- 3 months ago
Wheeler Dealers World Tour
Wheeler Dealers World Tour (2024)S02E02
Wheeler Dealers World Tour (2024) Season 2 Episode 2
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00:00Screams
00:04Hola Hola
00:06We need erm, you know like sprays
00:12the... aluexy
00:14the... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
00:16It's not a game of charades mate
00:17I mean, its like a film as a book
00:19Sure!
00:20Erm... no not for there
00:21No there there
00:22Up on the shelf, I can see it
00:24There we go
00:25Ah si
00:26Obligado
00:27Thank you
00:29Mate, you didn't pack much, did you?
00:31Mate, I don't need much, I just need my knowledge and that's all up here.
00:34We packed our bags and our spanners for another globetrotting car-fixing adventure.
00:41Vamos!
00:42You see a photo? There you go, that's a nice one.
00:49We're hunting down some of the world's most iconic cars.
00:52Does it get much better than this?
00:54Oh, I can't believe we're standing here in front of an SP2.
00:59Leaning on local wheeler dealers, because he really wants it, would you take 30,000 euros?
01:04No, he busted it.
01:06Hey!
01:07To rescue these national treasures on a wheel and a prayer.
01:11Please let me find a set of wheels, that's all I'm asking for.
01:14And make a few euros, pesos.
01:17I think we have a deal.
01:18Yes!
01:19And real as we go.
01:21I absolutely love it!
01:24I was just working it out, I think this is my 15th visit to Sao Paulo.
01:33You're a bit of a local.
01:34Well, I came here every year doing Formula One and it is a place that I kind of love.
01:39It's, I do feel like a little bit of a local.
01:41One thing I don't miss is the road, the amount of traffic on them.
01:47Well, that's because it's like 20 million people.
01:51It's one of the top 10 mega cities on the planet.
01:54Yeah.
01:55I've actually genuinely got butterflies in my tummy.
01:59Yeah.
02:00About this car.
02:01This is me coming to meet my hero.
02:04Now mate, it's a special, special car.
02:07I'm so excited.
02:08I am actually, I think a little bit of weed just popped out.
02:11I'm that excited.
02:12That's just your age mate.
02:13That's been happening a lot recently.
02:14Yeah it has.
02:15The Volkswagen SP2 is, in my opinion, the finest car to ever come from Brazil.
02:24Created for the Brazilian people, its designers took the underpinnings from a humble Type 3 and clothed them in a simply sensational coupe body.
02:34But because the SP2 was only ever sold in Brazil, hardly anyone got to see it.
02:39From 1972 to 76, just 10,000 SP2s were built.
02:44And today, they're in high demand.
02:47Especially if you're me.
02:50It wasn't the perfect car, was it?
02:52Because this car was famous for being slow.
02:54No.
02:55Looking fast, but going slow.
02:57That's what you're here for.
02:58You're right.
02:59That is the sort of challenge that I love.
03:01Well, listen, it's one of the rarest cars, I mean, on the planet, right?
03:05Yeah.
03:06So you'd think the price tag has to match.
03:07So, how much are they talking?
03:09So, it's 180,000 Real.
03:12That does sound expensive, you're right.
03:13It sounds awful, doesn't it?
03:15180,000 Real today is around 24 grand.
03:19It just seems so cheap to me.
03:22The SP2 is being sold by a dealer that specialises in high-end classic cars.
03:29What a beauty.
03:30Look at this.
03:31A white Tesla wrestler.
03:33Tesla wrestler.
03:34I could spend hours in here.
03:35Hi.
03:36Hey, how are you?
03:37Alexandra?
03:38Yes.
03:39Alexandra, I'm Mike.
03:40Glad to meet you.
03:41Glad to meet you.
03:42Yes, this is Elvis.
03:43How are you?
03:44So, we spoke on the phone about the VW SP2.
03:45Yes.
03:46Oh, you got the keys.
03:47Fantastic.
03:48Where's the car?
03:49Over there.
03:51Come on.
03:52Let's go have a look.
03:53Alexander has only just taken delivery of this SP2, so it's not been prepped for sale yet.
03:59Look.
04:00Look at that.
04:01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:02I can't believe it.
04:04Oh, my God.
04:05It's covered in dirt and dust.
04:08I know it's filthy dirty, but I love it.
04:10Oh, I can't believe we're standing here in front of an SP2.
04:14It's in a right old state.
04:15I just don't care.
04:16I'm gobsmacked Elvis.
04:17I'm so happy.
04:18I can't see how happy I am.
04:20It's just incredible.
04:21I've never seen one before.
04:22I absolutely love it.
04:24I'm in.
04:29Yeah, that's it.
04:32That opened.
04:33Oh, ho, ho.
04:34Look how dusty it is in here.
04:35Oh, wow.
04:36It's covered in dust, but look at that dash.
04:38It actually feels kind of almost race inspired.
04:41Everything's geared towards the driver.
04:43Other than the fact this console has got some cracks in it.
04:46It all looks all right, doesn't it?
04:48Yeah, I mean, it's cool, isn't it?
04:49If you look behind you, there's a knob that'll open up the engine hatch.
04:53Right, here we go.
04:55Let's have a look.
04:56I mean, first glance doesn't look like it's bad condition at all, does it?
