Owning A Classic Car - My Daimler DS420 - Car Review
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
- My Daimler DS420 was made in 1988 and I'm trying to find out a little more information about the cars history. I bought it back in 2017 and use it as a wedding car, although I know very little about who had it before me and what it was used for.
Being a favourite of the Royal Family these cars were also popular as funeral cars, head of state vehicles and with chauffeurs.
In this film I take the Daimler DS420 out on the road and tell you everything I know about the vehicle and give you a tour of the interior and exterior. - Авто та транспорт
I've had a number of these.
Footrests were an option for the rear seat, which are more comfortable than putting your feet up on the folded occasional seats. You could construct these yourself, because they actually fit between the occasional seats under the carpet. Literally a wedge of wood on top of the wood floor. The carpet should accommodate the extra height due to how it is trimmed.
It's a shame you don't have the radio in the rear armrest. It's a completely unexpected luxury for the rear passengers. In one of my cars, I had a head unit in the armrest, a boot mounted CD changer, and a little wired remote on the dashboard that allowed me to control the head unit, all made by Sony.
You didn't mention having a manual choke to start the car. If you're still using the AED and the original SU carbs, consider upgrading to the SU HIF7's and a manual choke. It makes it very easy to start the car, even when the weather is quite cold. It's also convenient when in a slow speed parade in cold weather, when the car won't fully warm up.
Your left side rear resonator is loose from the mount. There should be a loop of metal with an internal insulating donut which that hook fits into. Many mechanics replacing the exhaust system don't realize that they can't put together the whole exhaust and then bolt it onto the car. They need to do the front back to the catalytic converter, then slip the rear resonator and pipe into place on the car, then bolt those two sections together.
One thing you didn't mention is that most mechanical parts are easily obtained. New body parts are VERY pricey, unless they are shared with some other car. I found the window winding handles of my '79 DS420 were from a TR7, and cost something like $3 each. Whereas a replacement door, without glass, chrome, winders, or handles was about $5000. Some parts on the car are no longer available, and finding them even at a breaker's yard is difficult. One example is the optional flag mast for the center of the bonnet.
If you have access to the parts manual for your car, you can order many of the optional items and install them in your car. Many years ago, even drinks and media cabinets were available. Just a few years ago, I ordered Vanden Plas leather keychains for my DS420 fleet, at a cost of under $1 each. They came marked that they were manufactured in the mid 1970's.
Hi Craig! Thanks for watching and commenting. Some really good stuff you have mentioned. I love the idea of adding a CD player like yours. The third row of seats come in super handy for when we use it as a wedding car, but I didn’t know about the foot rests! Thanks again for watching. 🙏🏼
Had two of these at my first wedding, one just for the bridesmaids, I can still remember the post wedding glances from pedestrians as me and my new Mrs were driven through a busy town centre to the reception, she felt like a princess.
ANOTHER BEAUTY FOR THE ROAD ! 👍
Aww, just wonderful! I could almost feel the suspension as u hopped in
Great work. Lovely music too
Great video. My first car was a Wolseley and I’ve retained a love-affair with British cars ever since!
I remember This car in Princess Diana Funeral.🌹🇧🇷
Love the classical design of This car..
Thankyou so much. You have a great voice for this. You also show a relaxed manner which is great too. I love these elegant vehicles. Beautiful. I did own one a 1987 . I loved it. Always did. Enjoy. Its beautiful. The Jaguar/Daimler Heritage Group, have records of who purchased your Vehicle first. Regards, John (Australia)
Thanks so much John! Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching! 🙏🏼
Worked for a funeral director and drove Daimlers. They sold them because new parts were too hard to find. But lovely to drive at 18 mph.
That’s true David. Very hard to get bits now! Agree with the speed too. 😂 Got to avoid speed bumps!
A rather enjoyable video of a beautiful impressive car, I had the Daimler Jag in the 60s, at 85 there are so many cars I would still love to own - maybe an Austin Atlantic and a Riley 1950s, Oh dear the nurse is calling, back to the old folks home :-(
great video and explanation! well done mate! thanks for sharing! Just subscribed!
