Car S.O.S.

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'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!?!

I must admit to liking this series; Fuzz and Tim get on well as a team but yes sometimes their shenanigans do detract from the restoration a bit, but that's showbiz. It sells, and to be honest if you've ever watched a sober, serious Car Restoration video where the guy in the blue overalls tells you: "You put this bit here.... then you tighten this bit... oops dropped it... then you hold this bit..." it's like paint drying. SOS does make the business more interesting and entertaining, especially when new parts are remade or old ones factory renovated by real experts. Some of the owners' reactions are... interesting; I remember the woman whose Triumph Herald was restored and she looked as if she'd just been reunited with part of her past that she'd forgotten all about and didn't particularly want to revisit. The one hope I have for the series is that they DON'T go the same way as Wheeler Dealers - you know that quasi-British American show where they endlessly restore American cars that mean nothing to us here in the UK? Before they emigrated they ended up restoring an endless procession of Porsches and BMWs and each new episode was the same as the last, with a few Japanese Supercars thrown in to appeal to the 'Go Faster' brigade. Keep it simple, Tim and Fuzz, stick to the everyday family cars we all remember, the cars we could afford to run ourselves, and not the sensor-packed plastic fantastics we hear coming from twenty miles away, and it'll be worth watching for years to come.

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.

It's funny how a car show revolving around restoring cars for less fortunate people has less drama than its American counterparts.

From the many 'restoration' TV shows out there, and yes I put that in quotes since the majority barely touch the technical aspect, Car SOS feels like a true car show without any dumb exaggeration. The chemistry between the host (Tim Shaw) and mechanic (Fuzz Townshend) feels natural and authentic and it's nice to see their passion about various types of cars which feels genuine as well.

Although mostly focused on the story around the car's owner, the show does provide plenty of insight into what's involved in a full-on car restoration. The small sketches in between where the host goes out to gather parts and always persuades the shop owners in the most ridiculous ways adds a fine amount of humor as well without overdoing it.

The best thing is the genuine response of the owner when the car is revealed which is often touching. And I guess that's what I like most about this show, it's that many of it is real and not over- dramatized with shaky camera's, cursing and other nonsense. It's down to earth and I like it.

If you want a feelgood TV show about good deeds being done in the spirit of car restoration, then I'd certainly recommend it. It does not have the technical depth as -say- Wheeler Dealers, but only a few shows go into such a detail as this one does.