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Best YouTube Car Channels (Anodyne to Lock-down Boredom)



This exquisite Porsche RSR tribute was custom-made by the eponymous Jeff - of Aussie YouTube channel Home Built By Jeff - and is based on a 1974 911S.  We'll get to Jeff, his excellent channel and the other brilliant cars that he's hand-crafted in a minute but, before we do, I want to explore a few other car-related YouTube channels that are also well worth a look.   


Fanatik Builds:

I'd really, really like to be able to rate this Canadian-based channel higher but the presenter annoys me.  He's a bit of a smart*rse but can't quite carry it off.  There's zero doubt that he's clever, the resto-modding he does with his father on their LS-swapped Triumph GT6 is amazing and it's quite a well-produced show.  Try watching a few eps; you might be more tolerant than I am and, as I've alluded to, the project itself is a proper engineering feat. 



Raising Junior: 

This is another father and son resto, this time chronicling the faithful rebuild of an Alfa 105 "Stepnose" Junior in Malta.  Unlike Mr Fanatik, the presenter and main-man is quite engaging, and the work he and his father do is first rate.  It's easily as good as, if not better than, Jethro Bronner's Alfa-centric YouTube channel, as it's focused on the one build and is released reasonably regularly.  As a bonus, it's in English.        

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ltRW4KR7WzTiNj8Xy6C4A .


The Brake Late Show:  

The Late Brake Show is a bit of a gem, covering all sorts of car-related topics with typical British charm and wit.  My personal favourite episode is titled Brand New Classic Escort, detailing a Welsh company, MST, that builds brand-new MkI and MkII Escorts to varying levels of spec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGko6uK-Fik&t=66s ). 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf2rpBEOs5jglV2YxmKD8hw .


Grassroots Garage:  

An Aussie channel for Aussie blokes, Grassroots Garage covers street car culture in an unpretentious, easy to watch format that's likely to appeal to anyone between sixteen and sixty.  There's a bit of a leaning towards classic Japanese rides - especially rotary Mazdas - from the 1970s and '80s, with footage of cars on the road and informative interviews with their owners.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV4xe5hjz7h2LaJh_z_sutw .


Goodwood Road and Racing:  

Frightfully British, old chap!  If you love classic car racing of the string-back driving glove variety, this is the channel for you.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rador8CU-pTJ6p7WNiv6w .


Mighty Car Mods:  

Another Aussie car culture staple!  As the name suggests, there are some great customisations and builds.  Moog could lose the Punky Brewster look, pull his pants up and learn what hyperbole means but, other than that, the channel's a hoot to watch.  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgJRL30YS6XFxq9Ga8W2J3A .


Petrolicious:  

Petrolicious used to be better.  These days, there are too many "stories" that are little more than sexed-up ads for high-end car accessories and services, not to mention a number of slippery-tongued pratts driving and extolling the virtues of unobtainium classics the likes of which mortals such as you and I have no chance of ever owning.  Go for their earlier videos showcasing aficionado owners and their beloved - and often quite accessible - rides.  Whet your appetite with this ripper:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Dfq7La9rg . 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgyJPixJl95X1ut3E9K99KA .


Soup Classic Motoring:  

I've only recently discovered Soup but I'm already a fan of its laid-back, down to earth format featuring a number of restorations - a Lotus Esprit, a Range Rover and a Mercedes, to name a few - plus other car-related topics.  It differs from the other channels in having no playlists, as such; it has episodes during which a number of restorations, interviews and features are played, magazine-style.  Like many of the channels discussed here today, the presenter is a self-taught mechanical and body work all-rounder, rather than an automotive professional, but this doesn't detract from the quality of his work or his ability to weave video magic.  Highly enjoyable! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl9I7RgD0i7JZ58CK17kKHQ .


Greasy Fingers:  

Mein host for this German-produced channel is the antidote for all the over-the-top silliness exhibited on many of the lesser video offerings.  Learn as he tackles various projects, including his own Porsche 911 and 1960s' Alfa Giulia, plus severals friends' cars, a bicycle and even a Bosch angle grinder.  And all this delivered in deadpan English sprinkled with plenty of dry humour.  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtT3T6iyA-rSNpBc5Qut3UQ .


Roadster Life:  

Join the Italian writer, producer and narrator of Roadster Life for a fascinating look at some of Italy and France's most beloved classic cars.  The episodes generally run for five or six minutes and are chock-full of interesting facts and observations, all delivered in delightfully accented - but easily understood - English.  Genuinely good fun! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDxu3JlOODRQR9ZMLRd6SGA .


Super Fast Matt:  

Superfast's Matt is also a smart*rse!  However, he's the sort of smart*rse that can get away with it, an eyebrow almost imperceptibly raised, looking straight down the lens barrel and not missing a beat.  He also really knows WTF he's talking about - being, unlike most of the others shows' hosts - a qualified engineer.  Check him out for his motorcycle engine-equipped Honda S600 sports car and 70 year old Telsa-powered Jaguar saloon.  Great viewing!  All hail the algorithm! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU5adS8d-YX7GbJcnH0x6uA .


Project Binky (Bad Obsession Motorsport):  

Two slightly eccentric Englishmen cram a Toyota Celica GT4 engine AND four-wheel-drive transmission into a classic Austin Mini!  Worth watching for the quality of their brackets alone!  Get some funk on!  Enough said?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvBHWBzzB7NyU5tIiEZHBg .


Davide Cironi Drive Experience: 

Prettyboy Italian part-time racing car driver, motoring video producer and aspiring underwear model Davide rants lyrical, shouts mama mia and bellissimo repeatedly and gesticulates wildly as he drives and enthuses about mainly - but not exclusively - Italian classic, sports and performance cars.  Alfas are are his particular passion - and he is passionate in a way that only an Italian pretty boy could manage - but this Fiat 131 Abarth clip is a great example of his work:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPKuHBbq8Ng&t=628s .  Brilliant, even if you can't be bothered reading the English subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsD9nSAjE6uq1EPYlCORS9w .


Home Built by Jeff:  

And, finally, there's Home Built By Jeff.  It's like hanging out in Australia's coolest backyard shed watching the mate you wished you were half as clever as being ingenious. See Jeff restore, modify and drive the RSR tribute that this post opened with, as well as the most magnificent Datsun 240Z and Alfa 105 restos you could hope for, as well as further work on his Audi V8-engined Porsche "Rockster," amongst other projects.  Add Mrs Jeff's very popular and super informative Fun Facts segment and you've got video magic!  Easily my favourite and most highly recommended channel!! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk_vb_SJctymCkwnF6sAwDg .

Also worth checking out is the following interview with Jeff:  (https://www.porschepartsbyjeff.com/blogs/10-blog/posts/52-an-interview-with-jeff-from-home-built-by-jeff?country=uk  ).   

Happy viewing!




U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)





Comments

  1. Mark2 September 2021 at 06:22

    Thanks for taking the time to share this many different Youtube channels with us. You can never have enough stuff to watch and glad that you provided these with us. Have a good one.
    Lawyer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alastair Watson5 September 2021 at 17:42

      Glad you enjoyed the post, Mark. There are lots more great channels out there, plus a few stinkers, but the ones listed are my favourites at the minute. If you’ve got any recommendations, I’m all ears; there’s not a lot worth watching in telly these days.

      Cheers,

      Alastair.

      Delete

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