Hardcore Pawn

The Hot Rod’s “Vintage Vendetta” is a single‑episode instalment of the cheeky motoring series that first popped up on BBC Two back in ’98. It stars the ever‑bluff Les McAllister, a hard‑selling dealer with a taste for cash, and his side‑kick Seth, the more level‑headed mechanic who usually keeps Les from getting into too much trouble. The episode opens with the duo cruising into a sleepy suburb to meet a client who’s hoarding a garage full of classic, rust‑kissed beauties – think a cross between a “Top Gear” road‑trip and an episode of “American Pickers”, but with a distinctly British sense of humour. The plot is simple enough: Les spots a gleaming golden‑age roadster that would fetch a small fortune, and despite the owner’s kids begging him not to, he offers a jaw‑dropping sum to buy it on the spot. Seth, meanwhile, tries to mediate, pointing out the sentimental value and the risk of upsetting the family. The episode weaves in a few light‑hearted banter bits, a quick look at the car’s history, and a tense negotiation that keeps you guessing whether the sale will go through or blow up in their faces. Honestly, it’s not a masterpiece, but it’s surprisingly good for a one‑off. The pacing does drag a bit when they linger on the garage’s dusty corners, and the 90s production values make the car‑close‑ups look a touch ropy. Still, the chemistry between Les and Seth is proper entertaining, and the whole thing feels like a love letter to gearheads who enjoy a bit of drama with their chrome. If you like “Only Fools and Horses” or the early “Top Gear” specials, you’ll find enough charm here to make it worth a watch. Rated PG – there’s some mild swearing and a few tense moments when the kids get upset, but nothing that will genuinely alarm younger viewers. This is the first terrestrial broadcast of the episode since its original run, so if you missed the late‑night repeat you can finally catch it on the BBC’s archive channel. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy a proper slice of vintage‑car nostalgia.