Escort Cosworth alloy rims replaced with original units, front bumper repainted.	Acquired through eBay. Restored car taken to a 1-mile drag strip to do a 0-60 acceleration contest. Mike scored 5.9 seconds while Edd did 6.4 seconds.	11 May 2010
83	3	Volkswagen Type 2 T2	£5,000	£2,500	£8,465	£9,450	+ £985	Full body respray from white to metallic orange, 1641cc engine rebuild & exhaust. New tailgate, driver door, Recaro leather seats (recycled from the Sierra Cosworth project), wheels, door cards and carpet.	Originally planned on Series 3 (which became the T3 Transporter project). Sold off-screen to an army major who was serving overseas. Was the biggest restoration cost of the series so far.	18 May 2010
84	4	BMW 840Ci	£5,000	£3,500	£5,040	£5,750	+ £710	Repaired and resprayed front bumper and driver's side door, replaced cooling fan and recharged air conditioning, replaced automatic transmission cooler, installed new windscreen (supplied by seller), refurbished alloy wheels, bodywork polished.	Sold to a buyer from Ireland.	25 May 2010
85	5	Triumph Stag	£5,000	£3,400	£4,529	£5,500	+ £971	Replaced cam cover gasket, radiator with improved unit, differential gasket, hood and frame, front bumper and polished brightwork.	Acquired through eBay.	1 June 2010
Part II
86	6	Bond Bug 700ES	£5,000	£2,500	£3,261	£5,550	+ £2,289	Gearbox and canopy, brake shoes and differential half shaft oil seals replaced.	The first three-wheeled car featured in the series. Restored for the Bond Bug 40th anniversary gathering at Woburn Abbey, featuring designer Tom Karen. Buyer offered £550 over the asking price.	12 October 2010
87	7	Volvo P1800	£5,000	£5,000	£5,795	£8,350	+ £2,555	Replaced fuel gauge, fuel tank and sender, front shocks and springs, and engine rocker cover. Front crossmember repainted. Cylinder head valves updated with hardened units and twin carburettors rebuilt to run on unleaded petrol.	Mike owned one, and this was the type of car driven by Simon Templar in the 1960s television series The Saint.	19 October 2010
88	8	Land Rover 90	£5,000	£3,000	£5,677	£6,000	+ £323	Fitted aftermarket hi-lift camshaft, alloy wheels, steering wheel and seat bottoms, grill, bumper and decal, doors, rear windows and a full respray from blue to Gunmetal Gray.	Farm vehicle turned into a Chelsea tractor. Previous owner swapped the original 2.5 litre turbo diesel motor with a Rover V8 engine.	26 October 2010
89	9	Subaru Impreza WRX	£5,000	£3,250	£5,255	£5,400	+ £145	Performance air filter and exhaust added, ECU remapped to 243 bhp, clutch, brakes, calipers and alloy wheels uprated, bonnet stripes added	First Japanese car featured since Series 4. Restored car tested on Rockingham Motor Speedway.	2 November 2010
90	10	Lotus Elan S3	£5,000	£8,500	£11,685	£16,700	+ £5,015	Exhaust renewed in stainless steel, ball joints renewed, custom CV joint assemblies fitted, wheels refurbished and red/white respray done.	Restored car tested at Gurston Down Motorsport Hillclimb. Mike beat Edd 46 seconds to 49 seconds.	9 November 2010
		Totals	£50,000	£40,750	£61,057	£75,400	£14,343

Series 8 (2011) [edit]

Part 2 of this series marks the first time Mike sources the featured vehicles directly from the United States. He would continue to import other vehicles from the U.S. during the second half of Series 9.

