Pawn Stars s03e24 Episode Script

Never Surrender

On this episode of Pawn Stars It's a really sturdy frame, weighs about 90 pounds.
This motorcycle frame has a ways to go.
Spent $5,000 on it.
This is scrap metal to me.
[Bleep.]
.
All right, this is what I called you about, my stardust Blackjack table.
This is pretty cool.
The stardust was a Vegas icon.
I'll tell you what: Play you a hand for it.
I'm nervous for you, Rick.
What we got today? Some Coca -Cola signs.
These are from the '50s.
You got a little damage there.
I think I know more of what they're worth than you do.
I'm Rick Harrison, and this is my pawn shop.
I work here with my old man and my son, big hoss.
Everything in here has a story and a price.
One thing I've learned after 21 years, you never know what is gonna come through that door.
Hey, guys.
I got something here I think you might be interested in.
Okay.
They're fossils.
Do you know what a fossil is? A watch? [Dinosaur roars.]
I decided to come to the pawn shop today to try to sell some of my fossils.
They're around 290 million years old.
And I've got five plant fossils and one spider fossil.
I'm hoping to get around $1,200 for the pieces.
All right, so tell me everything about these things.
Well, they're around They're from the mazon creek deposit, from Illinois.
It's one of the most famous fossil deposits in the world.
What kind of plants are they? These are all just ferns.
This one's really cool.
It's actually mutated and split into two tips.
It's one of the first insects that were ever around.
That's amazing.
Fossils are basically plants and animals that have been preserved in stone.
They're an incredible record of ancient earth.
And the mazon creek area is one of the best places on the earth to find them.
But these are the first ones I've ever had like this in my shop Unless, of course, you count the old man.
[Laughs.]
So when you found these things, you had to split them open yourself? Yeah, crack them open by hand.
How do you break these things in half? With a hammer, just very carefully.
You've got to tap round the edges.
You ever crack one open and it just fall into pieces? Lots of times, yeah.
I think these fossils look awesome.
But I have no way to authenticate if they came from mazon creek or if they're even real.
Because let's be honest: Paleontology is a little bit out of my league.
What did you want to do with these? I'd like to sell them.
And how much did you want for them? I'd like right around $1,200 for the entire collection.
Here's my concerns.
I just don't know enough about these things.
I mean, literally, I don't know if this is painted on there.
It's not that I don't trust you.
It's just that I don't trust anybody.
Let me call someone, get him down here.
We'll get everything figured out, okay? No problem.
Okay.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
I'm looking forward to the expert coming in and giving some information about these foils.
I know they're worth money.
I know they're rare.
It's just nice to hear someone else say the same thing.
What's up, man? How's it going? Going good.
So tell me what you brought in, man.
I got a down and dirty softail springer front end bike frame.
Cost me $5,000.
I've got four kids.
My wife's pregnant with number five.
I just don't think I'm gonna have the time or the money to fix it up.
So you could afford to build a bike with four kids, but five's just too much? Just puts it over the top.
[Baby crying.]
Come to the pawn shop to try to sell my down and dirty bike frame.
Down and dirty's a good-quality American frame.
It's more of a cruising bike, not a cross-country bike, something you drive around town.
I bought the bike frame in hopes of fixing it up and having a project.
No more time, no more money.
You got the statement of origin? Because if you don't, this is scrap metal to me.
Yeah, I've got it.
It's all right there.
And it's a down and dirty softail.
Instead of being issued a title, most frames are given a manufacturer's certificate of origin, which pretty much just tells you what it is and where it came from.
You know, the good thing about down and dirty is, they're a good American company like harley.
The welds aren't gonna snap while you're riding it down the road.
Yeah, yeah, I was looking for a good American bike.
We get a lot of bikes in the shop, but it's not every day someone brings in a frame like this.
It's definitely a project that has a ways to go.
You got the springer front end, which doesn't give you much there, but it's something.
And then you got the softail shocks.
When you're sitting on it, they're actually compressed.
And if you go up and the tire swings out on a bump or something, the shocks actually come out.
They're actually a really cool design.
Yeah, I put a little bit of work in putting those in just to add a little bit of comfort to the ride.
You looking to sell it or pawn it? Sell it.
I spent $5,000.
I'd like to see if I could get $6,000 for it.
No offense, but I can just call down and dirty and get one for $5,000.
[Chuckles.]
So we're gonna have to go a little bit below there.
I could go down to $4,000.
I'd like to offer you somewhere around $2,000 on it, man.
$2,000? I know you had big, giant high hopes for it, but let's just face it, man.
You got five kids now.
It's time to stop riding motorcycles.
