The Secret Life of the The Car - Remastered
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ค. 2021
- I've been in my workshop making things ever since, and the covid lockdown was the perfect time to make some new videos, trying to pass on some of what I've learnt. So if you're interested do try my new 'Secret Life of Components'
These old films were remastered and upscaled by Norman Margolus from a 1987 PAL tape made directly from the 16mm print, using machine learning software from Topaz labs. Commentary added in Feb 2021.
View all 18 episodes of the series and read about their background on my website:
www.timhunkin.com/a243_Secret...
The videos are also here @ / timhunkin1 - บันเทิง
I love Tim's comments at the end of each remastered video; it's like an update to each episode.
I feel the same way. I've watched these episodes countless times, but they are enjoyable each time. And now doubly so since Tim has some insight into the making of each episode! It is so very kind of him to take the time to do that little extra step. It's a very welcome edition to the show.
mee too...
that radiator spurting off on Tim is gold, I love the wildness of this filming, excellent program.
Moments like that made me love the show as a kid. Tim made no mind of it and kept on going like nothing happened, although I can only imagine how much washing up liquid he used after the oil incident!
The idea of the Mini guts (and lady driver) driving off on their own was insane.
This show is worth in gold. Every kid should watch these mandatory. I wish I was able to watch them when they were aired.
Rex must've loved all these stunts (I've read your site :) ) You probably couldn't film such a program these days.. Imagine all the permits and safety trainings etc..
Rex was a great man and very obviously a dear friend. Thanks for sharing these 'extras' with us Tim. I was a kid when the series aired originally in Australia and your films piqued my interest in electro-mechanical resulting in a career in it. I'm in my 40's now and enjoy your channel as much now as I did then. Thanks for doing this, it really is great to have you around again.
12:30 The overheated radiator stole the show. You couldn't have timed that to happen if you tried.
"Because I... know what I'm doing."
I LOVED that part.
I believe Tim hit the nail on the head about safety at the end, it’s about personal risk. Health and safety is important but the criticism I have is people don’t seem to be informed why they have to follow certain rules, good safety training teaches proper risk assessment that make you think about what you are doing rather than just blindly following orders.
It’s almost impossible to eliminate risk from all engineering practices so knowing them risks big and small is an important part of being an engineer.
I was particularly struck (both then and now), when you said that Budd was one of your heroes. Engineers and scientists are all too often the butt of jokes instead receiving the admiration they deserve and I thank you for that the most.
The remastering looks so good compared the old versions of this that are knocking around on TH-cam! Good work Tim!
Well, since he has the master copy, it'll always be the better version ^^
@@kawawete that's not at all what it is... read the description.. someone has put in a ton of frikn work to remaster the original videos and give them to us free.
Not only that but they put in all that work remastering them for us when the entire series is public domain and anyone has the ability to distribute them. That means you could copy the episodes onto a VHS(lol) or DVD and sell them legally. So the fact that someone still remastered them and is still working on them all is incredible.
@@cmmartti The British Broadcasting Corp needs to be completely disbanded and the license fee done away with. They are nothing but propaganda anyhow.
He could probably get the cleanup done for free if he could get the film, or at least a scan of the film.
@@tarstarkusz Not sure where the BBC comes into it. TSLoM was commissioned by Channel 4.
Poor Rex. Given the tragic circumstances of how he eventually passed away, that accident is just haunting. He was more of a real action hero than any of us knew watching at home.
I was pretty shocked at the revelation at the end, I have seen this episode so many times and had no idea that happened.
Considering it was dementia and not an accident that took his life I don't see the correlation.
@@SPFLDAngler dementia is beginning to be recognised as related to head injuries when they were younger, a relative of mine had later dementia, and had an accident in his 20s , major concussion
@@jusb1066 if that's true then I'm in trouble. Because I've cracked my head good a few times.
