Ep 4. Ford Model A

In Car SOS season 7 episode 4, the team takes on the challenge of restoring a 1930 Ford Model A Roadster Deluxe. The episode starts with presenter Tim Shaw visiting the owner, Paul, who had started the restoration of the car himself but had to abandon it due to health reasons. Tim is shocked by the condition of the car - it's in a sorry state with rust and missing parts, and it's been off the road for almost 40 years.

The team gets to work, starting with the engine which hasn't run in four decades. Fuzz Townshend, the mechanic, discovers a few issues including a cracked block and bent rods, so he decides a complete rebuild is necessary. Tim and Fuzz visit a specialist who has the parts they need, but when they return, they realize that the engine doesn't fit the car. Fuzz improvises with some custom fabrication, and the engine is back in place.

Next, they work on the exterior of the car which is in a terrible state. The body needs to be removed from the chassis, and it's a complicated process as the car is almost 90 years old. There are several tricky parts to take off, and some need to be made from scratch. They encounter one major problem when they get to the panel for the gas tank - it's completely rotten and disintegrated. Fuzz takes on the challenge and makes a replacement piece from scratch using his panel-beating skills.

The interior is also in need of some attention. The seats and upholstery are beyond repair, so they order new parts. The dashboard needs work too, and they find that the car originally had some unique features. One of these is a vacuum-powered fuel gauge, and they undertake the task of bringing this back to life.

As with many classic cars, the electrical system is a disaster, and the Ford Model A is no exception. Fuzz dives into the wiring and carefully untangles everything. He finds that previous owners have tinkered with the system, leaving him with a complex mess to decipher. However, through his ingenuity and problem-solving skills, he manages to get everything back to working order.

The team finishes up the car, and it's time to give it back to Paul. They've changed the original color to a stunning red, which makes the car look brand new. Paul is overwhelmed when he sees it for the first time - he never thought it would look this good. He describes it as "stunning" and "unbelievable".

The show ends with a special surprise - Tim has arranged for Paul's daughter to come down to see the car. She hasn't seen her father in almost two years, and she's ecstatic to see the car her dad had worked on for so long. It's an emotional reunion, and Paul is beyond grateful for his restored car.

Overall, the episode is a great representation of what Car SOS is all about. The team takes on a challenging restoration, overcomes unexpected problems, and gives the owner a final product they can be proud of. It's a heartwarming show that showcases the capabilities of classic car restoration.