FantomWorks

[Paraman1]

Anybody here watch FantomWorks on Velocity ? I am just curious what your take is on this show ?

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I haven't watched it past the 1st season. I don't care for the owner and his arrogance, and belief that his decision comes before the owner. One car in particular that comes to mind was a 1st gen Mustang fastback he was building for a "friend", and just basically bled the guy dry from escalating the build, changed the color without asking, and basically by the end of the show the owner of the car couldn't afford to keep the car anymore, and was just disgusted by the ordeal. I read the owner's perspective on a Mustang site somewhere.

[WallaceMFG]

I watch the show when it's on. The one thing I found that I like is they actually talk about the price of the cars when they're done. Seems like many others never mention the price, they just show the final car and that's it.

[TheJDMan]

I watch it in part because they are only about two hours from me. They seem to have some skilled craftsmen and the guys seem to be pretty detail oriented. It is also refreshing to watch a show where the guys work together without a lot of unnecessary drama and I like the fact that they usually say how much a project costs. Dan can be a bit of a car zealot, but overall I like the show.

[dhutton]

Still scratching my head on why they shimmed that subframe to the body to align the fenders.

Don

[raustinss]

my two cents ...the owner Dan is a first class A**hole ....i wouldnt trust him to change my oil. his arrogence is beyond anyone i have ever seen .

[tmadden]

I watch all the shows on Velocity except Wheeler dealers

[p51mus]

I don't like the owner at all.

[BADNBLK]

I don't really care for the owner either, I feel like its his fake looking forced smile. I'm glad that they chose to discuss the pricing as part of the show, as it makes the much more "real". Lets people understand that the bills don't pay themselves and all those guys busting their backs don't work for free or even cheap. I think sometimes there needs to be a person like Dan in a shop like that to help make decisions for/with customer that obviously are not car people enough to do it. Most of the shows I have seen they are working on normal everyday peoples cars that want to be in the hobby, but don't have the skill or knowledge on where to start. Gear heads like most of us would probably stay pretty far from there lol

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I watch all the shows on Velocity except Wheeler dealers

That's actually one of the shows I like the best. Many of the cars aren't as cool as on this side of the ocean, but Mike and Edd seem to be genuine car guys, and are truly good people (I met them both at SEMA last year, approachable, and funny guys). The Fantomworks guy is probably out-arroganced more by one person... Richard Rawlings. Never heard of a genuinely friendly encounter with him.

[rohrt]

I like the show. Less drama and more of the nuts and bolts then some of the other shows, however they seem to be going in that direction now.

[srh3trinity]

I am building a car with a shop and I have learned a lot from being a customer in the process. The guy I am working with has a lot more tact than Dan, but sometimes the way I want it done and they way it should be done are two different things. I have had to be talked into several things and as I look back on it, the shop was right. The guy I am working with has been pretty cool about letting me price shop for the big ticket items.

If the Mustang build with the color change and the scope creep wasn't just for TV, then that wouldn't be cool.

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

If the Mustang build with the color change and the scope creep wasn't just for TV, then that wouldn't be cool.

Found the conversation.
http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vi...tonight-4.html

