Ep 1. Rocked and Loaded

Counting Cars is an American reality TV show, that premiered on the History Channel in 2012. The show follows the day-to-day operations of the car restoration and customization company, Count's Kustoms. The owner, Danny "The Count" Koker, has a team of talented mechanics, fabricators, and automotive enthusiasts who work together to create stunning and unique vehicles. In season 3 episode 1, titled "Rocked and Loaded," the team takes on some exciting projects.

The opening scene features Danny checking out a brand new 2012 Can-Am Spyder bike, which he plans to customize for a client who wants the vehicle to represent the military. Danny and his team have a brainstorming session on how to proceed with the customization, and the ideas are flowing, with everyone adding their own unique suggestions. The team decides to incorporate a military theme into the customization of the vehicle, with a predominantly black color scheme, and add a bit of chrome in a few areas to give it a custom look. Danny also takes up another project, on behalf of a client who wants to restore a 1931 Model A Ford.

The next project was brought to Danny by a couple from Oklahoma, who want a motorcycle that can match their favorite pastime - rock-n-roll. The pair loves touring the country on their bikes, going to different concerts and festivals. They now want a custom-built bike, with music-themed elements, that they can ride on their upcoming journey. The Count suggests adding various rockstar-themed accessories, including guitar-shaped handlebars and a custom bass guitar pickguard for the motorcycle gas tank.

The challenges of the job start to emerge when the team discovers that the couple's requested bass guitar pickguard is outdated, so they need to create one from scratch. The custom guitar pickguard is created by Ryan, whose attention to detail results in an excellent addition to the vehicle. He first creates a replica of the old pickguard, so they have the exact shape for the new one. He then uses a 3D printer to mold new pickguards, ensuring an exact fit for the gas tank.

The work isn't over yet; Ryan also needs to create the guitar-shaped handlebars. Danny's has a clear idea of how he wants the design to look, so Ryan has to make sure the final product matches Danny's vision. Ryan is tasked with welding the handlebars himself, and he meticulously adds every detail to the guitar-shaped handlebars, including the frets, strings, knobs, and pickups. Ryan's hard work pays off, and the end result is a beautiful and functional pair of handlebars.

Finally, Danny and his team get to work on the 1931 Model A Ford restoration project. The client is passionate about antique cars and wants the vehicle to have a classic look. The Count's Kustoms team gives the car a full-body makeover, including repairing the exterior paint and bodywork to a factory-quality finish. They also restored the car's dashboard, steering wheel, and shifter with the original elements, maintaining all of the unique, stylish features from the original manufacturing.

The team also works on the car's suspension, fixing the springs and shocks and making it more suitable for driving on modern highways. To maintain the car's classic look while also incorporating modern safety elements, they replace the car's original wired tail lights, horn, and brakes with modern components.

Counting Cars season 3 episode 1, "Rocked and Loaded," showcases the talent and creativity of Danny "The Count" Koker and his team at Count's Kustoms. With the challenge of creating a military-themed Can-Am Spyder bike, a rock-n-roll inspired motorcycle, and restoring a 1931 Model A Ford, his team shows what it takes to be one of the best in the car restoration business. With unmatched attention to detail and dedication to every project, they can bring life to every vehicle, offering the owners a unique and personalized driving experience.