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Coming Next Issue
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Geneva Auto Show |
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Porsche 911 S |
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Spring Cleaning |
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Hot Lap |
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Chip Foose:
Modern Day Metal Magician (continued) |
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As we watched the A-team work its magic, we were immediately impressed with their precision. A group of three fabricators were working on the front end of the truck, welding, grinding and filling near the same area, at the same time. Another group was fitting wheel wells to the back of the truck, while another builder put the finishing touches on the seat foam. Tucked away in the corner, two more fabricators worked on the truck's new motor.
During the two hour period that we were on the set, the truck's body was removed and sent to the paint shop, the frame was final sanded and sent off for powder coating, and the interior was fitted with a new leather upholstery. No bolt, no wire, and no panel is left untouched. The team, led by Chip Foose, completely reworks the vehicle and when they're finished, Holloway estimates the value of each vehicle to be around $150,000. "But in reality, they're priceless," he says. "Chip's so busy that it's almost impossible to get a car from the Foose shop, no matter how much money you've got."
With the truck shipped off for paint and powder coating, the build team caught their first chance to take a breather. The catering company had just arrived with dinner, and everyone grabbed a plate and plopped down on the nearest comfortable surface to rest and eat. Well almost everyone. Chip was running again, on his way to Detroit for a 12-hour marathon of meetings. He was scheduled to be back on the build set in less than 24 hours.
"Chip is amazing," said the show's script supervisor, Magen Callaghan. "He's the nicest guy you'll ever meet, and he'll drop everything to help you. He talks to everyone, no matter who they are or how busy he is. I think the whole crew admires him not only because of what he's capable of, but because of who he is."
Magen summed things up pretty well. Every good magician entrusts his secrets to a select few. Many choose to surround them selves with a dedicated group of assistants, swearing them to secrecy and relying on their loyalty and dedication. Chip Foose surrounds himself with the world's most talented fabricators, friends and associates. But rather than using a wand, he works his magic with a pen, raw sheet metal, a welding stick, heaps of old world craftsmanship-like talent, and a crew of truly skilled people.
Be sure to catch OverHaulin' on TLC, Tuesday nights at 9:00pm Eastern and Pacific. The episode that we reported from originally aired on December 22, 2004. 
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