FantomWorks is one of the best restoration garages in the US. The talented and passionate people have restored and built hundreds of classic cars. They take raw steel and turn it into a car part. Then they assemble these parts. They manufacture and build vehicles from scratch as well as beautify old cars. Not many garages have the capability of manufacturing parts, and this is where FantomWorks is different.
In 2013, someone thought that this little garage would make for a very interesting show. So, Velocity gave the FantomWorks crew their own reality TV show. Many cool cars and motorcycles came into shop every day. Sometimes celebrities would drop by or crew members would host a charity event for war veterans. Unfortunately, the TV show was cancelled in 2019. It will be missed. However, the garage is still open. Here are 15 times the FantomWorks crew messed up their cars.
15 1934 Hudson Terraplane
This 1934 Hudson Terraplane once was an inexpensive but powerful car used in town and country. It was particularly good at hill climbs. Road tests showed the 0-60 mph time of 14.4 seconds, which was quite good for a small car. However, FantomWorks chopped and lowered the Terraplane, destroying the purpose of the vehicle.
14 1979 Ford F350 RV
The 1979 Ford F350 RV was a limited-production, rare and distinctive truck that couldn't bankrupt your savings. It was made for serious campers who needed a compliant ride and conveniences like a sliding rear bumper. FantomWorks tried to restore the truck, but they couldn't return it to its original glory.
13 1972 Ford Pantera
The 1972 Ford Pantera was one of the affordable exotic cars that was fun to drive. When it came to the American market, it adopted the proven 380-hp Ford 351 Cleveland engine. It featured a gorgeous design and a monocoque chassis. FantomWorks version is not even remotely as fun as the original car.
12 1965 Buick Riviera
FantomWorks needed months to restore this 1965 Buick Riviera but couldn't finish the project. The owner still hopes that one day he can take this car "on a road trip in rural central Florida searching for a new beer stop." Once the car is ready, it will receive a powerful LS3 High Performance engine.
11 1964 Ford Galaxie
This 1964 Ford Galaxie has been in a better shape. The FantomWorks crew still has a lot of work to do to make it look decent. However, at the moment, the project is nowhere close to completion. The company should rebuild the engine, transmission and starter, overhaul the interior and exterior and replace the carburetor.
10 1979 Jeep Cherokee
This 1979 Jeep Cherokee arrived to FantomWorks in a terrible condition and the crew couldn't restore it. That's unfortunate because the Cherokee was a fun sport utility variant of a rigid Jeep's station wagon. When it was equipped with the 215-hp AMC V8 engine, it could outrun all other 4x4s.
9 1967 Dodge Coronet
This 1967 Dodge Coronet was in a pretty good condition, so it was hard to mess things up. However, it took FantomWorks forever to repair the car. Anyways, it is a nice full-size vehicle that was very popular back in the 60s. It even became the Dodge's most popular model in 1965.
8 1969 Lincoln Continental
One of the most distinctive features of the 1969 Lincoln Continental was its size, but the FantomWorks crew decided to make it bigger. The grille was also enlarged. The result is not bad, but the car has lost its charm. Still, it is distinctively styled and highly equipped luxury car.
7 1932 Ford Roadster
FantomWorks decided to install louvers on the top and sides of the hood. A questionable decision many won't understand. Still, this is an attractive hot rod with elegant lines that offers a great level of comfort. Being a simple car, this Roadster is easy to modify. It looks like new with the glossy black paint.
6 1937 Buick Sport Coupe Model 46
This 1937 Buick Sport Coupe Model 46 was rescued from a garage but it still needs help. As we can see here, the FantomWorks hasn't completed the project. Or maybe they gave up on it. Anyways, the plan was "to give a full rotisserie restoration to bring it back to life."
5 1937 Volvo PV52
The 1937 Volvo PV52 was a much-needed replacement for the PV51. It was better equipped and offered a higher level of comfort. The model featured many innovative details, including an electric clock, folding backrests and double sun visors. FantomWorks couldn't improve the car, so they just replaced a gas tank.
4 1938 Standard Flying 10BL
FantomWorks did a great job of making the 1938 Standard Flying 10BL run smoothly. They tightened the gearbox, balanced the brakes and replaced hose clamps. The gauges and the dash got a facelift. However, the interior requires some love, too. The car still needs to be painted, the interior should be refurbished.
3 1939 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup
This 1939 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup "hasn’t ever roared. Our goal for this vehicle was to get the engine running. Its engine was rebuilt in 2008, but it had never been fired, until now. We also flushed the fuel tank and tuned up the transmission." The cab should be restyled and reengineered.
2 1967 Pontiac GTO
This modified 1967 Pontiac GTO offers more safety and comfort features than the original version, but it has lost the feeling of raw power. Still, the owner now can enjoy a padded instrument panel, modern belts and a tuned engine. The GTO emblems were moved from the rear fenders to the rocker panels.
1 1968 Pontiac LeMans
This car was originally produced as the top version of the Pontiac Tempest. The modified 1968 Pontiac LeMans is just a shadow of what was once a powerful car. This wild horse was tamed, now it's comfortable and obeying. It was much more entertaining with the 330-hp engine under the hood.