Pimp My Ride

Pimp My Ride is a TV show originally shown on MTV, with the first episode airing on March 4 2004. The concept is simple — one takes a car that is old, thought to be unfashionable, falling apart, or some combination thereof, and restores it ("pimping" it). The show picks young car owners (requirements limit participants to their early 20's) living in the Los Angeles/Southern California area.

The show features US rapper Xzibit, who takes the cars to the custom body shop of West Coast Customs, where the WCC team generally replaces most of the components and rebuilds the interior and exterior from scratch.

Each car is a custom "pimp", tailored to the personalities and interests of the owners. For example, a Need For Speed fan had his car painted to look like one in the game, while a bowler had a ball washer installed in his trunk, and a surfer got a full-size dryer in the back of his Volkswagen van. Work usually includes new paint, accessories, chrome, tires and rims, and internal electronics (even, and especially, DVD players, video games, TFT screens of excessive size and other top notch gadgets). Customization and extra gifts usually total around US$20,000 (though the show usually doesn't put much emphasis on costs). However, WCC is well-known for putting their own whimsical touches in their work, such as the aforementioned dryer, or a gas fireplace in the trunk of another vehicle.

Much of the appeal of the show comes from the personalities involved. The WCC employees are an eclectic mix of outgoing personalities, such as the appropriately named Big Dane, electronics expert Mad Mike, tough-looking interior and fabric maven Ish, and the heavily pierced tire-specialist Alex. Xzibit, the show's host, has found a new audience of fans, who appreciate his sense of humor and obvious love of his job. Both he and WCC have experienced boosts in business due to the show: Xzibit has gained wider attention for his music career (as well as hosting and movie gigs), and WCC had to expand their facilities, due to the international exposure Pimp My Ride gave their work. After the second season however, WCC manager "Q" announced that he won't be willing to take a role in the show anymore. [1] (http://www.ballerstatus.net/news/read/id/51902716/)

WCC has faced problems with some of their modifications. In December 2004 the shop was fined $16,000 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (along with fellow shop Unique Autosports) for removing airbags from cars and replacing them with DVD monitors.

Pimp My Ride worldwide

Pimp My Ride is one of MTV's most popular shows in nearly all of its worldwide subsidiaries (numbering nearly 100), the only exception being the US, where it is second place to The Real World (which is generally much less known outside of the United States). It is now in its third season in the United States.

A UK version of this show will launch in 2005.

On German MTV there is an adaption of the show called Pimp my Fahrrad (a translation being "Pimp My Bicycle"). [2] (http://www.mtv.de/pimpmyfahrrad/index.php)

Cars featured on the show

Season 1

1. Daihatsu Hi-Jet (1988)
2. Cadillac Sedan de Ville (1978)
3. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1986)
4. Honda Civic (1992)
5. Mitsubishi Mirage
6. Ford Mustang (1967)
7. Ford Ranger (1985)
8. Pontiac Trans Am (1981)
9. Chevrolet "Luv" Truck (1974)
10. Mustang Convertible (1989)
11. Nissan Maxima Station Wagon (1984)
12. Volkswagen Baja Bug (1969)
    • The "Baja Bug" is an off-road version of the VW Beetle.
13. Honda CRX (1987)
14. Toyota Land Cruiser (1972)
15. Ford Escort (1989)
    • This was two Escorts welded together and was deemed unsafe for the road. So WCC and Xzibit procured a 2004 Scion xB and "pimped" that instead.

Season 2

1. Cadillac Eldorado (1984)
2. Ford Escort (1991)
3. Volkswagen Bus (1958)
4. Chevrolet Suburban (1985)
5. Chevrolet Blazer (1987)
6. Acura Legend (1988)
7. Nissan 240SX (1989)
8. Ford Fairlane (1963)
   • The 19 year old owner was hoping to become a mechanic so WCC and Xzibit decided to let him restore his car himself and procured a 2005 Toyota 4Runner to "pimp".
9. Ford Econoline (1985)
10. Chevrolet S10
11. Chevrolet Cavalier Convertible (1991)
12. Chevrolet Caprice (1996) - This was a former Police car.
13. Honda Civic (1988)
14. Chevrolet Bel Air (1955)
15. Toyota Van LE (1986)
16. Mitsubishi Eclipse (1998)

Season 3

1. Confirmed - Casting completed 3rd May.

Special

1. Jeep Wrangler
   • This car was "pimped" for The Tonight Show announcer John Melendez.

External links

• Template:Imdb title
• Pimp My Ride website (http://www.mtv.com/onair/dyn/pimp_my_ride/series.jhtml)
• West Coast Customs website (http://www.westcoastcustoms.com/Home/Pages/index.htm)
• Xzibit Site (http://www.xzibit.com)
• Busted Rides: Pimp My Ride Gone Bad (http://www.bustedrides.com)
• Pimp My Bicycle website from German MTV (http://www.mtv.de/pimpmyfahrrad/index.php)
• Been Pimped Car Site (http://www.beenpimped.com)de:Pimp My Ride