Today Overhaul-Me.com is pleased to announce the transition to a brand new News Page! The new format is closer to a "blog" style, which will hopefully make it much easier to post updates (meaning maybe more than one story every couple of months!) In addition it will allow for a new feature: comments!
Never fear...the old news items will still be available here in the "News Archives" for your reading enjoyment. But, if anyone actually has the news page bookmarked (HA!), please update to point to the new page here.
See you there!
7.24.08 New Show on the Horizon?
Well, the 5th season of Overhaulin' was short and sweet. If you missed any of the 8 new episodes I wouldn't be surprised, since TLC spent NO time promoting them. Fear not, however, as I'm sure they will all be re-run for the next few months. Check them out. The new format didn't always live up to its potential, but it definitely got better as the season progressed. The final overhaul of the season (the SEMA show) was a high point.
So...what now? Will the show return for season 6? Maybe. Word from insiders is that Chip Foose has been in discussions with TLC as well as some other networks about continuing the show.
Or...there's this: our internet-scavaging tipster, Lynn, came across this article profiling Foose during the recent Atlantic Nationals in Moncton, NB, Canada. The interesting part is found around the 8th paragraph:
Foose says he is now working on scripts for a new series that will follow the theme of turning people's dream cars into reality. He won't talk about specifics because the shows are only in the scripting stage.
Interesting. Stay tuned...
5.16.08 Check out the Hub
Chris Jacobs of Overhaulin' is involved in promoting an exciting new web community for car folks called HubGarage.com. Users are able to create their own unique page or "garage" where they can post pictures and video of their cars or projects, make blog posts, and generally connect with other car lovers. It's like MySpace for gearheads!
Several well known builders and car industry pros have pages where you can see and comment on their work, and in most cases even correspond with them. A few of these of note are: Rad Rides by Troy, Scott Kileen of "Build Book", Chris Jacobs himself, as well as several members of the A-Team and vendors for Overhaulin'.
Overhaul-me.com even has a page up where you can read my reviews of the new Overhaulin' episodes. Take that Rad Rides!
Anyway, joining the site requires a password, but shoot me an email and I'll hook you up.
4.23.08 Overhaulin' Returns!
Finally...after months of questions and waiting, Overhaulin' returns to the TLC lineup with a brand new season! Season 5 starts tomorrow night (4.24.08) at 8:00pm with an episode called Brushtang. The episode description from TLC's schedule says:
Matt's plans for restoring his prized 1965 Mustang Coupe were sidelined when his sick brother moved in,
but with the help of Chip and the A-Team the classic gets a second chance to shine.
Curiously, this seems to be all the promotion the network has done for this brand new season. No commercials or ads have been run announcing the shows return. In fact, it takes quite a bit of searching to find any info about the show on the channel's website.
This season promises a new look for the show as a new format drops the pranks in favor of more focus on the build. The show's female co-host, AJ, is no longer involved but Chris Jacobs continues his duties as host and builder. A new production company has also taken the reins from the show's creator, BCI, and Chip Foose is more involved in the production than before.
Hopes were high here at Overhaul-me.com that this season would allow the show to finally loosen it's Southern California ties and select deserving marks from across the country. It remains to be seen how much of that was actually possible.
In any case, after months of reruns, it's nice to be able to resume the ride!
2.8.08 Overhaulin' at SEMA: Behind the Scenes
TLC's Turbo site has just posted some great behind the scenes videos of the Overhauin' build at the 2007 SEMA show. In this video Chip and Chris explain the challenges of working in front of a live audience.
Here, Bill Spiekerman of UTI talks about his students' experience working on the engine and drivetrain of a Foose project.
2.6.08 New Rad Rides Nova Video
The fine folks over at V8TV.com have posted this brand new interview with Rad Rides owner Troy Trepanier featuring the shop's current 1970 Nova project. It's a great look at how one of the best teams in the world approaches the details of a build. Given this crew's history, the 1,000hp Nova will be sure to turn some heads in the custom car world once it's completed.
2.8.08 Chris Jacobs Article
Overhaulin' co-host Chris Jacobs made an appearance at this year's Autorama in San Antonio in January and gave this interview to Benjamin Olivo of mysanantonio.com.