05:00Everything's clean and tidy, but see how it drives.
05:04I feel like I should be asking for a few quid at the traffic lights.
05:08That's way better.
05:10I've waited, literally waited decades for this.
05:15Let's see if it starts, first of all.
05:17It's going to start.
05:18It's a Volkswagen.
05:19There you go.
05:20It doesn't sound great.
05:23Do you hear that?
05:24No.
05:31There is dust everywhere.
05:38I just got a reflection in that shop window of how damn cool we're looking at this car, man.
05:43It's unbelievable.
05:44I'm whipping usurped.
05:45Look at that.
05:46Somebody cut you right up there.
05:47Well, that's because I've got no power, but I do look good, but I'm doing it.
05:52It sounds awful.
05:53You can feel it juddering.
05:55There's something wrong there.
05:57That's da-da-da-da-da-da.
05:58It's not rrrrm, is it?
06:00It's da-da-da-da-da-da.
06:01I mean, if I bury my foot to the floor when I do get the opportunity, nothing much happens.
06:07I know what it looks like from the outside.
06:11It doesn't feel like the performance matches the looks.
06:14But maybe that was one of the reasons it never made it to North America.
06:17And it's a shame because a car as stunning looking as this, this car should have been celebrating on the global stage.
06:24But do you know what?
06:25I think that's what we're going to do.
06:27But with work to do, I'd like to get the price down.
06:30Trouble is, because SP2s are so rare, we're not the ones in the driving seat.
06:36How was it to make?
06:37Right.
06:38Well, from the passenger seat, I could see that there are, you know, there's problems.
06:43How much money did you want for it?
06:45108.
06:47108?
06:48Yes.
06:49That's the price.
06:50Yeah, that's the price.
06:51That's the main way.
06:52The engine needs tuning.
06:55Definitely underpowered.
07:00It's a very hard car.
07:01It's a very difficult one to find one.
07:04I know it's rare.
07:05That's the reason we've come all the way to Sao Paulo, because of the rarity.
07:09Yes.
07:10Listen, there's no denying we really do love the car.
07:16Well, you got a deal.
07:17Thank you very much.
07:18Thank you very much.
07:19Congratulations.
07:20Lovely.
07:21Thank you very much.
07:22Nice.
07:23With good SP2s selling for over 200,000 reals, I reckon we've done okay.
07:29Maybe, but with the engine running rough, I'll reserve judgement until we're in a workshop.
07:36Well, as we can't do that until tomorrow, we've got an evening free, and I've been tipped off about a local car meet for Brazilian petrol heads.
07:44Hey, everyone.
07:45How are you?
07:46This is nice.
07:47Look at this.
07:48What's your...
07:49Do you have a car here?
07:50Yeah.
07:51It's a Renault 12 with Brazilian design.
07:52Mustang inspiration.
07:53Much, much more beautiful.
07:55Do you know what's amazing?
07:57Brazil has its own car culture that's different to everywhere else in the world.
08:02Ah, the Avenger, yeah.
08:03Yeah.
08:04Yeah, it's a Brazilian version.
08:05Yes.
08:06Made by Dodge.
08:07Dodge.
08:08Yes.
08:09We're doing the SP2.
08:10Really?
08:11Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:12Amazing.
08:13You bought an SP2?
08:14Yeah.
08:15Come on.
08:16Yeah, yeah.
08:17It's so good.
08:18It's so Brazilian.
08:19Yeah, exactly.
08:20It's so good.
08:21I love it.
08:22This is nice, isn't it?
08:23It is good.
08:24Yeah.
08:31Oi!
08:32What?
08:33That's how they say hello here in Brazil.
08:34What, you've been rude?
08:36No.
08:37That's how they say hello.
08:38Oi!
08:39We've had the SP2 delivered to a workshop in the forests east of Sao Paulo.
08:44There are some nasty creatures around here.
08:47Oi!
08:48Stop it!
08:49Are you saying hello again?
08:50No, I'm not actually telling you to stop it.
08:53Nestled amongst the trees lies the Car Day Car Museum, which has its own dedicated workshop
08:59and classic car restoration school.
09:01Look what's here.
09:02A beautiful workshop.
09:04Mauro is their master mechanic.
09:07Look at that.
09:08The car's made it.
09:09Hello.
09:10How are you?
09:11Hi, Mike.
09:12How are you?
09:13Nice to meet you.
09:14Very good.
09:15This is Elvis.
09:16Nice to meet you.
09:17Karina.
09:18Karina.
09:19These are students for our school here.
09:20She's learning how to fix cars and restore cars.
09:22It's a great place.
09:23Can we say we're slightly embarrassed because we've arrived with not a very clean car.
09:28Yes, yes, yes.
09:29It's a little bit dirty.
09:31But this is our iconic car.
09:33This is a great deal for Brazil.
09:36It's an amazing project for us.
09:38It's like a diamond.
09:40Well, we better make it shine like one.
09:43Okay.
09:44Yeah, that do.
09:45Just there.
09:47Here we go.
09:49That's a good few months of Sao Paulo dirt right there.
09:53Let me tell you.
09:54I hate dirty cars.
09:55Oh, I hate dirty cars too.
09:57I love this blue underneath all that dirt.
10:00Oi.
10:01Sorry, buddy.
