Turbo Pickers

Launched in 2014, Turbo Pickers was a show that brought together the vibrant elements of car renovation and the thrill of treasure hunting and bargain buying. The show, a fascinating blend of knowledge, entertainment and automotive passion, gave viewers a glimpse into the heart being poured into bringing cars back to life. At its core, Turbo Pickers was about dreams of restoration, the beauty of classic cars, and ironically, the history of technology as seen through the lens of automotives.

Turbo Pickers featured the expert duo of Paul Cowland and Dave Southall, with each bringing their unique set of skills to the table. Paul was the gear head with a lifetime of experience in the car trade. Known in the British car industry for his keen eye for cars that offer value, his philosophy was to show that anyone could make decent money by doing what he loved: restoring old cars and breathing new life into forgotten classics.

On the other hand, we had Dave - the mechanical wizard. A trained engineer whose hands were as accustomed to racing bikes as they were to classic cars. Like Paul, he shared the love for the forgotten beauties, but his forte was making them work like they were meant to. His extensive knowledge and deft touch made him the ideal partner to Paul, as they rescued cars from the brink and reinstated their glory.

Each episode saw Paul and Dave traveling across the UK on a mission—the mission to find a car with potential. The car could be a rusty wreck in a junkyard or a forgotten classic gathering dust in someone's garage. Fuelled by limited budgets and tight deadlines, they would buy the car, haul it back to their workshop, and then start the process of restoration. In addition to restoration work, the duo also offered tips and valuable information about the art of spotting a great car, buying it at the right price, doing those handy tweaks, and selling it for profit.

The process was not just about the initial canvas from which they started, but about the journey of transformation the car went through under Dave's remarkable hands and supervised by Paul's experienced eyes. This was a journey of dismantling, discovering horrors and surprises, repairing, replacing, repainting, retuning, and finally, revealing the final masterpiece.

While Turbo Pickers was an ode to the beauty and history of classic cars, it was not a show exclusively for car enthusiasts. Instead, the producers ensured that it could be enjoyed by anyone. The show followed a universal language, excitement palpable in both Paul and Dave's enthusiasm and the sense of accomplishment they felt with every successfully completed project. It was a happy show with a thread of optimism, where ingenuity, hard work and teamwork were always awarded.

The charm of the show lay in the transformation of cars and how beautifully they encapsulated the human emotions of affection for things of the past, aspiration for making them perfect, and the joy when a dream is realized. Each car had its history, its story—and viewers got a chance to see and know them before the car got its second lease on life.

Turbo Pickers was also about the relationship between Paul and Dave, which was a central pivot to the show. Their camaraderie, their shared passion, their disagreements and agreements, their banter added a personal layer to the show, making it more engaging and palatable to the audience.

Overall, Turbo Pickers was a celebration of passion, knowledge, and savvy that brought a unique angle to the world of automotive television programming. The show shone a spotlight on the myriad aspects of car restoration and re-selling, creating an exciting blend of information and entertainment. Featuring vintage beauties and modern classics, and laced with the vibrant energy of the hosts, Turbo Pickers made for an exciting watch not just for car enthusiasts, but for anyone seeking a story of determination, expertise, and the desire to restore and revive.