*submitted by our roving reporter, Lynn
2.6.08 Route 66 Crusin' Hall of Fame
An item of interest slipped past the news desk last September: both Chip Foose and his father, Sam were honored at the 18th annual Route 66 Rendezvous in San Benardino by being inducted into the Crusin' Hall of Fame in the Builder/Designer category. MotorKultTV caught up with both father and son for some interesting interviews:
Sam Foose:
Chip Foose:
Congratulations to both father and son!
11.14.07 Free T-Shirts from Overhaulin'
Need a holiday idea for that Overhaulin' fan on your list? Well, right now Overhaulin.com is offering free T-shirts when you spend $5 or more (until they run out). So, go ahead and buy those Season 3 DVD's and keep the shirt for yourself!
11.12.07 Foose Design Cuts Ties with Unique Performance
In light of the recent troubles for Unique Performance, Foose Design announced last Friday that they are severing all ties with the Farmer's Branch, TX company. The official press release from Foose Design reads:
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2007) - Foose Design announced today that effective immediately it has terminated all licensing and all business activities with Texas-based Unique Performance, Unique Performance Concepts and related companies. This termination includes the limited production of all vehicles formerly licensed to Unique including but not limited to, the Foose Mustang Stallion, Foose Camaro, Foose Challenger, Foose Motorcycle and the sales and marketing of the "Hemisfear", also known as the "Foose Coupe", manufactured by Metalcrafters. Foose Design has clearly stated that it no longer has any affiliation with Unique, and encourages customers to understand that Unique no longer has any rights to Foose intellectual property, the Foose name, image, likeness, logos or designs regarding any project.
Chip Foose, the winner of an unrivaled three "Ridler" Awards, and the Foose Design team have worked for more than eight months to resolve issues relative to Unique's problems but ultimately found it necessary to sever their relationship with Unique Performance.
Foose Design does not manufacture production vehicles rather it specializes in designing and fabricating custom built, one-of-a-kind custom cars. Foose Design created the concept for a prototype vehicle to be built under its license to Unique.
Chip Foose builds a special bond with every Foose vehicle owner and it causes him great stress to see this situation occur. Chip has worked tirelessly through the years to build his company, brand and image, which it works diligently to protect, both for itself and Chip's collectors and fans.
Foose Design is working with its legal staff to consider possible action against Unique Performance.
No word yet as to what that means for the future of the vehicles the companies partnered to create.
11.6.07 Unique Performance in Hot Water
Unique Performance, the company out of Farmers Branch, TX that made it's name building clones of the coveted "Eleanor" Shelby Mustang (pictured right) from the film Gone in 60 Seconds, was raided by local police yesterday morning. According to THIS CBS News story, the company is under investigation for "title washing". Title washing is essentially a process by which a vehicle is stripped of its salvaged or flooded title by having it re-titled in a different state. A salvage title decreases a vehicle's value, so "washing" this title by someone selling the car is extremely unscrupulous.
Trouble has been brewing in Farmers Branch for months, however, as several customers have complained and some even filed suit against Unique Performance for non-delivery of their vehicles after they paid big money. The questions raised even prompted legend Caroll Shelby to sever licensing ties with the company last month.
There is a bit of an Overhaulin' connection to this story as well. As many of you know, Unique also has it's hand in the building and/or sale and distribution of several Foose branded vehicles including: the Foose Stallion Mustang, the Foose 69 Camaro, the Foose Challenger, and the Foose Coupe (Hemisphere). Unique's' recent troubles leave the future of these vehicles as well as the company's relationship with Foose Design up in the air.
11.5.07 SEMA Roundup
A few items of interest from around the net from last weekend's SEMA show in Las Vegas:
Let's start with the non-Overhaulin'. V8TVshow.com did a number of interesting interviews at the show with some prominent builders. One of the best is this one with Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides. He discusses in detail the very high-tech '40 Ford they brought to the show. The interview is pretty long, but it's well worth it. Troy and his crew are far and away some of the best in the business and are quickly proving to be the most versitile too:
Seems like there's nothing these guys can't do with a car. Hot Rod Magazine agrees, naming not one, but TWO of the shop's projects to their 10 best of 2007 list in the December issue. The Riddler Award winning "First Love" (a '36 Ford owned by Ross and Beth Meyers) as well as the vastly different "Blowfish", a record setting '69 Baracuda (owned by George Poteet) both made the list. The later was awarded the magazine's Hot Rod of the Year award. Congratulations to the owners and the Rad Rides Crew.
