Summary

The programme was created with a DIYer in mind. The costs, and thus any profit or loss for a given project, are assessed without consideration of the labour costs of the mechanic (the assumption is that a well-equipped and able enthusiast could complete all work him or herself) but if repairs require professional help, like body resprays, complicated electronics, or windscreen replacements, they are added to the final cost.

Also addressed on each vehicle are its service history, bodywork defects (e.g. rust, dents), worn-out interiors and accessories. Vehicles that have either been inactive for long periods of time or purchased from outside the UK are restored and modified to pass the country's mandatory MOT test.

In common with most similar programmes, Wheeler Dealers features much incidental on-screen advertising. Logos for tools, supplies and equipment are always prominently displayed. Specialist repairers of parts and sub-systems, along with upholsterers, etc. always get adequate coverage in return for favourable price deals. Sometimes, parts and equipment are supplied free of charge.

Part one

• Brewer starts with a budget to buy and then fix up a vehicle.
• Brewer gives a brief history of the merits of the chosen model of vehicle.
• Brewer locates, test drives, negotiates for and buys the vehicle (usually sealed with a handshake and Brewer triumphantly expressing to camera that he's just bought a <name of vehicle>).
• (Starting from series 5, prospective cars Brewer wanted to buy, but needed too much work, were shown. This also took place in Series 1, Episode 7).
• Brewer turns the vehicle over to the mechanic, and together they assess its needs.
• The mechanic begins work, providing assessments of the work and its challenges.
• Brewer stops by the workshop for an overview of progress, and expenditures are reviewed.

Part two

• A quick review of the first episode (for series where each project is split into two episodes).
• Brewer goes on a field trip to procure some required parts.
• Brewer interviews an owner of a similar vehicle in top condition, then drives and comments on the car. Brewer also assesses the merit and likelihood of getting the Wheeler Dealers example to the same condition as the example he is driving. (This feature was dropped from series 5 onwards)
• The mechanic finishes the work on the project vehicle which is subsequently shown on a revolving turntable.
• Brewer returns to the workshop and discusses the finished vehicle with the mechanic.
• There is a final tally of expenditures.
• Brewer drives the completed car, assessing improvements.
• (Starting from series 5, Brewer and the mechanic test drive the finished vehicle together and discuss its resale value.)
• Brewer sells the vehicle to a new owner (after the inevitable haggling). (Starting from series 5, prospective buyers who failed to buy the car are occasionally shown)
• The deal is sealed when Brewer says, "Hold out your hand, you've just bought a <name of vehicle>!" and shakes the new buyer's hand.
• Brewer summarises what the final selling price and profit is (or in rare instances what the loss is) and usually states that they have saved another vehicle to be enjoyed by the new owner.

However, in interviews, following his leaving the show, Edd China has hinted at, at least, some of the sales not having been 'real.' He stated that he, himself, had possession of both of the Cadillacs from the show.

Guest appearances on other shows

While buying more American cars for the show, Brewer dropped in on Chip Foose during the 2 June 2013 (Lotus Europa part 2, episode #91, s06e12) of Overhaulin, where Foose showed Brewer the 1972 Lotus Europa he was customising.

Wheeler Dealers

As of 25 December 2023 269 episodes have been shown, along with 12 recap episodes. For series 1 to 6, each car was covered in two, half-hour episodes (including ad breaks). From series 7 until series 18, each car was covered in a single 60-minute episode.

Wheeler Dealers Revisited

Wheeler Dealers Revisited (ca. 2010) was a one-off special tracking down some of the cars that had been restored and sold a few years previously.

Trading Up

U.S. Top 5 Specials

Discovery U.S.'s Velocity channel commissioned a series of one-hour Wheeler Dealers: Top 5 Specials hosted by Mike Brewer, featuring the top five vehicles of each genre Brewer and China have worked on during the first nine years of the show.

The specials began airing 5 June 2013, on the way to a Top 5 Viewer's Choice finale on 3 July 2013.

These episodes have been shown in the UK on the Discovery Channel at the end of season 11.1 and started on 5 May 2014.

Wheeler Dealers: Stripped Down

Starting in 2020 Wheeler Dealers: Stripped Down is a re-issue of some of the older series, with each program cut down to fit a 30-minute broadcast slot.

Series 1 (2013)

In this series made by X2 Productions Ltd, Brewer navigated his way through the culture and idiosyncrasies of the international used car trade, traveling to different countries. Starting with a budget of US$3,000, he attempted to transform his first purchase into a succession of real deals working his way up to his goal: a US$30,000 luxury sports car. Episodes 1–3 and 5–6 directly connect with each other, with the final car of the former episode being sold in the latter episode.^[6] In the United States, airings on Velocity began on 10 July 2013.

Series 2 (2014)

Trading Up

For Trading Up, Brewer drove a white Toyota Fortuner owned by a used car dealer in India. In Dubai, Brewer's contact drove him around in a white Ferrari F430. In Texas, Brewer used a grey C2 Corvette. Taxicabs featured in the series included a yellow Hindustan Ambassador Grand and a green and yellow Bajaj RE in India, a black LTC TX4 in the UK, a black Toyota Crown Comfort in Japan, a yellow and red Volkswagen Sedan Type 1 in Mexico, a white Ford Falcon in Australia, a white Chevrolet Onix Sedan in Brazil, a yellow Dodge Charger in Texas, and a yellow Fiat 600 Multipla in Italy. For Hire Cars, he rented a Black Mitsubishi Shogun in the UK, a black Chrysler Grand Voyager in Brazil, a dark red GMC Yukon in Texas, a grey Land Rover Discovery 3 in Poland, and a white Fiat 500 in Italy. In Poland, when Brewer is taking the Fiat 126p to get vinyl wrapped, he borrowed a grey Opel Movano, to carry the car to the vinyl wrapping shop.

For the Wheeler Dealers: Top 5 US specials, Brewer stood in China's shop, in front of a red C2 Corvette.

Intro/segment vehicles

The opening sequences and filler segments from series 1 to 9 featured the cars that were worked on throughout their corresponding seasons:

• Series 1: All the vehicles done so far
• Series 2 and 3: MGB GT
• Series 4: Porsche 911 2.7S Targa
• Series 5: Mercedes-Benz R107 280SL
• Series 6: Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
• Series 7: Lotus Elan S3
• Series 8a: Jaguar E-Type Series 3
• Series 8b: Dodge Charger
• Series 9a: Fiat Dino
• Series 9b: Gardner Douglas Cobra

Series 10 did away with using cars on the opening and commercial break sequences, instead using a title card with the series logo and the colour(s) of the episode's car on the background. The filler segments, however, used the following cars:

• Series 10a: Aston Martin DB7
• Series 10b: Lamborghini Urraco P250S

Starting with series 11, Wheeler Dealers no longer uses cars on the filler segments.

Sweden Special

On 2 April 2012, the Swedish version of the Discovery Channel aired a special episode called Wheeler Dealers Sverige Special (Wheeler Dealers Sweden Special). In this episode, the Swedish presenters bought a Ford Mustang for 55,000 SEK. After having to refurbish the brake calipers, swap the engine and giving the car a new paint job, they were able to sell it for 135,000 SEK, giving them a total profit of 28,000 SEK.

Wheeler Dealers France

The popularity of the original UK series led to a French-language spinoff titled Wheeler Dealers France, which premiered on 10 October 2016 on RMC Découverte. The series is presented by Gerry Blyenberg and Aurélien Letheux. Brewer made a special guest appearance on season 2 episode 1 of the series.