Ep 6. The Same Mistakes

In Rust Valley Restorers season 2 episode 6, titled "The Same Mistakes," the crew at Rust Bros Restoration are faced with a daunting task as they aim to restore a 1975 Checker Taxicab to its former glory. However, the restoration process quickly becomes complicated, with a slew of challenges and setbacks that require the team to put in extra effort and skill to overcome.

The episode begins with Mike Hall, Avery Shoaf, and their team at Rust Bros Restoration taking on a unique restoration project - a Checker Marathon Taxicab. While the car is rare and fascinating, it is also in poor shape, with many parts missing and severe rust damage. The team soon realizes that this will be a challenging restoration, and they need to be at their best to bring the Checker back to life.

As the restoration process begins, the team encounters several issues that make the situation more difficult. For one, the original engine is missing, making it challenging to find a suitable replacement. Additionally, the rust damage is more extensive than they initially thought, requiring extensive bodywork on the body and frame.

Despite these hurdles, the Rust Bros team works tirelessly to get the cab back on the road. They search for a Chevy 350 motor to replace the missing original engine, and even the paint job is more extensive than usual, with rusted wheels requiring a full coat, and checkered decals peppering the sides. The team struggles to keep their spirits up as problems arise, with setbacks such as mismatched rear door replacements and unexpected body rot taking its toll on the dedicated team.

Meanwhile, tensions are rising at the shop as Avery and Connor clash over the priorities and processes needed to complete the project. Avery feels that Connor's disregard for deadlines could jeopardize the entire operation, while Connor believes Avery is unduly burdening the shop with endless tasks, cutting into valuable time that should be spent restoring cars.

As the restoration nears completion, the team realizes that their hard work will be for naught if they do not address a recurring issue - the same mistakes that have led to issues in previous builds. Mike Hall takes a moment to reflect on the shop's past actions and the significance of addressing these root causes. He takes the reins and motivates the team to redouble their efforts to ensure the restoration is done correctly and with care.

After much hard work, the restoration is finally complete, and the Checker Marathon Taxicab is stunningly revived after a long hiatus from the road. Despite the obstacles they encountered, the Rust Bros team succeeded in restoring the cab back to its original state, a testament to their ingenuity and dedication to their craft.

In "The Same Mistakes," Rust Valley Restorers delivers another thrilling and inspiring episode that highlights the challenges and rewards of car restoration, as well as the importance of continuing to improve processes and identifying weaknesses in the shop's overall workflow. The episode showcases the Rust Bros team's exceptional skills and work ethic in restoring a unique and rare piece of automotive history, and their perseverance in the face of adversity serves as a reminder of the importance of staying focused and prioritizing quality over quantity.