Richard Hammond just dropped a relaxed, behind-the-scenes update from The Smallest Cog, and it feels more like hanging out with him in the shop than watching a TV segment. Instead of polished edits or dramatic builds, there’s an unfiltered walkthrough of what’s actually happening day to day. There are unfinished projects, rare classics, sentimental cars, and a rather special car that needs tending.
Richard Hammond’s private barn hides a treasure trove of oddball cars, rotting parts, dead rats, and leftover props from Brainiac.
Richard Hammond starts with a tiny MG that keeps returning for endless tweaks before moving to a Land Rover that’s getting a full transformation. But the standout early on is a Lotus Cars Europa, which is coincidentally the last one ever produced. According to Hammond, restoring it correctly means taking parts from multiple donor cars, and it explains why three Europas are currently taking up space.
His own Jensen Interceptor is parked off to the side, quietly reminding him of a sentimental mistake. Hammond bought it because his grandfather signed it off when it was new, but the team simply doesn’t have the bandwidth to take on his personal project. With paying customers waiting and filming underway, he admits he’ll probably have to sell it so someone else can finally finish it.
That leads to the most interesting arrival: a Triumph Stag belonging to James May. Hammond jokes through the video, but it’s clear the Stag needs real work, including a fresh paint job and mechanical attention. The car is recognizable from TV, making it one of the more meaningful additions to the workshop floor.
There’s also a Peugeot 205 GTI in for a timing belt change, which Hammond openly enjoys since he owns one himself. And then there’s an Audi Quattro with a misfire, which gives new mechanic Matt an excuse to pull out a scope setup and a homemade pressure sensor built from a ketchup bottle. Hammond approves instantly.
More than being a co-host during Top Gear’s golden era, Hammonds got incredible taste in cars and motorcycles.
Just when the update feels like it’s wrapping up, Hammond introduces a family who showed up after driving more than 25,000 miles from Singapore in a Land Rover Defender. Their trip took them across more than 30 countries, including some tricky border situations and remote terrain.
The Defender has taken a beating. Driveshafts have broken multiple times, the turbo has failed twice, and at one point they bypassed a clogged fuel filter using a straw from their daughter’s Mickey Mouse cup. Hammond can’t help laughing but he looks genuinely impressed all the same.
Source: Drivetribe
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