James May's Cars of the People
Discussion
I enjoyed it as I did the last series. The bit with the Japanese and American guys being driven around was a bit too long but otherwise it was well put together. The S3 E Type was a sorry successor to the earlier versions, it never worked for me. Also, I seem to remember that the twin cam Celica was an altogether better car than the 2-litre GT that featured, though I might be wrong on this.
To my mind, the Series III E-type, with its flabby styling and the upright windscreen derived from the hideous 2+2, wasn't anything like as attractive as the original. An early Series I 4.2 coupe was perhaps the most attractive ever made - before federal nannying did away with the headlamp covers etc.
James May's programme was excellent. The BBC can sometimes deliver such quality, rather than rubbish such as The Getaway Car!
Interesting segment concerning the awful Allegro. But Mann's original ADO67 would have been rather a different beast:
It bore more than a little resemblance to this:
I had 2 Type 2 Mark 1 Sciroccos (picture shows an earlier Type 1) - delightful little cars but rather underpowered in non GTi / GLi spec. 1970's reliability though - both had alternator and carburettor issues. I always yearned for a GLi with a 5-speed gearbox, but couldn't quite afford one at the time!
James May's programme was excellent. The BBC can sometimes deliver such quality, rather than rubbish such as The Getaway Car!
Interesting segment concerning the awful Allegro. But Mann's original ADO67 would have been rather a different beast:
It bore more than a little resemblance to this:
I had 2 Type 2 Mark 1 Sciroccos (picture shows an earlier Type 1) - delightful little cars but rather underpowered in non GTi / GLi spec. 1970's reliability though - both had alternator and carburettor issues. I always yearned for a GLi with a 5-speed gearbox, but couldn't quite afford one at the time!
Edited by nickwilcock on Monday 25th January 09:09
nickwilcock said:
To my mind, the Series III E-type, with its flabby styling and the upright windscreen derived from the hideous 2+2, wasn't anything like as attractive as the original. An early Series I 4.2 coupe was perhaps the most attractive ever made - before federal nannying did away with the headlamp covers etc.
James May's programme was excellent. The BBC can sometimes deliver such quality, rather than rubbish such as The Getaway Car!
Interesting segment concerning the awful Allegro. But Mann's original ADO67 would have been rather a different beast:
It bore more than a little resemblance to this:
I had 2 Type 2 Mark 1 Sciroccos (picture shows an earlier Type 1) - delightful little cars but rather underpowered in non GTi / GLi spec. 1970's reliability though - both had alternator and carburettor issues. I always yearned for a GLi with a 5-speed gearbox, but couldn't quite afford one at the time!
Italian Allegro:James May's programme was excellent. The BBC can sometimes deliver such quality, rather than rubbish such as The Getaway Car!
Interesting segment concerning the awful Allegro. But Mann's original ADO67 would have been rather a different beast:
It bore more than a little resemblance to this:
I had 2 Type 2 Mark 1 Sciroccos (picture shows an earlier Type 1) - delightful little cars but rather underpowered in non GTi / GLi spec. 1970's reliability though - both had alternator and carburettor issues. I always yearned for a GLi with a 5-speed gearbox, but couldn't quite afford one at the time!
Edited by nickwilcock on Monday 25th January 09:09
Scirocco:
At least the Italian Allegro had something going for it!
Edited by 227bhp on Monday 25th January 09:22
When I saw Mann hold up his original sketch, I genuinely felt sorry for him! I can see where he was trying to go, and what he was trying to do. And typical BL, it just ended up a crock of s
te once it was finished.
Really enjoyed the program. If we can get through the whole series without destroying anything I'll be impressed, as it really doesn't need that. I could have watched for another hour! May is very, very good at this sort of thing.
te once it was finished.Really enjoyed the program. If we can get through the whole series without destroying anything I'll be impressed, as it really doesn't need that. I could have watched for another hour! May is very, very good at this sort of thing.
Every stylised drawing of a 70s concept car looks like that Allegro, too long and stretched out. To me that drawing looks like the same Allegro they ended up with after real world engineering had been applied.
Designer's mind.
Reality
I prefer Paul Hughes design sketch - http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/austin/allegr...
Designer's mind.
Reality
I prefer Paul Hughes design sketch - http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/austin/allegr...
Escort3500 said:
I enjoyed it as I did the last series. The bit with the Japanese and American guys being driven around was a bit too long but otherwise it was well put together. The S3 E Type was a sorry successor to the earlier versions, it never worked for me. Also, I seem to remember that the twin cam Celica was an altogether better car than the 2-litre GT that featured, though I might be wrong on this.
The 2000 GT is also a twin-cam. Both have very similar performance, (sub 9 second 0-60 - in the mid 1970's) and equipment; twin-cam, 5-speed, LSD, live axle, terrible steering box etc In the end which is the better car seems to be decided by which look you prefer.... Watching the segment with the ex-Toyota guys in the Celica with James, it seemed like a wasted opportunity to me. Three guys who James (and therefore, we...) could have learned quite a lot from, but completely wasted by the translation issues. Compare that to the Detroit guys in the Mustang. Language should not have been allowed to get in the way like that.
Actually I thought the three guys from Detroit and the three guys from Toyota idea could have made a good documentary on its own...
Actually I thought the three guys from Detroit and the three guys from Toyota idea could have made a good documentary on its own...
I always thought the Allegro Estate looked quite good. But the saloon was crap.
Excellent programme. I just wish May would smarten himself up a bit. A haircut and learn to use an iron. You're on telly ffs, I don't expect a dj and a waxed moustache, but at least make a bit of fking effort.
Excellent programme. I just wish May would smarten himself up a bit. A haircut and learn to use an iron. You're on telly ffs, I don't expect a dj and a waxed moustache, but at least make a bit of f
king effort.ta22gt said:
Escort3500 said:
I enjoyed it as I did the last series. The bit with the Japanese and American guys being driven around was a bit too long but otherwise it was well put together. The S3 E Type was a sorry successor to the earlier versions, it never worked for me. Also, I seem to remember that the twin cam Celica was an altogether better car than the 2-litre GT that featured, though I might be wrong on this.
The 2000 GT is also a twin-cam. Both have very similar performance, (sub 9 second 0-60 - in the mid 1970's) and equipment; twin-cam, 5-speed, LSD, live axle, terrible steering box etc In the end which is the better car seems to be decided by which look you prefer.... 
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Excellent programme. I just wish May would smarten himself up a bit. A haircut and learn to use an iron. You're on telly ffs, I don't expect a dj and a waxed moustache, but at least make a bit of fking effort.
I don't mind it, it's all part of what you get with him. Unless I missed it, at least he didnt wear the purple and pink rugby shirtking effort.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff