TV shows on car restoration can be a dime a dozen, but Chasing Classic Cars is still notable. Wayne Carini scourers the country (and sometimes the world) to find amazingly rare cars hiding in plain sight. He'll then purchase them, do restoration and see how much they go for at auctions. Over sixteen seasons, the series has specialized in Carini featuring cars that have often been unknown or missing for decades and making them look good as new.
The restoration jobs can be excellent as a car that looks like junk is transformed into something fresh as if it was made decades ago. Carini has worked on more classic cars than most hosts, so finding the best of the bunch is difficult. But these are ten of the most amazing restoration jobs Carini has made in the course of the series and why its fans so love the show.
10 1952 Muntz Jet
This may look different from other Muntz Jets as its original owner had modified it. Thus, Wayne didn't have to do too much restoration when he bought it from a Phoenix dealer.
Yet even just adding new paint and trim help this Jet stand out from the pack with its extended front and just the hint of tailfin along with a lovely front grille. Wayne showcased it at the Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance so this Jet flew high with collectors.
9 1921 Stutz Series K Bearcat
The Bearcat was an intriguing idea from Stutz as it was a legal version of their Indianapolis racer and thus one of America's first sports cars.
Discovered in Georgia, Carini had to do some work on this model, adding in new wiring, water pump, and pushrod guides, as well as redoing the interior. That resorted the Bearcat with an 88-hp DH engine to let it run almost as well as it did tearing up the early Indy tracks.
8 1960 Morgan Plus Four Roadster
It's common for Carini to get a car featured in a movie. Ths 1960 Morgan Plus Four Roadster was featured in the 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses, where it becomes part of a bitter divorcing couple's conflict.
The movie's version was wrecked and its owner (facing a serious illness) wanted Wayne to restore it. Sadly, the man never lived to see the final work, but Wayne lived up to his promise by letting it race to full glory.
7 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder
Restoration jobs can be expensive but restoring a car that already costs a million dollars is something else. By chance, Carini discovered a damaged Ferrari Daytona Spyder that once belonged to his good friend Herb Chambers.
Herb was astounded to find it, and after repurchasing the car, Wayne set about not only repairing the damage but restoring it to the original copper-gold (the paint alone is out of date). He also threw in making a convertible top. It paid off for a great warm job for a friend.
6 1937 Bugatti 57S
The sheer detail put into restoring this 1937 Bugatti 57S is remarkable. As just 42 models were made, finding materials were difficult. Several pieces had to be re-chromed, with Wayne insisting on the perfect model of paint to look like it rolled off the assembly line.
They also set about restoring the fantastic engine. The series devoted an entire episode to the two-and-a-half-year job, which proved well worth it in the final product.
5 1933 Duesenberg SJ (Long-Wheel Base)
"Garage finds' 'are always a joy for Carini, and this was one of the best. Wayne discovered a 1933 Duesenberg SJ in a barn in Georgia where it hadn't hit the road in thirty years.
Thankfully, the garage was well-maintained, so the car was in good shape (perhaps too good to be a believable "hidden" find). Regardless, some new paint and materials got this fantastic luxury roadster up to its speed for an elegant ride.
4 1949 Buick Roadmaster
If this car looks familiar, it's for a good reason. The 1949 Buick Roadmaster became famous for the Oscar-winning movie Rain Man. It was owned by director Barry Levinson himself, who reached out to Wayne to do the restoration.
As it happened, Carini was open to it as the film brought public attention to autism, which his daughter suffers from. This model was a high point for the Roadmaster label, with Wayne just needed to fix up the suspension and plush interiors to make this as golden as the awards the movie won.
3 1931 Cadillac Series 355-A
Wayne found this "close couples" sedan in a North Carolina collection and he enjoyed restoring it to its glory. The original owner had left it lying around for years, so Wayne needed some work restoring the engine and then the gorgeous exterior.
He clearly enjoyed it yet was able to have it auctioned off for $132,000. While Wayne did show a V12 of the same year, this number proves how Cadillac was the luxury brand of its time.
2 1959 Stanguellini Monoposto Formula Junior
This spiffy Italian racer had been stored in a Connecticut barn for almost forty years when it was finally found by Wayne. Like other racers of its time, the Monoposote made up in speed what it lacked in size and strength with a 1.1 liter Fiat four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 135 mph.
Standing out with its unique design, the Monoposto lives up to being a "junior" racer yet its lovely style made it a great restoration job for Wayne and his team.
1 1963 Ferrari 250 Berlinetta "Lusso"
One of Ferrari's most luxurious "road cars," the 250 Berlinetta Lusso is a gorgeous machine boasting a terrific V12 engine. It's the interiors that get attention with plush leather seating and great layout. With only 350 built, a pristine model is rare, with Carini buying this model in 2006.
He spent two years with a makeover of fresh paint, new materials, and fine-tuning to show standards. It sold at auction for $880,000, thanks in part to Waye's great work.
Sources: hemmings.com, imdb.com, skytv.com, motor1.com