Tim Allen, beloved actor and comedy legend, is returning to television with his new show Shifting Gears, set to premiere January 8 on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu. The series combines Allen’s passion for cars with heartfelt family drama and comedic moments. It follows Matt (played by Allen), a widowed classic car restoration shop owner, as he navigates unexpected life changes when his estranged daughter (played by Kat Dennings) and her kids move in.
I had the chance to chat with Tim about the series and the surprising role his personal car collection plays in the show. In true Allen fashion, he was candid, funny, and full of stories that any gearhead or sitcom fan would love.
Sean: I heard some of your own personal cars make an appearance in Shifting Gears. How did that come about? Do you have a favorite car from your collection that’s featured?
Tim Allen: I’m kind of a practical guy. It started with my older daughter, Kate Fox. She handles a lot of the stuff we do on Instagram and YouTube, like when I built an electric hot rod called the Victoria. Initially, the idea wasn’t to use my collection. I suggested we could set up a restoration shop for the show, but doing it for TV is tricky. You’d have to restore a car backward—make it look old digitally, then restore it on screen. That idea got messy fast.
Nobody in the writers’ room really knew about cars, so they were making things up. I told them, “That doesn’t work. Car people know their stuff, and we can’t fake it.” Eventually, Brad Gregory and Kate suggested using my actual shop and collection. At first, I wasn’t sold on the idea of renting my cars—it felt too nepotistic—but then I thought, why not? So, we’ve got cars like my ’64 Chevy 409 bubble top and a Corvair I’ve Porsche-ized with a redone suspension and interior.
Some Home Improvement fans might even spot Easter eggs from the show in the background. It’s been a blast for me, and the gearheads out there will appreciate the authenticity. We’re not making things up; we’re showing the real deal.
Sean: That sounds amazing. Do you have a favorite project from the series?
Tim Allen: One of the most fun builds was a ’67 Volvo 122S. I’ve always liked quirky cars, especially the “ugly” ones. We dropped the suspension, upgraded the brakes, and gave it some personality. It’s tough to make a Volvo faster, but this one turned out great. What’s cool is how we had to make it look old and rusty for the show, which really adds to the charm. Everyone—car nut or not—thinks it’s a cool car.
Sean: I think audiences are going to love Shifting Gears.
Tim Allen: Wait until you see the cars we’ve got coming up. But it’s not just about the cars; it’s about restoring relationships. It’s funny, heartfelt, and real. And we lucked out with the cast. They’re fantastic.
Shifting Gears promises to deliver the same charm and humor fans have come to expect from Tim Allen, while also offering a fresh perspective on family and second chances. The cast also includes Seann William Scott, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, Maxwell Simkins, and Barrett Margolis.
