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Revving up for December: Discovery Channel’s brand new five-part motoring series

19th November 2014 Print
Turbo Pickers

In Discovery Channel’s brand new five-part motoring series, Turbo Pickers, car expert Paul Cowland and star mechanic Dave Southall turn supposedly knackered, over-rusted vehicles and unwanted machine parts into tidy little earners.

Paul and Dave are “turbo pickers” – hunters of rare and collectible cars, auto parts, and a bizarre range of unusual machinery to be flipped for a profit. The business partners scour the UK for items they can bring back to their London-based workshop for their unique style of refurbishment.

Whether it’s welding, chroming, polishing or waxing, the duo have a treatment for every rusting part, turning scrap into cash through simple graft, plenty of humour and the occasional disagreement. Working with tip-offs, and even haggling goods from reluctant owners, the guys have to think on their feet to negotiate a bargain they can flip and sell as quickly as possible for maximum profit.

As the brains behind the business, Paul has an eye for a good deal and seemingly enjoys testing Dave’s reputation as “a genius under the bonnet”, gravitating towards the most extreme and challenging projects. Luckily, Dave can fix up almost anything with an engine.

Viewers will see them rev up a vintage 1966 Triumph Herald; transform a graveyard of Jaguar sports car parts into a beautiful XJRS racing clone; buff up a German-manufactured scooter; revive a Porsche 924S; and transform an ugly Citroen CX into a classic and collectible, must-have car.

Of course, with each endeavour comes the risk of failure, which only intensifies the friendly friction between Paul and Dave.

Paul is renowned in the car dealing world and is a prolific motoring journalist. He began fixing up cars during his childhood and Paul now owns 21 automobiles as part of his personal collection of unusual and collectible motors – including a replica KITT from Knight Rider.

Dave, in contrast, took a less traditional route into the world of flipping and selling refurbished machines. Born on a farm near the tiny village of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England, Dave was somehow more interested in the farm machinery rather than the cows and the crops owned by his parents.

After a spell in the circus as a trained acrobat, he turned his hand to taking charge of mending and maintaining all the vehicles. He returned home 15 years later to complete not one but several engineering degrees and is now “Dr” Dave Southall with an engineering PhD.

These dynamic, albeit unconventional, experts share invaluable tips and money-making pointers throughout each episode of Turbo Pickers, explaining how to quickly turn a profit from unwanted scrap in attics, garages and gardens. From an old pair of tail lights to a long-forgotten radiator gauge, Paul and Dave unlock the value in almost everything they come across.

Tune in on Monday 1st December at 9pm for the Discovery series premiere, Turbo Pickers.

Turbo Pickers airs Mondays at 9pm on Discovery Channel from 1st December 2014

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Turbo Pickers Turbo Pickers Porsche Turbo Pickers Bus