Well this is exciting, our favourite TV show returns and we will be chatting to the Car S.O.S. Chaps once again and we can hardly wait. Just take a look at what is coming, you are bound to find something that will take your fancy, but what we love are the stories behind the classics.
So get set for the return of the nation’s favourite car show with a heart, as CAR S.O.S continues its mission to transform lives as well as vehicles in its fourteenth season, taking on its most challenging restorations yet and raising craftsmanship, engineering and emotion to new heights.
Hosted by Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend and airing on National Geographic every Thursday at 8pm from 12th March, the new series sees the duo travel the country on covert recovery missions, rescuing cherished motors whose futures have been derailed by illness, injustice or overwhelming personal hardship. From long-hidden garage finds to rare performance icons, the scale of the challenges facing the CAR S.O.S workshop has never been greater.
Season 14 opens with a show-stopping reunion as Joanna Lumley helps return a lovingly restored Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite to its owner whose romance with their late partner began in it more than 60 years ago. Tim and Fuzz also tackle one of their rarest challenges ever with Lamborghini’s backing on an ultra-scarce Silhouette, undertake the programme’s first motorcycle rebuild for a former sub-postmaster affected by the Horizon scandal, and create a pioneering therapy vehicle from a Rover P4 to support men’s mental health.
From a life-saving Land Rover Defender and an Alfa Romeo dream derailed by a devastating financial scam to a halted Golf GTI project and an emotional Mercedes surprise with Brian Conley, the season is packed with ambition and heart. Each story begins with a secret nomination. Once the vehicle is quietly collected, the race is on to track down scarce parts, solve intricate engineering problems and keep the entire operation under wraps, all leading to the moment that matters most – the surprise reveal and return of the keys to its deserving owner.
“This season is on another level,” says Tim. “The cars are rarer, the builds are tougher, and the responsibility to get it right for the families is enormous. When you hear firsthand what some of them have been through, you’ll understand why these reveals mean everything. First and foremost, this is a show about people – the cars give us a way to tell their story, and we feel incredibly lucky to make a difference and be part of a new chapter in their lives.”
Fuzz adds: “Every year we think we’ve taken on our toughest restoration, and every year the bar somehow is set higher. The technical challenges in the workshops are massive, and the combined ingenuity of our super-skilled teams is incredible to watch. But what leaves indelible marks are the moments when you’re reminded just how much a car can mean to someone, and the difference it can make to their life.”
Episodes include the following:
“Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite (1958)” (Dame Joanna Lumley Appears)
12th March, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz face one of their toughest missions yet: sneaking a Frogeye Sprite out of its owner’s garage, where it’s been stored for over 50 years. This car is John’s pride and joy, but family life forced him to sideline the little roadster, and years locked away has allowed rot to set in. The body is now riddled with rust, the engine is seized, the gearbox needs a full rebuild, and the interior is falling apart. The boys are determined to save as many original components as possible – but John’s missing garage keys mean a locksmith could be called at any moment. Can the Car SOS team complete the daring restoration in time for an emotional reveal at an English vineyard, with surprise help from Dame Joanna Lumley? The clock is ticking.
“Mercedes SLK 230 (2001)” (Brian Conley Appears)
19th March, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz takes on a 2001 Mercedes SLK with huge sentimental value for Lili, 35, from Barnsley, who inherited the car after losing both her parents. Sadly, the little roadster her mum had cherished since new has been locked away, plagued by mechanical problems, suspension issues, a tired interior, and a folding roof that won’t close. While Fuzz battles the workshop gremlins to get it running and roadworthy, Tim heads to Germany for expert advice and takes a grinder to a scrap car to illustrate the evolution of convertibles. Racing against the clock, the team restores Lili’s beloved family heirloom in time for an emotional West End reveal.
“Triumph Bonneville (1973)” (Sir Alan Bates Appears)
26th March, 8pm, National Geographic
In a Car SOS first, Tim and Fuzz ditch four wheels for two, taking on their most ambitious project yet – restoring a 1973 Triumph Bonneville belonging to ex-postmaster Ian, a lifelong biker whose pride and joy has been in bits for over 20 years. What faces the boys looks more like canal salvage than a classic. With zero bike-building experience, the boys enlist help from Triumph HQ, whose expert is stunned by the bike’s condition. With corrosion everywhere, it’s a race against time – and physics – to save Ian’s original machine. While Fuzz battles a seized, waterlogged engine, Tim fights to rescue the rare “tombstone” tank and discovers his inner artist. Their journey through Britain’s motorbike heritage ends with Tim tracking down Ian’s hero, Sir Alan Bates, for an emotional reunion of man and machine.
