Ep 8. A Jurassic Sized Adventure

Sticker Shock Season 1 Episode 8 - A Jurassic Sized Adventure

In this episode of Sticker Shock, host Dennis Pittsenbarger takes viewers on a ride through automotive history as he explores the rare and valuable finds of car enthusiasts across the country. In "A Jurassic Sized Adventure," the focus is on classic cars that have captured the imagination of generations, inspired by the legendary film franchise Jurassic Park.

We start off by looking at a 1993 Ford Explorer XLT, the very same model that was featured in the first Jurassic Park movie. With its distinctive jungle green paint job and rugged off-road capabilities, this SUV holds a special place in the hearts of fans who remember it roaring through the jungle alongside a pack of raptors. But how much is it actually worth today? Dennis meets up with owner Travis Hollis, who picked up the vehicle from an auction site and painstakingly restored it to its movie-ready condition. Travis recounts the challenges he faced along the way, including tracking down rare parts and reviving a neglected engine. When it comes time for appraisal, both Travis and Dennis are surprised by the result.

Next up is a car that's not as easily recognizable as the Explorer, but is no less iconic. It's a 1993 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, similar to the one driven by Jeff Goldblum's character in Jurassic Park: The Lost World. Unlike the XLT, this Jeep was never actually featured in the movie, but its owner Nick Tomaich has decked it out with a custom Jurassic Park paint job and accessories. Nick takes Dennis for a spin around the desert terrain of Joshua Tree, demonstrating the Jeep's impressive climbing abilities and the attention it attracts from fellow fans. But does the custom work add or subtract from its value? Two experts weigh in with their opinions, and things get interesting.

The final feature of the episode is a car that has achieved a kind of cult status in the automotive world: the DeLorean DMC-12. Made famous by its appearance in the Back to the Future trilogy, the DeLorean is a rare and sought-after vehicle that still turns heads even without a flux capacitor. Dennis meets with owner Roman Pazdziora, who not only has a pristine example of the car, but has also built a replica of the time machine from the movies. Roman explains the process of getting the car up to his exacting standards, including sourcing accurate parts and upgrading the engine and suspension. But when it comes time for appraisal, he faces a tough decision: should he sell the car and time machine as a package deal, or separate them and potentially earn more money?

Throughout the episode, we get glimpses of other classic cars that share the Jurassic Park theme, including a Mercedes G-Wagen that was used in the filming of the fourth movie in the franchise. But the real star of the show is the passion and dedication of the owners, who have gone to great lengths to preserve the history and nostalgia of these beloved vehicles. With humor, expertise, and a deep love for the subject matter, Dennis Pittsenbarger once again takes us on a journey through the world of classic cars and the people who love them.