Masters of Reinvention

The team rebuilds a 1936 three‑wheeled car, employing recycled components and a salvaged recumbent trike to reinterpret the original design. Meanwhile, Ruth and Carl refurbish a vintage burglar alarm, giving the old security system modern functionality and a new lease of life.

DIY Car and Burglar Alarm is a programme presented as an episode in the DIY genre. The show follows a small team as they take on hands‑on projects, blending mechanical restoration with practical electronics. Each instalment offers viewers a step‑by‑step look at how everyday items can be transformed into functional, customised solutions. In this instalment the crew set about reviving a three‑wheeled vehicle originally designed in 1936. Rather than building from scratch, they assemble the car from recycled components and a rescued recumbent tricycle, adapting the old design to modern standards. All components are sourced from reclaimed material, and the recumbent trike provides the chassis for the new build. At the same time, Ruth and Carl tackle a separate challenge, refurbishing a vintage burglar alarm and reworking its circuitry to bring it back into service. The episode highlights the team’s method of repurposing discarded material, showing how a classic automotive concept can be rebuilt with sustainable parts. It also illustrates Ruth and Carl’s approach to updating old security equipment, emphasizing practical problem‑solving over new‑product purchase. Ruth and Carl's work on the burglar alarm involves reworking its original circuitry to restore functionality. By juxtaposing the car reconstruction with the alarm refurbishment, the programme demonstrates that DIY techniques can be applied across very different fields, from transport to home safety.