Wheeler Dealers host Mike Brewer loses hundreds | Tech News
Wheeler Dealers presenter Mike Brewer once lost hundreds of pounds on a classic car restoration after the model failed its MOT test. Mike and co-host Edd China purchased a plucky Suzuki SJ410 during the show’s second series, which aired in 2004.
The duo paid just £250 for the model on eBay before spending over £1,000 on repairs. The pair got to work updating the model, fitting a modified suspension, new disc brakes and a roll cage kit. Larger wheel arch extensions were installed to hold the new oversized wheels and boost the car’s ride height.
A new engine and plastic seat covers were also fitted with the model resprayed from white to black.
Speaking on the show, Edd explained: “It’s a real shame because it’s got a big problem. I took it to the MOT and it failed on the welding.”
He added: “There’s like four to five days of work on this. It’s going to be totally uneconomical.
“There’s all the rust around here on the wheel arches and down on the plate, you’d have to do so much work on this.
“Even though the chassis’ is fantastically strong and the roll cage is rough. It’s a really good vehicle but it’s just never going to be on the road.”
The MOT failure means the Suzuki is not able to run legally on UK roads but could still be driven on private land.
At the time, Mike admitted the news was a devastating blow and would have a knock-on effect on the car’s resale value.
Mike stressed that he was “hoping to get good money” for the machine but admitted that he had to find someone who just wanted a bit of fun in running the car on private land.
Eventually, the model was sold for around £500 with Mike losing £770 in total.
When previously asked to reveal the “worst car” he had ever owned, Mike quickly mentioned the Suzuki was top of the list.
The TV presenter told The Telegraph: “Again on the show, it has to be the Suzuki SJ410.
“It was a truly hideous car with no chance of getting through an MOT test, but the television deadline meant I had to buy it.”
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