Long forgotten British TV motoring shows

[Old Merc]

Elderly said:

john2443 said:

If you're old enough you'll remember Wheelbase, the BBC motoring programme before Top Gear...

I'm afraid I'm old enough to have worked on that ..... but boy did we have some fun .

Were you part of the crew in 1968? Wheelbase came to Penta House an ultra modern Rootes Dealership in Reading just after it opened.During part of the show they filmed me carrying out an MOT on a Hillman Minx.(Look mum I`m on telly)

[sun.and.rain]

Not strictly all motoring tv progs as such but check out 1960s UK "Look At Life". Lots on youtube and some fantastic period car stuff.

[jamesatcandsc]

Jukebag said:

Someone told me they remembered watching a series on Channel 4 in the early 1980s in which former Top Gear presenter Chris Goffey re-builds an MGA, as well as other classic cars. No idea what this was called as I don't remember it myself, and nothing comes up about this particular series on Chris Goffey's IMDB page. Can anyone who is old enough shed any light on this programme?.

Couldn't remember it either so took the liberty of asking Chris Goffey.
He said: "The programme was called “The Motor Show” - one of the earliest shows on the then new Channel Four, and one of the first sponsored shows in television history! AC Delco stumped up some cash, and we travelled around the country doing stories in an AC Delco emblazoned Winnebago. One of the story lines was a redoubtable 100 year old lady in Wiltshire who took me for a drive in her AC Cobra. We only got one series. The MGA was restored by the classic car restoration course at Colchester technical college, and the car was sourced from Richardson’s yard at Colnbrook. It was a bit of a wreck but had a cut down windscreen and some racing bits which suggested a racing history we never identified. Where is the car now?"

Edited by jamesatcandsc on Saturday 3rd December 17:30

Edited by jamesatcandsc on Saturday 3rd December 21:21

[Simes205]

'Driven' on channel 4.
Jason Barlow, mike brewer and James may.

[Elderly]

Old Merc said:

Were you part of the crew in 1968? Wheelbase came to Penta House an ultra modern Rootes Dealership in Reading just after it opened.During part of the show they filmed me carrying out an MOT on a Hillman Minx.(Look mum I`m on telly)

No, I joined the BBC in 1970.

[Jukebag]

jamesatcandsc said:

Couldn't remember it either so took the liberty of asking Chris Goffey.
He said: "The programme was called “The Motor Show” - one of the earliest shows on the then new Channel Four, and one of the first sponsored shows in television history! AC Delco stumped up some cash, and we travelled around the country doing stories in an AC Delco emblazoned Winnebago. One of the story lines was a redoubtable 100 year old lady in Wiltshire who took me for a drive in her AC Cobra. We only got one series. The MGA was restored by the classic car restoration course at Colchester technical college, and the car was sourced from Richardson’s yard at Colnbrook. It was a bit of a wreck but had a cut down windscreen and some racing bits which suggested a racing history we never identified. Where is the car now?"

Edited by jamesatcandsc on Saturday 3rd December 17:30

Edited by jamesatcandsc on Saturday 3rd December 21:21

Thanks for that, much appreciated you went to the trouble to ask the man himself. Couldn't find this series on IMDb, but then again what info is accurate on there as it's like wikipedia being stuff just gets self edited by users. Finding details on some very obscure TV series on the internet often draws a blank; people assume anything can be found on the net. I wonder how many people would've remembered this short lived series?

How many programmes have there been with the title "The Motor Show?". Wasnt there a Motor Show that was shown on ITV (i think) throughout the 1990s, presented by Eammon O'Neill? can't remember the blonde haired womans name. Used to watch that quite regularly. Driven was another one, more recently though. Didn't know Mike Brewer and James May were presenters.

Edited by Jukebag on Saturday 3rd December 21:59

[TR4man]

Thought I'd search Chris Goffey on You Tube to see if I could find The Motor Show.

Couldn't find it, but did find this from 2002 featuring Chris (possibly a programme he'd prefer to forget?).

https://youtu.be/DJY8jLpu9aM

[Johnny 89]

Clarkson Car World anyone? A very interesting show I thought.

I always remember the opening scene used to show cars from all over the world. What must have been an early '90s Toyota Leven with dim yellow lights always sticks in my mind.

There was another show that Clarkson hosted too.. It was at a similar time but I can't remember the name

EDIT: actually I think it was Clarksons Car Years and Clarksons Motor World!!