I've put some work into it.
I've spent $5,000 on it.
I can I'll take $3,000.
$3,000? Yeah, I could do $3,000, man.
Let's go write it up.
I'm a little disappointed in getting the $3,000 for the bike.
I was hoping to make a little money off it.
But with kid number five coming pretty soon, I got to pay for the diapers somehow.
This motorcycle frame is the opportunity I've been looking for to show my dad and the old man that I'm an entrepreneur.
If I can build this bike up and flip it, I can make a lot of money, or I could lose my shirt, but I think it's worth the risk.
This morning, a guy called the shop looking to sell a Blackjack table from the old stardust casino.
I love classic Las Vegas stuff, so I'm headed over with chum to check it out.
All right, this is what I called you about, my stardust Blackjack table.
I'm gonna sit down.
Get comfortable.
[Laughs.]
Where'd you get this thing? I bought this from the auction that the stardust had after they closed in 2006.
How do you play Blackjack? You've lived in Las Vegas your whole life and don't know how to play Blackjack? [Laughs.]
I decided to call the guys at the pawn shop to see what I could get for my Blackjack table from the stardust.
I like this table because it comes from an actual Las Vegas icon.
I mean, it's just a huge piece of local history.
Do you know much about the stardust? What I know about the stardust is that it was originally opened in 1958 by a mob-run organization.
Oh, well, actually, it was run by sort of a regular guy, and then some other people sort of, like, took it over.
Oh, okay.
You ever see the movie casino? Yes, and I know that the movie was based off of this.
Yeah, it was a pretty neat place.
It was my I got my first, like, payroll job there.
You worked for the mob? [Laughs.]
No, I worked in the coffee shop there.
I worked there for four weeks and got fired.
How did you get fired? By acting like you.
When the stardust opened up in 1958, it was the hottest spot on the strip, and it was a Vegas icon for almost 50 years.
What do you want to do with it today? I would like to sell it.
How much do you want for it? I was thinking $2,500 for the whole six chairs and the table.
[Exhales forcefully.]
I just don't see it.
I'm thinking more like 500 bucks.
I really think it's worth a lot more.
With the historical value of the casino and the history behind this town, knowing that there are collectors out there, would you go $1,000? I'll go $550.
I'll have my guys come down here tomorrow with a pickup truck.
Would you go $650? I'll tell you what: Play you a hand for it.
$550, you win.
$650, I win.
Let's do it.
I'm nervous for you, Rick.
Deal the cards.
Oh, eight.
Oh, my God.
Hit me.
That's pretty good.
[Bleep.]
.
[Chuckles.]
All right, $650.
Thank you.
The guys will be by in the morning to pick it up.
It seems like every time I gamble for something, I lose.
But this is a great Blackjack table, and for 650 bucks, I win either way.
This being Vegas, I'll have no trouble selling it.
So you found these fossils, then? Yeah.
This one appears to have broken and been repaired.
This is gonna be my first build.
I can't go too crazy, 'cause I'll have the old man and my dad on my ass.
We'll make you proud.
How much did it cost to have this bike put together? I'm gonna kick your damn ass.
What we got today? Some Coca -Cola signs.
Oh, okay.
These are probably from the '50s.
You either drank coke or Pepsi back then.
That was it.
If you wanted something without sugar, you got coffee.
[Chuckles.]
You can put sugar in coffee.
Chumlee, please.
I decided to come to the pawn shop today to sell my father's Coca-Cola signs.
They're valued at around $450 apiece.
I would like to sell them for around $250.
And my bottom line would be probably $200.
Well, they're definitely Coca -Cola signs.
Where did you acquire them? My father traveled all over, and he has quite a collection.
I really like these signs and stuff from this era because they had a great advertising market.
Back in the day, advertising signs was beautifully made, not like today, when they're made out of cheap plastic and they only last a few years.
Back then, coke and Pepsi, they were all made with cane sugar.
And then they went to corn syrup because it's cheaper.
And they do not have the same taste.
When you drink a Pepsi or a coke, you could actually have your eyes almost burning, there was so much carbonation in them.
And they were good.
Coca-Cola has changed its formula a few times over the years.
But the logo on the bottle has stayed the same for over 100 years.
Not many companies can say that.
What are you wanting to do, young lady? You want to sell them, pawn them, or what? Yeah, we'd like to sell them.
You got any idea what you're trying to get out of them? $450 apiece.
I'm kind of stumped.
I would like to buy these, but I really don't want to insult you with an offer, because I think I know more of what they're worth than you do.
I would push you to go $100 apiece.
I really would.
You got a little damagthere on this one.