Chip Foose also gave his share of interviews over the weekend. Here's one by Fast Lane Daily where Chip descibes the prank for the SEMA car:
Here's a photo of the Overhaulin' build from Motor Trend's blog:
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
And another, from THIS New York Times article, describing Foose as the superstar of the SEMA show. The article also drops that the car overhauled was a 1954 Ford.
*Update: The A-Team transformed this car from a 4-door Hardtop to a to a 2 door roadster (no top) in one week!
One insider estimates that there are over 1,200 man hours of metalwork alone. Amazing job, guys! Can't wait to see the episode!
Also, the rumor mill has revealed that there is only one car left to overhaul after the SEMA show for season 5!!! Say it ain't so, Overhaulin'!
By my totally inaccurate count, that makes like 8 cars this season? Compared to 18 episode last season?!! I know it's a new fomat and all, but WOW that was over quickly!
Stay tuned....
(Thanks again for the help, Lynn)
10.31.07 SEMA Bound?
If any faithful (or not so faithful) readers are heading to Las Vegas this weekend for the SEMA show, please...SEND PICTURES! Pictures of anything you see that's cool and/or ridiculous (especially if it's Overhaulin' related).
Just think...here's your chance to be famous! Ok, not really, but everyone would enjoy seeing pics from the show.
ps- HAPPY HALLOWEEN ! ! !
10.9.07 Chris Jacobs Interview
Overhaulin' host Chris Jacobs stopped by Speed Freaks last week for an entertaining and informative interview. Topics ranged from sports (sorry about the Cubs, Chris), to reality TV, and of course Overhaulin'.
Chris Jacobs
Of particular interest: 1. Chris confirms that Season 5 is halfway through filming. 2. New episodes will not begin airing until nextApril (2008)!?!?! Wow...post production much? 3. No AJ this time...not suprising but still sad. 4. They are "trying" to branch out of Southern Cali, but production costs are high. Sounds a little hesitant on that one. 5. Next season in HD! Awesome!
*Personal note: Dunleavy is also a "dirt clod" for allowing his son to attend Duke. (Go Heels!)
10.2.07 Overhaulin' Back to SEMA
Well, it's almost that time of year again: when car crazy customizers invade the city of sin for an extended weekend of....well, we'll just say LOTS of car stuff.
That's right, the annual SEMA convention, a four day orgy of all things aftermarket invades the Las Vegas Convention Center between October 10th- November 2nd.
And....I've just received word that Overhaulin' will be filming it's now traditional build during this year's show! It's always a popular stop during the event, so if you're going to this year's show, be sure to drop by the Overhaulin' tent and cheer on the A-team!
P.S.- If any of this site's ever generous readers happen to be going to SEMA this year, please...send Pics! I'd LOVE to post 'em here!
7.16.07 It's Official ! ! !
Chip Foose appeared on Cruise Control Radio this past Saturday (7/14/07) and in a very interesting interview, revealed that season 5 of Overhaulin' is indeed a go!
This news, while exciting, only confirms the rumors that have been around for months, however. The really interesting news (particularly to members of the Overhaul-Me Nation) is that, in Chip's own words: "...we're bringing Overhaulin' to America" !!!
Here's how it will work: Similar to last season's Bumrush episode, they will select a mark from outside California! They will prank him/her prior to the overhaul, then tell them that they're one of the lucky few chosen to have their dream come true. The car will be transported back to California for the overhaul, where it will be revealed 8 days later to the happy owner. Insiders will still play a big role, as they will remain the main source of input about what the mark wants.
Listen to the interview yourself (it gets good around the 28:30 mark).
Finally!!!!!!!! (thanks once again for the excellent find, Lynn).
6.1.07 Rumors Flying
The past day or so has seen a number of rumors regarding the future of Overhaulin' pop up around the internet. A couple of posters on Overhaulin's Official Message Board and OverhaulinForums.com are reporting that new episodes are, in fact, on the way, but with a different format.
Supposedly, a new production company has taken the reigns and BCII (the show's creator) is no longer involved. Also...it appears that the pranks will bite the dust (a welcome change for many viewers). Chris Jacobs is rumored to still be around, but as a builder rather than the show's host. Of course, and most importantly, Chip Foose is still to be the show's driving force and star.
All of this remains consistent with rumors and reports that have been flying around since Season 4 ended last December, but if true, there are still important questions to be answered. The biggest of which is: Will the show still Overhaul regular folks' cars, or become more of a "documentary" style that follows Chip around and focuses on his various projects? And...as always, if they are sticking to the premise of helping out the common man, will that man have to live in southern CA?
...Stay tuned
Hot Rod Magazine July 2007
5.24.07 New Stuff to Check Out
The July issue of Hot Rod Magazine features several pages dedicated to the build of Chip Foose's new Hemisphere coupe. It also includes some great photos of the design and manufacturing processes of the limited production run. It's a must-read for Foose fans.
Also in this issue: An article on "First Love", the '36 Ford coupe built for Beth and Ross Meyers by Troy Trepanier and the crew at Rad Rides. The custom 3 window took home the coveted Ridler award ar this years Detroit Autorama. Major congratulations to the Meyers' and the whole Rad Rides team!
Also of interest....The long-awaitedCars of Overhaulin' book was finally released on May 15th and is available now from Amazon and the Overhaulin' website. And Season 3 of Overhaulin' will be released on DVD July 17th and is available for pre-order now on Amazon. Happy shopping! *Thanks again, Lynn
*Note: If video takes too long to load, just click HERE.
4.4.07 Glimmer of Hope
News about Overhaulin' has been really scarce since the show completed filming Season 4 last December. Official word was that the show was on "hiatus", but rumors began to spread of the end of Overhaulin'. I've been getting emails from fans of the show curious about what's going on. The short answer is: I don't know.
Based on some insider information and the article on Chip Foose published in USA Today, it seemed as though TLC (who owns the rights to Overhaulin') had stopped working with BCII (who produce Overhaulin') and were going to feature Foose (who is under contract w/ TLC) in a new show. Recently, however, rumors have begun to surface of the show's return, with filming to possibly resume as early as this month.
Again, these are internet rumors and the details are fuzzy (is BCII still involved, or is TLC going it alone? Will the format of the show be the same or will they tweak it? And most importantly: Will they continue down the path of National Overhaulin' they started late last season with the "Bumrush" episode, or remain in California?)
My best guess: something's up, so keep you fingers crossed!
3.2.07 New Article on "The Man"
Here's a wonderful article in today's USA Today sent to me by an Overhaulin' fan (thanks again, Lynn). It's an up close look into the life of Chip Foose. The article touches on Chip's history and legendary talent, but it also delves into the strain that such a busy and demanding schedule have put on his personal life and affected his relationship with his family. It's an interesting piece on a widely admired man.
Of particular interest to fan's of Overhaulin', however, is this line: "He's also a TV personality (his Learning Channel car makeover series, Overhaulin', has wrapped, and he's in talks for a new reality show on Discovery)..."
I've been hearing rumors of the show's end since last fall and have been holding out hope that it would be picked up for a fifth season, but that's looking increasingly unlikely. If true, it's a real shame. The show has a wonderful concept and, with a little tweaking, had potential to stay fresh and interesting. The good news is that this is not the first time I've heard mention of a new show focusing on Chip Foose. Maybe we're at least not done with the pleasure of watching a true artist at work.
2.8.07 Overhaulin': Behind the Scenes
Mustang and Fords Magazine has posted a great article on their website that's also running in the March 2007 issue.
Last fall, author Mark Houlahan sat down for an interview with Overhaulin' executive producer Bud Brutsman to discuss his Mustang "Blackened" (by Year One) for the magazine's December '06 issue. During that meeting, arrangements were made for this article, where the magazine goes behind the scenes of the recent season 4 episode "The BOSS is Back".
It's an interesting look behind the scenes as the A-team transforms the 1970 Mustang during the 8 day overhaul. A must read for any fan of the show!
(Thanks to Lynn for the heads-up)
2.2.07 New Overhaulin' Theme?
I just had to post this. A former "mark" and Overhaulin' fan found it on iFilm.com. Evidently, the girl singing the song is 15 years old. She not only wrote and recorded it, but did the video and choreography as well. Now that's a big Overhaulin' fan! Kicking Harold should watch out, the show might need to reconsider its theme song!
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