04x08 - D-Day

[bunniefuu]

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

That car has to be in France

to take part
in the D-Day celebrations

Welcome to the Smallest Cog.

First impressions?

There's so many inefficiencies.

This would drive me insane.

Behold!

An estate Oliver.

This is making my life
difficult to be honest,

you can always come in a bit less.

Right.

If I'm making things worse
by being here,

what am I actually for around here?

[THEME MUSIC]

RICHARD VOICEOVER:
It's nearly three years

since the Smallest Cog
opened its doors.

The business still owes me
a fortune.

I've been hiding bank statements.

I'm basically running a social club!

So, it's time for a big shake-up.

Clock in in the morning,
clock onto a job.

The dawn of a new era.

But not everyone likes change.

I'm very nervous about all of it.

This isn't going to tell me
what to do!

I'll tell you that for nothing.

We make history with our
most important restoration yet.

Did Montgomery or Churchill
ever imagine you sitting in it?

Probably not.

The work must be completed on time.

Oh, she's eager!

Can we race
into a bright new future?

With me at the wheel?

Oh, oh, oh!

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

I am, as ordered,

spending some time out of the way,
away from the workshop.

I'm spending it instead with this,

which is the most important
vehicle in my life.

It's the first bike I ever had.

I absolutely loved it,

I had to learn how to ride it
from a library book.

And I saved up to buy it

with the money from my job
picking up chickens' eggs.

It actually cost less than
the gloves

I'm going to wear to ride it today,

but it was the most precious thing
in my world.

[LAUGHS]

Play time!

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

And I need this headspace,

we're off to France in a week
to deliver Monty's Rolls Royce

to the 80th D-Day commemorations.

The MOD is relying on us
to get it there safely.

So, lots to think about.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?
Hey, Richard.

Brigadier Mike.

I haven't caught you in the middle
of a critical task, have I?

No, no, just in between jobs.
How's it going?

Well, Monty's Rolls Royce looks
absolutely beautiful.

Thank you.
And thanks for having faith in us.

But now we've got to,
er, get the car to Normandy itself.

And that is an absolutely
epic event.

Yes.

What I just wanted to chat
through with you

is that we're all ready for that.

So, who have you in mind
to go from your team?

I'm inclined to bring Neil
because he oversaw the project,

Anthony, because he understands
the mechanics of that one.

And Isaac, actually,
because he's really, really useful.

And it is, as you rightly say,
the real mission.

This is why we did the car,

for it to be seen over there
at that time

by members of the public
and by veterans themselves.

So, no messing about.

It is quite nerve wracking,

but we absolutely
got to get it right.

OK, Brigadier, we will be there

bright of eyed
and bushy of tailed. Bye.

That is really exciting.

I mean, truth be told,

taking three guys
out of the workshop

is not gonna sit all that well
with Jamie,

I suspect, but this afternoon
I'm off for a meeting,

almost an audition, I suspect,

with Europe's biggest car collector.

Him and his wife together.

If I can land them, they could
be the dream long term client.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

Isaac.
Yep.

Look, look at my latest purchase,
I reckon.

This looks serious.

Look at that, we could use
this for France for the old Rolls.

Got a big kitchen there.

Only downside is...

It's a bit metric. Yeah.
..it's a bit metric. OK.

So, it will fit but it won't fit.
Yeah, it won't do the job.

So, we also need some old tools.

I've got a few bits I think.

We just need to make a nice little
tool kit up just in case.

Oh, look at that.
That's the older one.

That's what I'm talking about.

And we've got another one.

You have got the kit boy.

This has been resting in someone's
garage for quite a while I think.

See this is what I am talking about,
old stuff.

I know it doesn't look the best,
but this is what we need.

What have we got, we've got
spanners in this one as well.



It could be.
That's perfect.

British made which is what we want.

It'll get us
out of trouble, won't it?

And the thing is Richard's going
to be looking at me and you

if this thing breaks down, OK?

And he's got
a Brigadier in the car,

he doesn't want to look silly.

No, we gotta get...
And neither do we.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Wow. Absolutely dazzling.

[LAUGHS]

I could lose myself in here.

Just the range, it's incredible.

It's hard to believe

this is one man's
private collection.

An inventor and entrepreneur,

Rodger Dudding has been
collecting cars for over 50 years.