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Work Completed	Notes	Original airdate	UK viewers (million)
Part I
91	1	Jaguar E-Type Series 3	£15,000	£13,250	£16,090	£18,500	+ £2,410	Replaced bonnet underpanel, complete exhaust, replaced leaking pinion seal, wheels refurbished, sills & bonnet repainted, door card and carpets renewed and seats re-upholstered.	Most expensive project in the series up to that point (later surpassed by the US series).	5 April 2011	0.12
92	2	Mini Moke	£7,000	£5,800	£7,080	£7,200	+ £120	Radiator and cooling fan uprated. Suspension modded for a conical spring type. Frame rust fixed. White hood and interior fitted.	Australian built car with a 1275cc Austin Metro engine.	12 April 2011	0.06
93	3	Range Rover P38 4.0 HSE	£3,000	£2,100.36	£3,042	£3,500	+ £458	Changed air suspension pump, front anti-roll bar bushes, front grille, side headlamp assembly, driver's side power window regulator assembly, satnav control unit. Added fog lamps, front and rear lettering, tinted windows.	Car was purchased on eBay. It broke down on the way back due to a faulty air suspension pump and needed towing back.	19 April 2011	0.09
94	4	Austin-Healey "Frogeye" Sprite	£5,000	£4,500	£7,475	£8,600	+ £1,125	Full body respray from red to Iris Blue. Front drum brakes swapped for disc brakes from an MG Midget. Brightwork professionally polished. New seatcover kit fitted. New Mini alloy wheels fitted.	The oldest British car to be featured in the series, featuring a 1275cc uprated engine. Restored car was taken to Brooklands to pay tribute to classic British motorsport. Faded hood was used to mark down the selling price.	26 April 2011	0.09
95	5	Saab 9-3 Turbo Convertible	£3,000	£2,400	£3,360	£3,750	+ £390	Replaced turbocharger, ignition coil pack and spark plugs, left headlamp housing, ignition key barrel, aerial, gearstick knob, front badge, pulled out some dents and fitted a steering rack brace kit.	Newest car featured in the series so far. Restored car was taken to an air base to pay tribute to Saab's fighter plane heritage.	3 May 2011	0.17
Part II
96	6	Dodge Charger	£15,000	$23,000 £14,000	£18,160	£20,000	+ £1,840	Front wheel bearings replaced, new gear linkage installed to sort poor gear select problem, faulty power steering pump replaced, modified rear spring hangers replaced with stock ones, faulty headlamp motor replaced so signature headlamps open and close properly, signature horn from The Dukes of Hazzard installed.	Purchased near Dallas, Texas, and driven to Paris, Texas, to pay a small tribute to the film of the same name before being shipped back to the UK. Second-hand parts purchased at a junk shop in Arizona. Restoration price includes £1,840 shipping, £777 import tax, £1000 travel expenses. Restored car was tested at a quarter-mile drag strip, where Mike clocked in at 18.056 seconds and Edd did 17.048 seconds. Sold at asking price with a full tank of petrol.	4 October 2011	0.17
97	7	DeLorean DMC-12	£10,000	$15,500 £9,650	£14,715	£20,500	+ £5,785	Dents in stainless steel panels removed, rear louver panel fixed with fiberglass and repainted, flywheel/crankshaft oil seal replaced, interior revamped with new seat covers, new gear shift gaiter, new carpets and new instrument binnacle, faulty window motors replaced, left rear light lens replaced and wheels refurbished.	Purchased near Auburn, California. Restoration price includes £2,500 import tax & shipping, £1000 travel expenses. Sold at a DeLorean gathering in Norfolk at £500 over the asking price.	11 October 2011	0.30
98	8	Chevrolet 3100 Stepside	£10,000	$8,650 £5,400	£10,993	£13,600	+ £2,607	Engine upgraded from single to twin carburettors with new manifold, engine bay resprayed to match Chrysler cream body colour (paint supplied by seller), flatbed floor wood replaced, soundproofing installed inside the cab to reduce engine noise and vibrations, white grille replaced with chrome version and new wheels fitted.	Purchased near San Francisco, California. Restoration price includes £1,950 shipping, £300 import tax and £1000 travel expenses. First pickup truck in the series.	18 October 2011	0.25
99	9	Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14 Cabriolet	£10,000	$10,000 £6,000	£10,450	£11,500	+ £1,050	Gearbox refurbished, engine removed and engine bay cleaned including fitting of new soundproof firewall lining panels, hole in the trunk left from auxiliary heater welded over with new metal, black exterior sills stripped and re-sprayed to match the color of the car, interior refurbished with new dash panels, new carpets and new door cards, exterior cosmetics such as front badge and chrome door trim fitted.	Purchased in Boise, Idaho. Despite being a German car, it was explained by Mike that the only quality used examples can be found in the American west coast. Restoration price includes £2,050 import tax & shipping and £1000 travel expenses.	25 October 2011	0.21
100	10	Chevrolet Bel Air 210	£10,000	$6,700 £4,000	£13,504	£16,000	+ £2,496	Full respray from light blue to Ferrari Yellow with white roof; new carburettor and air filter unit, bumpers, grille and chrome trim, chrome wheels, horn ring and interior pieces; original vinyl seats and carpet cleaned.	Original barn find purchased in Sarasota, Florida. Restoration price includes £2,155 import tax & shipping and £1000 travel expenses. Carburettor caught fire shortly after purchase. This car is more correctly a 210 model (the middle trim range) with Bel Air (top trim range) quarter panel trim. It does not carry the front fender chevrons or extended rear fin trim of a true Bel Air.	1 November 2011	0.22
		Totals	£88,000	£67,100	£104,859	£123,150	£17,291