@@1pcfred well i hope not, i wouldnt wish it on anyone, doubt its the be-all , but look at boxers, seems to be common as they age
I made a tribute video a few years ago for the Secret Life of Machines series. I had a link in the description to what I thought was your TH-cam channel. I have since corrected that. Also, I updated the information on Rex. I hated doing that. He seemed like such a loveable guy and I know I can speak for everyone- I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I am happy to see these episodes remastered. I tried the best I could for the tribute video, but nothing beats the original recordings! Glad you are keeping busy. Now I will have to catch up on the new episodes of "Secret Life". Mr. Hunkin sir, you have made childhood memories for me, and I thank you.
Is this the one? th-cam.com/video/8Z_rNUj0HDw/w-d-xo.html
@@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou That'd be her!
This has made my day, learnt so much from this is as a wide-eyed child, there simply isn't this quality of television anymore.
18:37 "Its OK, the viewer won't notice the rope we've just pulled and are now just clearly pulling the car" :)
You say that. I hadn't noticed 🤣
@@tarstarkusz years ago, that wasn't uncommon. Scrapyards would remove virtually everything from the car that could possibly be sold on
@@tarstarkusz I think some of it is that people just don't work on their own cars as much these days. When I was a kid, there were only 5 or 6 cars in our street. Every weekend people would be out with the bonnets open, working on them. These days people just don't seem to have the desire to tinker with their own car.
I also think cars are scrapped much too readily these days. I drove towtrucks for 10 years, working as a subby for most of the main breakdown clubs. We would regularly see 8 to 10 year old cars that only needed a few hundred quid spent on them go off to the crusher, even when you had to pay the scrappy to take them. Then they're off to the "we give anyone credit even if they shouldn't have credit" car superstore for something high mileage and overpriced on the never never
Or maybe I'm just getting old and cynical 🤣
@@tarstarkusz my first car that actually made it onto the road was in about 1998. I had a 1.3 astra that was 12 years old and it was costing me 2500 for 3rd party only. I'm guessing parking it on the street in Bradford probably didn't help the premium any.
Basic fault finding has probably got easier for many problems, and can be done with a cheapy ebay code reader that you can get for under a tenner. I quite often use a cheapy one over my much more complex Launch machine, as its just quicker.
I guess modern stuff is probably more reliable for day to day problems. Fuel injection and electronic ignition don't tend to give much trouble and don't need the constant fettling of carbs and points.
I'm out of the motor trade now, but still look after cars for a couple of mates. I do find it hard to get my head around someone wanting to pay me to replace a simple headlight bulb (I mean simple to do, not one where half the front of the carn needs to be dismantled to get at it) or the windscreen wipers.
I'm guessing that the days of people dismantling something just to see how it works are probably gone now too. When I was a kid, me and my brother would strip old tvs and washing machines we found to salvage bits from. This was at least partly inspired by Tim's original series. In the shed I've got a box full of 2nd had washing machine pressure switches that we scavenged. I'm sure they'll be useful for something one day 😆 I've never actually had to replace one in any of my washing machines
I was about to comment that. Didn't exactly have rewind back then 😝
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making this series and remastering it. It gave me much joy and insight to so many subjects. I was just a few years into my career in industrial controls and design when it was released. I also have a very old farm with many old machines and your series inspired me to keep it running. I am the 5th generation to work the farm. We have old engines, steam engines, generated 32Volt electrical with jar batteries, and much of the horse powered equipment. You enriched my and my families lives.
Tim, I’m so sorry to hear about Rex! I’ve just started watching the remastered versions and wondered how Rex was doing and then saw that he had died. RIP.
I never realised that the car-henge shot from the last engine video goes right into the next about cars. Neat!
Mr hunkin .. thank you .. I had a life time of engineering DIY because of you
30 years later I recognise that is a Peugeot 405 shell, lol
Well, it was Car of the year 1988!
Me too!
I knew as I heard the words that you guys would be in the comments.👍
I would like to buy a 1948 Futuramic. Looks like a nice car. Missing Rex. And don't ever stop being an outlaw, Tim, who dares, wins!
My mom's 2005 Hyundai Elantra has not a speck of rust. I remember cars my mom and dad bought in the 60's 70's and early 80's rusted within a couple of years.
I remember the original series, still fantastic today Tim, thanks for sharing. I remember the original series, still fantastic today Tim, thanks for sharing.
Ive been making toys for kids in my family for years, now I make them for my own kids. Seeing these videos has been so inspireing for me. Espescially the components series. Thank you Tim.
