often they resurrect (field, junkyard, etc.) cars without sponsored parts, but they use their popularity to make some major scores on vehicles. I like the Ford Falcon station wagon road trip even though it was just Freiburger by himself and he was simply sight seeing. No major sponsoring of parts if I remember correctly.
Show me one single show where there are ZERO sponsored parts, tools, shop equipment or facilities. You cannot because there are NONE. So that makes them all make believe.