Thanks a lot. 🙏🏼 Since filming the cars been in the garage getting fixed. 😂
MAGNIFICENT CAR …. I remember them on the road and quite a popular limousine , they used to be
My dream car for many years, I think your version is one of the better on the road. If a 1960's RR Phantom is out your league then this fits the bill with its smooth lines and sweeping style. Thanks for showing.
Thanks for watching and commenting Barry! Now that would be nice a 1960’s Phantom. I would hate to think of the trouble it would bring keep it road worthy but I’m sure it would be worth the pain. 😆
I think these cars are beautiful and I think they are understated and elegant and they epitomises what it is to be British
the body style is a direct carry-over from the Hooper bodies made for Daimler in the 1950s
I have the mid 70's version of this car, with the chrome bumpers and bumper guards. Was always fascinated by them as a youngster, and was fortunate enough to get a hold of one a few years back. There hasn't been a proper British limousine since the DS420's production ended.
Hi James! Lovely to hear you also have one! They are lovely cars! Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙏🏼
@@KrisMcDonald They really are, and it's a shame that so few are still on the roads today. As a child I remember that it seemed as if all you saw in London were black taxi's and black DS420's. My first exposure to a DS420 was seeing a hearse version, followed by 3 limousines. Stunning vehicles for a somber occasion.
There hasn't been a proper old-school limousine of any nationality since then, actually. Mercedes Benz took their 600 out of production in 1981, and today's Maybach version of the S is just... naff, if even that. Rolls Royce ended production of their last proper limousine (The Phantom VI) at allmost exactly the same time as the DS420 went out of production, and look at them now... those modern Phantoms are... horrendous.
As for the rest of the world... they haven't been in contention since the inter war years, and then only a very(!) tiny handfull. Since 1945, there has really only been three marques for proper limousines: Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz and Daimler. And none of them make a proper one today. Hell, Daimler isn't even operative. JLR is mostly interrested in Cheshire tractors these days, it seems...
I had an older one and it had been neglected a little. I didn't have the spare money to throw at it so sold it on. I miss the old girl though. I had to borrow a pal's DS420 a few times and it was a lovely, smooth drive.
Yes they can be a money pit. After filming this I took it in for a little bit of work, turns out to be more than what I’d first thought. 🤦🏼♂️
Worth the effort though because they are a British classic after all.
That’s true! Thanks for watching and commenting. 🙏🏼
I saw one of those in a film titled, "The Legend of Hell House".
I always thought of it as mysterious and foreboding after that.
I am a very occasional driver for wedding car firm that has a small fleet of these cars. While they are lovely to drive, each one very much has their own personality.
Especially the cold start ritual some require!
I've mucked in at the workshop and they are a fairly straight forward car to work on, but they are car that requires maintenance, tlc and an understanding hand to stay roadworthy.
Hey James! It can be a stressful job driving wedding cars for sure. 😂 thanks for watching and commenting. 👍🏻
That’s a beautiful car. Take a bow mate for keeping her on the road. Must be a thrill to drive 👍👍.
Thanks Neil! I think the thrill comes from the constant fear of breaking down. 😂
Thanks for watching and commenting! 👍🏻
Hello from Brazil.
Excellent presentation.
Beautiful car.
Thanks a lot, thanks for watching and commenting! 🙏🏼
Good to see the old girl started straight away :)
In fairness it’s really good even in the cold. I’ve neglected It over the last 12 months so thought it would have more trouble firing than it did. 😥
Brilliant video lovely car brilliant music brilliant narration is it filmed around Merseyside
Beautiful car!
I so love these
For all of its grandeur and luxury, it has windup windows. Nearly every DS420 I have seen has windup windows. Power window lifts were an option in later years, but they are very rare. I have only seen one with a power divider window that slides behind the front seat instead of the divided sliders.
I have a '67 420-compact & love them, but wouldn't want to rely on Jaguar power window motors haha!
I own a 1981 car that has power windows, power divider as well as air conditioning 😊
As i remember when i worked at Daimler the team made one car a week. My mother and grandfather also worked at Daimler Radford . Im certain these were built at Browns lane. But dont quote me on that. Regards.
i've always loved the DS420. it has style no other car has. i enquired about one a couple of weeks ago but the seller seemed hard work. guessing i'll probably get one eventually.
Great video Kris, hope to work with you again in the future now normality is on its way back.
