Ep 6. Pimp Chum's Ride

In season 3 episode 6 of American Restoration, titled "Pimp Chum's Ride," we see Rick Dale and his crew restoring a vintage 1932 Ford roadster. The car belongs to Rick’s co-worker and friend, Chumlee, who works at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop where American Restoration is filmed. Chumlee has a reputation for enjoying very distinctive cars, and he is fond of customizing them to make them unique.

The roadster has been in Chumlee’s possession for quite some time, but it’s in a pretty sorry state when it comes to Rick and his team. The bodywork is dented, rusted and battered, and the car’s engine hasn’t been serviced in quite some time. However, with Chumlee as the owner, the car has a great story to tell, and Rick is enthusiastic about turning this rust bucket into Chumlee’s dream ride.

The episode starts with Rick and his team designing a plan to change the appearance of the 1932 Ford roadster. Rick wants to give the car a new paint job, bodywork restoration, and full engine overhaul. Chumlee wants a custom paint job inspired by the Japanese comic book, "Akira." Rick is excited to be able to give the car a unique touch, and he is confident in his ability to restore the classic car.

The first step is to strip the car down to its bare frame. They then take the metal pieces to the sandblaster, where a powerful sandblast will remove any rust and debris that has built upon the bodywork. Once the metal is sandblasted, the team will weld the broken pieces back together and shape the bodywork to match the original design of the car. When the welding is complete, the crew will grind the seams clean and straighten them to prepare the body for its paint job. They will also work on the interior leather seats and restoring its dashboard.

To give the car a unique touch, Rick calls on one of his old friends, tattoo artist Dirk Vermin, to do the custom paint job. Dirk is known for his unique and creative patterns and his ability to work on any medium. The pair discuss what Chumlee wants and Rick explains that he would like to blend together the "Akira" theme with the vintage style of the car. Dirk is excited about the project and promises that he can design something that would be fitting.

The next step is to focus on the engine. The engine is old and hasn't run for a long time, so Rick and his team must disassemble it to its individual parts to be cleaned and inspected. After cleaning and inspection, the team installs new parts while still maintaining the originality of the 1932 Ford roadster. Once the engine is reassembled, the custom headers, mufflers, and exhaust system are installed to give it the unique sound Chumlee is looking for.

Towards the end of the episode, Rick and Dirk unveil the custom paint job, which is a combination of "Akira" and classic pinstriping. The design is striking, and Chumlee can’t stop grinning as he beholds his new ride in all its glory. Rick fires up the engine, and the custom exhaust system roars to life with a deep, throaty growl.

As the episode comes to an end, Rick and his crew reflect on how much fun it was to work on Chumlee's car. Rick knows that the custom work they did is an excellent representation of Chumlee's personality and that he truly has created a one-of-a-kind vehicle. With restored bodywork, paint job, and engine overhaul, Chumlee's 1932 Ford roadster is in top shape and ready to take on the roads once again. And with his newly pimped ride, Chumlee can't wait to impress his friends the next time he cruises down the Vegas Strip.