Streaming services have taken everyone's interest to mind - car enthusiasts included. As the number of car repair and restoration shows available increases, viewers may be left wondering what is the cream of the crop.
While learning about the complex machinery at work, many car enthusiasts are able to see the interiors of dream cars that possibly number in the dozens, or, on the other hand, find a quick way to fix their daily commuter; this is why car shows have become so mainstream. Whether it is repairing, restoring, or completely renovating: each of these programs stands out as some of the best available.
Jay Leno's Garage
Peacock, Hulu, YouTube TV
From late-night TV megastar to legendary car collector, Jay Leno has produced and starred in Jay Leno's Garage for almost a decade. The web and television series won the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Program" and has 6 seasons (with the latest last airing on December 8th, 2021).
Leno often brings in celebrity friends as he reviews iconic cars of the last decade, including several classic and vintage cars, a few supercars (like the McLaren P1) as well as some restored gems. For the 6 seasons of Jay Leno's Garage, Leno has based production at his own garage: Jay Leno's Big Dog Garage, located in Burbank, California. Expect a witty Leno to break down each of these vehicles with a detailed analysis. He is a vintage car purist at heart, owning dozens of rare automobiles.
Monster Garage
Discovery Channel, Discovery+
Hosted by Jesse James, Monster Garage is an American television series that first aired on the Discovery Channel. The long-running show grew such a following that it produced video games and multiple books. After its original conclusion on June 12, 2006, Monster Garage went on a nearly 15-year hiatus. The series had an anticipating streaming revival that launched on Discovery+ later on January 4th, 2021.
The premise of this show is extremely unique, as two teams are tasked with turning a regular vehicle into a "monster machine." After receiving a budget, the teams are expected to complete the vehicle in seven days: the first for designing, the next five for building, and the last to test the "monster." Viewers are in for a treat as Jesse James steals the show with his brash and bold hosting style, often intermingling with teams and almost always creating his own "monster" in the process.
MotorWeek
YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video
One of the longest-running series, MotorWeek has been reviewing automobiles since its premiere on October 15, 1981. The PBS program has been hosted by John Davis since its inception and has 41 seasons aired, making it a classic watch for car enthusiasts.
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MotorWeek is the most conservative of the programs. While some shows veer towards the comedic aspect, MotorWeek keeps the attention solely on the cars (and viewers can expect a thoughtfully produced analysis of the vehicles). For the majority of their seasons, MotorWeek has also remained consistent in its format too: a road test is performed, followed by a comparison test, and finally, a segment that can include a look into new vehicles or previous vehicles they have covered, called a "Retro Review."
Chasing Classic Cars
Hulu, Youtube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video
A series made for the vintage car enthusiast. Chasing Classic Cars is a US documentary series that is presented by Wayne Carini of F-40 Motorsports. First premiering in 2008, the series has 16 seasons and over 190 episodes in its run. While new models receive all the limelight, Chasing Classic Cars does exactly what the title says.
The series takes a look at classic cars from all eras. Whether they be American or European, Carini's drive and ambition to convert any rust bucket into its former glory is fascinating to watch. Each vehicle is studied beforehand, restored, and sometimes sold for a healthy profit. Any vintage car enthusiast will absolutely love this series, as the passion Wayne Carini radiates is welcomed.
Overhaulin'
Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video
Overhaulin' premiered in 2004, launching 9 successful seasons, and is hosted by automobile designer Chip Foose and his co-host Chris Jacobs. It had the same premise as Pimp My Ride in that there was an unknowing "mark" who is nominated by friends to be "Overhauled." Their car is often damaged and acquired by the team through some ruse.
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Fans of Pimp My Ride that felt the show was a bit too outlandish will love this series as it has all of the imagination, without the extra “excess” Pimp My Ride came with. Once the team has the mark’s car in Overhaulin's garage, they begin their transformation by using parts donated through their various sponsors. When it's finished, the show ends with the "mark" being surprised with their "Overhauled" vehicle, often to overwhelmingly positive responses.
Car Masters - Rust To Riches
Netflix
The 2018 American reality television series was produced by Netflix. Mark Towle leads this crew where they take on projects out of Gotham Garage, which has built a wide selection of props for movie studios and TV series over the years (these props are sometimes very evident).
Car Masters takes on a similar approach to other tv shows. Mark Towle, Constance Nunes, and the rest of the crew find a classic car and attempt to restore it to turn a profit. The overall theme of Car Masters leans into are Hot Rods, and Lowriders, showcasing California’s Temecula culture and its beauty. What is also great news for fans is that it is available to stream on many platforms.
Fast N' Loud
Hulu, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV
Fast N' Loud featured Richard Rawlings and his crew out of the Dallas-based Gas Monkey Garage. The reality-styled show was a hit on the Discovery Channel, where it had a 16-season run.
Fast N' Loud featured a similar premise to its contemporaries, where the Gas Monkey Garage crew searched for tired and run-down cars which they restored and turned into a profit. Rawlings has true star appeal and makes for an excellent entertainer, while still producing quality projects. As spinoffs for the show began, and Rawlings began pursuing other projects, he confirmed that the show had come to an end during its 16th season.
Top Gear
HBO Max, Amazon Prime
Perhaps the most famous car show of all time, Top Gear is a British motoring program that was designed as a relaunched version of the 1977 show. Originally hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the series premiered in 2002. With 31 seasons to date, the show became famous for its blend of comedic bits and detailed analysis of the newest models. After Clarkson left in the mid-2010s, the show went through several presenters until permanent hosts Andrew Flintoff and Paddy McGuiness were announced in 2019.
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The show focuses on examining a series of cars, where it compares related models on a track and various obstacle courses, however, it is much more than that. The hosts through each series eventually develop bonds, and the chemistry on screen makes this one of the greatest series to air. Top Gear is renowned for its production sets, as the crew travels all around the world, often to breathtaking views.
The Grand Tour
Amazon Prime
A sequel of sorts to Top Gear, this Amazon Prime series features the former host of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson. The Grand Tour features Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May and first premiered in November 2016.
Similar to Top Gear, The Grand Tour is divided into segments. A series of cars are selected where they compete in several motoring challenges, with talking segments featuring celebrities in between. The trio hosts deliver truly magnetic performances, wit, humor, and a deep passion for automobiles are showcased in every episode. During the later seasons, The Grand Tour transitioned to specials, where the trio would be sent on expeditions across the world, only given the bare minimum and chosen vehicles that could handle (sometimes) the extremes, often to the humor of the audience.
Wheeler Dealers
Discovery+
The British television series is one of the longest car running series and most successful. Hosted by former dealer Mike Brewer, Wheeler Dealers has over 250 episodes and has led to a spinoff series titled Wheeler Dealers Trading Up.
The premise of the show has every DIYer in mind, the costs, labor, and any profits are analyzed after Brewer buys the vehicle and his mechanics get to work. While Brewer does a fantastic job with the vehicles, his mind often comes up with great innovations to common problems around the auto shop that really highlight his team's brilliance.