TLC's OVERHAULIN' Turns Old Heaps Into Cool Rides, Secretly Turning Real People's Cars From Junk to Funk

Vehicular Makeover Series Premieres in 1stQ 04

SILVER SPRING, Md., July 9 -- OVERHAULIN' revs the makeover- genre engine with an automotive twist. In this new series on TLC, auto designing legend Chip Foose leads a team of crack mechanics in transforming an unsuspecting owner's bland or junky auto into a unique custom car. To surprise the owner and get the job done in a week, OVERHAULIN' must resort to some pretty tricky tactics to lure him or her to turn in the keys. Family insiders join the scheme. A seven-part series, OVERHAULIN' is scheduled for its world premiere on TLC in 1st Quarter 2004.

In each episode, Chip Foose and his team watch the videotape of the car's owner as he or she talks about the car and his or her dreams for it. OVERHAULIN' finds a way to separate the owner from the car for up to a week -- whether via fake impound, a vacation away, buying the car, using the car for a 'photo shoot,' and more.

The car becomes the star when the OVERHAULIN' begins, as a knowledgeable parts expert notes what's needed and viewers get to watch what the various crews are doing: engine, body and metal, interior and more. With family insiders' help, the host learns ways to personalize each car -- for example, with a two-way radio, fire-engine-like design elements, etc. -- anything to fulfill the driver's fantasies.

After the car gets its makeover, it is revealed and returned to its owner in a fun and surprising way, whether at a car show, parked under a tarp in the garage, on the street where they're taking that sudden vacation, etc. All they have left is to get behind the wheel and zoom off into the sunset!

OVERHAULIN' is produced by Twilight Works for TLC; Bud Brutsman is executive producer. For TLC, Sandra Gregory is executive producer.

TLC is the only television network that uses real-life storytelling to connect over 91 million viewers in North America to the breadth of the human experience. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, the Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Home & Leisure Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery en Espanol and The Health Network. The unit also distributes BBC America. Visit TLC on the web by going to www.discovery.com and clicking on TLC.