This one's starting to get a little rust on the back.
Okay.
I don't think I'll take $100 for them today.
You want to check around.
Most people, when they check around, they come back, so it's up to you.
I'll give them to you for $150 apiece.
Uh [Exhales forcefully.]
I'll tell you what I'll do.
I don't want to, but I'll split it with you.
I'll go $125 each.
But that's the best I can do.
$125? Yeah, that would be top of the mark.
Okay, well, you're getting yourself a good deal, then.
All right, we thank you very much.
We'll do the paperwork right over there, young lady.
I went a lot lower than I had expected to go, but collectors are what's gonna pay, and they're hard to find.
Earlier today, a guy brought in a collection of fossils.
I don't even know if they're real or if they're valuable, so I called in my buddy Scott to have a closer look at them.
How you doing, chum? Hey, Rick.
How's it going? Good, real good.
I'm Dr.
Scott foss.
I'm the regional paleontologist for the bureau of land management, and I study fossils.
Whoa, what do you have here? This is it apparently fossils.
I just wanted to make sure they were all real.
What can you tell me about them? Where did you collect them? From the mazon creek formation in Illinois.
Uh -huh.
Did they all come from the same area, or are they from different areas? Same area.
There's a few things here.
This one appears to have broken and been repaired.
Looking at them These are some of the nicer ones that I've seen.
They are absolutely real.
So an artist didn't paint these on? No, these are absolutely real.
They're carbon impressions of organisms that lived on planet earth I wonder what the earth looked like 300 million years ago.
Well, 300 million years ago, this area of Illinois was this massive kind of whole swamp area.
The central United States was further South, and Illinois was right near the equator.
That was a tropical environment.
It was like being in the Yucatan of Mexico, only that was central Illinois.
This one is very interesting.
It is a spider.
A 300-million-year-old spider has found its way to Las Vegas today.
Just the cool factor of that alone, I mean, collectors all over the world love to find these.
Thanks, Scott.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, absolutely, Rick.
It's my pleasure.
Love to look at a fossil anytime we can.
Okay, thanks.
If it wasn't for the amateur community, we wouldn't have half of the neat fossils that we find today.
All right, so how much did you want for these things? Well, I did want $1,200 for the quality, for the size.
There's a collectors' market for this, but a lot of collectors just like to go get them themselves like you.
Right.
It's a lot of work, but it's sort of, like, half the fun.
I'll give you 800 bucks.
Just the spider fossil alone is probably worth at least $600, at least, just for that one.
Like I said, I have to resell them, okay? I'll go a grand.
I can't go no more.
I mean, that's what I'll do.
I'm looking for just a little bit more than that.
I mean, like I said, I wish I could make a deal with you, but I can't let them go for $1,000.
I'm sorry.
[Exhales forcefully.]
I'll go $1,100.
Cash money? Cash money, 1,100 bucks.
Sounds good.
Deal.
$1,100's a fair offer.
He'll make money.
I'll make money.
We're both happy.
That's what matters.
Earlier, I bought a motorcycle frame for 3 grand.
So right now, chum and I are on our way to my buddy Danny's shop to see about getting it turned into a custom bike.
What's up, Corey? What's going on, man? How you doing, brother? Always good, bro.
Good, man.
Good to you see you.
I'm Danny koker, and I own count's kustoms right here in Las Vegas, where we build wicked chops, cool hot rods, and deck out people's toys.
What did you guys bring us today? I brought you a blank canvas, dude.
Ha -ha.
Choppers are cool because they're a personal expression of the person that owns it and/or who's riding it or who's building it.
You get to express your personal feelings in a rolling piece of artwork.
Gentlemen, tell me about this frame.
Do you guys know anything about it, any specs, anything like that? Down and dirty softail frame.
Looks sort of like a midwest.
It does look like a midwest, doesn't it? Uh-huh.
Yep, little bobber.
A bobber is a real basic stripped -down version of a custom bike.
They've been around since the 1940s.
I really like the bobber style, man, but I've never seen one that looked like it would fit me.
I always look like I'm, you know, the guinness book of records fat guy on a [Bleep.]
Little motorcycle.
[Laughs.]
Gotcha.
The frame looks big enough to where we could maybe do that style but I could fit on it.
It'll be the right size to be fun enough to toss around, but yet it's still big enough to be, you know, something for a big boy.
So it should be a fun bike when it's done.
Let's talk a little bit about the cash issue on this, man.
What did you guys get for this? I gave the guy $3,000 for the whole setup.
Okay, you know, we can build just about anything you want.
You're only limited by your imagination and your wallet.
