Classic Car Kings | Preview (U&Yesterday)

The team at Irv’s Resto Shop in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, are world renowned for their work rescuing classic cars that appear to be beyond repair. Big character, Paul “Irv” Irving, and his three sons love taking on the most ambitious, challenging jobs.

Their crew of welders, fabricators, blasters, painters and mechanics have the knowledge, skills and the passion to bring vehicles not just back from the brink, but onto the concourse. These classic car kings are restoration royalty.

In the first of six episodes, Big Irv has had a life-long love affair with VWs, and has spent decades searching the UK for rare barn finds. So he’s extremely surprised when he’s offered a car that isn’t just close to his heart, but close to home. It’s a very early 1949 Beetle, brought back by a Tommy at the end of the second world war.

Irv wants to make a feature of the rusted bodywork and the rest of the car needs an entire overhaul. In a twist of fate, Irv’s son Lee stumbles upon the Beetle door they’ve been looking for. Back in the workshop mechanic Southy takes on the primitive braking mechanism, and the delicate semaphores need rewiring.

After months of work the car is finally ready for a test drive. It is reborn with fresh paint and bodywork but still bears the scars of time. Underneath it is as strong and reliable as a modern car. When Irv decides to reveal the car to its original owner, who planned to resurrect it himself, he is stunned, but will it be a no brainer for the new buyer?

Classic Car Kings begins Tuesday 8th July at 8pm on U&Yesterday.