Time now to make a good impression
on him and his wife Emma.

Hello Richard.

Emma. Hello?

I'm wandering around your garage.

Nice to see you, how are you?

Lovely to see you.

Your garage is bonkers.

[CHUCKLES] It's phenomenal.

This is an insight
into Rodger's head.

Yeah.
And what's in Rodger's head...

Mmm.
..is cars.

Do these go out and work?

They actually do.
They go out for weddings.

They go out for film shoots.

How many in the collection in total?

At the last count,
probably about 450.

Right!
[LAUGHS]

Can I go meet your bonkers husband?

Indeed, you may.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

So, he's waiting
for you on the top floor

with his favourite cars.

Favourite cars?
She's fine.

Aha! Good grief.

Aston Martin Lagondas. Wow.

Rodger, lovely to see you again.

How are you?
And yourself, nice to see you.

I don't know where else in the world

I could see this many
of these in one place.

I've been very
fortunate in what I've done.

I can afford to indulge myself

in buying these beautiful

looking machines.

But your story
of this collection, now 450 cars.

The first car is over there,
the Morris Minor.

Fathers' Morris, yes.

Is that the genesis
of this entire operation?

It is. It is the genesis of that.

I just love the car so much.

It is a feeling you have.

And they like affection

and they will reward you handsomely.

There is the business
element to this.

I'm guessing you must have access
to so many marque specialists,

but bodywork, do you have
a bodywork specialist?

Not specifically.

If a car did come up
that needs a bit of work,

we'll show you a quality job,

good price and see where it goes.

Could that happen?

We'd be delighted to give
you the next vehicle,

which needs a little
bit of Hammond TLC.

Let's make it happen.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

I really enjoyed coming here,
'cause who wouldn't.

But also from a work point of view.

There's 450 cars here,

that occasionally get damaged

and they need somebody
to put them right.

If these guys become clients,
that's a lot of work.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

Right, who would like
a cup of tea then?

Yes, please.
I'll have one.

Most important
one of the day this is.

If we were
going to do this properly,

we need some enamel mugs really.

Get us in the wartime spirit
for taking the Rolls to France.

Do you want that one?

Oh, look at that,
good for you rust is, I've heard.

Pretty little car.
It's very brown.

But it's actually
quite an important car,

it's a test case
from Rodger Dudding.

Typical Lancia Beta.

Quite a subtly good-looking car
and looks brilliant today.

They were cheap.
They were.

They were 600 quid,
they wouldn't be now,

because most of them rotted away


They don't want
a full restoration this.

No, the idea is,

if there's a few blemishes
on the body,

give him a sensible price,
done to time, on budget.

Make it look nice.
Yeah.

If we get this right,

he's got a lot of other cars.

He would be an awesome client.

Let me know how you get on.

Well, look at that, Rodger
Dudding's Lancia Beta, low mileage,

very rare, definitely a man
we've got to impress.

So, what do you reckon then,

it's really windscreen out
to do it nice.

That's the main bit of nastiness
in your eyesight.

Yeah.
There's a piece here, repair that.

And there's a big dent
in the bonnet.

Sounds like a plan.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Seats out.

Now, we need our magic tool.

I've got to be careful,
because if we break that glass,

we're not gonna get another one.

This is a sort thing
we need, this Lancia.

Little bit of profit,
quick turnaround,

and this customer is absolutely
perfect for us.

Right. Now, it's out.
We can see the big rot hole.

You couldn't see it before
'cause the chrome was there.

That's nasty that is.

That's what this car will
turn into very quickly

if we don't sort it out.

At least we know what we got now.

So, we could cut that piece out

and then a little piece
welded in there.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

It's quite important
we get this right.

Oh, where are ya.

Then we would have
a constant stream of cars,

and he's got an example
of just about everything

ever made to work on, but we'll see.

Aha, there we have it.

You see, this just looks like
a rough bit of metal,

but if you look at that shape there.

That's exactly the same profile

as the lip on the back
of Rodger Dudding's Lancia roof.

And it saves me having to make it

as somebody has already
made it for me.

So, there you are,
never chuck anything away.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]


For the first time in ages,

I had a really good sleep
last night, really good.

Things are looking positive now.

Uh, with the Lancia,
that should be finished tomorrow,

that's the sort of job we need,

jobs that we can actually turn
the car around in a couple of days.