You know, I can't go too crazy, 'cause I'll have the old man and my dad on my ass.
I got you.
I think 12 grand's a good place to start.
Okay, I think that's a fair place to start.
We can definitely make something happen with that for sure.
This is where I got to be real careful to not let this thing turn into a money pit.
I've seen custom choppers sell upwards of $50,000.
If we do it right, there's plenty of room for profit.
You know, man, this is gonna be my first build, man, so I'm kind of looking forward to it.
I'm glad you brought it here, brother, and, you know, we'll make you proud.
I love the fact that Corey and chumlee basically dropped it off and said, "you know what, you guys? We've got 'x' amount of dollars.
We want you guys to just do whatever you want.
" And I think by the time it's done, it'll be gorgeous a few weeks ago, I dropped off a frame at my buddy Danny's.
Since this is my first custom bike, I kind of just let Danny roll with it, I mean, 'cause he's the man.
I'm pretty excited, and I can't wait to see how this thing turns out.
So you guys told me you were bringing me a bike down here that you wanted worked on, but what you guys actually brought me was a frame and a front end.
We figured you'd have the rest.
[Chuckles.]
You're right.
You guys ready to check it out? Come on, man, let's see this thing.
Coconut, come on, man, fire that thing up.
[Engine revs.]
Yeah.
[Laughs.]
Wow.
Now, that's a badass machine.
It's every single thing I wanted, man.
That's exactly how I pictured it.
I I mean, I know you did a lot, but you want to go over everything with me? Absolutely, man.
We'll give you the grand tour.
We used your front end, which was a DNA springer; the frame that you brought us, which is a midwest softail frame.
We went with a genuine harley-Davidson motor.
It's all black and chrome.
We went with a revtek six-speed transmission, so you've got overdrive out on the highway, which is fantastic.
Custom tin, custom struts, custom seat.
On the paint, you know, we went with that satin black that you wanted and then black powder-coated rims front and rear on it.
You know, the whole flavor of the bike is that dark, nasty black versus chrome.
She's bad, man.
She's really come together beautifully.
Everything I wanted about it is there, man.
She's gorgeous.
This bike looks amazing, and these guys did a great job.
It just looks like they put way more than 12 grand into it.
When we started it, you said 12-ish.
Yeah, "ish" is the key, right? Yeah, I know there's no way you did this for 12.
Right.
Between everything that goes into a custom bike and there's so much stuff that you don't see we came in more closer to the 15 number on the build.
We kind of figured on that one.
That's what you get when you get the custom touches.
You've got what in the frame and the front end? I got 3 grand in the frame and front end.
So you're looking at 18.
This bike all day long should be in the mid-20s or up.
So you're in good shape.
Right on, man, that's you know, I don't mind paying the extra.
I was a little bummed to hear it was 3 grand over budget, but after seeing it, I mean, it's definitely worth every penny.
I would have only made about 500 bucks if I sold the frame by itself.
But now I'm gonna be able to make about ten times that.
Hell, I might even keep it for myself.
Well, I'm gonna take this back to the shop after a quick test ride there.
Nice, brother.
Good luck, man.
Tear it up.
I'm psyched to ride this thing, and I'm in no hurry to get back to the shop.
Maybe I'll just take the scenic route home.
[Engine humming.]
Chum, where's Corey? He's out riding his bike.
You talking about the bike you guys just picked up? Yeah.
That's not his bike.
It's my bike.
It's nice.
You should see it.
How much did it cost to have this bike put together? I think it was 18 after $18,000? Oh, my God.
It's sweet, though.
Wait till you see this thing.
I'm gonna kick his ass so hard, he's gonna wear his ass for a hat.
So where is he at right now? He's right there.
Why are you driving around my brand -new bike that's supposed to go on the showroom floor? 'Cause I'm thinking about keeping it.
It's going on the [Bleep.]
Damn floor.
Old man, what kind of watch are you wearing right now? I'm wearing a rolex, son.
Where did you get it? I bought the damn thing out of the store here.
I mean, and you, you're using a fossil you just bought as a paperweight.
Yeah, I'm gonna sell it.
Don't worry about it.
And I'll sell the bike one day.
It's gonna be used then.
That's a used fossil now.
[Exhales sharply.]
It's not a used there's no such [Bleep.]
Damn thing as a used fossil.
So why can't I buy the bike from here? You got three [Bleep.]
Damn options.
You pay me cash for the bike, you put it back on the damn floor where I can sell it, or you sell some of your damn toys at home.
Sell something, give us our [Bleep.]
Damn cash, or it's gonna be third grade all over again and I'm gonna kick your damn ass.

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