Interesting, entertaining and very professional presentation. I think you must be a t.v. presenter somewhere, your face looks familiar, and how else can you afford this and your other cars? You must have a massive garage. I've had several Jags in the past - ;70s and '80s XJ6s, a '90s XJS and a '90s XJR. Never an XJ420 though. Good luck with keeping this beauty going.
Beautiful car! They dont make them like they use too. 🙏🏽
Friends here in CA owned a castle on the north sea in Scotland and had a Daimler Limo there for their use when in residence a few weeks out of the year..even though they were only there a short amount of time in the year, the chauffeur was salaried year round as the owners felt the roads were too much to navigate on their own!!
I have always admired these Daimlers. One thing, - I noticed that the rev-counter wasn't working whilst you were driving along. Great lines and colour scheme though. Majestic car.
Thanks for watching and commenting Brian! 🙏🏻 Good spot on the rev counter, there are plenty of little quirks that add to the driving experience. 😂
@@KrisMcDonald Hi Kris, I have to transport you back to the 70's for this 3rd party reminiscence. Someone my folks knew in an estate car had bought a TV which was laid in such a way that you only saw the wood effect vinyl wrap, and casually thrown a bouquet of flowers either on top or next to it. Making their way home very carefully in view of their purchase, they were astonished to see a huge line of traffic had built up behind, clearly perceiving them as a funeral party and refusing to overtake out of respect.
Do you find other drivers acting oddly towards you when you're out in the 420?
I like his choice of car, sorry, limousine. Yes its looks lovely, but its different from the usual classic vehicles, and that’s important to me.
I have been looking at a Jaguar limo recently, I keep seeing it, at a funeral home, must admit that I am tempted to ask, if or when they decided to change it for a new limo, That I would be interested in buying it, the Jaguar limo is very long, but I love it.
Care with the Left and Right fuel tanks . You may find petrol bleeds into your Right tank as you use the Left . So you're getting more MPG really. So get the R tank working ,you'll find a few drops of petrol in it ,maybe a gallon or 2. Great video. Remember doin a show with piano playing comedian Victor Borge he was driven around in a DS 420 He was the highest paid single artist in the 70s so he could afford it . I had a 420 G from cricket club MCC 16.8 MPG . GREAT Cars great video ,but why not a bit of Elgar background music PLEASE PLEASE
Thanks for the lovely comment Ruth! Made my Sunday! 🙏🏼 I didn’t know that about the right tank, I’ll bump it up on list of car jobs to do. 😆 16.8 mpg jeez! 🤦🏼♂️
Not true of the DS420, but true of the XJ6's. The design of the plumbing for the dual SU fuel pumps prevents the fuel from being pumped from tank to tank in the DS420.
And, while I'm thinking about it, if Kris's one pump isn't operational, usually all it needs are the points filed. Here's how to test that theory:
In the boot, remove the vertical carpeted trim panel covering the rear air conditioner air handler (I think this is about 8 screws).
Remove the side trim where the non-functioning pump is located (I think this is 3 screws).
Turn the car to on.
Switch the fuel switch to the non-functional side.
Walk back to the boot and hit the pump with a rubber mallet.
If it starts, you need to remove it (electrical wires, 2 bolts that hold it to the body, and 2 banjo fittings for fuel). Unwind the SU tape around the center. Unscrew the nut on the top. Slide off the black cover. You'll see the points. Use a thin points cleaner (a very fine abrasive on a piece of plastic) to clean up the points. Re-assemble. Re-install. Problem solved.
If it doesn't start, check the voltage to the pump. If you have 12v, you have a bad pump (or very, very dirty point). If you don't have 12v, you have bigger problems.
What a great car. I would like to own one. Regards from Sweden. 🥰😍
I like your car !
I'm American and always liked these , they look terribly roomy and comfortable. All three of our top luxury models in the US actually copied this style in the early 80s.
The two-tone colour scheme really makes this car. I have seen them in black over ivory, but never blue. I always thought they looked a bit slab-sided when painted in a single colour.
Yes I agree, this colour combo has been very popular for the weddings. When we bought it, it was painted in silver over maroon. Which was classy but didn’t match our other cars.
