Finally a Car Resto YouTube channel that you don’t have to watch on mute

Part mechanic, part cameraman, Simon Fordman on YouTube has found the unique balance between soothing ASMR and visual storytelling. His lengthy restoration videos are simple, yet fascinating enough to keep you curious to see what happens next. And you’ll be especially interested to see if his latest rust bucket gets him home.

Fordman’s YouTube videos do not contain voiceover or audio narration. Instead, he writes detailed video descriptions as well as time-stamped chapters to detail and explain the work he performs on a vehicle. He also uses on-screen captions to further expand the narrative, but such explainers almost seem like a nice addition due to the video’s already high production value.

That’s not to say that Fordman’s films are big-budget shows. Not quite, but they seem to have been made with care and attention to detail – just like the way he repairs his latest classic.

(Editor’s note: His favorite thing to do is tinker with his old 300 I6-powered Ford pickup. Maybe I’m biased. -CJ)

Minnesota-based Fordman created his YouTube page in late 2022, but apparently didn’t upload his first video until March 2023. His early works were around 30 minutes long, but almost always in two parts. His videos now have a running time of over an hour.

But the pace is such that the videos don’t seem rushed or sluggish. The only thing slow and lazy about Fordman’s videos might be the weekend afternoon when you decide to sit down and enjoy them as a moment of full gear zen. Even better if you’re a cat person.

As if the jingle and clank of wrenches on an engine block weren’t soothing enough, this year Fordman added a quirky signature to his “Thanks for Watching” outro: a cat being pampered. Spending time with a pet after a long day at work is a decompression tactic that many of us can relate to. Cat, dog, hamster, anything that resembles a friend.

Note that Fordman isn’t making these home videos for mechanics either because he wants to promote a business or sell parts. His YouTube “About” section says: “Howdy. I like fixing things and making videos. I hope you enjoy it.” With currently more than 11.5 million views and almost 76,000 subscribers, it’s safe to say that his videos don’t count as a wasted hour or hours.