Chasing Classic Cars

Aired 2008-03-06

Experience the thrill of discovery with master car restorer Wayne Carini, as he pulls open the doors of a secluded garage in Westchester, N.Y., to reveal the automotive barn find of the century: an extremely rare 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe. Untouched for nearly 50 years, the car is a restorer's dream. When the Bugatti goes up for sale at the elite Christie's auction at the Concours D'Elegance in Greenwich, Conn., Wayne and his wealthy client must do battle with an anonymous phone bidder or risk letting the Bugatti slip through their fingers. When the hammer falls, the sale price leaves the car world stunned and Wayne left wondering if the Bugatti is the one that got away.

Aired 2008-06-10

California's Monterey auction week is the must-see event of the collector car world and master car restorer Wayne Carini hasn't missed one in nearly 30 years. However, with just three days left before the truck comes to take his cars to auction, Wayne is running out of time. His 1931 Cadillac V-16 Roadster needs an emergency clutch job and two of the cars he planned to bring to California just got sold. With two auction spots unexpectedly open Wayne rolls the dice and takes a gamble on a pair of 1950s Volkswagen Beetles. Will these pristine cuties bring home the big bucks? Or will Wayne come home empty-handed?

Aired 2008-06-17

Unfavorable economic conditions in the U.S have taken their toll everywhere, including the high stakes world of car collectors. With the exclusive RM Vintage Motorcars Auction in Amelia Island, Fla., right around the corner, master car restorer Wayne Carini is pressed to put together a roster of cars that is guaranteed to turn a profit. When an extremely rare 1906 Panhard-Levassor brass car comes up for sale, Wayne flies to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he inspects the car and buys it on the spot. With the Panhard, a 1958 Lancia Aurelia B-20 GT, a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and a 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible in his lineup, Wayne is confident he'll come home in the black. But when mysterious problems plague one of the cars, Wayne is forced to do some emergency repairs. With just hours before the truck comes to take the cars to Florida, will Wayne finish the work on time or sabotage his chance at auction?

Aired 2008-06-24

With sale prices plummeting and European collectors snapping up rare cars for a song, all eyes are on spring's exclusive RM Vintage Motorcars Auction in Amelia Island, Fla. Despite doomsday predictions, the auction forecast looks strong. However, when tornados suddenly touch down nearby, extreme weather threatens to ruin the event. See which cars bring in the big bucks and which one sells for a huge loss, when master car restorer Wayne Carini rolls the dice and puts his 1906 Panhard-Levassor, 1958 Lancia Aurelia B-20 GT, 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 and 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible up for auction with no reserve prices.

Aired 2008-10-28

Ferrari expert and master car restorer Wayne Carini gets a lead on a 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder for sale in Denver. Abandoned in a shed in the early '80s, the car has been painted an awful lime green and hasn't been driven for 27 years. It seems like a disaster, but Wayne has a hunch that he knows who the original owner is. With just 48 hours to put together a deal, Wayne and a friend hop aboard a private Gulfstream 450 in the middle of a blizzard and fly to Denver with the hopes of buying this rare Ferrari.

Aired 2008-11-04

From back yards, to barns, to the Internet, vintage cars can surface anywhere, but it takes a lot more than blind luck to find them. Getting access to these vehicles is all about who you know. Invited by a friend in the wholesale business, master car restorer Wayne Carini travels to a remote avocado field in Southern California where he gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to inspect a secret collection of vintage cars worth millions. Meanwhile, a collector friend of Wayne's shows off one of the most legendary eBay finds of all time. Listed online as a Devin racer, it turns out the car was actually something much more special. Underneath the shell of the Devin was an extremely rare Ferrari race car. Despite the very public online auction, only the collector saw the clues that helped him guess the vehicle's true origin and purchase the car for only $35,000. Restored, the Ferrari will be worth upwards of $4 million.

Aired 2008-11-11

Following a hot lead, master car restorer Wayne Carini heads out to California on the hunt for an ultra-rare car. When he shows up at an address in Costa Mesa, he finds a Davis -- a three-wheeled, purple and silver four-seater reminiscent of an overgrown bumper car. Built in the Van Nuys during the late '40s and billed as a revolutionary new kind of car, the Davis was engineered with two wheels in the back, but only one in the front. Made from lightweight aluminum and powered by a V-8 engine, this offbeat car was originally priced to sell at $1,000. But before they could start the assembly line rolling, the creator, Gary Davis, was indicted for 28 counts of fraud and grand theft and sent to prison. The Davis factory was shut down after only 13 cars were completed. With the clock ticking, Wayne must decide if he'll buy this rare, but odd, car on the spot -- or be forced to walk away.

Aired 2008-11-18

Held in the elite enclave of Greenwich, Conn., the British auction house Bonhams hosts a prestigious motorcars auction in June. The Bonhams auction is theplace for the collector car set to see and be seen in the early summer. With a 1957 Fiat 1200TV Roadster, 1964 Porsche 356 Sunroof and 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup for sale, master car restorer Wayne Carini has come to the right place. But when a freak heat wave and an unexpected visit from the Department of Motor Vehicles threaten to shut down the event, the mercury rises and tensions soar. Can Wayne keep his cool and get his cars across the auction block?

Aired 2008-11-25

On a trip to Southern California, master car restorer Wayne Carini tracks down and buys one of the first Porsche 911s to ever be imported into the United States. Before completing the restoration and ultimately selling this coveted car, Wayne visits a secret car collection housing more than 30 ultra-rare Porsches. Will what he sees inspire him to keep the 911 for himself? Or will he let it go in hopes of turning a profit?

Aired 2008-12-02

In the film War of the Roses, Michael Douglas owned a 1960 Morgan +4 Roadster which his wife spitefully ran over and crushed. After filming wrapped, a Connecticut man bought the wrecked car from the film production company and hired master car restorer Wayne to restore it to top condition. His dream was to go vintage racing with the Morgan, but tragically, two weeks before he was to race it he had a heart attack and died. Shortly thereafter, his wife rolled the car into their barn and closed the doors. Now, more than fifteen year later, Wayne offers to buy the Morgan in all its dusty glory. Wayne and his team restore the car to racing condition and honor the man's memory by doing what he could not... Fulfill his dream of racing the Morgan.

Aired 2008-12-09

It's a classic smackdown between Italian fortissimo and all-American muscle, when master car restorer Wayne Carini brings a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTC and a 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback to auction in Monterey, Calif. But with two days of nonstop auctions ahead of him, Wayne takes a break from business to party down at one of the most exclusive luxury lifestyle events in the country -- Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival Party at the Monterey Jet Center.

Aired 2008-12-16

Master car restorer Wayne Carini fulfills a lifelong dream when his rare 1952 Muntz Jet is awarded a coveted spot on the lawn on at the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance. Originally designed by famous Indy car builder Frank Kurtis and manufactured by TV maverick Earl "Madman" Muntz, fewer than 300 Muntz Jets were ever built. Previously owned and customized for the renowned big band leader Freddy Martin, this Muntz Jet was restyled by Joe Bailon, who is one of the world's most famous car customizers and best known as the creator of the paint color "Candy Apple Red."

Aired 2009-01-27

No episode synopsis available.