Rick Hurvitz

''Pimp My Ride'' is an American television series produced by MTV and hosted by rapper Xzibit, which ran for six seasons on MTV from 2004 to 2007. In each episode, a car in poor condition is both restored and customized. The work on the show was done by West Coast Customs until season 5 when Galpin Auto Sports took over.

The show had several international adaptations, including '' Pimp My Ride UK'', ''Pimp My Ride International'' (in central Europe), and other adaptations in Brazil, Indonesia and the Baltic countries. It also spawned similar spinoffs, including the series '' Trick My Truck'' on MTV's sister network CMT.

Format

This show picks young vehicle owners and drivers from Los Angeles or elsewhere in Southern California. An episode of ''Pimp My Ride'' generally begins with the participant showing his or her vehicle, and convincing MTV that it needs to be "pimped". After this segment, the host (normally rapper Xzibit, but there are occasionally guest hosts such as Chamillionaire) shows up at the participant's house, takes a look at the car himself, makes wisecracks about the particular things that are wrong with it, and promises the owner a complete makeover of the vehicle.

After examining the car, Xzibit takes it to a custom body shop ( West Coast Customs (WCC), in Corona, California, in Seasons 1–4; replaced by Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) starting Season 5), where the shop 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: Underground'' fan had his car painted to look like one specially customized in the ''Need for Speed'' video game series, while a bowler had a ball spinner installed in his trunk, a badminton player had a badminton net installed in the back of his Dodge Caravan, and a surfer got a clothes dryer in the back of his Volkswagen Type 2. Work usually includes new paint, accessories, chrome, tires, and rims, and internal electronics (DVD players, video games, large TFT screens, and other cutting-edge accessories). Most changes are only cosmetic, and mechanical work is generally only done to enable the car to run; the show has replaced entire engines with new engines. Both WCC and GAS are well known for putting their own whimsical touches in their work, such as the aforementioned tumble-dryer, or an electrical fireplace in this trunk of another vehicle.

At the end of the show, the car is revealed to its owner, as well as all the details of the renovation and the custom features; in addition, the participant is usually given a gift somehow related to the car or the owner's hobby.

Episodes

Cast

Seasons 1–4

The West Coast Customs employees shown on the series included:
* Good-natured manager Quinton "Q" Dodson (seasons 1–3)
* Owner Ryan Friedlinghaus
* The heavily pierced tire-specialist Alex
* Tough-looking interior and fabric maven Ishmael "Ish" Jimenez
* Electronics (and outrageous engineering) expert Michael "Mad Mike" Martin
* Accessories specialist, the appropriately named "Big Dane"
* Paint guys Aren, Buck, 2Shae, and Luis. The latter carried on into the following seasons.

After the third season, WCC manager "Q" announced that he would not be willing to take a role in the show anymore. Q cited a desire to expand the company's business with a customs shop in St. Louis, Missouri called Coast 2 Coast Customs. Ryan Friedlinghaus, the owner of WCC, was featured in Season 4 as the "lead" for discussions on customizing the cars.

Seasons 5–6

In the fifth season, the show moved to another garage, Galpin Auto Sports (GAS), as Ryan, the WCC Owner, moved his shop to Corona, California and signed a deal with another television production company. However, the show retained Mad Mike (who quit at WCC and signed at GAS), now dubbed a "car customization specialist". The new cast consisted of:
* "Owner" Beau Boeckmann (in reality, Vice President of Galpin Auto; the owner of Galpin Auto was his father, Bert Boeckmann)
* Electronics expert and "The Wizard of Wiring" Michael "Mad Mike" Martin
* Wiring and fiberglass fabrication "Jason" Ewing
* The wheels & tires specialist Gyasi
* Paint & body Luis
* Accessories specialist Diggity Dave
* Interiors Rick
* Fabricator Cabe Sipes
* Shop crew Z

Replacement vehicles

On three occasions – all season finales – the show did not "pimp" the original automobile.

*In the final episode of season 1, the car to be pimped was actually two-halves of Ford Escorts welded together to make one car, a "cut and shut" job, and was declared unsafe.
*In the final episode of season 2, the participant was studying to be an auto mechanic, and WCC decided to let him "pimp" his car as a study project.
*In the final episode of season 5, Xzibit felt that the owner's car, a Nissan Pulsar, was not worth fixing, as heat from the car's engine and battery fluid was leaking into the cab, creating a fire hazard.

In all these instances, the vehicles of the participants were replaced with brand new cars, with extensive modifications made to customize each new car for the owner.

Worldwide popularity

''Pimp My Ride'' was one of MTV's most popular shows with nearly all of its worldwide viewers, and also in the U.S., where it ranked second only to '' The Real World''.

Canada's music network, MuchMusic, aired the show until MTV Networks signed a deal with CTV, which resulted in MuchMusic losing their rights to MTV programs. MuchMusic's French-language sister station, MusiquePlus, aired the show subtitled in French under the title ''Pimp mon char'' ("char" is Quebec French slang for "car"). The show would eventually re-air on Much in the Summer of 2008, showing the later seasons.

''Pimp My Ride'' was broadcast in Arab countries on both MTV Arabia and MBC Action.

In 2012, MTV Southeast Asia aired the very first episode of Pimp My Ride Malaysia, which is sponsored by Celcom Axiata under its ''Xpax''’s Whatchuwant? campaign, giving Xpax customers a chance to have their vehicles worked on by MTV, hosted by Altimet and Herrera.