Thanks for watching and commenting! 👍🏻
Hi Kris, it might be fun if you and Steph, from Idriveaclassic could do a video on your car. I mentioned that it would be great for her to a DS420, and she was very interested in finding an example to review.
Hi James! Always up for meeting fellow car nuts! 😃
For so long I was unsure just what make & model these fine rides were.
I was haunted by them for quite a while.
It would be great to have one parked along side my '79 Volvo 262 Bertone Coupe.
Either way would be a fine way to arrive. (Not to mention my Suzuki 1200 Bandit)
The Daimler is the epitome of stylish and timeless elegance. The ONLY thing that I don't like about the DS420 happens with the post-1973 models, which had that rubber baby buggy bumper, rather than the gorgeous chrome bumper.
I agree! I love the chrome ones! I guess the plastic ones may have been modern in the 80’s but they haven’t aged very well.
The 1982 model we operated as a wedding car had chrome bumpers.
I went my granny's funeral in one in 1972.My dad loved the glass division because he couldn't hear my brother and I arguing.He bought a LWB Rolls Royce Silver Shadow,with the glass division.lol
great a real car
😂
Such beautiful elegant limousines something the English / British do realy well
Fantastic video! I drive a couple of these in the same livery!!
My latest video shows a drive in the landaulette version, which are great for the photos with the top down!!
Chrome bumpers all the way!! On the 1969 model and 1971 featured in my latest video.😎👍
Okay so I’m 21. I should have no love for this but I do. I feel like these types of limousines will never be seen again, and with an electrifying world these will soon be retired from fleets and only seen briefly by private owners such as the royal family. Such a shame I’ll probably never ride in one f these beautiful cars. Thanks for sharing urs and it’s a great colour
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Agree its a lovely car and they are a dying breed.
Magnificent car ...Congrest !...
i was just wondering if the petrol station is the one i fill up before i return to belgium after a trip to see friends and family .when you leave
the supermarket carpark and turn left that is the direction old swan and after about 5 kms the city. i may be not be right but it looks like it.
your film is very interesting and well presented .i have only been twice in a car like yours and that was for a funeral. i remember how comfy it was sitting in the rear.
Hi! Your absolutely right on the petrol station. It’s Sainsbury on East Prescot Road. Thanks for watching and commenting, you’ll have to keep an eye out for next time your around that area. 👍🏻
@@KrisMcDonald thanks for the reply.i have subscribed to your channel
The Daimler Limousine would return 10 mpg according to someone I know who used to hire one out as a wedding car. Quite frightening by todays standards, but in line with Rolls Royces, Cadillacs and Lincolns from the early seventies.
In start/stop traffic, definitely. It's a big heavy old lump. You'd get much better from long runs, but that's not what they tended to be used for.
@@jamesportrais3946 Yet you can put up with the heavy fuel consumption to ride in such a fantastic car. Also the Daimler is more restrained than the Rolls Royce Phantom.
@@Glenn1967ful Thanks Glenn, yes - there are few cars that might impose a dress code, but this has to be one. Not entirely sure whether I'd prefer to be the chauffeur or the chauff'ed? With cars like these I am reminded of actor Rowan Atkinsons experience with a Mercedes 600 limo. He was overjoyed with all the toys & gadgets and barrelled off down the road like a kid in a candy shop.
When he pulled up to a set of lights he turned to see himself in the reflection of a shop front and with this enormous vehicle felt a right 'nana and immediately returned it to the place he'd just bought it from.
I could easily see myself in the back with company enjoying a cigar & beverage, but going solo as the driver? Not at all sure about that. How about you?
That looks like a Hoyt-Clagwell to me. Look out that front wheel is about to drop right off there.
Didn't expect a Green Acres" reference.
Out of interest were these DS420s using
carburetters right up until the end - 1992 I believe? Surprised to see this as the sIII 4.2 was fuel injected from 1979.
There was only one fuel injected DS420. It was the last one built, and resides in the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. If you go to the museum, ask to see it. When I was there, it was in the rear workshop, and the docent and I went over it as I pointed out what was unusual about the car.
Cadillac made a Seville which had v. similar rear styling. Presume they admired it! ('82 Bustleback) Believe this shape to befrom a previous RR coachbuilt design.
Автомобиль хорош не только в классической темной цветовой гамме, но и в двухцветной окраске.