10:02There's no way he should be in charge of a hose.
10:05Okay, Mike.
10:06The car looks great.
10:08We can work on the car.
10:10The car might look good, but my main concern is that rough running motor.
10:17I have to see an oil leak, which I wasn't hoping to find.
10:24Let's see where that's coming from.
10:26There's oil everywhere.
10:27Problem is with these cars, because it's all open.
10:30It's exposed.
10:31It's air cooled.
10:32The oil gets blown around all over the place.
10:34It's often quite difficult to see where it's coming from.
10:36So that's one thing.
10:38The other thing is that this exhaust is not in good shape either.
10:43It's heavily corroded.
10:45I can actually see that it's been repaired a couple of times.
10:48It's been welded.
10:49I can't fix that.
10:50It's been repaired so many times.
10:52I think that's going to be an expense.
10:53We're going to end up buying a new one.
10:55Carina, can you help us a little bit to lift the car, please?
11:08Of course.
11:09The elevator there.
11:11Obrigado.
11:12Having discovered some potentially costly problems with our SP2 engine, Mauro and Carina
11:17are helping me to remove it.
11:23The SP2 featured a 1.7-litre version of VW's tried and tested flat-four engine.
11:29Right, let's bring it back over here carefully.
11:36But it's low down position under the boot floor means access is limited.
11:41So there's no chance of finding the oil leak with it still in the car.
11:44While Elvis gets friendly with the engine, there's a job I want to tackle.
11:51Right, I did notice one thing in this centre console.
11:54It's got a few cracks in it.
11:55I reckon I can get this across to somebody to fix it.
11:59Thankfully, the restoration school doesn't deal with just the oily bits.
12:03Hello.
12:04Hello.
12:05Hello.
12:06How are you?
12:07Seeing your mic?
12:08My name is Breta.
12:09Breta.
12:10Breta.
12:11Okay.
12:12Well, they sent me up here because apparently you're good at repairing things.
12:17This is a console from SP2.
12:19Yes.
12:20This is where it's damaged.
12:21No problem.
12:22And this is a pad.
12:24Yes.
12:25To feel more comfortable.
12:27Comfortable.
12:28Yes.
12:29Can you do the same?
12:30Yes.
12:31Okay.
12:32So it's a tiny modification to the car that's going to improve it and make it more comfortable.
12:39Breta.
12:40I got this.
12:41I got this.
12:42Wow.
12:43Okay?
12:44I got this.
12:45Wow.
12:46Exactly.
12:47I know.
12:48Exactly.
12:49I know you're so impressed.
12:50Preta is right now going, he's a brilliant worker.
12:54He's amazing.
12:55You know, the one thing about this place and the reason we've got our SP2 here is because
13:01they inspire young adults to come and learn craft, come and learn engineering, come and
13:08learn all about design.
13:09Gets them inspired into doing something that's not just sat behind a computer desk.
13:14It's a hands-on craft.
13:15It's wonderful to see.
13:16It's actually going to look like a brand new item again, isn't it?
13:20It's going to look fantastic.
13:21Now, there is definitely an oil leak coming from here at the end of these tubes here.
13:35These are the pushrod tubes that operate the valves on the outside end of the cylinder heads.
13:42The little rubber seals inside here fail over time and these leaks are not unusual at all.
13:47The problem with changing these tubes is that the only real way to do that is to remove the cylinder head.
13:53Now, that's such a big job.
13:55There's a company that has developed this.
13:57It's a two-piece pushrod tube with a spring in the middle, which means you can shorten and lengthen it like that,
14:04so that you don't need to take the cylinder head off to fit that into this gap.
14:08It's absolutely genius and it's going to save me a load of time.
14:13The first part of the process is to remove the rocker cover, which on these engines is held on with this giant spring clip.
14:24Rocker cover off.
14:25You can now see the rockers themselves together with the pushrods that run down each of these individual tubes.
14:32To be able to remove the tube, I'm going to take the pushrod out first.
14:38Right.
14:39These are the pushrods that I'm talking about.
14:42To make sure that they go back into the engine in the same order, the same position they came out.
14:47I've labelled up a bit of cardboard here.
14:49I'm just going to make sure that I know which one is which.
14:54Over time, each pushrod and rocker have worn in unison.
14:58If the pushrods were paired with the wrong rockers, the components wouldn't be properly bedded in with each other,
15:03which could lead to vibrations.
15:06What I'm about to do looks like complete butchery, but it's not.
15:09It's actually a nice, simple and clever way to get rid of the existing pushrod tubes.
15:14I'm going to use these pliers to squash them flat, put a little twist in them, allowing me to get rid of it.
15:20Then I can put my new extendable ones in.
15:22That is all the old bits off now. I've got my new stuff ready to start going on, but I don't ever like to put bits back onto an engine in this state.
15:35It's got oil all over it. The whole thing needs a good clean up.
15:40And it is knocking on and losing light rapidly, but it's got to be done.
15:44Could be a late one.
15:45Morning, Mauro. Hello, Aries. How are you?
15:58Yeah, I'm good. I'm good.
16:00While I'm back at the workshop carrying on with the oil leak.
16:03Now that, that looks amazing.
16:07In the suburbs of Sao Paulo, I'm hitching the lift with Jao from the SP2 Club.
