Did top gear (or similar) ever do a review on the wedge?

[matt-man]

Hi All,

Did top gear ever do a review on the wedge? I remeber seeing a tvr special which had the wedge in but was there ever a normal review?

Cheers!

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I think it was TopGear (was Vicky B.H.) Anyway.
And she did a small review and drive of a 400SE

[L33]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

I think it was TopGear (was Vicky B.H.) Anyway.
And she did a small review and drive of a 400SE

Thats correct. "Blackpool Rock - The TVR story"
It was a top Gear special Jeremy Clarkson, VBH and Tiff Needell.

Starts with a white Griff driving along the front at blackpool with the song "bitter sweet simphony" in the background.

It goes through the history of TVR looking at each model along the way. VBH does a bit on nice 400se wedge as part of the 28 minute video. I have it on my PC but its 47.5meg so perhaps a bit big to email?

I have had a quick look on google but can't find any links

If I can find a link, I'll post it up.


Edited to say FOUND IT!
http://www.ph.uncle-dave.co.uk/videos/TVRStory.htm...

Edited by L33 on Monday 19th January 16:16

[Vauxste]

Nice Link Lee - have not seen before. Some good links off his homepage as well - it certainly passed the time while the other half watched her soaps. Good Job.

[TVR 3X]

Top gear did a review of an early 390 SE - dark green.

I can't remember the name of the reporter - but it was a woman (past her early twenties).

I also remember a review of an early (light blue SEAC).

Russ

[grahamw48]

Aye them wert days.....when they had something positive to say about our beloved tivs.

[matt-man]

Hey Lee, good find!

Thats the vid ive seen before, but wondered if they (or any other program) did an article on the wedge other than this? Is this really the first time that the wedge was mentioned on Top Gear????

[grahamw48]

The Wedges got lots of publicity (and praise) back in the 80s, especially the big ones, but I fear maybe the tapes were destroyed/re-cycled in those days (?)

[Andy390]

I've still got an old Top gear video (off the telly, on Betamax!!) from '89/90, where Tiff takes a 450SE down madeira drive in Brighton against the Lotus esprit turbo & another I can't remember, during the speed trials! will have to dig it out & try to convert it onto my pc...

[grahamw48]

Yes please do !

It can be done,but please don't ask me how.

[matt-man]

No need!!...(i have too much time sometimes..!!)

After some serious google-ing, ive found this!! http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-airing...

Top gear used to be SOOO serious!! Sadly its at the end so you need to wait for it to load, but get to about 21 mins 30 secs and you will see!

So is this the only other one?? No real review??

Edited by matt-man on Tuesday 20th January 21:50

[grahamw48]

Bloody marvellous ! Cheers Matt.

Took me back to when I was oh....20 years younger, and Top Gear was putting content above style.

[H2DCA]

I recall a SEAC getting tested in the 80s on Top Gear, it was tested by a lady but for the life of me I cannot recall her name, all I remember is the whale tail SEAC in BRG, I have searched for a clip but no joy, maybe this will trigger all old 80s memory for others
Cheers

[GRIFFONMARK]

I was lucky enough to drive that 450 ( I'm sure it was a SEAC but it was definitely not standard production) not longer after the Brighton challenge some time in 1989. I was the engineer on a court case in Reading and had to stay behind at the hotel to wait for an urgent fax from the factory. Peter Wheeler drove down to meet me in the 450 and as he had to go to court early with the General Manager (Poser)and barrister he tossed me his keys and told me to meet them later. My first experience of a 450 was driving through rush hour traffic from the hotel to the court. I remember the engine being so overtuned (they told everyone it was standard but Peter asked the works dept to throw everything at it to beat the Lotus) it wouldn't run below 2,000rpm. I was sat at a zebra crossing blipping the throttle to keep the engine running when a little old lady was crossing. She would have beat Linford Christie to get away! There was smoke off her zimmer wheels. We drove back to Manchester in Poser's Sierra estate. From what I can remember it was a very plain and tired looking beige 1.8L fitted with a full power V6. Boy, did we have some fun! And I got paid to do that! Happy days....... Regards, Mark

[Andy390]

matt-man said:

No need!!...(i have too much time sometimes..!!)

After some serious google-ing, ive found this!! http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-airing...

Top gear used to be SOOO serious!! Sadly its at the end so you need to wait for it to load, but get to about 21 mins 30 secs and you will see!

So is this the only other one?? No real review??

Edited by matt-man on Tuesday 20th January 21:50

well done matt! that's saved me some swearing at the PC!
Cheers

[gsx600]

good vid that ,them were the days

[JamieG]

matt-man said:

No need!!...(i have too much time sometimes..!!)

After some serious google-ing, ive found this!! http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-airing...

Top gear used to be SOOO serious!! Sadly its at the end so you need to wait for it to load, but get to about 21 mins 30 secs and you will see!

So is this the only other one?? No real review??

Edited by matt-man on Tuesday 20th January 21:50

Thanks for the link Matt! - Remember watching this all those years ago. I'm pretty sure the TG team tested a white 450SE at sometime as well.Remember William Woolard using the car in a feature showing off the goverment's latest policy of picking up cars and trailering them off to pounds if they were illegally parked.