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Pilot

A 1964 Thunderbird, a 2002 Nissan Xterra and a 1955 Ford Fairlane are featured in the opener of this series, in which Texas auto-body shops restore dilapidated cars and then sell them for a profit.

Texas is a car-flipping gold mine. There are more unregistered, salvaged cars in the Lone Star State than anywhere in the country. In Austin, garages from around the city converge on public auctions in search of that diamond in the rough that they can flip for a hefty profit.

The car-flipping business is extremely risky – and the margin between going big or going bust is small. Buyers have only minutes to scout the cars before the bidding begins, and they're all looking for the same things. At the same time, others may be eying the same vehicle. So while a buyer bids on a car he doesn't know much about, someone else is driving up the price.

Buyers must have a trained eye, know the tricks of the trade and be willing to take a lot of risks to have any chance to succeed. But the right bid can be the difference between a total loss... and a $50,000 classic. This is the dog-eat-dog environment that has made car-flipping a trade few can stomach.

Check out this clip for a taste of the action.