New Series Starts Tonight! In this interview: Tim & Fuzz on Clarkson, Brewer & The Celeb Who Said ‘NO’!
Car S.O.S. (Car Sausage) is back for a brand-new Series 13, and once again, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with the legends themselves – Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend in an exclusive interview, in which we covered everything from the cars on the show, the celebs involved (including the one that said ‘no’!) and Tim’s mid-life crisis and hair dye fiasco!
If you don’t know Car S.O.S., where have you been? It’s the ultimate car restoration show with a heart, where Tim and Fuzz swoop in to rescue classic motors for deserving owners who, due to life’s ups and downs, haven’t been able to get their beloved rides back on the road. And after 13 series, they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Series 13 kicks off on Thursday, 13th March 2025 at 8PM on National Geographic, with 10 brand-new episodes featuring some of the most incredible restorations to date. We’re talking:
- Toyota Celica GT-Four – A 90s rally legend
- VW Polo G40 – A true pocket rocket
- Wolseley Hornet Six – A British classic
- Land Rover Discovery Series 1 – The original off-roader
- Suzuki Jimny – Small but mighty
- 1966 VW Beach Buggy – Sun, sand & speed!
- BMW E46 M3 – A modern classic
- Ferrari 308 GTS – Yes, the Magnum P.I. Ferrari!
And if that wasn’t enough, this season features some very special guest stars, including Jeremy Clarkson, Mike Brewer, and comedian Johnny Vegas! But as I found out in my interview – not everyone was so keen to join in the fun…
Jeremy Clarkson & Mike Brewer Join the Fun
Yes, you read that right. Jeremy Clarkson – the man, the myth, the farming legend – makes an appearance in Series 13! But did he show his soft side for once? Well, according to Fuzz, the fact that he let a coach-load of people invade his farm for filming suggests he’s not as grumpy as he makes out.
Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers fame also joins the lads for a jaw-dropping reveal at his Sheffield dealership. Given his legendary knack for car deals, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to flog one of their own restorations back to the boys – hold out yer hand!
But then there was the celebrity who said NO…
The One That Got Away – Who Refused to Join Car S.O.S.?
Now, you’d think that appearing on Car S.O.S. would be an easy ‘yes’ for any petrolhead celeb, but apparently, not everyone is up for a bit of automotive nostalgia.
Tim and Fuzz tried their best to get none other than Tom Selleck (yes, Magnum P.I. himself!) to make an appearance for the Ferrari 308 GTS restoration. I mean, it makes sense – you can’t restore the Magnum Ferrari without at least trying to get the man himself involved, right?
Sadly, it was a firm ‘NO’ from Selleck’s camp. Maybe he’s just done with all things Magnum and doesn’t want the past catching up with him? Or maybe he just doesn’t fancy a long chat with Tim and Fuzz about moustache grooming techniques? Either way, he wasn’t having it.
Still, according to Fuzz, there will be Hawaiian shirts involved in the big reveal.
Behind the Scenes – What You Don’t See on TV
With each episode being a tightly edited 44 minutes, there’s a lot that doesn’t make it to air. When I asked what fans don’t get to see, Fuzz revealed that some of the most emotional moments happen off-camera.
Apparently, family members often get quite emotional when they see the stripped-down car mid-restoration. It’s one thing to see a car gathering dust on the driveway, but another thing entirely when it’s in bits, mid-rebuild. “It’s not real until that moment,” says Fuzz, “and suddenly, they realise just how much work is going into it.”
Of course, there’s also a tonne of banter and workshop shenanigans that never make the cut. “We have loads of fun in the workshop,” Tim admits, “but not everything can go in. Otherwise, people might think we’re just messing about the whole time.” (Let’s be honest, they probably are.)
The ‘Scientific’ Experiment – Convertibles vs Hatchbacks
One of the more bizarre parts of Series 13 is a scientific experiment to determine once and for all whether convertibles are actually more fun than hatchbacks.
Tim and Fuzz, along with an actual team of scientists, measured brainwaves and heart rates while driving both a convertible and a standard hatchback.
And the results? Well, they’re keeping that under wraps until the episode airs, but Tim teased: “It puts the debate to bed once and for all.”
I have my own theories (and a personal soft spot for drop-tops), but we’ll just have to wait and see if science agrees!
Tim’s Midlife Crisis – Tattoos & Hair Dye Fails
Of course, it wouldn’t be an interview with Tim and Fuzz without some completely unrelated but utterly hilarious tangents.
Tim, it turns out, was willing to get a tattoo as part of a show prank – except they stitched him up and did the whole thing without ink. The result? A scar but no tattoo, and a whole lot of blood lost for nothing – eek!
Oh, and then there’s the hair dye incident. Tim, feeling like the years were catching up with him, decided to dye his hair jet black – which, rather made him look like he was wearing a Lego helmet.
Lesson learned? Maybe some things are best left untouched – cars and hair included. Admittedly though, I do dye mine – so I can’t say anything!
Final Thoughts – The Best Car S.O.S. Series Yet?
With incredible restorations, huge celebrity guests, and some of the funniest behind-the-scenes antics ever, Series 13 of Car S.O.S. is shaping up to be an absolute belter.
It’s amazing to think that after 13 series, Tim and Fuzz are still at it – saving classic cars, telling heartwarming stories, and, of course, taking the mick out of each other every step of the way.
And when it does all eventually come to an end – many years hence Inshallah! – for one final mission, which cars would they restore for each other? Well you’ll have to watch the video above to hear the surprising choices!
📺 Don’t miss Car S.O.S. Series 13 – Thursdays at 8PM on National Geographic from 13th March 2025!
And if you want more behind-the-scenes car content, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel
What do you think? Let me know in the comments – and tell me which Car S.O.S. restoration has been your all-time favourite. Until next time, keep it classic!
Follow all my channels https://linktr.ee/browncarguy
Get my books! https://amzn.eu/d/9fwhSoQ | https://amzn.eu/d/9IHhqXA
Sponsor my content from as little as £3 at https://ko-fi.com/browncarguy
Big Thanks to my Supporters!
Tom Conway-Gordon (https://www.instagram.com/anycoloursolongasits_black/)
And others! 🙏🏽☺️
Discover more from Brown Car Guy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Loud dreadful music spoils this latest edition of Car SOS. Totally unnecessary
LikeLike