Series 9 (2012) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Original airdate	UK viewers (million)
Part I
10123	1	"Fiat Dino Coupe 2400"	£15,000	€15,000 £12,500	£14,480	£15,500	+ £1,020	20 March 2012	0.13
Work Completed: Distributor rebuilt: distributor cap contacts cleaned, new rotor arm bearing and centrifugal bob weights installed, track control arm bushings replaced, dents and scratches in the bodywork repaired and painted, Cromodora alloy wheels and chrome center hubcaps refurbished, original orange interior carpets replaced with specially made black carpets, center dash board and center console retrimmed with black vinyl. Notes: Purchased in Northern Italy. Allegedly seized by the Italian Police in 1970 and stored in a police warehouse till 2004. Restoration price includes £530 travel expense and a £200 credit from selling the orange carpets. Restored car brought to Millbrook Proving Ground for its test drive.
102	2	"Morgan +4"	£15,000	£13,000	£14,600	£21,000	+ £6,400	27 March 2012	0.16
Work Completed: New chassis fitted, new plywood floor panels fitted, rear suspension uprated with new Panhard rod, 4 leaf springs instead of 6 to soften the ride, tramp bars or traction bars and new shock absorbers, front suspension uprated with new brakes, hubs, shock absorbers, springs, and kingpins. Notes: Purchased from a specialist dealer who was selling the car on behalf of an American who could not import the car back to the U.S. when he moved. Included a tour of Morgan Motor Company plant in Malvern.
103	3	"BMW M5 E39"	£5,000	£4,000	£5,770	£6,500	+ £730	3 April 2012	0.20
Work Completed: New front suspension strut mounts fitted, worn alternator bearings replaced instead of buying whole new part. "Angel eyes" headlights and taillights from 2001 model year fitted,^[3] auto-dimming rearview mirror and nearside rear view mirror replaced, bonnet repaired and resprayed, missing sound damping under the bonnet refitted, new air filters fitted and alloy wheels refurbished and painted in gunmetal metallic paint. Notes: Engine had claimed extra 30 hp via undisclosed means. Tyres were originally mismatched and worn and were changed but not revealed on show. Restored car achieved a top speed of 170 mph. Sold at asking price.
104	4	"Renault Alpine A310"	£10,000	€14,000 £12,000	£13,500	£13,500	+ £0	10 April 2012	0.21
Work Completed: New water pump installed to solve overheating problems, worn rear wheel bearings changed, new air filter installed, Holley 4-barrel carburetor and customized intake manifold upgrade installed to increase the engine's power, non-working high beams repaired, wheel center caps repainted. Notes: Purchased in France. Car overheated shortly after purchase and had to be towed back to the UK. Restored car brought to Brands Hatch for a Renault Alpine gathering. Sold to the only bidder of unknown identity as not willing to appear on TV. (First car to break even on sale.)
105	5	"Porsche 914"	£5,000	£4,000	£5,310	£8,250	+ £2,940	17 April 2012	0.19
Work Completed: Refurbished engine: Thermostatic bellows for engine cooling flaps replaced with thermostatic spring from VW Beetle, external oil cooler replaced, engine cooling tinware cleaned and repainted, new HT leads and distributor fitted, new fuel injector seals fitted, Fuchs alloy wheels cleaned and polished, targa top resprayed, vinyl panels on B-pillars replaced, body steam cleaned and machine polished, interior carpets cleaned with wet-vac and replacement seat covers fitted. Notes: Originally a non-working barn find. Restored car taken to Silverstone Circuit for its test drive. Sold back to original seller.