16:13So let's go.
16:14Go, yeah.
16:16Great.
16:17Oh, this is amazing.
16:19It's a stunning car. I love the colour, the silver with the red down the side, the tan interior.
16:25I think it's the iconic look for one of these.
16:30To make sure we do justice to our SP2, Jao has arranged for me to meet its designer, known simply as Jotta.
16:38I've had this obsession with this car for two decades.
16:44The thought that I can actually meet the guy that designed the car, I'm kind of nervous, I'll be honest with you.
16:50It's a bit like meeting your heroes.
16:52Yes, I'm also a fan of him.
16:56I will have the great pleasure to present him to you.
17:02Mario, do you want to start on the other side?
17:04Yes, yes, for sure.
17:05Nice one.
17:06Okay.
17:07These are our new collapsible pushrod tubes.
17:09It's a good, clever little, simple system, this, isn't it?
17:12Yes.
17:13It's great.
17:14Saves us taking the heads off.
17:16It's great because we don't need to disassemble all the engines to change the tubes.
17:20Exactly.
17:21I'm just putting some clean, fresh oil around the seals to make sure they get seated correctly and give us a nice, tight seal.
17:29The only trouble is they become very slippery when they're covered in oil.
17:32Yes, yes, we've got the oil.
17:34Not only do they work, it's nice, shiny, clean bits back on the engine, makes it look good.
17:42Yes, it looks like a new engine, brand new parts.
17:44Which I like.
17:45I like it.
17:46Having spent around 650 reals on parts, the engine should now be leak-free.
17:51Maro, I'd quite like to paint this black.
17:57I want to make it look like new.
17:59Do you think the students might be able to do that for me?
18:01Yes.
18:02What would be the word in Portuguese for spray paint?
18:05Chinta spray preta.
18:07Chinta spray preta.
18:08Chinta spray preta.
18:09Chinta spray preta.
18:10Correct.
18:12Chinta spray preta.
18:13Okay.
18:14Karina.
18:15Hi.
18:16Bear with me.
18:17Painted.
18:18Um.
18:19Chinta spray preta.
18:20Okay.
18:21Yes?
18:22Okay.
18:23Chinta spray preta.
18:24Right?
18:28For the price of a can of spray paint, this 50-year-old engine cover will look as good
18:32as new.
18:33And while the paint dries, Maro tells me it's time for lunch.
18:38Smells incredible.
18:40The size of it.
18:41They do meat very, very well here.
18:45Can you maybe ask Karina for me why she came here?
18:48What is it about, you know, this school and why did she want to be part of the project?
18:52Her uncle had a little workshop to fix cars.
18:56She tried to help him all the time and he told her this is not a job for girls.
19:02Oh, really?
19:03Wow.
19:04Yeah.
19:05And now she had this opportunity to learn this job here in the foundation in our school.
19:11Yeah, very good.
19:12And...
19:14Ottimo.
19:15Ottimo.
19:16Ottimo.
19:17Arriving at Jota's house, it seems he's laid on quite a welcome party.
19:22Wow.
19:23This is fantastic.
19:24Look at the colour.
19:25This lot love an SP2 almost as much as I do.
19:30Bom dia.
19:31Bom dia, gentlemen.
19:32Wow, look at that.
19:33Red with tan leather interior.
19:35That's nice. What makes the SP such a special car here in Brazil?
19:40The design is completely different from anything that we had in Brazil back then.
19:44Even back in the 70s, they were not common going around.
19:48And they were very expensive, so people didn't have this going around very much.
19:52When you drive your SP down the road, the people wave or salute.
19:56Wave, laugh.
19:58Laugh, give your heart signs.
20:00Kids love it.
20:01Kids love them as well.
20:02Yes, people love it.
20:03My heart is racing.
20:04I'm finally getting to meet the man who designed this Brazilian masterpiece.
20:08This is a beautiful house. It's stunning.
20:10Let me present your Jota.
20:12Ah, there he is.
20:14Jota, just so happy to meet you.
20:17Hola.
20:18I'm happy.
20:19Thank you very much.
20:21What an incredible house.
20:23We've got SP2s everywhere all over the wall.
20:26I can see very clearly there's elements in all these cars that are similar in a way to the SP.
20:33They're very low-slung coupe with a large back.
20:37This is the original one.
20:39Ah, that's the original SP.
20:41Yes, of the SP2.
20:42Wow.
20:43Look at that.
20:44That's the original drawing.
20:46And look at the wheels.
20:48It's got magnesium wheels on it.
20:50These are the mag alloy wheels.
20:52That makes the car look so much different, doesn't it?
20:56That's what we need to do.
20:58Very nice.
20:59How nice is this, Mr. Jota?
21:02We've just got a few questions.
21:03Yeah.
21:04A few questions to Mr. Jota.
21:06No, Mr.
21:07Jota.
21:08You designed the most amazing car.
21:11People love this car.
21:14What was your inspirations back then?
21:16I feel proud of the Jaguar XK 120 and Miura.
21:23It was a Gandini car that I didn't know, but it was Lamborghini Miura.
21:30What I did was a mere pretentious copy of what was done at the time.
21:37You're being very, very modest.
21:39We think it's a very special car.