So true about your comment on risk at the end.
I love to share this episode whenever I see someone displaying an old bulbous car as more beautiful than modern slab-sided cars. I love the sleek "space age" contours of newer cars.
Curvy cars to get steel sheet rigidity, I never realised that before. Important piece of design history.. thanks.
I did wonder while watching why Rex didn't have the thumbs up hand out the window after the stunt! 😮
That Cortina on the crane at the end looked a bit close for comfort! There is certainly more aluminium in general use in car bodies along with platic & boron steel alloys as you mentioned. There is a lot more bonding, especially with dissimilar metals to avoid galvanic corrosion & increase strength. There are a number of manufacturers using mechanical fixings too such as self piercing rivets & the like. All variations on a theme though, the concept is much the same. The stunt did look quite unpleasant, as you say can't help but wonder about the lasting effects of trauma. Thanks for sharing & adding the extra detail.
Mr. Hunkin, you will *always* be an outlaw--a mad genius outlaw. The best kind!
Agreed, but he ain't mad. He is, in my view, one of the few sane.
"The aim of life is not to be on the side of the majority, rather to avoid finding oneself within the ranks of the insane."
You are not a minority Tim , its what they want you to think, there many many more of us outlaws just like you ..we are called the silent majority :), this was another awesome episode , if I close my eyes I am back to the late 80s young and care free and living a happy life devoid of the crap we have today, and yes RIP Rex
Ahhh-yes!
Another masterpiece! 👍💛
In the end comments, that is exactly how one would imagine Tim's office backdrop would look...exactly.
Please do remain an outlaw, Tim! You have done all the things I'd like to do, but haven't.
Tim I used to work in the Weld shop at the Honda car plant in Swindon and somehow got roped into showing groups of New employees round my department every couple of weeks. As I went round showing them the robot cells and assembly processes I used much of the material in this programme as my spiel, even carrying a pair of office scissors with me and wrecking them in the process as I demonstrated how "easy" it was to cut 0.3mm steel sheet. I used to plug Edward Budd and Citroën as the pioneers and tell everybody that their basic process was unchanged from the 1930s. This is possibly my favourite episode. So sorry to hear of the difficulties in filming and Rex's mishap. As for the lack of suspension and engine, we can clearly see they aren't there as it sweeps dangerously close to your head so we can hardly feel cheated. As for the identity of the body shell that we later see being pulled back into shape, you mention the make and model not immediately apparent at 16:05
Any guesses on the make and model? I'll go for a Peugeot 405 but could easily be a 3 series BMW? Dunno. Guessing is all part of the fun. I'm almost certailnly wrong though. Were these models even on sale when this episode first aired? Wonderful stuff! Still very much relevant I feel.
That blue escort would be worth about 8 grand now 🤣
You have to factor in the cost of 40 years of storage though.
@@Pianet very true, , no way could I have stored my expired cars from the 80s, I had several Escort, and a few 70s Japanese cars that are extinct
What about the green jag under the stack?
@@MuadDib1402 old jags are worthless 🤣
@@Pianet and 40 years of rust
15:01 Hands off, Perv!
Another delicious slice of nostalgia and pure, quality, British tele. Thanks!
Advances in material like high strength steel combined with mild steel and as many as 9 other metals and crafted from extreme pressure. 20 ton, 50 ton and 100 ton presses can perform multi-stage operations. A flat sheet is pinched around the edge, sometimes heated to anneal the metal, making it softer, but held in place, a second internal creates a smooth shape, punches holes, then trim off the unwanted pieces. Alignment notches cut help position panels for perfect joining. Body panel epoxy is applied but not where pinch welds are used. This adds rigidity to create a tough quiet panel while reducing weight but reduces vibration, harshness and much less vibration. Electro-static coating are added by attached to negative on the wheel and positive to a bath as the vehicle is cleaned, rotated and submerged in an anti-corrosive coating then allow to run out opening in the base shell prior to prep for any coatings from single stage to base coat paints then covered with clear. The last coat has up to four type of “UV” inhibitors to prevent fading of the colors. In the State just in 2018, the average American vehicle was slightly over 11 years old. A record for the times. Some due to economic factors, cost of replacements on government programs the removed use car traded in and turn into scape. That was a crying same as replacement parts do not fit older classic vintage vehicles. Those well worth keeping. Just my thoughts. Certified ASE Master Tech since 1978 - Retired
Good to see this remastered, I remember watching this at school in the early 1990s
Another great remastered episode Tim, as always really great to here your reflections about when you and Rex made it. Certainly does make you wonder about lasting effects though with poor old Rex though...
I'm very happy to see you going back and cleaning these up. They were a pleasure to watch originally and are still enjoyable and mostly relevant I'm also very happy to hear the commentary at the end.
Brilliant! All of this series should be compulsory school education!!
Thanks Tim! My friend's father worked at the Budd plant as a tool and die maker.
12:31 😂😂😂 you handled that very professionally tim, chapeau!
25:00 You have 30 minutes to move your car. You have 10 minutes.
Your car has been impounded.
Your car has been crushed into a cube.
....You have 30 minutes to move your cube.
Definitely wouldn’t be scrapping a mk 2 escort nowadays, even a basic 1.3 4 door one like the one at the end is worth a fortune
Worth a fortune because so many were scrapped. 😀 Rarity = 💷
Thank you so, so much for all the posts, Tim! I absolutely love your shows. I so wish there were still quality programs that not only teach about technology, but share the awe and wonder of the achievements of the human race!
I subbed ruffly a week ago after watching 2 Secret Life of Components vids, thinking.. "This is my kind of guy ... no nonsense and trying to figure out how and why stuff works. I can learn alot from his decades of experience, explorations, observations and conclusions" I had no idea about this TV series from decades ago, which is just gravy. Thank you Tim for passing along what you have learnt (or learned as we say over here). I have been thinking about doing the same my self but cant seem to find the right approach to making vids
“The path to moderation leads through excess.” I agree.
I remember the original series, still fantastic today Tim, thanks for sharing
Tim, I watched the originals as a kid in the 90s. If you visit the US, we can be outlaws together. Keep up the great work!
Thank you Tim. Fantastic. Love your talks at the end
Back when mk2 escorts weren't worth anything but scrap money. How things change when they become classics. As everyone I've spoke to who owned one said if only I'd I've kept that old rust bucket I'd be a few quid better off. Like anything in life you do what's best for you at the time.
So glad to see these posted, loved watching the shows when they first aired.
Very touching part about Rex at the end.
that escort being impossible to repair!! ooh thats a good one now, ! they even make the shells new.
thanks for letting us watch, and the comments awesome!
Agree with the improvements in build quality.
My first car was a mini, which I had around the time this was filmed. And at 12 years old, it was completely rotten and worn out.
I recently brought my daughter her first car. It was 10 years old, but 30 years later design. And the underside looked like it was brand new.
Love all this series. Cheers tim.
Excellent as always. I never get tired of watching this fantastic series of yours Tim.
I would stop for a cup of tea, just to look at all the neat stuff Tim might have around. I have always loved watching his videos. After several years I have found them again.
Good show, Tim! I never get tired of watching TSLOM. I appreciate your observations and commentary, too. Thanks, Frank in West Virginia.
My late father was dead against monocoque construction knowing the inherent dangers imposed by rotting bodywork. Although galvanization first appeared in the mid 19th Century, it took until nearly the 21st Century for it to be first routinely employed with car bodywork.
Yes, aluminium can be used to make car bodywork, but it takes eight times as much energy to make aluminium than it does steel.
I loved these videos 30 years ago when I first watched them; they are timeless and I still love them. So sad to hear what happened to Rex, he was inspirational and kind from what I saw and remembered. Keep up the great work Tim!
The intro music is so great. Absolutely love it.
Very interesting to hear about the past past. -I didn’t know that the old car shapes were due to metal forming.
Lots of insights about the developments.
I love these videos, humorous, nostalgic and very educational!! Thank you
Used to watch these when I was kid with my dad recorded off sbs on vhs tape ,
Some of the best memories with the old boy ❤️
Yes! Thank you so much for bringing us all of these episodes remastered! I know how much work and how hard of work it is and I want you and the video editor to know that we really really appreciate you.