Edited by Johnny 89 on Saturday 3rd December 23:58

[dandarez]

33q said:

spaximus said:

33q said:

I can't remember the name...

ITV...I think...Friday evening...only lasted one season

Set in a car factory where they used a modified Chrysler Sunbeam....any ideas

T a guess that would be Chancer starring Clive Owen, trying to save an ailing car factory. I thought the cars were heavily modified Fiesta's to be honest

You are correct....bodged Fiestas.

I think it was called 'on the line' or similar

Starred David Ryall.....

It most certainly was 'On the Line'. 1983. VERY hard to find anything on it now, not even YouTube. Odd. The struggles of an 'independent' British car manufacturer, Associated British Motors.

Chancer. 1990. About Douglas Motors, a crumbling firm owned by the stylish Douglas family which makes sports cars. Plenty of episodes available and on YouTube.

One you've missed out.
The Brothers. Earlier, 1972. Long running series on Transport co Hammond Transport, featuring the Hammond brothers who ran the firm, one of whom was into cars and motor racing.

A few of us long-standing enthusiasts of one marque almost had a conspiracy theory about these 3 series.

We linked 'independent' British car manufacturer (used bodged Fiestas) at the time to one 'independent' British car manufacturer which at that time was having struggles, and coincidentally (or not) had actually signed a deal with Ford at that time to use ...the Fiesta for their next model.
Note the word 'struggles of'. But then that could be associated to Loti and other struggling independents. One difference no one else at that point was then was using the Fiesta. Others did utilise the Fiesta afterwards!

Chancer. 1990s. Again, insinuating word, a 'crumbling' firm that made 'sports cars'. Made by the 'Douglas family', Douglas Motors'.

And of course, there was The Brothers. In one episode the youngest Hammond, David (played by Robin Chadwick) takes to Formula Ford motor racing. Plenty of independent British car manufacturers got into FF. But a youngest brother into motor racing?

Link in a few of our minds was Ginetta Cars.

How come?
The 'Walklett Brothers'. All well known. Eldest was 'Douglas'. Douglas Motors, that has a ring to it! Youngest, 'Ivor'. Racing cars, sports cars, road cars.
The Ford Fiesta? Aka the Ginetta G25 based entirely on the Fiesta.
Formula Ford? The Ginetta G18 (it was actually a G18 that was 'used' in the filming, but not once was the real maker's badge shown during filming. Hammond Transport on the side, even Firestone got a mention. Therefore, nobody knew it was a Ginetta (apart from Ginetta enthusiasts, and some of those didn't know!) - we'd seen Loti and other marques in other progs and badges shown, names mentioned. Us Ginetta fans were eager for a mention, but no. The only people who knew was of course the guy driving (who owned it) and Ginetta themselves! The guy had approached Ginetta for sponsorship 'My G18, your company, is going to get TV publicity. Will you sponsor me?' 'I've already been out with the car filming, and I am going up to Oulton Park for more filming. It's going to be great for your company. What do you think? Will you sponsor me?'
Ginetta wisely said we'll wait and see. In the episode there was indeed some good camera work of the suspension etc and the racing. But not one mention of Ginetta meant no sponsorship. Owner then was so disappointed he sold his G18!

The conspiracy theory was of course silly.
However, the 'link' is there don't you think? Perhaps you don't.

The Brothers episode with the Formula Ford racing that has the Ginetta G18 in is called 'The Race'.
Here is a link, but I can't access the episodes not even 'The Race' one for some reason.
Any of you able to?
I'll give you an incentive, one Kate O'Mara stars in the series!!
I'd like to watch it again after all these years.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878943/?ref_=ttfc_fc_...

Just noted the series (1-3) is available on DVD with series 4 (one which inc 'The Race') to 7 is planned for release in 2017.

Edited by dandarez on Saturday 3rd December 22:29

[Jukebag]

I'd love to upload some of the motoring related programmes I have on tape (if I get round to capturing them with a decent capture software that can cope with poorly worn tapes lol), some you'd be lucky to find on YouTube or any other site. I have quite a few Car's the Star episodes: Ford Mustang, Capri, Fiat 500, Reliant 3 wheeler (I think), E-Type Jag, Citroen DS, Lotus 7, as well as one or two of the John Peel narrated series Sporting Heroes and Classic British Cars. But YouTube will likely moan about them being copyright infringement and all that. You can't even watch an episode of Wheeler Dealers on there without the video being messed with audio speededup and Mike Brewer sounding like a chipmunk.