21:41So, at the time when the car was released, some people said that the power and the performance
21:48didn't match the looks.
21:50That was a product of Volkswagen.
21:54We didn't have the opportunity to develop a car with a power, with a stronger capacity.
22:05It was a Fusca with a different appearance.
22:10Who wanted a motor, bought a Lamborghini.
22:16It's the perfect answer.
22:18It's the perfect answer.
22:19I think it's absolutely amazing, as it is.
22:23But, do you have any regrets?
22:25De rodas maiores.
22:27Rodas mais poderosas.
22:29E mais largas.
22:31Só que, nunca tivemos essa oportunidade, porque a gente já tinha uma mecânica definida.
22:38Alright.
22:39Well, I've learnt a lot.
22:41Thank you, Obrigado, for giving us this time.
22:43It's absolutely amazing.
22:47Well, that was a real treat, wasn't it?
22:49Meeting Jota.
22:50And I could get it from him, that he would love to have improved the car.
22:54If he had another chance, he would have put a bigger power plant and some alloy wheels.
22:58He would definitely have done that.
22:59Now, we can't change the engine, and we can't do all of that stuff.
23:02But we can definitely make improvements to ours.
23:05And maybe turn it into the car it should have always been.
23:09Alright.
23:10Let's go.
23:11Another day in paradise.
23:12Well, you know that saying, never meet your heroes.
23:14You know, a bit like that first time you met me.
23:15You know that saying?
23:16Yeah, because they shatter your illusions.
23:17Just like when I met you.
23:18Well, I think I met a hero yesterday, and he was so humble and so gracious, it was amazing.
23:23So Jota, every single picture of ESP, they've got an amazing set of alloy wheels.
23:33Oh, yeah?
23:34Amazing.
23:35Yeah.
23:36Amazing.
23:37Yeah, it changes the whole dynamic of the car.
23:39Every car that I've seen has steel wheels.
23:42I sort of just nodded to a few people and said, you know, why don't you have the alloy wheels?
23:47And they went, they're really hard to find.
23:49But I think that's going to be the best.
23:50Yeah.
23:51Yeah.
23:52Yeah.
23:53Yeah.
23:54Yeah.
23:55Yeah.
23:56Yeah.
23:57Yeah.
23:58Yeah.
23:59Yeah.
24:00Yeah.
24:01Yeah.
24:02Yeah.
24:03Yeah.
24:04Yeah.
24:05Yeah.
24:06I think that's going to be my mission, not to find a set of those alloy wheels.
24:07These magnesium alloy wheels were fitted to the original SP prototype when it was unveiled
24:13in 1971.
24:14But by the time the car went into production, the accountants had insisted on cheaper steel
24:20rims.
24:22Fitting the original alloys would be a huge selling point for our car, although they won't
24:27come cheap, even if you can find them.
24:29Wow, look at that, look at that. That is fantastic. I might leave this man's help.
24:34You just need to keep the faith Elvis.
24:38Please let me find a set of wheels, that's all I'm asking for.
24:43What is he doing?
24:45Tell you what Mike, I'll leave you two to him. I've still got plenty to do on that engine.
24:50When I drove this car, it was clearly down on power. It didn't have the performance that it feels like it deserves.
24:57But also it wasn't running well.
24:59Now I could take apart these twin carburettors here, service them, probably improve all of that.
25:05But actually we could upgrade them to slightly larger carburettors and that will also improve the performance.
25:11New carbs will be a 3,400 real bite out of our budget, but should give a significant boost in power.
25:18I've unbolted the manifold because I'm actually going to take the manifold and the carburettor off at the same time.
25:24Now I've just got to disconnect the fuel hoses and we're going to get rid of the whole lot.
25:28Hi, Obis. Look.
25:30It's here.
25:31Look, everything is brand new.
25:32Absolutely love it, mate.
25:33Yeah, nice.
25:34Look the difference.
25:35You can compare the two, can't you?
25:36This new one, the Jets are bigger, the Venturi is bigger.
25:39So you're going to get more fuel and air mixture into the engine, which gives us a bigger bang for our buck and a little bit more performance.
25:44Yeah.
25:45I like it. Now you've done a few of these before, right?
25:47So...
25:48Yes, yes. I think it's a good idea. The car looks a sportive car. I think we put the new carburettors, we can take more force to ride more faster with the car.
25:57Let's get these on.
25:58OK.
25:59In theory, this uprated system could boost performance by 10 to 15%.
26:06So that's the manifold now with its little insulator plate on there, and that means the carburettor can now slot on top.
26:13I really need a set of the alloy wheels.
26:18How difficult?
26:23Magnesium alloy wheels. No? Really impossible? Seriously?
26:30I mean, I'm exhausting every option here.
26:37OK, so I've got both new carburettors on, and this connects them both together.
26:42When you push down the accelerator pedal, it operates both carburettors at the same time.
26:47The final thing to do is to set them up.
26:50Both carburettors should reach full throttle at exactly the same moment.
26:54So that one's hard against a stop. This one still has a little bit of movement in it.
27:00But luckily, there's a bit of adjustment I can do to make that happen.
27:06Lovely.
27:08On top of these nice shiny new carburettors, two nice shiny new air filters.
27:13High performance, of course.
27:15Not only should they help our engine run smoothly, they're going to up its performance.