My first employer had one of these beauties. Sadly it started to rust and was getting quite expensive to maintain. He swapped to a Mercedes 450, which never had the same presence.
Maybe this used to their car because I have all of those problems. 😂 It’s currently in the garage with seized track rod ends. The joys! Haha. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🙏🏼
@@KrisMcDonald what is a track rod?
@@NorceCodine It's the bit that keeps the steering straight.
I get why these are awesome but I've always been quietly appalled by the roof line, which seems approximately a foot and a half too high.
The DS420 in profile is a lady of a certain age in a long skirt. Probably with a little too much decolletage up front but needed for the heavy diamond drop. In a word, stately.
In 1974 the DS420 was priced from £7600 while the Phantom was from £19000 by the 1980 the DS420 was from £20K while the RR was around/from £100K
Have you still got the car Kris?
crazy they made that thing in 88
The Funeral Directors I worked for had a 1991 DS420 a wonderful car they still have it. Beautiful to drive, so easy to wash and clean due to the sweeping lines of the coach work.
It is crazy that you haven't fixed the fuel pump. I think that they are in the trunk down by the spare tire.
Back then you could recognize the make/model of a car either from the side, rear or front'. Now they are boring get from point A to B and that's it!!
That’s so true! I was working at a Land Rover dealership yesterday and we were saying how alike the range looks!
Not so comfortable in the (non-adjustable) driving seat if you are over 6 ft, and make sure you don't switch it off when it's partially warmed up, because it will be a b****** to restart if it's still got the original AED fitted (Automatic Enrichment Device, or auto choke). Replacing rear brake pads is quite a challenge, too.
NAU THEATS A REAL CAR LOVE IT
Does the rear exhaust project beyond the bumper, please ?
Hi there! No I dont believe it does, its almost in line with the bottom of the bumper from what I can remember. 👍
It does not project beyond the bumper.
@@craigtiano3455 Thanks. Just the angle I suppose.
From Sydney, Australia, YES in theory per the service manual for the Daimler DS420 and its "older brother" the Jaguar mk10, or 420G (after the renaming of all Daimler/Jaguar cars) states cars twin pipes should extrude 4 inches PAST (beyond) the rear bumper, so all exhaust gasses are sucked clear of the car in the over body slip stream. As the giant Jag mk10/420G's were a wind tunnel designed car, the tapered low narrow nose/bonnet area, with the smoothly rising "hilly" bonnet, with the tapering body front and rear & the extreme curved fuselage shaped body, the almost flat underside of the body all assisted in lowering wind drag and stability in high crosswinds. from 1961 to end of model in 1971 you could buy an optional extra front under bar air spoiler for the mk10's & 420G's, both mum's cars had these and in the later hot climate 4.2litre cars with FACTORY air-conditioning they were fitted as standard. There are two 420G's in my state's Jaguar drivers club with them, both green cars, one original but a little scruffy, other one's a $100,000 dollar cheque book restoration. It to me finishes off the front of the car and gives it a look similar to a RR Camargue also with a slim chrome bumper with an under-bar front air dam. Both cars also have fully sealed off front wheel inner mudguards so no air eddy's behind head lights, nor gain access via mudguard into the engine bay. The shape of the mk10's engine bay and its first European use of GM's invention the cross-flow radiator keeps MK10's running cool even on a 100-degree Fahrenheit day again thanks to wind tunnel testing, after all the mk10 code named project Zenith was designed to be special the WORLD's first sports luxury car near a decade before Benz's 300SEL 6.3ltr V8. Note Jag 4 litre engines 3.8 & 4.2 both had 265hp in "ganny" tune the 6.3litre Benz v8 with supposed high-tech injection had 250hp so well less power in an engine over 1/3rd larger not only that my Mk10/420G will give me 18mpg in peak hour stop start traffic & over 20mpg on a run, my mates 1969 300SEL 6.3 gives a mere 10mpg !! half on a run however in peak hour it drops into low single digits mpg !! terrible. Plus the Merc is shorter, narrower and OVER HALF A TON lighter than the giant Jaguar.