The video I've been waiting for! Vroom!
I don't know why the word "DITTO" annoys me, but it does!:)
thanks tim these are better than ever !
Good show Tim... thank you...
Thanks for sharing!
This series is simply awesome!
I really enjoyed this. Made my day.
i grew up watching this series, i'm so thrilled to see these episodes online and hosted by Tum Hunkin. Awesome blast from the past, truly inspired.
These Videos explain things so good, thank you for this !
Thanks so much for this. Love reliving some found memories of my youth.
Love ya Tim!
Really fine education. Thank you
I learn a lot from you..your are a good teacher
You've just got to keep on keeping on, follow the fascinations, cheers
Really strange how back in the very late 80's, most of the cars that are seen freshly put in junkyards are from the very late 70's to very early 80's era due to the body structure failing from rust underneath. But today, what puts cars in the junkyards are the transmissions and sometimes the engine. Atleast that what I hear.
My dad had like this [I think] 1988 Plymouth sundance. Being in New York, he used to tell me how the body would disintegrate to dust just by touching it from the rust of the body, thus the car being potentially harbering future steering failure, or some other suspension issue. Used to see them today in the house complexes paralel parked with nasty patches of rust holes here and there on fenders and doors. Mostly rusts closer to the ground than any other part of the vehicle. And I am not just talking about plymouths, I'm talking about classic 70's bmw's, mercedes, fords, dodge of the late boxy 70's and early 80's era vehicles. Some moments people would have to tape their headlights and grills back in place.
I was just thinking today before watching this that when I make things, I become risk adverse in a scene. This leads to more problems and more time consumption. In the end I think there has to be a balance of being risky and what it’s worth. Finding out what to risk “by trail and error” will take time and is better staying in one spot.
thank you from Germany and Hungary
Tim it is an honor to see you again, alive and well. I really enjoy your shows and your recent personal comments puts the cherry on the sunday ! on how you had to do it in those time and what as changed since then, keep the good work coming in. :)
You have such a cool sounding theme song, love hearing it every time :)
TY for remastering this episode, being a mechanic I'm rather biased, but it's going to be tough to beat that timed ladder slide I just watched recently :D
I used to download and watch these using a torrent program back in the day but they were only 320 x 240, lol, a tough view but still enjoyable.
Come on I think he deserves 50K subscribers. Right?
About ten days later and Tim is at 53K subscribers. I'm one of them, so glad that I found this channel.
@@andyZ3500s thats great. i only found his channel a few months ago and hes been on youtube for years. He deffinately deserves more recognition.
That Penny farthing looked painful to ride. LOL.
The Chrysler Airflow came out in 1934 the same year as the Citroen. It was a full unibody car.
Same colour mk2 escort as mine early 90s ,on a T plate ,,blue pop 1300 ,put twin webers on her 😮
I thought that side down landing in that stunt car looked rather violent.
Glad he was ok.
10:12 this car looks so good in period
It’s maybe a trick of the camera but that Cortina in the final shots is dangling a bit too close to your head for comfort. Superb episode.
You made timeless videos.
I did wonder about the crash. I'm glad Rex has had no lasting side effects.
These episodes are much better being a 30 mins long Tim.
Thanks for the reruns of these films.
Sadly Rex passed away in April 2019 age 75- but what a life he had 👍 god bless you Rex
just dementia later
I figured the stunt went wrong, to have that confirmed made the thought true.
Remember my first car being rolled very well..that Datsun 100A Cherry looked to be in decent condition !. Never destroy a Mk2 Escort now it would be worth £1000's how times change
Thanks again. By the way Tim, nowadays it's not rust that kills cars it's "death by EML" .....that little yellow symbol winking at your wallet from one of the 50+ ECU's on a new car. Built in obsolescence.
Theme song is a reggae riddim.
Ever time off the ramp is the first time!
Love it'
16:00 you can easily tell that's a Peugeot 405 of sorts though right when looking at it.
I thought I recognised a Suffolk accent, then saw that part of this was filmed at Sole Bay breakers nr Southwold, who are still going