27:19And also, they look great.
27:22Tell you what, though, I've worked up a thirst.
27:25Two caipurinias.
27:27OK, thank you.
27:31Cheers. And enjoy your caipurina.
27:33Is it healthy?
27:34Oh, it's got a piece of cucumber in it.
27:35Oh, yes, of course, it's one by five a day.
27:37How did you get on today? Wheels?
27:39I didn't find any.
27:40That was your mission, surely, today?
27:43Can't find them.
27:45I jump on the phones, I've talked to people.
27:47I've literally become best friends with every person in the SP2 Owners Club.
27:53And...
27:54It's not about your social life, mate.
27:55I know.
27:56Did you find any wheels?
27:57It looks great, but those wheels are going to make it better.
27:59Well, thank you for putting even more pressure on me.
28:01There you go.
28:02I haven't got a clue where I'm going to find them.
28:12Right.
28:13Let's take the old distributor out.
28:15While Mike continues the search for those elusive wheels,
28:20I've devised another performance upgrade for our SP2.
28:26I've got one last little trick up my sleeve
28:29before I finally put the engine back into the car.
28:31And it might look like a standard distributor, but it's not.
28:36Unlike a traditional mechanical distributor,
28:38this one features a computer module
28:40that enables us to adjust the engine's ignition timing
28:43to increase power at certain RPMs.
28:46Right.
28:47There we go.
28:48That is our new distributor in.
28:50And I'm actually quite excited by this, you know.
28:52This is a new bit of kit that I've never even seen before.
28:55And if it works the way it should, it's going to be brilliant.
29:00I can't test out the new distributor or carburettor
29:02until the engine's back where it belongs.
29:06Re-seating the motor in the SP2's tiny engine bay
29:09is far from simple.
29:11Over that little step.
29:13We need to be careful.
29:14The last thing I want to do is damage the car,
29:16the engine, or both.
29:18Down you come.
29:19Yeah.
29:23Yeah, a little touch more, mate.
29:25OK.
29:29In busy Sao Paulo,
29:30I'm refusing to give up the hump for the SP2 alloys.
29:33I managed to track somebody down who has a set of wheels.
29:37He's got a set.
29:38Which is good news.
29:39But he won't sell them.
29:40Which is bad news.
29:42But I've got a plan to help twist his arm.
29:45Oh.
29:46Hello.
29:47Hello.
29:48How are you?
29:49I'm asked by a gift scotch whisky.
29:52Scotch whisky?
29:53Yeah.
29:55Aha!
29:57So if I was to give this to a Brazilian,
30:00Brazilian, they would be happy?
30:02They would?
30:03They would?
30:04Yes.
30:05OK.
30:06I love that.
30:07It's wonderful.
30:09Right.
30:10Let's hope this works.
30:12At the workshop, another new part's arrived,
30:14and it's the most expensive so far.
30:17Hello, Alex.
30:18Aha!
30:19Here.
30:20There it is.
30:21A twin-pipe exhaust system costing 4,000 reals.
30:27Here we go.
30:30Another nice shiny bit for the back of our car.
30:35More than that, it gives us a little bit of extra performance.
30:38The bore of a pipe is all a little bit larger than before,
30:41so whilst with those bigger carburettors
30:43we're getting more air-fuel mixture into the engine,
30:45this high-performance stage one exhaust
30:47is going to help us to get all of that out as well,
30:49and the whole thing should boost our performance.
30:53This is the final piece of the performance puzzle.
30:57That's it, which means I'm ready to fire it up
30:59and listen to how this thing sounds.
31:03We're about to find out if the new carburettors,
31:05distributor and exhaust work together in harmony.
31:09Here goes.
31:15Sounds great!
31:19Yeah, right, sounds really good at the exhaust,
31:21but I've also got a nice intake sound
31:23from those massive carburettors too.
31:27Hoo-hoo-hoo!
31:30Hola!
31:31I'm looking for Victor.
31:33Yes.
31:34All right, thank you.
31:36Victor is a VW restorer, collector and the current guardian
31:40of a set of ridiculously rare magnesium wheels.
31:44Wow!
31:45Wow!
31:46Wow!
31:47Oh, Mike!
31:48Victor!
31:49Nice to see you!
31:50Mike!
31:51Welcome!
31:52Very nice to see you.
31:53I feel like I've stepped into some kind of Volkswagen dream.
31:56This is incredible.
31:57Yeah.
31:58You have one of every flavour of Type 2.
32:01And you have this as well.
32:03This is the...
32:04Oh!
32:05My baby.
32:06SP-1?
32:07The SP-1.
32:08The dream of each collector.
32:10One of ten.
32:11One of ten in existence.
32:14The SP-1 was an early production version of the SP-2
32:17and only 88 were ever made.
32:21Just because I can say I touched it.
32:23Yes, you can touch.
32:24There you go.
32:25Just a little, man.
32:26Just a little.
32:27That's incredible.
32:28So, um, you have a set of alloy wheels for an SP-2.
32:33Yes.
32:34That you don't want to sell.
32:36I don't sell.
32:37I was kind of wondering.
32:38I can show you.
32:39Hey, can I see them?
32:40Yes.
32:41Let's go upstairs.
32:42Yeah, lovely.
