RICHARD Hammond has urged classic car owners from Herefordshire and beyond to bring their vehicles to his Rotherwas workshop as filming for a new series gets under way.
The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter has returned to screens with a new series of Richard Hammond's Workshop on Discovery+, but the television personality says the business behind the programme is very much a real-life restoration operation rather than just a TV set.
Hammond's restoration company, The Smallest Cog, based at Rotherwas on the outskirts of Hereford, is now looking for new customers with interesting classic cars and stories that could feature in future episodes.
Richard said: "We're really excited about the new series. There's lots of changes but still the same mix of great cars, characters and stories."
Since opening, the workshop has become known for tackling a wide range of unusual restoration projects.
Over six series, the team has worked on everything from Bond Bugs and a Ferrari 512 to a Rolls-Royce once owned by Field Marshal Montgomery.
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Other notable projects have included the Morgan Aero 8 prototype, the last-off-the-line Lotus Europa and a rare ceremonial Land Rover.
Despite the success of the television series, Hammond was keen to stress that The Smallest Cog remains a fully functioning workshop.
"Some people still think it's just a TV workshop. It's most definitely not," he said.
"Drop by any time when the cameras aren't there and you'll find the team at Rotherwas beavering away."
The business was launched by Hammond in 2021 after long-standing mechanics Neil, Anthony and Andrew Greenhouse, who had maintained many of his own vehicles over the years, faced losing their workshop.
Hammond stepped in to help establish a new company, preserving the highly skilled restoration team and creating a new venture in Hereford. Since then, The Smallest Cog has built a growing reputation among classic car enthusiasts, with Hammond remaining closely involved in its direction.
The presenter said the team is particularly interested in unusual restoration projects.
"If you've got an interesting classic with a great story, get in touch," he said. "We love the weird and the wonderful at the Cog.
"Sadly, the work does have to be paid for but our rates are very competitive. You'll get a first-class job and maybe even a cup of tea."
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