106	6	"Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen"	£10,000	£9,500	£11,463	£12,000	+ £537	24 April 2012	0.17
Work Completed: Speedo drive oil seals replaced, scratched center console sanded and re-lacquered, engine bay steam cleaned, battery tray treated with rust remedy and repainted, radiator top hose replaced, cam cover polished, front grille replaced with an aftermarket 2012 unit and painted in original colour, front bumper replaced and painted, headlight surrounds and original rear bumper repainted, original taillights replaced with upgraded LED taillights, second hand leather steering wheel from an E-class fitted, front seats refurbished. Notes: Restoration price includes a £90 credit from selling the old front bumper and grille. Restored car brought to Mercedes-Benz off-road testing facility. After sometime on the market, sold to an online buyer from Cyprus.
107	7	"Jaguar XK8"	£10,000	£6,000	£10,075	N/A	- £75	1 May 2012	0.18
Work Completed: Throttle body replaced to fix "Limp Home Mode" problem, engine and exhaust system decarbonized to reduce emissions, new lowered springs and shocks, new XKR brakes installed, both back exhaust mufflers replaced with aftermarket ones, chrome front grille replaced with a satin black unit. Notes: A contest was held for the programme to choose the next car to buy from a lucky viewer. The XK8 was chosen over a Triumph TR4 and a Lotus Excel SA among the finalists. Restored car tested at Rockingham Motor Speedway. To be used as a promotional prize with a £10,000 budget. (Sixth Loss of the series.)
Part II
108	8	"Gardner Douglas Cobra"	£20,000	£17,500	£21,030	£23,000	+ £1,970	18 September 2012	0.16
Work Completed: Carburetor jets resized and custom exhaust fitted to reduce emissions for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test, also, custom head rests fitted as a requirement for IVA, rear axle narrowed by fitting shorter lower control arms and shorter drive shafts, new deep-dished wheels fitted. Notes: Mike opted to find a kit car version rather than spend money for a genuine AC Cobra, which would have been over budget. Car was brought to a drag strip, where Edd did a top speed of 110 mph while Mike reached 108 mph.
109	9	"Jaguar Mark 2"	£8,000	£6,800	£7,804	£9,000	+ £1,196	25 September 2012	0.24
Work Completed: Crankcase ventilation system fixed by cleaning the oil screen and replacing the breather pipe that runs to the oil catch can to sort out blue exhaust smoke, clutch master and slave cylinders replaced to fix spongy clutch pedal and 1-2 gear crunch, interior woodwork on the dashboard top and doors replaced, leather seats replaced, hole in the exhaust down pipe welded up. Notes: Brought to Oxford to pay a small tribute to Inspector Morse.
110	10	"Willys MB"	£10,000	$13,000 £8,000	£10,862	£16,000	+ £5,138	2 October 2012	0.19
Work Completed: Rusted floor replaced with a new panel and painted in original olive drab, missing jerrycan holder installed on the back, gearbox replaced with a refurbished part and painted in olive drab, all seat cushions replaced with new ones, missing manually operated period windscreen wipers reinstalled, missing WW2 first-aid kit box reinstalled under the dash. Notes: Purchased in Northern California. Restoration price includes £2,000 shipping. Built in 1945, it is the oldest car ever bought on the show. Brought to Upminster, Essex, for display at an annual military vehicle show.
111	11	"Nissan Skyline R33"	£3,500	£3,000	£3,655	£4,500	+ £845	9 October 2012	0.31