Accusations of fakery

Several participants who appeared on seasons 4 and 6 of ''Pimp My Ride'' later stated that elements of the show were either exaggerated or faked. The houses where Xzibit would surprise contestants with the news they were selected were often rented by MTV. The initial poor condition of some of the vehicles was staged to look worse, including the removal of paint, trash in the interior, and bumpers loosened to the point of falling off. Some features added during filming were removed immediately afterwards due to potential issues with local and state traffic laws, and the participants interviewed by ''The Huffington Post'' recalled multiple takes were needed to film their reactions during the final reveal. Some were coached to express more amazement and enthusiasm between takes. The overhaul process, which appeared on the show to only last a few days or weeks, actually lasted 6–7 months.

Taxation Issues

Many, if not all, of the participants were hit with tax bills, ranging from several hundred to thousands of dollars by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board. Reason being, the goods provided to customize the cars were legally classified as game show winnings, and thus subject to taxation as income for their fair market value. This came as a surprise to most, who had assumed the upgraded hardware was completely free. As a result, many were forced to pay for the hefty tax bills over time, and several participants were left with no choice but to sell the vehicle to cover the tax bill. A handful of the participants who used their vehicles officially for their small businesses or travelled extensively due to their jobs were able to avoid or otherwise mitigate large tax bills by claiming the modifications as business/work expenses.

DVD releases

U.S. version

International adaptations

Official adaptations of ''Pimp My Ride'', produced or co-produced by international MTV affiliates, include:

For cars

* ''Pimp My Ride International'' (across Europe), a European version of the show where cars are pimped from all over Europe in the Netherlands at All Stoff. The show is hosted by American rappers Lil' Jon and Fat Joe.
* '' Pimp My Ride UK'' (United Kingdom, 2005-2007), presented by the DJ Tim Westwood. Carisma Automotive are the customizers for the UK version.
* ''Pimp My Ride Baltic'' (2008).
* ' (Brazil, 2007-2008), presented by singer Jimmy London from the rock band Matanza.
* ''Pimp My Car'' (Indonesia), which aired on MTV Indonesia.
* ''Pimp My Ride France'' (France, 2009-2011), which aired on MTV France. The show was presented by Ramzy ^(fr) and had two seasons.

Others

* ''Pimp My Fahrrad'' (Germany), which aired on the German-language MTV Central. In the show, the Hamburg-based bike shop Junior's Club (referred to as "Elbcoast Psycles" on the show) redoes almost an entire bicycle ("fahrrad" being the German word for bicycle), usually leaving only the frame intact. While the show could be seen as a parody of the American original, it is also a loving tribute, using all the elements of the American show with a bicycle twist (Germany's safety guidelines are among the strictest in the world, and getting a road permit for thoroughly customized vehicles borders on the impossible. Similar rules apply in most of continental Europe). It is hosted by German actor Oliver Korittke.
* ''Pimp My Whatever'' (Germany). A spin-off of ''Pimp My Fahrrad'' in which ElbCoast Psychos return to "pimp" anything from a bathroom and a doghouse to a birthday party or even someone's brother. ''Pimp My Whatever'' is hosted by MTV presenter Patrice Bouédibéla. Both shows are located in Hamburg
* ''Pimp My Wheels'' (Italy). Airing on MTV Italy, this show turns old rusty motorscooters or motorcycles into brand-new shiny vehicles. Hosted by the Italian hip hop group Gemelli Diversi.
* ''Pimp My Room'' (The Netherlands) features some friendly competition between three students to see who will win the university student bedroom or apartment overhaul. Subsequently, the room is "pimped".
* ''Pimpa Meu Feed'' (Brazil). Airing on MTV Brazil social media, the show helps participants to boost their instagram, leverage the number of followers and get involved in this (much desired) life of influencer. It is hosted by Leo Picon and Ste Viegas.

Legal action

Viacom, owner of the ''Pimp My Ride'' franchise, threatened legal action against a number of small businesses in 2006 over the use of the phrase ''Pimp My...'' in business names. Pimp My Snack, a recipe-sharing website, received one such warning letter and later renamed the business to Pimp That Snack. A British lawyer specializing in copyright concerns criticized the move, stating that trademark infringement cannot apply to companies that are providing different goods and services.

Similar programs

United States

* '' Monster Garage'': Also features outrageous custom engineering of vehicles, albeit within an entirely different program format.
* ''NASCAR Angels'': Rebuilds cars (cosmetic, and mechanical) for needy, or deserving fans.
* '' Overhaulin''': Car restoration, but with an emphasis on performance enhancements, and focused around American muscle cars and pickup trucks.
* '' Trick My Truck'': CMT's equivalent to ''Pimp My Ride'' features the Chrome Shop Mafia customizing semi-trailer trucks for lucky fans.
* '' Unique Whips'': The East Coast equivalent of West Coast Customs

Other countries

* ''Meke My Waka'' (New Zealand) A similar program shown on Māori Television.
* ''All the Gear No Idea!'' (United Kingdom), on the Men & Motors channel, dealt with motorcycles, with the bike being shipped to US customiser LA County Choprods for work. Unlike other similar shows, the owner of the bike also received a makeover.
* ''Dale' Sayaratak ( ar, دلع سيارتك "Spoil Your Car")'', which aired on MBC 1. The popular malt beverage company "Barbican" sponsored this show and they also "pimped" the cars and showed them in their commercials.
* ''Wheeler Dealers'', a British television program about car makeover and restoration.

See also

* Pimpmobile

References

External links

*

{{MTV Network programs

2000s American reality television series
2004 American television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
Automotive television series
MTV reality television series