Car SOS is a British automotive entertainment television series that airs on National Geographic Channel as well as being repeated on Channel 4 and More4.[1][2] The first eight series are also available on the Disney+ streaming service. The series began in 2013 and is presented by Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend.[1] Series 1 - 10 are also shown on the Australian network ABC and streamed on ABC iview.
Tim and Fuzz work closely with a specialist car restoration team helping to restore owners' classic cars from across the UK and Europe, often beginning in a serious state of disrepair. The owner, unbeknownst to them, and their car are nominated by a relative or friend because the owner is unable to continue the restoration of the vehicle, due to unforeseen medical or financial reasons. The owners are then surprised with their finished car in a staged event, usually set up by Shaw.
In a special series-three episode, a 1962 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite destined for the British Motor Museum was restored with the owner's knowledge, breaking the show's format due to the car's significance, having been driven by a racing team that included Steve McQueen and Sir Stirling Moss, who appears in the episode.
Presenters
The series is presented by motor vehicle and engineering enthusiast Tim Shaw and musician and mechanic Fuzz Townshend.[1] Townshend leads a team of car restoration experts who mainly work off camera, though they do have occasional cameos, most notably "Workshop" Phil Palmer's appearances within skits or scripted light-hearted moments taking place within the workshop.
Each episode begins with Tim and Fuzz picking up and reviewing the featured car. Shaw will discuss why the car is being restored with the nominee's relatives, while Townshend inspects the car's state, working out the amount of work needed. The car is then winched onto a trailer and taken to Townshend's workshop, where it is inspected further by all of the restoration team. As the restoration work begins, Shaw is given a list and travels the country to find the needed parts, often portrayed in a comedic, 'blagging' manner. Shaw and Townshend will occasionally break from the restoration, leaving it in the safe hands of the team to visit other restored models of the same car, test driving them and talking with other owners. Towards the end of the restoration, Shaw invites the nominee's family to discuss setting up a fake scenario or event in which they can return the car to the owner. The staged event is also usually presented in a comedic manner, with Shaw often in disguise before revealing himself and his intentions to the owner, who is then presented with their restored car.
A special aired as the third episode of the third series featuring Sir Stirling Moss. A 1962 Sebring Austin Healey Sprite, once driven at Sebring as part of a racing team featuring Steve McQueen and Sir Stirling Moss, was restored by the team and was placed in the Heritage Motor Centre (now named the British Motor Museum) once completed.[3] In the 1962 race, a sister car was driven by Moss to a class win, and second overall. That car had since been destroyed, leaving the team car, restored by the team, as the only Sebring Sprite left in the world.
Episodes
As of May 2023, eleven full series of 10 episodes each, plus 2 special 7 Day Challenge episodes have aired.
Tim and Fuzz restore an injured man's Jaguar E-Type.
22
2
"Awesome Audi"
16 April 2015 (2015-04-16)
Tim and Fuzz restore a 1984 Audi UR Quattro in Brighton. Good Rally Car!!!
23
3
"Stirling Moss Sprite Special"
23 April 2015 (2015-04-23)
Tim and Fuzz restore a historic Austin-Healey Sprite, which has been in a garage since 1968. Racer Sir Stirling Moss appears and drives the completed car.
24
4
"Morgan Mayhem"
30 April 2015 (2015-04-30)
Tim and Fuzz go to Northumberland for a 1934 Morgan F4 three-wheeler, which has been in a shed for over 50 years.
25
5
"Skyline Sensation"
7 May 2015 (2015-05-07)
In Hampshire, Tim and Fuzz convert a collision-damaged 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R that has been kept in a shed.
26
6
"Alfa Romeo Renaissance"
14 May 2015 (2015-05-14)
Tim and Fuzz restore a 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider, a two-seater convertible that has been kept in a dusty barn in Essex.
27
7
"Tim's Golf GTI Obsession"
21 May 2015 (2015-05-21)
Tim and Fuzz go to Hampshire to repair a 1982 VW Golf GTI Mk1 that has been kept in a garage since a road collision in 2001.
28
8
"Lancia Reborn"
28 May 2015 (2015-05-28)
Tim and Fuzz try to restore a 1967 Lancia Flavia coupé, that has been kept for over 30 years in a Rochdale garage.
Tim and Fuzz Fix a 1988 Renault 5 GT Turbo For carpet supplier, Ben who had to abandon his project since he contracted cancer. Will they be able to fix it?
Tim and Fuzz secretly fix up an Italian car enthusiast's rusty World Rally-winning Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione II.
Note: For the first time in the programme the car's owner died unexpectedly before the car is returned to him, but the family requested they complete the restoration
Tim and Fuzz are joined by Ross Kemp to restore a Series 2 Land Rover under a one week deadline in front of a live audience at the British Motor Museum.
Note: For the second time in the programme the car's owner died unexpectedly before the car is returned to him, but the family requested they complete the restoration
.png)
