Ep 18. Restoration Rivalry

In American Restoration season 2 episode 18 titled "Restoration Rivalry," viewers are taken on a journey through Rick Dale's world of restoring vintage items. Rick is the owner of a Las Vegas restoration shop, and he puts his skills to the test when he faces the challenge of fixing up a 1950s soda fountain.

The episode kicks off with Rick reminiscing about going to his favorite soda shop as a child. This tells viewers just how sentimental and passionate Rick is about his work. Rick's client, a vintage soda fountain collector, wants his 1950s soda fountain to look as good as new. The challenge with this task is that the soda fountain is missing several critical parts. Rick's rival, a fellow restoration expert named Ron, has been working on a soda fountain of his own. It just so happens that Ron also needs the same missing parts that Rick needs to complete his client's soda fountain.

The episode becomes a race between Rick and Ron to see who can find and restore the missing parts first. Rick puts his team to work scouring the country for the parts while he focuses on restoring the fountain. Meanwhile, Ron tries to get the same parts while keeping an eye on Rick's progress. This leads to an intense competition that has both restorers pushing themselves to their limits.

While the competition between Rick and Ron is entertaining, the episode also delves into the technical aspects of restoring vintage items. Viewers get an inside look into the painstaking process of restoring a 1950s soda fountain as Rick and his team meticulously clean, sandblast, and repaint every single piece. Rick's attention to detail is inspiring as he explains the importance of every step in the restoration process.

As the restoration work progresses, the rivalry between Rick and Ron continues to escalate. They both desperately want to be the one to restore the soda fountain. This rivalry takes them to a junkyard where they both search for parts. They end up finding the same part, and viewers get to see how they both handle the situation.

Apart from the soda fountain restoration, the episode also features other items being restored in Rick's shop. This includes a 1930s Peerless motorcycle that Rick and his team work on to fix a stubborn oil leak. Watching the team troubleshoot and fix this problem showcases their technical expertise and problem-solving skills.

As the episode builds to its climactic finish, viewers are left wondering who will be the first to complete the soda fountain restoration. Rick's passion and attention to detail shines through as he carefully assembles the soda fountain's parts, with his team eagerly watching. Meanwhile, Ron is busy working to finish his soda fountain restoration. The episode ends with both Rick and Ron presenting their restored soda fountains.

Overall, "Restoration Rivalry" is a thrilling and informative episode of American Restoration. The competition between Rick and Ron adds a unique layer of excitement to the restoration process. However, the episode's real strength lies in showcasing the intricacies of restoring vintage items. From the meticulous cleaning process to the technical problem-solving, viewers are given a behind-the-scenes look into the world of restoration. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in vintage items, restoration, or just thrilling television.