I'm in my late 60's I drive a 1967 mk10/420G almost daily it is the second one I have owned , prior for 32 years I had a rare long wheelbase series 1 XJ (a mere 2600 body shells were made for 15months from October 1972 until January '74 for RHD/LHD cars & Jag /Daim' fitouts), these also with their twisted final exit extensions also extrude past the rear bumper the early 1968/69 XJ6's did not and had short straight tips causing exhaust fume gas roll-under of the car requiring the longer bent or twisted pipes, & in service recalls fixed this & it's rare to find an early series 1 now with the short rear tips still fitted. Prior to the XJL I owned a 1965 4.2litre MK10 same, service manual has a drawing with ruler showing the correct distance past the bumper. As a kid in the early 1960's my mum bought a new mk10 in November 1961 and a final 420G in 1971. I have lived around these cars now for over 60 years, so six decades of knowledge.
When designing the DS420 the remarkably low price was achieved by using 50% of the Mk10/420G metal pressings in all the unseen areas, and just pressing a new bonnet, roof. and outer skin panels. To lengthen the car an extra central mk10 floor panel pressing was used giving the required 1/2 metre or 20 inches extra length from an already existing off the shelf panel. Very much copying Cadillac division of GM making the factory Fleetwood 75 limousine from the range topping Fleetwood 60 sedan from front of car to end of rear doors , then using the rear of the poverty/entry level Calais coupe from rear forwards to the door shut panel which the front doors close against, so only a giant new roof panel required & a new straight cut rear door skin with the door frame going into the roof for ease of entry, hence making what would normally be an outrageously expensive low volume car, into both a sales and cash earning cleverly engineered masterpiece from already existent panel pressings. The work of wise old men who sadly are seemingly not available these days for current car design.
@@gregharvie3896 Fantastic information. Thanks very, very for all your great information, and time.
Are there some that were built in LHD, or only RHD ?
I actually don’t know, I’d be interested to find out though. 👍🏻
Apparently 51 regular cars were left-hand-drive and one of the two landaulettes see: www.vandenplas.com/daimler/ds420.htm
@@BackwardFinesse Thank you !
@@BackwardFinesse that’s amazing! Thanks for sharing this Peter! That’s a really low number I suppose isn’t it. Thanks again!
@@BackwardFinesse Thanks for mentioning my site.
Looks like Huyton, Knowsley and Rainhill.
That’s right John! The continuity of the piece will be broken if you know the locations. 😂
If you want a complete front axle steering box all in one lump you can have it
XJZ is County Down in Northern Ireland but I'm sure you know that 🙂
😍
the music?????????
It’s from Soundstripe. I’m not sure which track sorry. 🤷🏼♂️
That car looks a lot older than a 1988. 1968 maybe?
I think I should move to England. I don't want to drive a plastic Tesla with an oversized smartphone battery under the floor.
😂 Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙏🏼
Apparently Howard Hughes had a toilet in his DS420!
it is not a motor car IT IS A GENTLEMAN' CARRIAGE thank you
Just a disguised Jaguar.
the exhaust is loose
It certainly was! Good spot! 👍🏻
I’m surprised being a late eighties car it’s not fuel injection.
#420 👀...
1988 with black plates? Hmmm
those tiny seats at the middle 7:14 really dont match the quality of that massive back seat
Hi James! I agree! They aren't the most comfortable, ok for short trips but definitely not long ones. Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙏🏻
They were really only suitable for children, and don't come fitted with seatbelts.
poor sap
DO NOT PUT OLD BUMPERS ON IT. KEEP IT ORIGINAL.
Owning a Good Classics car is like owning an expensive whore needing facelifts, Breasts enhancement, tummy tucking and hips realigning not forgetting to straightening toes and other minor adjustments, here and there. Unless you have access to a very good mechanic and have facilities for him to work, you are asking for trouble. If you are a normal person, with normal knowledge and normal facilities, KEEP OFF ... classics cars. I have two: Armstrong Siddley and RR Silver Dawn. Both are PIA. I inherited them.
I’m sorry but might have put on a collar and tie………there are standards you know 😉
I was enjoying this until you mentioned "Harry and Meghan".
This car would never make it in Californias. We have smog control regulations. First time I arrived in England I could tell the air quality was poor.
I enjoyed this clip, but winced every time that you made a basic grammatical blunder!
Absolute money pit of a car..£1,000 to replace bumpers
Weddings hahaha, this looked like a scam video.