Work Completed: Custom Japanese wheels replaced as part of purchase deal. Rusty metal on the strut tower cut out and replaced with a patch from another Skyline, standard intercooler swapped for a larger one and front bumper modified to relocate the intercooler from the inner wing to the front of the car behind the front bumper, strut brace fitted, stock rear spoiler replaced with an adjustable aftermarket one, suspension set up for drifting: front camber adjusted to -2.6°, front caster adjusted -6.5° and rear camber adjusted to -0.9°. Also the tracking was readjusted. Suspension already had adjustable suspension parts and may have been previously used as a track-day car. Notes: Mike beat Edd in a drifting contest with a score of 6-3.
112	12	"Triumph TR6"	£7,000	£6,000	£7,050	£8,500	+ £1,450	16 October 2012	0.26
Work Completed: Cylinder head fitted with hardened exhaust valve seats so the engine can run on unleaded petrol, conventional water based coolant flushed and replaced with synthetic 'water free' coolant, a small hole in a petrol tank repaired using tinning & patch method, old vinyl roof replaced with a new one, old Lucas fuel pump upgraded to a modern Bosch fuel pump, both seats re-padded as foam had crumbled. Notes: Restored car taken to Blackpool and Lancashire to pay tribute to the 4th RAC Rally won by John Wallwork and Harold Brooks in a Triumph TR2 in 1954. Sold at asking price.
113	13	"BMW Isetta 300"	£10,000	£6,800	£10,500	£12,000	+ £1,500	23 October 2012	0.18
Work Completed: Rear brake shoes replaced and rear brake drum skimmed, rubber gear linkage grommets replaced, flares on front wheel arches and rusty lower part of the near side wheel arch cut out and replaced with new panels, whole car sanded to bare metal and resprayed from yellow to factory Japan Red and Feather White colour combination, perished window rubber seals replaced, new front and rear chrome bumpers fitted, new narrower rim steel wheels fitted, headlight pods chromed instead of repainted, interior re-trimmed with custom vinyl panels, missing vinyl bench seat custom made to match body colour, steering wheel refurbished using original moulds. Notes: Rear brake locked up shortly after purchase and car had to be towed back to the garage. Sold at asking price to BMW Heritage UK for use as a Museum and Press Fleet car.
114	14	"Ford Mustang Fastback"	£15,000	$21,000 £13,000	£18,320	£25,000	+ £6,680	30 October 2012	0.18
Work Completed: Replaced dented pattern front wings with original second-hand units. Resprayed whole body in Dark Highland Green. Replaced lower control arms on front suspension due to worn bushes and ball joints. Replaced rear drum brakes. Refurbished power steering system. Upgraded the dashboard panels to factory deluxe spec. New wheels & tyres and various chrome trim items including bumpers. Purchased and sprayed but did not install rear trim panel; left in the boot for new owner to decide on fitting it. Notes: Purchased in Southern California. Car was desirable 'A Code' vehicle (289-4V engine). Originality reduced by re-spraying different colour, changing wheels and adding non-original parts. Brought to Salisbury Plain after restoration for Mike and Edd to re-enact a Hollywood police chase scene (with Edd driving a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor). Highest profit made on any car to date.
115	15	"Mercedes-Benz SLK R170"	£2,500	£2,010	£2,995	£3,650	+ £655	6 November 2012	0.15
Work Completed: Replaced hydraulic pump and relay of retractable roof mechanism. Replaced supercharger (Kompressor), brake master cylinder, stability control sensor, nearside headlamp, all four wheels and tyres. Had several rust patches and scratches touched up. Installed original spec CD player. Notes: Mike recovered parts from a crashed car in a breakers.