32:43One, two, three.
32:44Hey!
32:45Oh, there's parts everywhere.
32:47Oh!
32:48I feel like these are the crown jewels.
32:51They're actually really nice, aren't they?
32:53I know they're not for sale.
32:56You keep saying they're not for sale.
32:58If I said 5,000...
32:59Oh, no way, Mike.
33:01They cannot sell to you.
33:026,000.
33:036,000.
33:046,000 real.
33:05A little more.
33:06Well, you would sell them then.
33:07Yes.
33:08See, there is a price.
33:0911,000.
33:10You want 11?
33:11Yes.
33:1211 is too...
33:13Hold on.
33:14Hold on.
33:15Oh.
33:16I thought I'd present you with a gift.
33:19Oh, very nice.
33:21If I was to give you a gift and 10,000 real, can we have a deal?
33:2910,000 real.
33:3110,000 reals is about 1,400 quid, so they certainly weren't cheap, but the sense of achievement
33:48is priceless.
33:49This has been a fantastic day so far, and it's not over.
33:53You know why?
33:54Because I can smell a barbecue.
33:56They're doing lunch.
33:57Oh, this is lovely.
33:59I never expected this today.
34:00Oh, my pleasure, Mike.
34:02Oh, thank you.
34:03I've got a nice set of wheels and an amazing lunch with a beautiful family, so it's very
34:09nice.
34:10And here we have a RPM voltage temperature.
34:15At the workshop, electrics whiz Manan is a dab hand at setting up distributors like ours.
34:22This distributor, this clever piece of kit, it's Bluetooth, right?
34:26Yeah.
34:27Here in the cell phone, you can change the points of the engine.
34:30So this is RPM, the engine speed along the bottom.
34:33This is the degrees of timing.
34:35Exactly.
34:36So what you're saying with this, you can change the timing of the engine at different points
34:41in the engine's rev range.
34:43Exactly.
34:44You must have already designed a map for this engine, right?
34:46Yes, I have.
34:47I sent you.
34:48Perfect.
34:49Modern cars allow you to remap the ignition timing by plugging in a laptop.
34:53The new distributor allows me to do a similar thing on a 50-year-old VW.
34:58And this box of tricks has one more clever feature.
35:02We have our other option for immobilise your engine too.
35:07So nobody can start it.
35:08Exactly.
35:09Now, turn on.
35:10I love it.
35:11I love it.
35:12I love it.
35:13Elvis.
35:14How you doing, buddy?
35:15This is going to feel like all your Christmases have come at once.
35:19You found them.
35:20Did I find them or what?
35:21Mate, they look awesome.
35:22They are fantastic.
35:23And they look how nice they are.
35:25So I tracked down somebody and he didn't want to sell them.
35:26I managed to throw a number at him that he was happy with.
35:27And I bought the wheels.
35:28So that means it must have been a big number to change his mind.
35:29It's got the word thousands in it.
35:30How many thousands?
35:31Come on.
35:3210,000 real.
35:33I mean, I reckon I'm up to maybe 12,000 max.
35:36Let's just hope they pay for themselves when we come to sell.
35:37So I've put it out there in amongst the community and I have a father and son team that are on the hook around 220,000 real.
35:41Good.
35:42I've said to them, look, we think it's going to happen to be a big number that he was happy with.
35:46I bought the wheels.
35:47And I bought the wheels.
35:48So that means it must have been a big number to change his mind.
35:49It's got the word thousands in it.
35:50How many thousands?
35:51Come on.
35:5210,000 real.
35:53I mean, I reckon I'm up to maybe 12,000 max.
35:54Let's just hope they pay for themselves when we come to sell.
35:57So I've put it out there in amongst the community and I have a father and son team that are on the hook at around 220,000 real.
36:04Good.
36:05We think it's going to outperform a standard SP.
36:08So I've arranged to have an SP2 delivered to a racetrack.
36:12We have to beat a standard SP2.
36:14So let's hope it doesn't fail.
36:16All we've got to do is bolt the wheels on, finish it up and let's get there and shove it.
36:19Right.
36:20I'll get the wheels.
36:21Just give me a second just to, just to savour the fact that I'm in Sao Paulo, Brazil in an SP2. I just can't tell you just this moment. I've got goosebumps. Look at my hair. Look genuinely. Look at my hair. It's all standing up on end.
36:36This car is just to die for.
36:51We're on our way to a local drag strip to meet potential buyers. Right now though, selling is the last thing I want to do.
37:06It fits beautifully. The way that you sit in this car. You're in this slinky driving position. Plenty of space inside the cockpit.
37:19Yeah.
37:22This is a great day, isn't it?
37:23It's quite possibly my favourite ever wiener deal a day. This is easily.
37:29Go on, give it some.
37:32Oh, the sound!
37:33The sound is fantastic!
37:35I've got those giant twin carbs on it now, which you can actually hear the induction noise. You can hear it sucking in all that extra air and then that high performance exhaust as well. Sounds really crisp.
37:46It's bloody brilliant. I absolutely love it.
37:50We get to do some cool stuff, don't we? We do. This is just the best ever day.
37:57Has a car ever looked this good in the sunshine on a track ever?
38:04It's a beautiful car in a beautiful colour. Now looking even better. I've got to say, these wheels, they really do set it off nicely, don't they?
