What was old Top Gear like?
 

Just wondering what the old Top Gear was like - prior to the warehouse and May/Hammond?? Anyone got any links to old episodes?

It's only in the last 3-4 years since we got Sky+ that I have managed to catch them!!

I remember watching Richard Hammond on M&M and thought that he was far too good for the channel :D

Am I right in thinking most of the motoring presenters started off on Top Gear?

its a bit like 5th Gear now IIMC

The classic era with JC, Tiff and Quentin was good, but nowhere near as entertaining as the current show.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7jUlAvc3rns

http://youtube.com/watch?v=k7fmK5U56DQ

Hands up if you remember William Woollard, Chris Goffey and Tony Mason? They'd get excited about the 1.3 Nissan Sunny.

:iamwithst :cuckoo::lol1:

I remember Tony Mason.

I had completely forgotten, now I remember, I wish I didn't ;)

In fact, I blame old, old Top Gear for my Dad buying a Triumph Acclaim. He thought the ski-hatch was cool, even though he's never been skiing and never will.

That was my 2nd ever car...cracking motor, quite poky & very nimble :thumb:

Now THAT was the classic era!

And Tony Mason should be brought back for WRC coverage too.
("Nae proeblem Toney")

The show orginally started off with Noel Edmonds presenting - bizarre :cuckoo:

I shudder at the thought of Chris Goffey creaming over a Maestro diesel.

The show's highlight era, was probably the early 1990's:

Tony Mason with his Rally reports was good...just to watch the crashes ;):D

Clarkson was the highlight much more understated and reserved back then. But still spounting the amusing one liners every now and again.

Quentin was as smarmy as ever always harping on about how you can buy a Merc 560SE for £500, but almost always negates the cost of running and servicing thing. And then saying the Senator 3.0 24v manual was "too fast" :cuckoo:

Tiff was, err, Tiff - "I'm a driving god", harping on how superb a certain car was whilst blasting round on the track, and negates to mention the thing drive like a dog on a public road. Also a number of times when he crashed, which never made it to air. Still don't forgive teh T-pot for bashing Mansell off the track in the touring cars and denying all responsibility.

Then there was a token female presenter. Usually some upstart from Midlands Today News (was filmed at Pebble Mill back then). Think "Top Gear Dog" with a voice and driving licence ;)

After Clarky left, the show detriorated. Some droaning Irishman taking over instead which would blither on and on for seemedly ages. Plus some whinny horsey racing wannabe bint that drives worse than Tiff and still calls her mum "mummy", to which we now know as VBH. Consequently that was the nail in the show's coffin and it was axed.

The disgruntled ex-presenters were then quickly grabbed by Channel five, to which they carried on making the same old cringeworthy show, with little imrovement

so your'e a fan of the show then?

Quentin Wilson=Mr burns :lol1:

No, I just watch it because I can't be arsed to change the channel from BBC2 ;):p

anyone remember "steve" the motorbike guy?

Steve Bury..from bury. Have seen him on men& motors since..

Argh, I'd forgotten that **** and his love for the Italian Classic "Joo-cateh"

:lol1:

yer sound just lark real thing :D

It was always a 30 second snippet of something good, then 29.30 minutes of articles about vintage Buses with Tony Mason, William Woolard doing articles about safety and Chris Goffey road testing something dire. Oh and some woman called Sue used to turn up as well, usually strapped into something fast that mae her poop herself.

Now come on, Julia Bradbury and Kate Humble were in that list :luvlove: Although Kate does still have TopGear Dog's hair :lol1: Agree with the comments on VBH :mad:

Otherwise a very good retrospective :cool:

Kate Humble, damn I mssed it!!! :norty:

She deffinatly looks good a wet suit though.

come on vbh isn't that bad

I always thought he was quite good, couldn't stand that pillock Quentin.

I once met him. I said, "Hey up, you're that c**t off of the telly!" :D

An ambassaduer for Yorkshire eh? :D

Absolutely. :D He was at Assen, at a WSB race with that other Lancs c**t off of the radio - Andy Kershaw. :lol1:

Here's an episode from 1990:

1990x07 00:00 Intro William Woollard
1990x07 00:44 Classics 1913 Unique Diamond Jubilee Rally William Woollard
1990x07 01:24 Review Rover Metro 1.1S
Fiat Uno 60S Superminis Revised Chris Goffey
1990x07 08:25 Other Ford Escort 1.9L
Austin Maestro Clocking continues Jeremy Clarkson
1990x07 13:55 Classics 1884 De Dion-Bouton
1930 Bentley
1901 Locomobile Steamer
1891 Panhard et Levassor Wagonette
1902 Baker Electric Runabout
Lagonda Tri-Car
1907 Mercedes Diamond Jubilee Rally William Woollard
1990x07 16:59 Environment Improving engine efficiency Tom Boswell
1990x07 22:35 Motorsport Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Pentti pointers
Pentti Airikkala Tiff Needell
1990x07 28:53 Next Week End of spring series, back in autumn William Woollard

Hmmmm :Suspiciou

was there not a 1.9 CVH?...a diesel?

I used to drive a ford fiesta pizza van with such a lump, I'm sure :o