Car S.O.S.

It's enough for a master restoration mechanic to work at a normal pace, surrounded just by competent helpers, turning work away when too busy, making excuses for delays. Difficult problems and crises arise of course from time to time but those are the conditions under which most make their living.

But this TV series, like some Japanese reality show, adds fiendish challenges and trials amounting almost to torture with an ever-present camera to record the reaction. I have some knowledge of the work so find the problems and solutions fascinating. And the work is almost the sum total of the interest and significance of the programme, apart that is from the usually tragic personal story concerning each owner and their joy at seeing their pride - and joy - restored.

The added challenges and trials includes not just near impossible deadlines but also an imposed near functionally-redundant presenter who has a deep but unrequited relationship with the camera and is in constant photo-bombing mode. It is he who pronounces not asks the expert on the list of tasks, it is he, at moments of others' stress steps forward to indignantly pronounce that it is time to "crack on" and, at the end, when the overjoyed owner is overwhelmed with gratitude, each time contrives a scene in which he takes the credit while the person who has done the work, modestly stands back. I look at the drawer of large shiny double open ended spanners going up to perhaps 1kg weight and wonder if Fuzz Townsend, master mechanic, will ever misuse one on his colleague and be enabled to get on with the work and receive due credit.

But probably not, that is the marvel of the show which is not just about his skills as much as a testament to his extraordinary temperament. He's a real hero and I could never be such.

Good show for car lovers, the where, when, how and at times why of it all is nicely covered. Both lead figures seem to have sufficient knowledge of the subject matter, playing dumb to educate in adequate amounts. The camera time spent on the work at hand is reasonable.

The downsides - and in this they're not alone - is the contrived (timeline) drama. The fact that it's consistently 3 weeks raises suspicion... the back story does not always add up either. Some of the stories as to why the restoration is necessary are quite touching others seem contrived.

The banter is fine, the keeping it original versus making improvement discussion is done when it is applicable.

I just got into the Car SOS party a little late, but I really do like this show, yes Tim goes a little over the top sometimes but hey that's showbiz lol but I love to see how they transform the cars I a very short amount of time! The back stories and often very touching (see the yellow Lanica Dellta Integrale episode. I was bubbling like a baby) but it's a good mix of Top Gear shenanigans and Wheeler Dealer restorations!

I have now watched all the episodes and have enjoyed them all. The two hosts are great and both make the show a joy to watch. There's a genuine pleasure in seeing how pleased and surprised the car owners are at the reveal. Tim and Fuzz both care deeply about the cars and the reason why they are doing the restoration.

I hope they continue for many years to come!!!

I've enjoyed every episode of this show (so far), and I've watched 'em all (Seasons 1 - 8, plus the first 4 episodes of Season 9). Tim & Fuzz make a great duo - their passion and knowledge are unquestionable. Narrator Phil Cornwell also deserves a mention - if only for his cracking Mick Jagger impersonations. The quality of work they put out (with the help of a collective of great craftsmen) is spot-on. Yes, there's much silliness (mainly from Tim) but it doesn't detract from from the show's main objective. If I have one complaint, it has to be why they haven't yet done a #3 Cortina. I mean - come on!?!