If Richard can keep pulling them in,
that'd be absolutely perfect.

Unlike big restoration jobs

'cause now there is so much
more risk,

we end up finding stuff
that ends up pushing

the job further down the line.

So, it's really,
really hard to manage.

That's the last thing
we need at the moment.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

Right, today it's my turn
to take you to see a car.

Have you told Jamie about
this job and will he approve of it?

No, no, I'm sure
he'd be on board to get this done.

There are only two
of these in the country.

Sometimes things are rare
because nobody wants them.

Paul.
Hi, Richard.

Good to see you.
Nice to meet you.

You're interested
to see what's in there?

Yes. I'm intrigued.

Come on then.

Oh, look at that.

What is it? It's bonkers.

That is almost a unicorn
in the VW world.

Right, it's a Brubaker box, 1972,
designed by Curtis Brubaker.

He set up a company in California
to create a sports van

for the surfer dudes.

So, he was gonna
make this as a production car...

but it never happened.
Never happened.

There's so many questions,

not the least of which
is why have you go to it.

[LAUGHTER]

This comes back to my childhood,
being obsessed with hot rod cars,

buying hot rod magazines.

And then eventually
we get to the point

where I managed to get one.

How many of these are there?



There's two in the UK.
I've got the other one.

So, you are the owners club.

Yes, in the UK.

I love it.

I...I...I want to get I want
to get me flares out...

Oh, no.

No, I don't like that,
that worries me.

Neil, you can't just take
these in because you love them.

I think it would look
absolutely beautiful.

Oh, I have absolutely
no doubt it'd look amazing.

But I'm gonna be the one
talking to Jamie about this.

Yeah, but
it's a fantastic opportunity.

You need to think realistically.

I wouldn't want to start it
unless we knew

you were gonna say it
through with us

and you knew we were gonna see...

it through with you.
Yeah.

Out of curiosity,
why did you think of us?

It dawned on me that actually,
you Neil are probably the person...

Mmm.
..who would care enough about this.

Yeah.

To give it the attention
to detail that it deserves.

Oh, no don't be nice to him.

He's already loves your car.

Now, you've been nice to him,
he's purring.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

I didn't know
what to make of it at first,

but it would be very cool.

That would be the star
of any show, wouldn't it?

Oh, god yeah.

I wouldn't like to see it
featured in a magazine

and someone else
has done it.

The thing that's gonna make
us unpopular is that would gum up

the shop for a bit,
that ain't gonna be popular.

We'll have to think of a way.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

One step forwards, two steps back,

that's what it feels like
here at the moment.

For example, Richard's Kadett,

Isaac took it home
last night for a test drive

and he's just phoned me,
he's broken down this morning,

so I'm gonna have to send
another guy out now with a trailer

to go and pick him up.

Which I can't charge for.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello mate,
I've just come off the roundabout

by the Beefeater so,

..um...
Er, just keep coming up.

You'll see...

[LAUGHS] Oh, mate.

I can only assume this is you.

Oh, there you are. I know him.

[LAUGHS]

Poor Isaac looks like
a little lost puppy.

[LAUGHS]

We're definitely
in the local news now.

Hereford Times will
have a field day with this one.

Yeah.

I thought I'd put a few more miles
on it just as the last run in.

And, um, basically, the car says no.

There's got to be better ways
of earning money than this.

Got Rodger Dudding's
Lancia ready for paint now.

Problem is classic car,
old, old colour,

and brown is particularly tricky.

It's like getting a rainbow

and sticking a big mixer
in and mixing it up.

You've got all
sorts of colours in there.

So, the first colour in, black.

Blood orange.

Bright red.

There is a bit of alchemy.

And if you get any one
of those colours wrong,

it spoils everything.

This is where it gets scary
because it all hinges

on how good this colour is.

This is a bit like George's
Marvellous Medicine

and you gonna get what you get.

But you know what?

When I stir that now
and that is that nice

deep chocolatey brown,
absolutely as it should be.

So, a bit of experience,

a bit of technology
and a bit of hard work.

And we'll keep ourselves in a job.

You alright.

Alright, so Rodger Dudding's Lancia,
ready to go back.

Good to go.
Yeah...

this is important this car,
because he has hundreds of cars.

Yeah.
He's gonna know...

what he's looking at.
He is definitely.