Series 10 (2013) [edit]

No.	#	Vehicle	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Cost After Restoration	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Original airdate	UK viewers (million)
116	1	"Aston Martin DB7"	£13,000	£12,500	£14,468	£15,000	+ £532	19 February 2013	0.31
Work Completed: New oil cooler and pipes to fix oil leak; new oil filter. Cracked exhaust manifolds replaced. Black grille replaced with chrome unit. Satin alloy wheels chemically stripped, black powder coated and sprayed silver, front tyres replaced and tracking adjusted. Leaking door rubbers diagnosed with smoke machine, and padded with rubber tube to fix water ingress. Notes: Because of Aston Martin's association with the James Bond 007 film series, several James Bond and other spy film puns were thrown by Mike and Edd throughout the episode. Car was subsequently advertised for sale for £16,995 at Runnymede Motor Company, in the UK.
117	2	"Ford Escort Mk1"	£5,000	£4,500	£8,500	£11,800	+ £3,300	26 February 2013	0.38
Work Completed: Front drum brakes and suspension upgraded to 2.8L Ford Capri based air vented disc brakes and shock absorbers and springs. Limited slip differential fitted. New brake hoses and servo assisted dual brake master cylinders. Replacement near-side "Mexico" front wing. Full body respray from brown to Daytona Yellow. New window rubbers. Pair of 1970's Lucas rally spot lights, sports steering wheel, chrome wing mirrors and replacement original chrome bumper fitted. Replacement front seats, re-trimmed rear seat from brown to black. Replacement black door cards, carpets and dashboard panel. Centre of front grille resprayed satin black. Wheels swapped with repainted 13" units. Notes: Previous owner swapped original 1300 cc motor with a 1600 cc unit. Restored car taken to Ford Dagenham's heritage fleet prior to sale. Mike and Edd were presented with a 1:43 scale Minichamps diecast replica of the Escort 1.6 RS by the fleet's curator Colin.
118	3	"Range Rover L322 TD6 Vogue"	£5,000	£5,250	£9,565	£10,500	+£935	5 March 2013	0.34
Work Completed: Full body respray from textured satin black and blue to Whistler White. Replaced the wiring loom for the fuel injectors due to failed connection to injector #3. Black/blue 22" rims refurbished to graphite. Refurbished all of the blue interior trim to carbon fibre style using a transfer print method. Replaced air suspension compressor as failed piston ring in original unit unavailable as a spare part. Replaced headlamps, bumper, front grill and rear lights with 2007 facelift units. Steering wheel emblem restored. Outside temp indicator showing minus 40 deg C left unfixed. Notes: Project was unique, as it involved reverting a heavily customized car to near-factory spec.
119	4	"Porsche Boxster S"	£5,000	£1,000	£3,540	£6,400	+£2,860	12 March 2013	0.40
Work Completed: Tiptronic transmission oil changed and filter replaced to sort out slipping first gear in automatic mode, all four brake discs skimmed with on-car brake lathe and brake pads replaced, both catalytic converters replaced with aftermarket units due to rusted and rattling heat shields, exhaust back box changed with a stainless steel aftermarket unit, headlights and taillights replaced with clear lens lights from a 2003 model, both leather seats refurbished with Alcantara inserts, all four wheels refurbished and painted black. Notes: Found on an Internet forum originally being sold for parts. Car was mothballed for four years due to a transmission problem and rattle in the exhaust. Sold for a £100 discount from original asking price so that the new owner could fill up the petrol tank.
120	5	"Morris Minor 1000 Traveller"	£5,000	£2,450	£6,500	£8,500	+£2,000	19 March 2013	0.35
Work Completed: Replaced wood frame and panels; new rear wings and roof guttering; full body respray to original Almond Green; new head lining (supplied by seller) and carpet set; cleaned seats and door cards; replaced gaskets of rocker cover, inspection panels and manifolds; engine repainted to original BMC green. Notes: Sold at asking price with a full tank of petrol.
121	6	"TVR Cerbera"	£10,000	£8,000	£12,850	£14,000	+£1,150	26 March 2013	0.31
Work Completed: Replaced steel chassis frame and suspension wishbones; new shock absorbers; CV joints refurbished with new gaiters; new timing belt; new windscreen; silver alloy wheels repainted to gloss black. Notes: Sold at asking price.