"Greetings; I am the person who was to be the owner of the 65 Mustang that was featured on the T.V. show and because I have great respect for VMF and have learned much from everyone on here I would like to share a few things. I am not really someone who likes to put all my business out there and if I go into a great deal of detail on what happened it would likely turn into a case of He said He said; which really does not accomplish anything so I will keep it to a few basics which should not be in dispute. To start; Dan was one of my best friends; we are no longer friends and we have not spoken in several months. Other then coming to some kind of settlement in regards to what I contributed to the project I see no other reason to have anymore contact with him. The shop has worked on every vehicle I own and has always done quality work at a fair price. All the people who work there are truly great people, care very much about what they do and want to do the best job possible.
In regards to the show; I have not seen the episode that featured what was to be my 65 Mustang so I cannot speak to how accurate it is. Any drama you may have seen on T.V. is nothing compared to what went on behind the scene between me and Dan. If anything he was more difficult in person and when I didn't do things the way he wanted he took it very personal and would basically ignored what I asked him to do. What should have been the realization of a dream I've had since very young turned into a complete nightmare. For the record I asked both Dan and the T.V. production team almost weekly to slowdown the build so I would have the car I wanted, it would be done right the first time and it would be completely paid for when complete. Also for the record I am not a rich man I saved for a very long time to one day have a 65 Mustang. When the build began it was my intention to pay for the build in part from money I had put away and the money I set aside from my monthly salary. At one point I was forced into my retirement fund to ensure I met my obligations; I knew then I was in over my head. Each time I requested we slow down I was met with resistance both from Dan and the production team to a point where he once said to me "You are killing the story line". In my opinion it became more important to complete the car in time to be in the show then to give me the car I wanted. I was not looking for a "Supercharged Clown Car" as was suggested but spending that much money for what you want then having the same power as a new V6 Mustang seemed like an "All show no go situation"; given my vision of the car. Towards the end; work was being changed from what I wanted to what could get done in time and I lost complete control of the build. I was told "I have to finish this project without any interference from you". At this point even though I was deep in a finical hole I could no longer be a part of the project. In the last conversation I had with Dan; I did tell him to finish it how he wanted and I would look at what he had completed and we could go from there. But I was also very clear that I wanted the car painted blue (like the Mustang my Dad backed off the truck in 1965) NOT silver; and if it was silver it was his car. I am sure I do look like a clown or a jerk and maybe I should; and maybe I took on more than I could handle but things are never as they appear; I paid my bills and could have paid the final bill if it had been the car I wanted. On a personal level this is still playing out so for now that is all I feel comfortable sharing. It is a very nice car; with a lot of very high quality parts; Ride Tech Suspension; Nine Inch; Five Speed; etc. Also I did not install the tie rods upside down; and if there were any suspension issues Ride Tech was more than willing to work with the shop to get it to work correctly. I hope this gives some insight into so called "Reality T.V."; my advice to you unless they are footing the bill never allow your car to be filmed; unless you have a big bank account you will lose out."

[groho]

Reality TV is why I work on my own car. I'm stunned when he starts talking over the bill, and breaks down the costs; what's his labor rate and parts mark up, $200 an hr and 50%??? My reason for watching is to get ideas for my own projects.

[Samckitt]

I haven't watched it past the 1st season. I don't care for the owner and his arrogance, and belief that his decision comes before the owner. One car in particular that comes to mind was a 1st gen Mustang fastback he was building for a "friend", and just basically bled the guy dry from escalating the build, changed the color without asking, and basically by the end of the show the owner of the car couldn't afford to keep the car anymore, and was just disgusted by the ordeal. I read the owner's perspective on a Mustang site somewhere.

What Josh said: I don't care for the owner and his arrogance

[rocketrod]

Still scratching my head on why they shimmed that subframe to the body to align the fenders.

Don

You're not alone. I'm still trying to understand why they did a half a$$ bandaid versus fixing the root cause of the problem.

[ManwithNoName]

While I think they do some really good metal fabrication & sheet metal work, I seriously question the body work the shop does. Every time I watch the show they are making obvious mistakes that no body man should ever make. Like the white Monte Carlo SS they did. You would never paint a front bumper cover on the car & the masked the trim instead of R&I'ing it. On the '57 Chevy Wagon, the shop screwed up & sanded the paint that they weren't supposed to & then had the balls to ask the owner to pay half of the paint to fix their screw up. Even better, they again didn't even bother to R&I the side trim on the Chevy, they just masked it off. On the '63 Corvette, Dan points out to the owner that the car had been hit hard in the left rear & yet it never dawned on the man to measure the frame? Instead he realizes the frame is bent 2 days before delivery. These are rookie mistakes & you can see them week after week. How about the '65 Mustang when the owner said he wanted the motor stroked & Dan proceeds to go on & on about how stroking a motor is bad, unreliable & will fail....what the hell is he talking about! There are thousands of guys out there with stroked 383 Chevys & 347 Fords that race stroked motors week after week with no issues. I think the owner, Dan, is a big arrogant "A Hole" who talks out his butt, who doesn't give a damn about his customer & only builds what he wants & not what is customer asks for

[Paraman1]

After reading through your posts I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks the owner is arrogant and that some of the work I am seeing done seems to be subpar at best . Watching a lot of these shows reminds me as well why I do a lot of my own work , well that and the fact that I can't afford to pay someone else to screw up my stuff . I can screw it up fine all on my own

[LS1-IROC]

It would be a great show without Dan. I don't watch it anymore because I can't stand the guy.

[BillSalZman]

I received a lot of calls about the subframe shims...lol.