Yeah.
He's definitely gonna be that.

But tell me where I've painted.

I can't.
Exactly.

You'll have to remind him.

I'm really pleased
with this job, mate.

I think you've absolutely
knocked at the park.

But when we bill him.
Yeah.

And I'd like
you to be honest with me.

Mmm.
I'm not out of pocket.

No, no, we're making money.

Because given that he's got
hundreds of cars to do,

there's no point of doing 20 grands
worth of work and charging him five,

'cause he'll expect that every time,
and then we'll be ruined.

Exactly. This is our sprat
to catch a mackerel.

Yeah. Well,
stick the sprat on the trailer

and I'll take it to London.
OK.

Neil might not be
the most easily managed,

but he's bloody good at his job.

Yes, we need to get bigger,
but ultimately I mustn't forget

it's based on people being
really good at what they do.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Hello.

Good morning both, how are you?

We are well. How are you?

Both beautifully
turned out as always.

Aw, thank you.
You're looking...

exceptionally dapper,
but to more important matters.

We've dressed the car for you.

That is beautiful. Is it ours?

Typical.

Yes. This is one of yours.

And I just wanted to show you
what we have done.

If you remember, there's a nasty
piece of rot around here, right?

So, we cut it all out,
took it back to bare metal,

cut in that new piece

there to cover it and finished
it and painted it.

So, that all happened there.

Well, you wouldn't recognise that...

would you!
That looks beautiful.

And the other area
that we addressed was the bonnet.

There was a dent

and there was some damage
to the paint on here.

Beautiful work,
you can't see it at all.

That's lovely.

Has Emma mentioned to you,
we have another 450 cars?

I'm not saying
it was on my mind constantly

while we were doing it,

but what I wanted us to do
was deliver a job that said,

that's what we do for the money.
That's the level we work to.

I think you've done
a superb job on it.

So, yes, please you have
others to do.

Thank you that's all I want to hear.

[LAUGHS]

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

Steady stream of quick-turnaround
jobs? Tick.

That should keep Jamie happy.

But I'm conflicted.

I don't want to completely
turn our backs

on the longer-term
prestigious restorations.

Seeing that Brubaker van

with Neil sort of where I started
in wanting to set the business up.

It's a reason to go
and see interesting cars

and sometimes bring them back
and we work on them.

But I think play time
has got to be over now.

So, I've had a word
with Patrick Blakeney Edwards,

who has become quite a mentor.

That guy set up
a big successful business

doing kind of exactly
what I wanna do.

So, while we're in France
at the D-Day memorials,

I've arranged for Patrick
to visit the workshop

to look at it from the point of view
of a business,

what are we doing right,
what are we doing wrong.

Am I, as the owner of the business,
getting too caught up

in the rose-tinted
romantic vision of,

oh, let's restore all
these beautiful old cars?

Yes, but if I ruin
myself in the process

and everybody loses their job,

the romance very quickly
goes out of it.

Oh, that's gone wrong. Oh, dear.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

We're about to be reunited

with Field Marshal Montgomery's
Rolls Royce,

our most important restoration yet.

The car is due to take
pride of place

at the 80th D-Day Anniversary.

The MOD has tasked us
with getting the car

to a series of high profile
events in France.

Watching our every step
is a serving Brigadier

and the curator
of the Royal Logistics Corp Museum.

Morning Brigadier, Sam.

Good morning, Richard.

We're more or less on time
It is morning

Yes, very much so.

Welcome to Southwick House.
Yeah. Spectacular.

Where it all began.

This is so significant.

It's already good to go
and looks appropriately spectacular.

Absolutely.

But you cannot visit
Southwick house

without seeing the map room.

What, like the map room?

The actual D-Day map.

I'm up for that.
Come on, let's go.

Let's have a look.
Let's do it.

No we'll do.
We'll do stuff.

This I wanna see.

Oh, my word is that...

Yes.
This is the actual D-Day map.

This is the map
that changed the world.

As it was left when Eisenhower,
Monty and Churchill left this room.

And so beaches are down here.

This is where all
the ships gather in, 6,000?

Yep.

And you can see all
the avenues of approach.

Well, our mission is altogether
more modest than that,

but we have to get our Rolls-Royce
from Portsmouth to there.

And we're going to be travelling
with living Normandy veterans.

