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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFantomWorks was both a Norfolk, Virginia, repair and restoration business founded by Daniel R. Short in 2006 and a reality series about work at the shop. Episode descriptions show a wide range of projects, from a pre-war Velie with no manuals or parts to a Chevelle adapted for accessibility. Dan Short said filming would end in early 2019, while the shop would continue building cars and tours would continue.
FantomWorks and the show
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It began as a business. FantomWorks’ official team page describes the company as a full-service automotive repair business created by Daniel R. Short in 2006. (Source: FantomWorks official team page.)
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The television series centered on the shop. FantomWorks’ official television page associates the series with Velocity/MotorTrend. Pluto TV describes it as a reality series and dates its first-season episodes to 2013. (Sources: FantomWorks official television page; Pluto TV listing.)
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The show’s premise was restoration work for owners. Pluto TV’s description says Short and his team took on classic-car restorations, encountered hidden problems, and tried to do the work properly. That is the platform’s description of the show, not an independent assessment of the shop.
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The official biography spans several automotive traditions. FantomWorks’ team page says Short had previously restored American, European, and Asian muscle cars dating from the 1910s to the early 1970s.
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The biography’s experience figure is historical, not a current total. The same page reported that Short had over 31 years of automotive-field experience when it was written. The page has no visible publication date, so that figure should not be treated as a current count.
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The hiring funnel was unusually selective, according to the company. FantomWorks’ team page reports about 25 applicants, four tryouts, and one hire for each staff position. The page does not provide a date or independent verification for those figures.
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The official site described a related online project. FantomWorks’ television page says filming began with a new production company, CMAX Media, and that the show was reworked as FantomWorks Off-Grid, with released content and webisodes on YouTube while network details were being worked out. These are statements from that page; distribution can change.
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Projects that show the range of cars
Episode descriptions illustrate variety in vehicle age, starting condition, and project goal. The examples below are not a complete inventory of the series, and the descriptions do not support comparisons of project budgets, total labor hours, or finished values.
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| Vehicle or project | What the episode description says | What makes it notable |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 Velie | Described as the shop’s first pre-war restoration, with no manuals or parts to guide the work. | The missing resources suggest research and fabrication may be part of such a restoration; that is an inference, not a reported episode outcome. |
| 1963 Corvette | Paired in an episode description with a 1931 Ford Model A hot rod; the Corvette had a wedding deadline of less than two months. | The description gives a specific deadline for this project. |
| 1931 Ford Model A hot rod | The episode description says an internet mechanic had dismantled it. | A different starting condition from the Corvette in the same description. |
| 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS | Described as being converted to be handicapped accessible in honor of wounded veterans. | An adaptation project rather than simply a conventional restoration. |
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The Velie episode highlights a pre-war challenge. The stated absence of manuals and parts makes this project distinct from a build guided by readily available documentation and components.
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A Corvette project came with a wedding deadline. The episode description says the 1963 Corvette had less than two months. That constraint is specific to this project; the source does not establish similar deadlines for other cars.
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The Model A arrived dismantled. The 1931 Ford hot rod was described as having been taken apart by an internet mechanic.
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A Chevelle was adapted for accessibility. The episode description frames the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS conversion as a tribute to wounded veterans.
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The series included a Mustang from the mid-1960s. Pluto TV lists a 1965 Ford Mustang among the cars featured.
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A Studebaker truck appeared too. The listed vehicle was a 1951 Studebaker truck.
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The projects crossed national origins. Listed examples include a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1976 Triumph TR6, alongside American makes.
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Chevrolet models appeared across different years and body styles. Examples listed include a 1964 Impala, a 1957 Bel Air wagon, and a 1984 Monte Carlo.
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A Cadillac was among the featured cars. Pluto TV lists a 1965 Cadillac DeVille.
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Official highlights include an Avanti and a Buick. FantomWorks’ season highlights include a 1983 Avanti and a 1941 Buick.
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Other official highlights span performance-oriented cars. The list includes a 1965 Cobra, a 1970 Mustang Mach 1, and a 1977 Corvette.
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The highlights also include a Fiat Spider and a Camaro. FantomWorks’ official page mentions a 1979 Fiat Spider with a hidden crack and a 1968 Camaro described as full of rust and dust.
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A Corvette repair involved sheet metal. The official season highlights call out a sheet-metal fix on a Corvette; they do not provide enough detail to compare its difficulty or outcome with other projects.
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The show’s examples include both repair and restoration challenges. Official highlights mention specific issues such as hidden damage and rust, while the Pluto TV descriptions include restoration, a dismantled hot rod, and an accessibility conversion.
Why FantomWorks ended
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Short announced the end in December 2018. In a post dated December 21, 2018, Dan Short said filming would finish in the first days of 2019 and the show would conclude. (Source: Dan Short’s official post.)
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He said the shop and tours would continue. Short wrote that the shop would keep building cars and that tours would continue. This records what he said at the time; it does not establish the business’s present-day status.
Short also described the burden of filming alongside shop work, including cameras, sound equipment, retakes, early mornings, late nights, and filming over an extended period. He wrote: “The show took over my life and to make matters worse, my wife and I now face almost a million dollars of debt we incurred keeping the production going.” This is Short’s first-person account, not an independently audited debt figure. (Source: Dan Short’s official post, December 21, 2018.)
FAQ
Who owns FantomWorks?
The official team page identifies Daniel R. Short as the person who created FantomWorks in 2006. The cited material does not establish current ownership details beyond that.
Is FantomWorks still on TV?
Dan Short said in December 2018 that filming would finish in early 2019 and the show would conclude. Pluto TV lists the series, but streaming availability can vary by region and change over time.
Why did FantomWorks end?
In his December 21, 2018, post, Short said filming would end and described the toll of producing the show alongside the shop’s work. He also said the show had contributed to almost a million dollars of debt for him and his wife; that figure is his account, not an independently verified amount.
What cars were featured on FantomWorks?
Listed examples include a 1926 Velie, a 1963 Corvette, a 1931 Ford Model A hot rod, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, a 1965 Mustang, and a 1976 Triumph TR6. These are examples from episode descriptions and highlights, not a complete series inventory.
Where can I watch FantomWorks?
Pluto TV listed the series in the research consulted for this article. Catalogs and regional availability can change, so check the platform’s current listing for your location before relying on it.
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