Edd China leaving Wheeler Dealers

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Edd China, the 6'7" mechanic who has been part of Wheeler Dealers throughout its 13 seasons, is leaving the show, Cited as a reason, Velocity Channel's decision to ask him to scale back the work that he was doing because the show is "too difficult to make". China said that what the producers were asking would be detrimental to the quality of his work, his personal reputation and the credibility of the show.

Edd China Is Leaving Wheeler Dealers Because Velocity Wants To Make The Show Worse

China is being replaced by Ant Anstead, who has appeared on other auto restoration shows in the UK.

Edd China quits Wheeler Dealers and will be replaced by Ant Anstead

[Blarg]

Where I'm having my Spitfire worked on, the owner took in an Alpine from one of the shows that do the 30 day restorations. It was a very pretty paint job covering a complete mess. 

The interior was never finished properly and was a quick upholstery shop job, none of the door panels were original and ends didn't meet. 

The electrical was a mess, the turn indicators didn't work, the brakes triggered the backup lights. 

They trashed the original gas tank and never found a replacement that fit the car so they put a racing fuel cell in the trunk, taking up all the space. 

The drive train linkage made noise, it had a bent axle and no one ever replaced the u joints. Other parts of the front suspension were just painted black so the looked fresh when what it needed were all new bushings and tie rod ends. 

This is what they gave the customer, no warranty and no apology for taking a car and just bastardinzing it. But it looking really nice on TV and on first glance you think it is a nice car. 

Glad Edd decided to tell the network to find another host. 

[arch stanton]

I've never heard of this show or network

[Tank]

is Edd China related to Ron Mexico?

[mrwicked]

That's a fun show. Good for him though.

They should pull him into Top Gear and do some restoring episodes from time to time. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

5 hours ago, arch stanton said:

I've never heard of this show or network

Velocity is a network that runs automobile-related shows. Wheeler Dealers is their second-most-popular show. It originated in the UK, and in the past couple of years they also opened a garage in California. They find a car that needs work, buy it for a cheap price, make the necessary repairs and sell it on. Although I have heard stories like the one Blarg told from some of the other auto restoration shows, as far as I know WD doesn't operate this way - or at least they haven't up until now.

According to presenter Mike Brewer (the one who buys and sells the cars, and often tracks down parts), when they started out they had him and mechanic Edd China, plus a filming/production crew of three people. That grew to a production crew of 45. When Velocity acquired the rights to the program, they replaced the production company that they had used for the first 12 years, and that is when everything headed south. Filming involved and lengthy repairs is tedious and time consuming, and Velocity didn't want to invest the time.

[Jobu]

I remember early seasons of the show he was rebuilding and repairing. Latest seasons were like "these brakes squeal a bit so we might as well replace the whole front end with new parts."

[Vegas Halo Fan]

As the show went along, they had more money to spend on restorations. I remember an early show in which Edd repainted part of a front fender with a spray can, and the results weren't great.

[Blarg]

The British have a different expectation level on auto restoration. While we will strip a car to bare metal, use as little filler as possible, cut out and replace any rust and spray multiple coats and sealers, they will actually paint their cars with a roller and paintbrush. 

What we would refer to as a good driver they will classify as restored. They rarely go complete nuts and bolts teardown. 

[maximus p]

9 hours ago, Tank said:

is Edd China related to Ron Mexico?

You mean Ronn Mexico?

[Taylor]

On 3/22/2017 at 10:39 AM, Tank said:

is Edd China related to Ron Mexico?

Or Robert California?

[arch stanton]

I know Tommy China is the shop just outside Gate 2 at Kadena where I bought a tea set for my mom

[Blarg]

You're such a good boy. Are you sure you're not Jewish? 

[Tank]

for your mom? yeah, right, nancy.