[33q]

I recall John Peel narrated a car programme too

Time to Google

classic Trucks....I think there were several

Edited by 33q on Saturday 3rd December 22:48

[williamp]

Uses car roadshow
The road show (a Meridian TV programme with Andy Craig from the early 90s)

[TR4man]

33q said:

I recall John Peel narrated a car programme too

Time to Google

classic Trucks....I think there were several

Edited by 33q on Saturday 3rd December 22:48

I uploaded several episodes of John Peel's series a few years ago and (touch wood) there has been no problems with copyright.

Here's one, then if you click on my channel you'll see some more.

https://youtu.be/pJcbLf2kwgk

[Jukebag]

It was the Motor Show, presented by Eamonn O'Neal and Nicky Fox. Nicky Fox apparently was a presenter on Top Gear and is a SKY news weather forecaster. Nothing comes up on IMDb as per usual except this:https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7e343bfa

Produced by Granada TV. I wonder how long this ran for as I remember it being on all the time in 1990s.

[Skyedriver]

vixen1700 said:

I have the box set of the BBC's The Power & the Glory on VHS which I keep meaning to transfer to DVD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_and_the_Gl...

Remember thinking it was a cracking little series in the early '90s.

Yes it was a great series. I was given the box set of VHS tapes as a present but having watched the series as it was on TV I never opened the cellophane wrapper.....
Just sold them a month ago on ebay.....
I too was going to get them onto DVD but didn't

I still have Radio Le Mans VHS of 1989 race and a Jim Clark VHS "to put on DVD" but no VHS player.
bet they are all knackered

[droopsnoot]

Skyedriver said:

I still have Radio Le Mans VHS of 1989 race and a Jim Clark VHS "to put on DVD" but no VHS player.

I've got a load of stuff I want to transfer, have both ends, but as it all has to be done in real time it's quite a challenge motivating myself to get going. Stuff like the old "Rally Report" from when I used to follow the RAC, and other stuff. And some music stuff like "The White Room". Just never get around to it, then when I do, I get part-way through and wonder why I'm bothering.

[madjules]

Here’s one for you guys with a better memory than me.

I remember religiously watching a drama series in the mid eighty’s with dad, about a young woman trying to make it big in either racing or rallying. I think it was on BBC1 or 2 and Mini’s spring to mind?

All I can recall is that she was helped a guy who owned a small garage around which much of the story revolved and cash was always tight.

In one of the last episodes she needs a new engine or car or something, and the garage owner sells his beloved E-Type to support her career. Funny what sticks in the mind.

All very hazy I’m afraid, anyone else recall it?

[MKnight702]

Top Gear??

[Riley Blue]

madjules said:

Here’s one for you guys with a better memory than me.

I remember religiously watching a drama series in the mid eighty’s with dad, about a young woman trying to make it big in either racing or rallying. I think it was on BBC1 or 2 and Mini’s spring to mind?

All I can recall is that she was helped a guy who owned a small garage around which much of the story revolved and cash was always tight.

In one of the last episodes she needs a new engine or car or something, and the garage owner sells his beloved E-Type to support her career. Funny what sticks in the mind.

All very hazy I’m afraid, anyone else recall it?

Sounds like 'Driving Ambition':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-axSo3HN4I&li...

[Jukebag]

The drama series about the garage owner and rallying storyline and the E-Type I've been trying to find out about as well. I managed to find out what it was on a forum somewhere a few years back (can't remember if I got the info from a motoring related forum or just a general TV forum; it mayve been via the digitalspy forum), however, I've since forgotten what it was called. I even looked it up on YouTube at the time and was surprised it was on there, albeit in poor quality and with a matermark over the image. I think the E-Type may've been yellow and was a roadster, either a series 1 or 2.

Edit: Driving Ambition is the one. Glad you managed to find it. Speaking of TV shows, it annoys me with all the endless repeats of old shows and programmes they keep showing on the various terrestrial channels (ITV3/4, drama, yesterday, Quest, etc) that theres just lots and lots of old series that have never been shown. Instead of showing looped repeats of Lovejoy, The Professionals, Bergerac and Heartbeat, they should repeat Driving Ambition. Another one would be Forever Green starring Pauline Collins.

Edited by Jukebag on Monday 5th December 14:05