DD Speed Shop is an automotive enthusiast’s hub, situated in a small 2-bay garage where classic hot rods are brought back to life, one machine at a time. The Winnipeg, Canada-based setup is the concerted effort of Dan Malcolmson and Danielle Lester, often referred to as Dan and Dannie, who have turned their passion for cars into an attractive YouTube platform. The shop is easy to recognize by its hands-on approach to vehicle restoration, where fancy tools or a large team are not part of the equation. Naturally, this makes them highly attractive to lone car enthusiasts seeking to rely on their own effort instead of an expensive repair shop, which forms the majority of this niche’s audience.
How they work the magic
The channel’s mantra is very clear: every car is worth saving, and every hot rod deserves to hit the road again. It showcases a variety of intricate projects, in which the couple perform everything from 4-door to 2-door conversions, roof modifications, custom builds, and much more, with each vehicle not only restored but also often driven across North America. They also refuse to let the harsh Canadian winters stop them, as their passionate hot rodding remains a year-round effort. Dan already has a different day job, so he takes evenings, weekends and any other free time slots, while Dannie helps out with whatever she can.
Their collection of restored cars is dubbed The DDSS Fleet, each of which was prominently featured on their channel during its rebuild phase. All these vehicles have unique stories, like the NovaPriceDD, turning from stock to a Gasser in just 30 days, or the ’55 Chevrolet, known for being their first 4-door to 2-door conversion. The Rotten Banana, a ’56 Chevy, is a prime example of their craft, as it went from an unattractive four-door to a powerful two-door variant, now sporting an LS engine and turbos. Stripper Glitter, another gem in their collection, is Dannie’s ’57 Belair, which Dan transformed from an ordinary four-door into a breath-taking summer ride for the queen of the shop.
They even dive into seasonal projects such as Dan’s winter driver, the ’57-150, equipped with studded tires for icy conditions, and Gramps, Dannie’s compact ’89 Caprice that boasts features not usually found in modern cars. An interesting addition to the fleet is the ’47 Chevrolet – a purchase made after Dan sold every car he owned at 19 years old to buy a house. The ’55 Chevrolet further reaffirms their love for classics, influenced by cult films like the 1971 action western entitled “Two-Lane Blacktop.” Finally, there’s the Briklin SV-1, a unique Canadian-made vehicle reminiscent of a DeLorean, which Dan hopes to have up and running by summer 2024.
Viewers get a front-row seat to these transformations on the channel, often carried out with just the basic tools and the couple’s bare hands. Dan and Dannie don’t just parade the finished cars either – they fully delve into the process, the problems encountered, and the step-by-step evolution of a machine from something approaching wreck to a prized classic. Their content is also far from a typical polished car show with expert editing, clean shots and elaborate time skips. It’s considered real, gritty, and engaging by the audience, with a personal touch that has created a strong community of viewers. The main message of the channel seems to be that with enough passion and elbow grease, any car can roar back to life and own the road, regardless of how advanced the owner’s arsenal of tools may be.
A DIY master’s expertise
In one of the channel’s most popular videos, boasting over 500,000 views and entitled “Don’t Get Scammed! – Fake 2 Door Buyers Guide,” Dan takes the audience through a comprehensive tutorial for distinguishing a genuine two-door vehicle from one that started out as a four-door before being converted. He begins by being transparent about his own projects where the same thing was achieved, striving to educate people on what to look out for when browsing car shows or classified ads, ensuring that they don’t get fooled by fake two-doors being sold as originals.
Dan highlights that while four-door sedans can certainly be converted into two-door models, it’s the hardtops and convertibles that differ significantly and require considerably more work. He points out the importance of quality work in modifications, especially as two-door versions of the classic Tri-Five Chevys can reach a considerable price. For those considering their own conversions, Dan suggests using genuine two-door doors due to their length difference compared to four-door models.
The video proceeds with Dan discussing the technicalities of the conversion process, including details about the doors, posts, and wheelbase, which remains the same across sedans. He offers valuable tips on how to spot a conversion, pointing out that four-door sedans have distinct door-latching mechanisms and a different B-pillar structure compared to their two-door counterparts.
In his attempt to help viewers avoid scams and make informed decisions, Dan provides close-up views of the known signs of a conversion, such as filler in the drip rail, moved posts, and differences in body lines. He brings attention to the key aspects that can help identify a legitimate two-door car, such as proper door size and door latch mechanism, meanwhile also addressing the challenges of getting doors to close correctly post-conversion.
The hands-on wife
Dannie is often seen assisting Dan in various restoration projects, and while her presence in the content doesn’t provide the crucial knowledge that keeps the viewers coming back for more, she is in charge of camera work, general assistance, and occasional humor – also an instrumental ingredient of their videos. One of her signature moves is to show off her cleavage in the intros, with Dan participating through a compliment, to which she’d always say something along the lines of ‘Thanks, I grew them myself.’
That said, Danielle also takes part in significant shop activities, including decision-making processes related to their business ventures. She participates in the renovation plans for their new shop and rental home as well, meaning her role spans the entire business spectrum of DD Speed Shop. She also comes along to any important car shows across the country, meanwhile doing crucial social work for the channel, such as coordinating online birthday parties to engaging with fans and the public during interviews.
DD Speed Shop net worth & earnings
Some of the most reputable sources on the matter have estimated DD Speed Shop’s collective net worth at just over $350,000. This sum is made through a number of factors, starting with the overall channel earnings projected by websites such as Social Blade, putting their annual YouTube profit at up to $65,000. The channel sits at more than 160,000 subscribers, with over 55 million total video views, exceeding 1,100 uploads.
Dan and Dannie also run a dedicated website offering branded merchandise, along with an extra webpage on Creator Spring boasting unique t-shirts and stickers that reflect the overall vibe of the channel. Finally, it can’t be overlooked that the couple is in car restoration, and there are many potential customers across the planet watching their content, even though, as it stands, they’re not too keen on doing this work commercially.