Over the years, Wheeler Dealers have restored some amazing cars. Sports cars like the Porsche 911 (996) and the BMW M3 (E46) were worked on and restored by the Wheeler Dealers team, showing how to restore cars and possibly sell them on for a profit. The show has brought joy to many and has brought many to come to hold an interest in vehicle restorations too.
This list will explore some of the coolest cars ever featured on Wheeler Dealers. There are many famous cars that have been worked on over the series which has aired since 2003. From Fiats to rare muscle cars and even a classic Lamborghini, these are the coolest cars that have been restored by Wheeler Dealers.
8 Jensen Interceptor III
The original Jensen Interceptor was an excellent, if slightly underdeveloped, grand tourer. For every innovation (first AWD sports car) there were quality issues. Unsurprisingly, Jensen went bust for the first time in 1976.
The Interceptor featured in the seventh season of Wheeler Dealers as the MkIII model. Featuring a revised front end and air conditioning as standard (although the model on the show was missing this), Edd China re-conditioned the interior, replaced the brake master cylinder, and did some bodywork modification.
7 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1995
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was a brilliant car. It was used on the road but was also homologated for Group A racing. The AWD system meant that the car drove great on the roads, and was accompanied by brilliant handling. Many really enjoyed the looks of the car and it was extremely popular, although it was never sold in the USA.
Wheeler Dealers restored this car in Series 14, working on it for about 53 hours. Ant Anstead fitted a new shaft and thrust bearings in order to refurbish the turbocharger and new alloy wheels were equipped. A modified whaletail spoiler was also produced. All in all, the team made a good profit and definitely restored the Cosworth to a fantastic standard.
6 Lamborghini Urraco P250S
The Lamborghini Urraco P250 was equipped with a V8 and could go 149mph at top speed. It was the second specification offered by Lamborghini in the Urraco lineup, and its power was at 217bhp. The Lamborghini Silhouette and the Lamborghini Jalpa were both based on the Urraco so it was very impactful on later vehicles.
The restoration of the Urraco took place during Series 10 of Wheeler Dealers. The engine was refurbished and the clutch plate was refurbished alongside this. The seized brakes were also refurbished, bringing the car back to life. The vehicle was also featured in the 50th Anniversary of Lamborghini parade in Italy.
5 1965 Plymouth Barracuda
The creation of the 1965 Plymouth Barracuda also featured new options because the competition for similar cars was also growing at the same time. It was stylish, and was definitely a brilliant alternative to the Ford Mustang which was dominating the US at the time. It was also surprisingly practical, which definitely wasn't expected.
Wheeler Dealers restored the 1965 Plymouth Barracuda in the 15th Series. A 5.7-liter Hemi Dodge Charger R/T engine was fitted and the car was transformed into a drag racer and was raced against Antron Brown.
4 Fiat Dino 2400
The Fiat Dino 2400 was launched in 1969. It looked very similar to the Fiat Dino 2000 but there were changes to the grille and badge. The engine was a 2.4-liter V6 Ferrari and there was a big increase on torque. There was a general quality boost on the 2400 models.
Restored in Series 9, the Dino 2400 had its distributor rebuilt and the wheels were refurbished. The interior was also updated, giving it a refresh. The team managed to make a decent profit and a new lease of life. Also, this Dino 2400 had been seized by the Italian Police in 1970 before being restored by Wheeler Dealers.
3 Mercedes E 55 AMG 2002 (W210)
Released in 2002, the Mercedes E 55 AMG had a supercharged V8 engine which boosted power from the previous model. Being a part of the AMG line of Mercedes cars means that the car was definitely going to be a high performance vehicle. The W210 version which featured on the show was a rare car and only 653 were produced in its first year of production.
The E 55 AMG W210 was restored on the 15th Series of the show and a full service was performed on the car as it was sold as a parts exchange. Pretty much all serviceable areas were refurbished or replaced. This car was definitely a cool restoration as the vehicle is so rare that it was worthwhile to see some TLC given to one.
2 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo 1991
The Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo featured in the show was the Z32 version. Released in 1991, it came with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that was upgraded to produce 300bhp. It looked fantastic and it was marvellously quick too - as was expected with a twin-turbo setup.
Worked on in the 16th Series, the Z32 was updated with emissions compliant equipment in order to bring it up to the California emissions standard. Alongside this some faults were fixed and it was definitely a great way to bring the 300ZX into the 2020.
1 Lincoln Continental 1963
This version of the Lincoln Continental was a part of the fourth generation of the Continental lineup. In the 1960s, Lincoln was heavily competing with Ford, and the fourth generation came at the right time. As a personal luxury vehicle, it had a massive V8 engine and 300bhp. It was definitely elegant and at the time it was very modern too.
The car was restored in Series 11, and there were new wheels and nw interior features equipped into the car, with the refinement of the Lincoln being heavily boosted. It was definitely interesting to see such a historically cool car be restored and sold successfully.