Trading Up [edit]

Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up
Presented by	Mike Brewer
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6 as of 7 May 2013 (2013-05-07)
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Attaboy TV
Broadcast
Original channel	Discovery Channel
Original run	2 April 2013 (2013-04-02) – present

Series 1 (2013) [edit]

In this all-new series, Mike navigates his way through the culture and idiosyncrasies of the international used car trade, traveling to different countries. With just US$3,000 in his back pocket, he will attempt to transform his first purchase into a succession of real deals for working his way up to the jackpot: a US$30,000 luxury sports car. As he travels he will add value to the cars, using dealer tricks he’s picked up in his long career in the car trade. Episodes 1-3 and 5-6 directly connect with each other, with the final car of the former episode being sold in the latter episode.^[4]

No.	#	Location	Vehicle(s)	Budget	Purchase Price	Final Selling Price	Profit/Loss	Notes	Original airdate	UK viewers (million)
1	1	Kolkata, India	Maruti Suzuki Alto LX	$3,000	$2,150	$2,550	$400	N/A	2 April 2013	0.22
			Tata Indigo Marina	$3,400	$2,350	$2,850	$475	Car washed Starter motor replaced (costs: $25)
			Hindustan Ambassador Classic	$3,875	$3,600	N/A
2	2	London, Herefordshire and Newark, UK	Hindustan Ambassador Classic	N/A		$7,600	$2,950	Shipped over to the UK from India Got stuck out at sea Serviced to drive on UK roads Transport & service costs: $1,050	9 April 2013	0.27
			Triumph Spitfire Mk IV Convertible	$3,000	$2,400	$3,450	$1,050	New seat foam Wheels replaced with refurbished wire units
			Land Rover 90 Defender	$4,050	$4,100	$5,825	$1,725	New front grille and headlamp covers Wheels replaced with refurbished black alloy units
			1967 Chevrolet El Camino	$9,600	$9,600	N/A
3	3	Gothenburg, Uddevalla, Malmö and Fjällbacka, Sweden	1967 Chevrolet El Camino	N/A		$12,200 (only $9,900 after refund)	$1,792 (-$508 after refund)	Shipped over to Sweden from UK Repair & transport costs: $808 Mike had to refund the buyer as the engine was not as advertised (refund amount: $2,300).	16 April 2013	0.31
			EPA-Traktor (Volvo Duett)	$11,392	$3,000	$3,302	$293	Replaced fuel pump (costs: $9)
			Saab 96	$11,685	$1,850	$2,460	$587	Cleaned and repainted the wheel hubs (costs: $23)
			Volvo P1800	$12,272	$11,200	$14,400	$2,675	Right-hand-drive model Shipped over to the UK from Sweden (cost: $525)
4	4	Tokyo, Japan	Daihatsu Tanto	$12,649	$11,070	$12,820	$1,110	Washed, clay-barred and polished Repaired all scratches on front bumper (cost: $640)	23 April 2013	0.24
			Nissan Stagea 250 RX	$13,759	$4,225	$7,692	$1,951	Needed to get the Shaken certificate for the car to be road legal (cost: $1,516)
			Toyota Celica Coupe	$15,710	$3,653	$2,179	-$2,909	Car had a faulty alternator, so Mike had to make the decision to put it straight back into auction (cost: $1,435)
5	5	Mexico City, Mexico & San Francisco and Palm Springs, USA	Volkswagen Beetle	$12,801	$10,400	$11,500	$900	Rare German import built before Mexican production New windscreen wipers and rear view mirror (cost: $200)	30 April 2013	N/A
			Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II	$13,701	$10,000	$14,000	$3,500	Replaced flat tyre (cost: $500- including fuel)
			1967 Chevrolet Camaro	$17,201	$15,000	N/A
6	6	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	1967 Chevrolet Camaro	N/A		$27,142	$9,292	Shipped over to Dubai from the USA Got stuck out at sea, resulting in Mike having no money to buy a car Registered the car for Dubai (cost: $100)	7 May 2013	N/A
			Toyota Prado GX	$0	$14,571	$17,142	$2,106	Had no money, had to persuade dealer to 'sell' him on trust and Mike would pay him back after the car had been sold on Car washed, engine steam cleaned and headlamps polished (cost: $100) New window tint (cost: $350)
			Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible	$28,599	$25,714	N/A