Yeah.
Mmm.

Living history.

Has everybody got their passports?

Yes, Dad.

Are we all in?
Yes, we are in.

Right, let's go to France.

Let's go and do
our side of the duty.

You wouldn't want to be
in that Rolls Royce anyway.

No. In the comfort.

No.

I've never been in a car
with a flag on the bonnet.

I've never felt
so important in my life.

Neil, you knew this day was coming.
You always knew.

At some point, you'll be riding
to France in Monty's Rolls-Royce,

driven by a Brigadier.

You're finally being treated
like the Prince...

you deserve to be.
Yeah, well, you know...

when something just feels right.

Hmm.

Is the handbrake on?

As far on as it'll go.

Is anybody else anxious
about leaving it?

Yeah.

[SHIPS HORN HONKS]
Right, that's a sign.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

It's still not as loud
as the horn on the Rolls, though.

Right. Let's go up.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

We've got a good
vantage point for the departure.

I think emotions will start
to run high at this point.

Everybody on the quayside waving,

you've got a flotilla of boats
in the harbour,

it's an amazing experience.

The crew of the aircraft carrier

the Prince of Wales saluted
the veterans as we passed.

Very emotional.

That is the way to set off.

The fact of the matter
is we're going to commemorate

a really significant event,

but it's an event at which thousands
of young men gave their lives

and they set off in very different
circumstances to ours.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

OK, troops.

The next steps have to run
like clockwork.

Every route has been specified,
every timing has been specified.

Because the security is absolutely
immense in this area.

This is effectively
a military operation

for the next two days.

Right, so a degree
of clarity and focus.

Just like the workshop really,
innit?

We've done the easy bit,

because super early
tomorrow morning,

we're back on the road,
to Monty's chateau.

We then go across to Gold Beach,

at Arromanches
that's a must do pilgrimage.

From there, we've got
only about an hour

to get across to Ver-sur-Mer,

for the D-Day 80 events on Thursday.

If we don't make that target,
we're locked out.

And this is a massively
popular area this week,

it not just going to be
us on the roads.

So, we need to, er, play by the book

and be at the right place
at the right time.

And this whole programme
of events has global reach.

Most of our museum objects
being really,

really old don't really move
or go anywhere.

So, even just the fact
that this car still is running

is just a hugely important thing.

We've got a job to do,
it needs to be seen by people,

that's the point of it.

It's not a job, it's a duty.

It is. Now,
we're going to do it.

I'm thrilled to be doing

this is extremely exciting
and an honour.

As I say, military operation
run like clockwork.

You must be inspired by your men.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

I'm so honoured just to be here.

We've done our small part
to help this whole thing.

They did all of that for us.

We've got to do it for them
and we will,

we'll get that car there.


[c*ck CROWS]

Oh!

Morning chaps.
Morning.

Right, um, busy day ahead.

First stop, 8:30 Monty's Chateau.

Which is an important place.
So, we've got a bit of time.

It's not far away,
but let's get the car ready.

Get it ready, get it there.

The rest of the day...

more pilgrimage.
More.

Yeah, it's
going to be busy over here.

She looks good
over here doesn't she?

I better check my backseat
still in good order.

We're in the diplomatic service now.

It's going to your head, isn't it?
No.

You can't just be wafted
around normally

in the back of Monty's Rolls-Royce.

When in Rome.

We're definitely not in Rome.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

Oh, is it narrow?

I'm going to assume there's nothing
coming in if there is it'll stop,

because a building is just...

about to emerge.
See the flag and they'll realise.

Drive to the right,
drive on the right.

Do you know anything
at about this Chateau then?

Once they got
their foothold in Europe here,

thanks to D-Day,
this was Monty's HQ.

Oh, I say.

That's a magnificent place.

That is.

Is that the Brigadier stood there?

It is, in his dress uniform.

Oh, that. Oh, yeah.

You're very late.

Yeah, sorry about that.

That is not the first time this car
has done that sweep down

the drive up to this chateau.

But it hasn't done for a long time.

Anyway, isn't it beautiful?

Absolutely breathtaking. Yeah.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Oh, look at that view.

So, this is it.

That is spectacular.

So, they would have sat here

and discussed the push
into Europe then.

Yeah, but actually Monty

used to have, er, some trailers,

and they put them right

in the middle of the lawn.