“VW Golf GTI Mk1 (1983)”
2nd April, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz take on an iconic Golf GTI Mk1, owned by Saj from Birmingham. Known locally as the “VW oracle,” Saj has a crystal-clear vision of how his beloved Golf should look – meaning this won’t be your average restoration. The boys’ mission is to create the ultimate show-winning car. But there’s an extra challenge: Saj lives with muscular dystrophy, which means he can no longer drive. Determined to change that, Tim sets out to find a way to give Saj back some control behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Fuzz faces the daunting task of rescuing the owners self-modified engine and tackling a body riddled with rust and rot. With so much at stake and the clock ticking, can the lads finish in time for the big reveal at one of the UK’s biggest car meet locations in front of a crowd of Saj’s peers?
“Austin Mini Mayfair (1988)”
9th April, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz head to Cardiff, Wales to pick up a 1988 Mini Mayfair with an identity crisis. Owner Donna bought the modified Mayfair using the small inheritance left by her late father, but her true dream was to own a Cooper. But love is blind – her Mini is riddled with rot and worn-out mechanics and her health has put a stop to any hopes of restoring it. With the shell barely fit for scrap, the boys must preserve what’s left to keep the car’s identity alive. As Fuzz battles to rebuild the neglected engine and running gear, Tim sets out to transform the Mayfair into the ultimate Cooper tribute – with help from the Cooper family themselves. Can they save this collapsing classic and give Donna the dream car her dad had always wanted her to have?
“Nissan Pulsar GTi-R (1992)”
16th April, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz take on a 1990 Nissan Pulsar GTi-R, determined not only to restore it but also to uncover why this rally-born icon never became the ultimate hot hatch. For its owner, Raymond – a devoted dad, generous soul, and lifelong petrolhead – the GTi-R was his dream build. But after three bouts of cancer, he became too weak to finish it, leaving just a rotting shell, boxes of parts including an engine, and a missing turbo. Nominated by son Tristan, the boys set out to complete his father’s dream. It soon turns into a full-blown rescue mission, from sourcing an uprated turbo to tackling severe corrosion, building a bespoke exhaust system, and searching for rare parts. Tim and Fuzz must rebuild “baby Godzilla” from the ground up. Finally, at Silverstone, an emotional Raymond is reunited with the car he never thought he’d see restored.
“Alfa Romeo Spider (1968)”
23rd April, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz take on one of their toughest rescues yet: a 1968 Alfa Romeo Spider that’s fallen a long way from Italian icon to rust-ravaged wreck. Owned by Jane, the car was bought over 25 years ago using a small inheritance from her father and was meant to be her dream restoration. Made famous by The Graduate, the Spider symbolised freedom and hope – until a devastating banking scam wiped out Jane’s life savings and part of her pension. Forced to focus on survival, the Alfa was hidden away, becoming a painful reminder of everything Jane had lost. After decades in storage, corrosion has taken hold, leaving the once-beautiful roadster barely movable. But with its rare and highly prized 1.75-litre engine, the boys face a rescue mission like no other. Is this iconic Alfa beyond saving – even for Car SOS?
“Land Rover Defender (2000)”
30th April, 8pm, National Geographic
Tim and Fuzz head to Northern Ireland on a high-stakes rescue mission. Shaun’s 2000-plate Land Rover Defender isn’t just a vehicle – it helped launch the Community Rescue Service 20 years ago and has played a vital role in saving lives ever since. Now, with over 200 volunteers relying on dependable 4x4s, the loss of the Defender has left a big gap on the frontline. Sidelined by serious mechanical failure, only Car SOS can bring it back. Facing severe rot, a full gearbox and drivetrain rebuild, plus a crucial differential upgrade, the pressure is on. Determined to future-proof this 25-year-old hero, Tim hunts down cutting-edge tech, even travelling to Germany for the world’s best search lights. This isn’t just a restoration — it’s about returning a lifesaver to active duty.
Car S.O.S Season 14 premieres Thursday 12th March exclusively on National Geographic
