A
television programme which applies the conventions of home decorating programmes to cars. A damaged
late model ( though sometimes older)
car is rebuilt and fitted with everything from spoliers and bodykits to almost
camp touches that are supposed to reflect the owner'
s personality. These can, more often than not, be seen as tacky, vulgar, tasteless and even unsafe. These touches include panelling over rear windscreens, pick up beds filled with monitors or in
car chandeliers, for example.
Criticisms of the show are that it's more style than substance in both its presentation, content and the finished vehicle being campily over the top, having its practicality diminished by reduced luggage
space in the trunk. Also, very little (if any) practical instruction is given on how to do something like lower your
car's suspension safely or make your own grille insert. Instead it focuses on fancy post-production techniques, shots of the finished
car at outrageous camera angles and the owner's reaction to it.
The show has also been criticised for glorifying sexism by implicitly glamourising the sexual exploitation of women and gay
men by the use of the
word "pimp", making it socially acceptable by changing the meaning to something else. To-wit: rebuilding a
car. By extension, it is argued that it perpetuates the stereotype that connects African-Americans with criminality and violence.