So, they lived in trailers here?

Yeah, absolutely.

And did the family stay
in the house throughout?

Yeah, shutters closed.

And the great uncle wrote
every day in a diary,

things like, oh,
there's a lot of noise out there,

and he didn't know the King,

George VI was on the ground.

And De Gaulle returning to France,
it was two different worlds.

So, family life
carried on inside the house.

Exactly.
Whilst on the lawn.

The most significant plans the world
had ever known were being drawn up.

Absolutely.

So, while we've been chatting,

we have organised
a little surprise for you.

Let's pop outside and have
a look at Monty's Rolls Royce.

Wait a minute.
Let's have a look.

Oh, hello.
Oh, oh, I say oh, wow.

Look at that. Look at that.

Yeah.
That's brilliant.

Are these coming with us?
Yes.

These good people have all agreed
to escort Monty's Rolls-Royce.

Oh, I say.

Just as they would have
done 80 years ago.

There's hundreds of them,
outriders and everything.

Bonjour!

Right.

All aboard!
We better not mess about.

They're starting.

How far are they coming with us?

All the way to Arromanches.

Well, I've driven in
a lot of convoys,

but that is something else,
isn't it?

This is quite something. Yeah.

We've got our own army.

I can't see the end of us.

I wish I'd bought
my sea cadets uniform now.

We're like Men in Black, aren't we?

Yeah. Security has arrived.

Ooh, he's doing
the proper convoy thing.

That's not their first rodeo.
Very good.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

It is rather nice
following that flag, isn't it?

It is.

I want a flag on my bonnet always.

It's weird to think
that this is exactly

the sort of thing
this car was doing.

Yep.

On this route with
a proper military escort.

Going left, thank you.

Ooh, we're in Arromanches.

Well, we are being
allowed through, which is fabulous.

It's quite nice driving along
just knowing

you are just a rolling treat
for anybody who sees you.

Well, this was always
going to create a bit of a scene.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

We are going to get mobbed.

Arromanches was one of the first
Normandy towns to be liberated...

Bonjour.

..something that's celebrated
every anniversary.

The Royal Marines, morning Royals.

I think that's what you call
making an entrance.

Good driving.

That's wonderful to bring it here.

And also for people to see it.

And the response again.

I know.
After 80 years, she's back.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

We're just humble mechanics
from Hereford.

But that car is famous
in its own right.

People are clapping and waving

and they didn't know
Richard was driving it.

And it's surreal for me

because when I first met him
we had this dream

and he said, wow, we're going
to work on some special cars, but

I don't think you could beat this.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

So, here I am, in sunny Hereford,

on my way to go back to the Cog.

It'll be really interesting
to see whether,

uh, those changes that have been,

you know, driven by the boys
and driven by the new manager,

have they made much of a difference.

Here we go.

Let's go and have a look.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

Ah, Patrick.

Are you Jamie?
Yes. How are you doing?

Yeah. Good to meet you.

Yes.
How are you getting on?

Yeah, not too bad, it's quiet today

'cause everyone's
in France for D-Day.

It's just trying
to get it organised,

in that booth we've got
the Maserati,

which you've seen before,
Neil's working on.

That's not still here, is it?

It's still here.

So, where do you see
the business going forward

from a financially productive
point of view,

which is really gonna be Richard's

biggest concern
about the Cog I think?

Um, what I've noticed
and taken on board so far is,

you know, the restoration
work takes so long.

We just don't seem to be able
to make no money on them.

I'm thinking more going towards...

stuff that we know.
Yeah.

Whether it's like a say '60,
'70s car or even 2000s cars,

as long as we can make money,
quick turnover,

we'll bring them in as well.

I think you're right.

I think you should go
with your gut feel

and the way to make it profitable

is to really focus on the jobs

that you know you're making
a three grand profit

before you even start...

work on the car.
Yeah.

There is a part of Richard
that wants and slightly celebrates

those beautiful projects.

But if that conflicts
with your modus operandi

of making this company profitable,

I think you've got to say how it is.

Well, I'm really glad
you're on the same page.

Yeah, I am on
the same page genuinely.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

The way to make
that company profitable

is not necessarily how Richard
envisaged it was gonna be.

Jamie has an ambition
to have those paint shops working

until they're melting at the seams.

