I did like wheeler dealers but to be honest, I didn't actually believe that Ed was doing the work. I have never once been under a classic car, loosened a ball joint nut, then spun it off with my fingers, then a quick tap and the taper drops out.
My endeavours have always been, wire brush, then penetrating spray. Underneath and break off the seized, rusty split pin, then have to drill it out. Then with a dirty great spanner and hammer, beat the nut loose, then create some new muscle tissue undoing the rest of it. Then a quick tap with a toffee hammer like Ed does, then a not so quick tap with two large hammers, then get a taper breaker on it and do it up tighter than a fishes gearbox, and hit it really hard several times. Then heat it up,..... well, you get the picture. Still enjoyed the show though
For the less informed.
Anstead has been around for some time, he made Aston DBR1 recreations for a while but they were so shonky that he gave them up after the owners started to complain.
He then started cutting up Aston DB7's to make into DB4 GT replicas and Aston got really miffed at this and shut him down, not before a substantial sum of money disappeared from his business leaving partners somewhat miffed and his business Evanta in insolvency.
He built a Jaguar xj 13 replica in which the owner unfortunately died.
I have seen his careful workmanship at first hand and wont be riding in anything he has had a hand in.
TV personality and real life are not the same I am afraid.
An Aston Martin DBR2 - for just £35,000
I wondered if something was 'up' when Mike started to do some of the work himself when Ed wasn't around.Sad to see Ed leave, I thought WD was a better show in its low budget form, I thought it spoke better to home restorers and amateur engineers. I’m not really a fan of slick presentation or style. It may be just me, but in the final Mike/Ed shows there were moments when I thought I could detect just a trace of less than friendly feeling between them?
Let’s hope so, he comes across as a nice guy and has a good screen presence without forced buffoonery, showmanship or affectation. Good luck Ed.I wondered if something was 'up' when Mike started to do some of the work himself when Ed wasn't around.
I hope Ed returns in a classic capacity soon; I haven't seen anything in the last 6 months that suggests anything is in the offing.