Other vehicles [edit]

For Wheeler Dealers, Mike has used a number of vehicles to travel to the sites of the prospective vehicles and/or tow them if they are not in running order. For Series 10, Mike used a black Mitsubishi Shogun. For Series 9a, when Mike traveled to Italy to purchase the Fiat Dino, he rented and used an Italian-registered silver Ford Kuga. For the remaining episodes of Series 9, Mike used two grey Shoguns. For Series 8b in the U.S., Mike rented three silver Ford Expedition EL to go and see the cars except for the last episode where he used a black Chevrolet Tahoe, In Series 9b, when Mike returned to the U.S. to purchase the Willys MB and Ford Mustang Fastback, he rented and used an American-registered grey Expedition EL. For Series 8a, he used a black Nissan X-Trail. Vehicles used by Mike in previous series include a dark turquoise Nissan Primera Estate, a blue Subaru Legacy Estate, a red Honda Accord Tourer, a black SsangYong Rexton II, a dark blue SsangYong Kyron, a black Land Rover Discovery 4, a blue X-Trail and a light blue Ford Kuga. When Mike traveled to France to purchase the Citroën DS, he rented a French-registered black Opel Zafira; he rented a newer version of the Zafira when he returned to France to buy the Renault Alpine A310.

For Trading Up, Mike rode a white Toyota Fortuner owned by a used car dealer in India. In Dubai, Mike's contact drove him around in a white Ferrari F430.

Intro vehicles [edit]

The opening sequences feature the cars that were worked on throughout their corresponding seasons.

Series 1: All the vehicles done so far

Series 2 and 3: MGB GT

Series 4: Porsche 911 2.7S Targa

Series 5: Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL

Series 6: Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

Series 7: Lotus Elan S3

Series 8a: Jaguar E-Type Series 3

Series 8b: Dodge Charger

Series 9a: Fiat Dino

Series 9b: Gardner Douglas Cobra

Series 10: Aston Martin DB7

Channels [edit]

Country	Channel
Australia	Discovery Turbo MAX
Bulgaria	Discovery Channel Bulgaria
Canada	Discovery HD
Germany	DMAX
Hong Kong	Discovery Turbo Asia
Hungary	Discovery Channel Hungary
India	Discovery Turbo Asia
Indonesia	Discovery Turbo Asia
Italy	Discovery Channel Italy
Malaysia	Discovery Turbo Asia
Netherlands	Discovery Channel Discovery HD
Philippines	Discovery Turbo Asia
Poland	Discovery Channel Poland
Portugal	Discovery Channel Discovery Turbo
Russia	Discovery Channel Russia
Singapore	Discovery Turbo Asia
Spain	Discovery MAX
Taiwan	Discovery Turbo Asia
Thailand	Discovery Turbo Asia
Turkey	Discovery Channel
United Kingdom	Discovery Channel Discovery Real Time Discovery Turbo Discovery Shed
United States	Velocity