Whether it’s a rust-riddled Rover or a long-lost Lancia, restoring a neglected vehicle is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the classic car hobby. It’s not just about bringing something back to life – it’s about preserving memories, celebrating history and relishing the journey as much as the finished result.
For ore than a decade, Car SOS has embodied this philosophy, with expert mechanic Fuzz Townshend and presenter Tim Shaw secretly restoring cars for unsuspecting owners who feared their beloved vehicles would never return to their former glory.
Emblematic of the show’s success, Car SOS returned for its 13th season on March 13, 2025, on UK broadcaster National Geographic. This series promises to be one of the strongest yet, featuring an eclectic mix of restoration projects from a rare Ferrari 308 to a quirky Wolseley Hornet Six, complemented by cameos from figures such as Jeremy Clarkson, comedian Johnny Vegas and Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers fame.
In celebration of season 13, Magneto magazine joined Fuzz for a video call to discuss the show’s evolution and how restoration has changed during his time on Car SOS – and what the future holds for the industry.
Fuzz focuses on a philosophical question: “Why are you restoring a car?” For him, 80 percent of the joy is in the restoration process itself, while less than 20 percent is about actually driving the car. “People often focus on the finished project, but the journey is what really matters,” he says.
This approach has been a hallmark of Car SOS, which has taken on a wide variety of projects over the years. But cars are not chosen based on rarity or value; it’s the stories behind the vehicles that truly matter.
“We don’t choose cars based on their value,” Fuzz explains, briefly listing some of the restoration projects featured in season 13. “It’s the story that really matters – whether it’s a Ferrari or a Fiat.”
He continues: “Every story pulls at you emotionally. Some people have the financial means to restore their cars, but they’ve spent their lives being selfless, so their friends and family step in to do something special for them. Others can no longer work on their cars, whether due to illness or life’s challenges.”
Human stories have always been the substrate of Car SOS’s success, and season 13 is no different. However, the restoration process itself has evolved, particularly in the wake of Brexit and the Covid pandemic, which introduced new challenges – from supply-chain issues to changing customer expectations. The relentless evolution of technology has also shaken things up in a more positive manner.
“Parts availability post-Covid has been a challenge,” Fuzz laments. “During the pandemic, everyone kept themselves busy in their garages, buying up all the panels and parts. Then, stock-holding companies weren’t sure whether to commit to ordering more stock at great cost, or to hold off and let demand build,” he explains. “Many chose the latter, creating a bottleneck in sourcing older parts.”
This often forced the Car SOS team to laboriously set up alerts for particular parts on sites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, which only added to the time constraints and pressure of completing a restoration. As a result, the work often takes longer and costs more nowadays. But Fuzz remains optimistic.
“If parts cost more, then you often have to save harder – and in many cases, that’s not a totally bad thing,” he says. “But we’ve had moments where a crucial part is stuck in shipping limbo somewhere in the world and it won’t arrive until the 11th hour. There have been instances where we’ve had to borrow parts from other people’s cars just to get the reveal done, before replacing them later.”
Happily, the show’s success and popularity have helped mitigate some of these logistical hurdles. “We’re lucky that, after 13 years, Car SOS is a trusted name. Owners’ clubs have come to our rescue many times. When we tell them the story behind the restoration, people are willing to help,” Fuzz says with a smile. “‘Can we borrow your alternator?’ That’s an actual conversation we had in season 13.”
Technology and the future of car restoration are closely intertwined, and both have evolved significantly since Car SOS first aired in 2013. While innovations such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing and advanced CAD programs have streamlined certain aspects of restoration, these advancements are at risk due to a growing shortage of hands-on skills in the UK – a challenge that organisations such as the Heritage Skills Academy are working to mitigate.
“The restoration industry is evolving,” Fuzz agrees. “More training programmes are emerging – places such as Bicester Heritage are helping turn car restoration into a genuine career path. I think we’re moving past the old mindset where school tells kids: ‘If you don’t try harder, you’ll end up in the motor trade.’ It’s now a path with real opportunities.”
“We’re also seeing new disciplines emerge – I think we’re in the early stages of a renaissance,” he continues. “It’s no longer just about panel beating or mechanical work. We now have specialists who restore ageing ECUs and electrical systems, which is becoming essential as we restore newer classics. Additionally, more people are taking on braver projects, tools are more accessible and it’s easier to project manage a restoration. It’s an exciting time.”
New technologies are a significant part of the renaissance Fuzz believes is underway: “It’s changed the game. Instead of replacing rare parts with reproductions, we can now restore the originals, no matter how damaged they are. It’s like having a ‘way-back machine’ for classic cars. We’ve worked with experts such as Rick Wood, who uses five-axis milling machines and scanning technology to rebuild shattered engine components. For example, we once restored an MG Metro 6R4 sump by scanning a good one, adding metal to the broken one and re-machining it to look original. That would have been impossible years ago.”
Such developments have allowed Car SOS to embark on some incredibly ambitious and difficult projects, with Fuzz picking out the Land Rover Discovery Series 1 as one of season 13’s most demanding restorations: “The Discovery was a real challenge – it had been sitting in a field for years. The owner had inherited it from his late father and had a deep emotional connection to it; he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of it.
“When we revealed the Discovery, the owner realised what was happening before he even saw it – he heard the engine and said: ‘That’s my dad’s car!’ Then, it came around the corner, driven by Jeremy Clarkson. That moment was probably the most powerful moment we’ve ever seen on the show,” Fuzz recalls.
Season 13 of Car SOS began on March 13, 2025, and new episodes are currently airing each week on National Geographic. For more information, click here.
