The Car Chasers
The Car Chasers was a television series on CNBC from March 2013 through February 2015. The reality show covered car restoration professionals who repaired old cars and sold them at a profit.[1] This program also aired in South America on the History Channel as Automaniacos. [2]
About “The Car Chasers”
Jeff Allen, the owner of Flat 12 Gallery in Lubbock, Texas, will find any excuse to find, fix, and flip a classic car. If it’s got an engine, Jeff has a plan. With his trusty team, Jeff works to effectively restore these cars into dollars signs. Jeff is all about strategy; buying low and selling high is the name of his game, but deep down, Jeff would gladly hold on to every car he buys. Each one is a treasure and that’s what makes him so good at wheeling and dealing – he truly values the cars and brings that passion into the deals. He loves all cars, but is a child of the seventies and so has a true soft spot for the muscle cars of that generation – oh, and Ferraris. He definitely can’t get enough of Ferraris! But don’t let his weakness for fancy rides fool you. Jeff treats every deal as a battle, and when he goes head to head with an equal adversary, the negotiation becomes a true chess match.
Not only has Meggan been Jeff’s partner since high school, but she’s also been his longstanding financial advisor, instructing him on what cars to buy and what to sell. But she is far from the typical moneyman: she was raised in quite the car aficionado family, supplying her with an abundance of car wisdom. Meg’s disapproval on a car often prevents Jeff and the team from making a big mistake and wasting money on a non-running or non-profitable vehicle. The major factor in the company’s success, Meg’s attitude and strategy keeps the team working at maximum efficiency. [3]
Episodes
SEASON 1
1. Flippin Ferraris Jeff and Perry get a solid lead on an iconic 1981 Ferrari in Las Vegas with huge potential to make a lot of profit. 03-05-2013
2. Stacks of Cash and a Hidden Stash Jeff and Perry find a hidden compound of cars in Midland Odessa, Texas with a treasure trove of priceless cars including a 1969 Dickie Harrell Camaro 427. 03-12-2013
3. Fast and Furious Profits Jeff and Meg head to Hollywood in search of movie cars to auction fast; Jeff and his dad make a wager. 03-19-2013
4. Lights, Cameras, Cars A major buyer seeks American muscle cars; Jeff and Meg set out to buy cars in Hollywood; a purchase is trashed during transport. 03-26-2013
5. Hot Rods and Hot Models Jeff, Meg and Perry head to Vegas for SEMA; a pristine '65 Malibu with a six figure asking price; a 51 Ford Shoebox; a 53 Mercury; Jeff gets worked up over an amazing '71 Chevy. 04-02-2013
6. American Muscle Madness Jeff and Perry explore a treasure-laden man cave hidden in an airport hangar; a '65 Shelby Cobra; an authentic World War II era military jeep sporting a 50 caliber machine gun. 04-09-2013
7. Auction Fever Perry and Eric trick out a classic '31 hot rod; Meg and Jeff devise a plan to give a big boost to the value of their '53 Merc. 04-16-2013
8. California Dreamin' Jeff and Meg consider setting up shop in Southern California; a Porsche Speedster; a mint Ferrari 360 Spyder; a gorgeous Lamborghini Countach. 04-23-2013
SEASON 2
1. A Tale of Two Chevys Flat 12 Gallery has a brand new location; Jeff buys a run-of-the- mill '57 Chevy Bel Air and announces his plan to transform it. 10-22-2013
2. Bayou Blitz Jeff and Perry chase down some exciting leads on a road trip to Louisiana; Jeff and Perry have to pull out all the stops to bring home some cars. 10-22-2013
3. Right Around the Corner Jeff and Matt explore a secret stash packed with an eclectic mix of old cars; Meg and Eric exercise their selling chops back at the shop. 10-29-2013
4. Lights, Camera, Cars! Meg and Jeff head out to California to search for some unique cars; an American classic that has starred alongside Ryan Gosling. 10-29-2013
5. In Overdrive to Auction Jeff and his team scramble to get ready for an upcoming auction in New Orleans. 11-05-2013
6. Let the Good Times Roll A torrential downpour threatens the team's freshly detailed cars in New Orleans. 11-05-2013
7. More Power Jeff and Perry wheel and deal in Hollywood; some colorful California locals try to sell Jeff an Italian supercar in appalling condition. 11-12-2013
8. Corvette Crazy An opportunity to purchase an '82 Corvette arises; Jeff's wily father has some surprises for him at the Lubbock auction. 11-12-2013
9. The Ride of Frankenstein Jeff and Meg take a trip to Los Angeles; Jeff must haggles with an eccentric car builder; a Cadillac that belonged to Don Draper. 11-19-2013
10. Fast Deals, Furious Wheels Jeff is anxious to make a deal on a Richard Petty race car; one of Jeff's friends surprises him with a low-mileage Delorean. 11-19-2013
11. Bucks Capacitor Jeff and Perry have leads on vehicles used in the "Fast & Furious" movies; Jeff and Perry try to acquire a dune buggy. 11-26-2013
12. Texas Capital Gains Matt takes Jeff try to get their hands on a 1965 Mustang; a local motorcycle legend's workshop; Jeff tries to sell a stunt car from the movies. 11-26-2013
13. Camaro Cache Jeff and Matt check out a 1970 Camaro that belongs to a man who must sell his toys to help raise his young family. 12-03-2013
14. Formula For Fortune A brand new Shelby GT500; a family looking for a new car falls in love with Jeff's unique custom 1957 Chevy. 12-03-2013
15. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is The gang puts finishing touches on all of their cars that are headed for the Austin auction; Jeff must rely on Matt Evans to come to the rescue. 12-10-2013
16. Austin Auction Action Jeff and Meg go toe to toe with a military couple for a classic '70s muscle car; a friend brings by a late-model Corvette. 12-10-2013
SEASON 3
1. Bigger, Badder, Better In the Season 3 premiere, Jeff and Meg hire a mechanic to help Eric; and plan to attend a high-end auction in Auburn, Ind. Meanwhile, Jeff inspects a '62 Impala. 11-5-2015
2. The Rarest Cars You’ll Ever See Jeff and Meg go to California to look at a 1931 Chevrolet Victoria and wind up getting more than they bargained for, while back in Texas, Eric and Luke work on a six-wheel military vehicle. Later, Jeff clashes with a salesman over a Ferrari Testarossa. 11-5-2015
3.Three Great Cars A search for a 1984 Mercedes reveals a collector with several classic cars, but none of them will start, which means Eric and Luke have to fix them before Meg finds out. 11-12-2015
4.This Screams Money! Jeff checks out a Cadillac DeVille on a tip from Tom; and pursues a Ferrari GTA that was owned by Shaquille O’Neal. 11-19-2015
5. New Kids on the Auction Block The crew go to Indiana for one of the largest auctions of the year, but Jeff and Meg's enthusiasm is tempered by the unpredictability of the bidding. 11-26-2015
6. Going...Going...Gone! The last day at the auction in Indiana is marred by a 1971 Jaguar that won't start. 11-26-2015
7. Sales Contract Killers Jeff braces for a loss on a 1923 Buick; Eric and Luke work on a 1956 Bel Air. 12-3-2015
8. Jeff’s Vice Jeff examines a Ferrari that allegedly vanished from the set of "Miami Vice." Also: Jeff tries to make a deal for a custom motorcycle. 12-10-2015
9. Jeff Gets a Woodie A hotel with a 1960s theme hires Jeff and Meg to buy cars from that era, but Jeff's negotiations with a protégé for a 1957 "Woodie" wagon take a turn for the worse. 12-17-2015
10. Four in the Bag Four 1950s family cars are to be on display at a swanky resort in Florida, but Jeff is racing against the clock to make it happen. 01-14-2015
11. Rejected! Jeff’s deals fall through for a 1966 Jaguar Mark X and a 1970s Chevelle, but he can't dwell on his disappointment for too long because there's another auction on the horizon. 1-21-2015
12. Going Flat Out Flat 12 pays for six slots at an auction in Missouri but they only have five cars, and two of them may not be ready. 1-28-2015
13. No Bull here! Jeff and Meg go to Florida to visit Rossion Automotive, a maker of high-performance sports cars that floats the idea of Flat 12 becoming a dealership. Meanwhile, Tom works out a deal that involves a 1955 Bel Air and a statue of a bull. 2-4-2015
14. Little Red Corvette Jeff covets a 1969 Corvette that he envisions turning into a classic racer with fender flares from the seller. Later, a pair of iconic British convertibles catch Jeff's eye when he and Meg visit a huge car collection. 2-11-2015
15. Go Big or Go Home Jeff pursues a Ferrari Mondial and a Camaro Z/28, but learns the latter isn't the original color, which could affect his offer. Later, Jeff informs Meg he wants to stage an auto show and auction in Texas, but she balks at the price. 2-18-2015
16. Carmageddon In the Season 3 finale, an event called Carmageddon in Lubbock, Texas, features a classic car show, an auto-cross race and an auction, but the latter gets off to a slow start, forcing Jeff to take a risk by selling a customized military vehicle. 2-25-2015
Reception
Allison Keene of the Hollywood Reporter said the show accurately reflects the purpose and focus of CNBC.[4]
Jim Motavalli of the New York Times said “The Car Chasers,” an auto-themed reality show on CNBC, comes back for a second season of wheeling and dealing on Tuesday. Jeff Allen, the owner of Flat 12 Gallery in Lubbock, Tex., roams the countryside looking for bargains that he and his team — including his bottom-line-oriented wife, Meg Bailey; his fixer, Perry Brandt; and a master mechanic, Eric Ables — can flip for a profit.[5]
Jeff Allen (Host)
KS Wang of Motortrend said Jeff Allen lives a life any car enthusiast would envy. He gets to drive any car he has on his lot, and he buys and sells cars for Hollywood stars like Tim Allen, Charlie Sheen, and director Brett Ratner. He also provides cars for movies. And now, CNBC wants to chronicle his life to show how he flips interesting cars for a profit. The cable network's is heading into the world of unscripted television, and Allen's show "The Car Chasers" is one of the first two reality shows CNBC unveiled last week in its primetime block.[6]
References
- ↑ "CNBC Premieres Season Two of THE CAR CHASERS Tonight". Broadway World. October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ↑ http://mx.tuhistory.com/etiquetas/automaniacos
- ↑ Melody Star (November 14, 2014). "CNBC Announces New Episodes of 'The Profit' and 'Car Chasers'". Star Watch Byline. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ↑ "'The Car Chasers' and 'Treasure Detectives': TV Reviews". The Hollywood Reporter. March 5, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ↑ http://nyti.ms/HtTz2C
- ↑ http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/1303_celebrity_drive_jeff_allen_of_cnbc_the_car_chasers/viewall.html#.VaE-7UieP_g.twitter via @MotorTrend