38:11They are the shop window dressing for this car and the impossible find.
38:16They look stunning, but so was the price tag. I just hope the buyers like them as much as we do.
38:23They should love the way the car's running. The Bluetooth distributor has got it purring like a kitten.
38:29Those uprated weather carburetors will have beefed up the horsepower.
38:35And this rorty twin pipe exhaust system seals the deal.
38:39Inside, Preta did a lovely job repairing the centre console.
38:42So, including the $180,000 we spent to buy a SP2, the car rose just over $200,000.
38:52That's about $27,500.
38:54The competition has arrived.
39:00Mate, you seen that?
39:01That looks amazing.
39:02It looks great.
39:03This pristine Volkswagen is the pride and joy of Carlos from the SP2 owners club.
39:09Hey, Carlos.
39:10Carlos, how are you?
39:11Nice car.
39:12Nice car.
39:13Our aim is to prove that our car, complete with its engine upgrades and lightweight rims,
39:17is significantly faster than Carlos' standard SP2.
39:22And the people we need to prove it to have just arrived.
39:25Vinicius?
39:26Nice to meet you.
39:27Vinicius, nice to meet you.
39:28Gilberto?
39:29Nice to meet you.
39:30Gilberto, very nice to meet you.
39:31I want to check everything.
39:32Yeah.
39:33See the engine.
39:34Go ahead, go ahead.
39:35So, let's check the car.
39:37You know we're in trouble, don't you?
39:38Why?
39:39Dad's turned up with the VW top on.
39:40They look like they're absolute experts over these.
39:43I've got Vinicius and Gilberto on the hook at 220,000 Royales, a shade over £30,000.
39:51You like what you see, don't you?
39:52AP carbs.
39:53Yes.
39:54Exactly.
39:55It's got high performance exhaust.
39:56Yes, very beautiful, fits the car perfectly.
39:59There you go.
40:00Part one done.
40:01Yeah.
40:02Box ticks.
40:03The wheels.
40:04Yeah, the wheels, that was difficult.
40:05That was almost like I was trying to break into a Brazilian bank to try and find them.
40:10So, are you happy with what you've seen?
40:12It's fantastic.
40:13Yes.
40:14Color, wheels, exhaust, the carbs.
40:17So, if this car can beat that car over that finishing line down there, does it look like
40:22we might have a deal?
40:23You think?
40:24Okay.
40:25Yeah.
40:26It's okay, mate.
40:27Yeah, okay.
40:28Lovely.
40:29All right.
40:30Thank you very much.
40:31I'll have the keys.
40:32Thank you very much.
40:33Nice.
40:34Right then, Elvis, get ready to lose.
40:35So, here's the plan.
40:36I'm going to be driving Carlos' totally standard car.
40:40Well, I'll be launching a performance-tuned SP2.
40:45To ensure our car's running at max power, I'm going to remotely tweak the new distributor.
40:50I'm now connected to Mike's car via my app.
40:53I can put the performance ignition timing map in.
40:57You're good to go.
40:58So, I'm going to be in turbo mode now.
41:00Do it.
41:01Here we go.
41:02Hold on.
41:03Mate, there's a problem.
41:07It's dead.
41:08This car ain't going anywhere.
41:10Of course, I can immobilise his car from here, can't I?
41:13Try it now.
41:17Ah, right.
41:18Okay.
41:19I'm such a schoolboy.
41:20Well done, mate.
41:21Well done.
41:22You fixed it.
41:23Right.
41:24It's showtime.
41:27This is a race I don't want to win, but I'm still going to try.
41:31I've got a quarter of a mile to show Vinicius and Gilberto that our SP2 has the power to match its looks.
41:38I've got this.
41:42Let's do this.
41:53Oh, come on, you lovely Bill Westby.
41:55Ha-ha-ha!
41:56Ha-ha-ha!
42:07He's got me!
42:08He's got me!
42:09I've got him!
42:10I've got him!
42:16I've left him in my way!
42:20And the winner!
42:21I've never been happier.
42:27What a way to go and get 220,000 real.
42:32One of the best days ever.
42:34Get in.
42:35Yay.
42:40Mate, congratulations.
42:42How good was that?
42:43That was absolutely fantastic.
42:45That looks so good.
42:46Even from behind, I can tell you, it looks great.
42:48It's a little rocket ship, this car.
42:49Did you see that?
42:50Did you see that?
42:51Were you impressed?
42:52The sound, the speed is perfect.
42:54It is perfect.
42:55We said if this car beats that car in a straight race across that finishing line,
43:01we got a deal with 220,000 real.
43:04You still happy with that?
43:05I think we have a deal.
43:06Yes.
43:07Oh, fantastic.
43:09Well done.
43:10Congratulations.
43:11And you, son.
43:12That is awesome.
43:13Well done.
43:14Great work.
43:15Well, listen, guys, we just want to say on behalf of both of us,
43:18obrigado and thank you so much.
43:20It's been amazing.
43:21Thank you to come to Brazil.
43:22Right, shall we hit the airport?
43:24Absolutely.
43:25Because I need a drink and I've got some ideas where we can go next.
43:28I'll get you a caipirinha.
43:29Nice.
43:30Thank you so much.
43:31Thanks.
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