Burnt Fish Trousers

[mat777]

Re-reading a lot of Clarkson books, I see this chap referenced a lot. Obviously its a similar-sounding parody to his actual name, but who is he and what is his real name?

[R11ysf]

Google gives you the answer in about 3 seconds.

"Yeah I remember Fishtits too, but Burnt Fish Trousers, was very odd (name)

Jeremy Clarksons (UK motoring journalist) nickname for Bernd Pischetsrieder, the once head of VW/Audi."

[gr1340]

From uk-mkivs.net

Because Pischetsrieder translates directly from German to English as 'Fish Trousers'!

[gr1340]

Although google translater says otherwise:

Fish Trousers = Fisch-Hosen

[mat777]

Ah thanks gr1340... I'd always wondered where he got the name from!!

[Twincam16]

gr1340 said:

From uk-mkivs.net

Because Pischetsrieder translates directly from German to English as 'Fish Trousers'!

You sure? 'Fishtrousers' in German would be 'Fischhosen'. I suspect it's another example of Clarkson making something up and the rest of the world taking it as gospel. The whole Austin Allegro being more aerodynamic in reverse is another one of his. I recall him saying that it looked like it would be more aerodynamic in reverse in one of his videos, but there was no evidence given. Next thing you know, everyone's repeating it all over the internet.

Same goes for the Mitsubishi Starion/Stallion mix-up (it wasn't), or the notion that Rovers and Vauxhalls are crap.

[V8KSN]

I think the name was actually made up by Sniff Petrol but it was made 'famous' by Clarkson

[Zod]

R11ysf said:

Google gives you the answer in about 3 seconds.

"Yeah I remember Fishtits too, but Burnt Fish Trousers, was very odd (name)

Jeremy Clarksons (UK motoring journalist) nickname for Bernd Pischetsrieder, the once head of VW/Audi."

His tenure at BMW was more important than his time at VW.

[Zod]

gr1340 said:

From uk-mkivs.net

Because Pischetsrieder translates directly from German to English as 'Fish Trousers'!

I know your tongue's in your cheek, but Pischetsrieder is untranslatable. "Ried" means "reed", but the rest is probably place-related.

[gr1340]

I was just quoting what was on uk-mkivs.net, not saying it was gospel, hence the attempt to translate it on google.

If you google burnt fish trousers now, this thread is the top result so that will help clear up any future searches!

[Twincam16]

V8KSN said:

I think the name was actually made up by Sniff Petrol but it was made 'famous' by Clarkson

Odd, then, given that Clarkson's use of it predates the internet IIRC.

[skyline501]

I would imagine the trouser bit is 'tsrieder' as in strides?

[Ari]

Twincam16 said:

Odd, then, given that Clarkson's use of it predates the internet IIRC.

I don't think it does, but either way Richard Porter, of Sniff Petrol fame, is script writer for Top Gear...

[Twincam16]

Ari said:

Twincam16 said:

Odd, then, given that Clarkson's use of it predates the internet IIRC.

I don't think it does, but either way Richard Porter, of Sniff Petrol fame, is script writer for Top Gear...

Clarkson was using it in 'Clarkson on Cars' and 'Born to be Riled' back in the early '90s.