But that is a long way
from the spunky,

classic car projects that Richard
set the company up for.

And he might just have to brace
himself, um, for some hard truths.

The next part of our mission
is the most critical,

we've got to get it
to the British Normandy Memorial.

Thank you.

Where it will take pride of place

in tomorrow's D-Day
anniversary event.

The site goes into an ultra-tight
security lockdown

in just an hour's time.

Getting stuck in traffic
with a nervous Brigadier

is the last thing we need.

In all seriousness,

we really do need to get through
this traffic or we're locked out.

Where's our dispatch riders now?

Yeah, we could do
with them to get out as well as in.

Right, we are breaking out
of the traffic

and we really do need
to get a shimmy on.

So, how long
have we got to get there

and how long does it take?

I think it's meant
to be about a 25-minute drive.

Have we got 25 minutes?

No, we've got 22 minutes

which means you're gonna have
to give the old girl some beans.

Or as the French
say appliquee les haricots.

Come on old girl.

We are flying, we are flying.

Very good.

And actually on time.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Well done, everyone.

How does it look?
Oh, yeah.

It looks right,
it's in the right place,

everybody has done their bit.

Shall we go
and have a look at the memorial?

I would love to,

I would really love to go
and pay my respects.

The newly built memorial

honours over 22,000
British servicemen and women

who fell on D-Day

and the following
Battle of Normandy in 1944.

There's a profound silence.


all of these people were young men

and were put into a position

where they were fighting for freedom
and fighting for their own lives.

To sit in that Rolls Royce,
just felt absolutely tremendous.

But it pales into insignificance
to the pride

I feel that I have done something

to give something back
to these lads.

It is very real,
the sheer amount of names.

There's so far just on this
where I am looking at here.

Highest age I can see
is just mid-30s.

It's terrible.
I am seeing a lot of 19s.

They didn't get to grown up
with their Dads.

But I did.

And me and Dad
have got to do this together.

So, I can't moan really in life.

Come on.
They wouldn't want us to be sad.

That's what they did it for.


[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

That is quite a moment, isn't it?

It was very different 80 years ago.

Yeah.

On this very beach,

at this time now
would have been hell on earth.

Mad, isn't it?

It would have been a long way
up that beach,

that's for sure, isn't it?

Yeah.

[TENSE MUSIC]

This is the big memorial today.
Yeah.

I am going to make sure
the car is OK there.

A little bit worried
about that because

we haven't seen it yesterday.

You've got two minutes
to give it a tidy up.

I will do.

The whole point of this exercise

was to get the car ready
for its big day.

It'll be there, looking smart.
Don't worry.

Right. See you later on.
Go steady.

King Charles and President Macron
are at the event,

so security is ultra-tight,

allowing only one Cog
in to look after the car.

And as the only one
who's suited and booted, that's me.

Ey up, Richard Hammond,
what does he want?

Neil.
Hello.

I'm in the car,

there has been some discussion
with different security agencies

about where it can go
and I can't start it!

Oh, no.

There's the normal isolator
down by the driver's seat,

and is that it?
No, no.

Can you point your phone
at the dashboard?

Ignition there?
Yeah, yeah.

The one below it.
Yeah.

Put that to on, that's it,
you should have ignition now.

A little bit of throttle maybe.

It is a Rolls Royce.

Yeah, I've done it.
Yeah.

Thank you.

[LAUGHS]
Well done, bye-bye.

If it's going to go wrong,
it's going to go wrong today, innit?

Whilst the official ceremony
takes place

at the British Normandy Memorial,

on the landing beaches up
and down the coast,

people from all over the world

gather to commemorate and celebrate.

Here they come.

Quite impressive that.

They're coming in kayaks over there

Long way from Britain
that is, innit?

Tell you what,

if you were in trouble
you'd be glad to see them.

Yeah, you would.

[APPLAUSE]

Hello. Afternoon.
Gentlemen.

How are you?
You've got a problem?

Yeah, a little challenge here
on the cooling system.

It's leaking.

So, we want to change out
the Jubilee clip.

But it wouldn't be the first one
to be repaired on this beach.

Is this your own jeep?
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Correct.

What year is this one?


Yeah.

It must be amazing to drive
these on the road.

We drove from the northeast part
of Holland, 23 hours.

We have a bunk bed in the truck.
Yeah.

Is that a Chevrolet?
Yeah.

Who drives what? That's yours?
That's your old girl.

I'll bet you get a bit of respect.
Yeah, yeah.

Because these are
mechanical veterans.

They are, yeah.

And without these
and the real veterans,

none of us to be here.
Yeah.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

I hadn't really thought about it.

You know, we talk about
veteran vehicles with cars,

but they are vets as well.
They've seen a lot, done a lot.

And I think that could be something
in that for us at the Cog.

It is possible to keep these things
going in them.

You're investing in your history
and your past,

and you might get a uniform as well.

It's busy here.

Um...

somewhere in there,
there's a small Herefordian

and his son and a lanky bloke.

Oh, where are they?

Hang on.

What?

Is that Neil?

Richard!
Richard!

Oh, my god!

What are they doing in that?

We're coming.
To pick you up.

Neil's driving it.

What has happened here?

I feel inappropriately attired
for this now.

I'm not in beachwear.

You alright?
Hello!

What are you doing?

Hello.
Hello.

Whose is the jeep?
Er, just borrowed.

Yeah, you borrowed it?

You had a good day?

Ah, mate,
the service was utterly beautiful.

I met so many vets. People loved it.

Well, these are mechanical veterans.

Mechanical veterans?
Mechanical veterans.

I like that.

And this Jeep was a 1942
so it could well have been here.

Can I have a go?
Yeah, course you can.

Really?
Come on round.

Alright. Brace for this.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Have you been on the Jack Daniels?
No, no, no.

We're away.

Oh, yes.

Look at that.
Whoa.

We need to get us one
of these for the workshop.

This would be good on a trial stage.

Let's do some military stuff.

This could be a new thing.

You can have the Jeep
and I'll have the uniform.

Yes, I'll have one.

Perhaps we should have two.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

It's been a week
since our French adventure

and it's time for a reality check

from our no-nonsense mentor,
Patrick.

The golf-course
seemed like a good idea.

Eugh!

We've brought Frank Spencer with us.

So, I think we kick off from here.

Where's the hole?
I don't know.

I presume we just tonk it
down there.

I've got my starting stick.

Excellent.
Hit the ball into the nettles.

You're joking.

Shall I have a go?
Yeah, you have to go.

And I'll watch you.

[LAUGHS]

Well, some of the dirt
went quite a way. There you go.

Oh, he's focussed, he's focussed.

He's done this before.
Look at him.

Can't argue with that.

But he went further
than either of us.

Are we as bad at running a workshop
as we are at playing golf?

No, no, no.
We are far worse at playing golf.

What did you learn?

I guess what I learned
is that the potential is huge.

But you've got to do
more of the things

that you know can make you money,

because if you're not making money,
it's not gonna work.

What worries me
is to make the workshop function.

We need those quick jobs
that I can't organise,

and he's gonna die of boredom doing.

So, we don't have a place in it.

I think that's an extraordinary
thing to say and completely wrong.

Neil, you're a very effective tool
in the workshop in all respects.

A tool?
Definitely.

Um, you have
an endless list of people

want to send the company work.

I can get work.
So, from that point of view.

You're not a problem.

But you're in the wrong place.

You guys need to do the bits
that you're good at,

but not in that particular
environment.

So, what your saying
is leave the workshop

to play to its strengths and build

and become a grown up business.
Yeah.

We concentrate on playing
to our strengths.

See what my contacts can get us.

Neil can do the specialist
intricate really craft laden jobs

that I know don't make the money,

but they are important as we need
those skills in the business.

Yeah. Of course.

It's not over though, is it?

Oh, 100% it's not over.

And you shouldn't be thinking
that it's over.

This whole business
was started out of pure passion.

But Patrick's right,

I need to focus on jobs

that are guaranteed
to make us money.

Turning the workshop into a machine

doesn't squash the passion out
of it at all.

It gives us the perfect setting
for it.

Neil can do work at a level
that nobody else around us can.

I can go and get jobs
that nobody else can go and get.

We started this business,
we can build and grow it.

That's where our strengths lie.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

It's like we've just been
fired from our own workshop!

They'll probably
take our off keys off us.

We've got to ring up
and make an appointment.

Oh, when are you coming in?
Oh, no.

We can't see you today, Mr Hammond.

What do you mean, I own the place!

[LAUGHTER]