1994 Top Gear British Motorshow Episode

1994 Episode of Top Gear, covering the 1994 British Motor Show at Birmingham NEC. Presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Quentin Willson, Michelle Newman, Chris Goffey, Russell Bulgin and Tiff Needell.

[@Dregkar]

Seeing how far back Jeremy Clarksons career goes really makes you appreciate his dedication to making the show HE wanted. Regardless of his politics you have to admire the man for essentially dedicating his entire life to his work and coming out on top with a hit show on Amazon and a show that lasted over a decade on BBC. He went from the son of a teacher and traveling salesman to a multi millionaire by doing something he loved, something very very few people get to experience on this Earth.

[@SVW1976]

Its not rocket science. The show was so bad their was only one way to go. Up!

[@oddities-whatnot]

Stephen Webb the original Top Gear was enjoyed by many viewers. Your definition of it being a bad show is only your opinion, which most people will dismiss.

[@SVW1976]

@@oddities-whatnot Yeah it was sooo good it was reformatted to Jeremy's vision 🙄

[@farhanatashiga3721]

@@SVW1976 the original never become "bad" it just pulls not enough viewers for the BBC's liking (tho mind you it was still in the millions).

[@silverliteway]

He was more interested when he and wilman did a 50/50 buy out of it with bbc World and it was a good investment for all concerned. They sold their stake and 2years later were out the door.

[@brandonconstant7226]

"Zero emissions by 2003..."

[@paulsz6194]

Brandon Constant 🤣🤣 we won’t even get to thatfigure by 2025.

[@zloychechen5150]

just 3 years after they were going to build communism.

[@MaximusJohal]

Just shows they have the tech but it means no extra money for them so they'll hold that tech for years so we spend more, I wonder why people have no faith in car companies any more

[@paulsz6194]

MaximusJohal just ride a bicycle..

[@n1k32h]

Simonisable I say 2025

[@edwardburek1717]

Clarkson 1994: "The Dodge Viper is my idea of a sensible car." Clarkson 2014: "The Dodge Viper is heralded by the appearance of a moron - oh hello, Hammond..."

[@rwec_rimsaracing]

More I watch old Top Gear, the more I prefer it

[@jaroslavmihok740]

@Samwisegamgee The Brave only reason why people like old shows is nostalgia not because they are actually that better

[@Lancia444]

Not necessarily true - some of us prefer the focus on the vehicles and less about boyish comedy/malarkey on the new series. They are quite different, the old one catered to a select group of people and the new one focuses on entertaining the masses.

[@Embracing01]

@@rwec_rimsaracing Me too. Clarkson's witt and sense of humour and (scripted) lines in these episodes really do work well and make you want to laugh your head off whenever he spouts out something, but in the Hammond and May era the humour just wasn't there, maybe because he was getting old at that point and that school boy humour just wasn't there. Even Quentin Willson was very funny at times and even Steve Berry had some good moments. If Clarkson had never appeared on Top Gear back in the late 80s and developed that humour Top Gear would probably have ended in the 90s.

[@loschwahn723]

the dodge viper: _" elephant shoe as a boat can be withdrawed from the harbour "_ - thats mine from the beginnung about this flathat

[@kylesoler4139]

Quentin Willson is basically James may before James May. Or an early 90's American action movie villain.

[@lastp6905]

How dare you insult Quentin Willson like that

[@sporkfindus4777]

Jack Nicholson

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

The 80s and 90s Top Gear haven't been aired outside the UK. Thank God for KZbin, we can watch them now.

[@phillipecook3227]

Needell, Clarkson and Wilson. Still the best Top Gear.

[@dimashevchenkoua]

Yes! Those 3 and Vicki Butler-Henderson were great. I'll always be a Clarkson, Hammond, and May fan, but those 4 are not far behind whatsoever.

[@VoVilliaCorp]

The French automakers back in the mid '90s seems to have known what cars were going to look like in 20 years lol

[@apashe974]

VoVillia Corp. we were already taking a toast for the “voitures de merde” at peugeot

[@TheGeordieTiger]

He walks past what became the TWIZY! 😃👍

[@afrog2666]

@@apashe974 Voitures de merde hehe, "shit cars"?

[@dantaylor7344]

No that's what they were supposed to look like by about 2002-2005 but then Bush got elected and no one anywhere gave a fuck about anything anymore and the whole thing went tits up. It's 2020 and only a fraction of cars look like that. Or are even electric

[@ArnoldClarke]

The same goes with the news and planned events.

[@T-Bag13]

Quentin, Tiff & Jeremy, great lineup.

[@davidhamilton1981]

I was there...and managed to embarrass Quentin by asking at the Top Gear Live show whether he'd crashed a car while on test. Can still remember Quentin calling me a joker (I was 12 years old) and Clarkson loving it. BTW he stuffed a De Tomaso Pantera.

[@farishanafiah8461]

Clarkson briefly talked about it in his Top 100 Cars DVD.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Great to see all those classic cars as new cars.

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

Thanks for uploading, great to watch. And Jeremy was right: one day he did own a F355.

[@viralityfactor987]

Top gear had better sound editor in early 90's than in late 2000's.

[@afrog2666]

Ah the 90`s, when balding men could be on tv and it wasn`t as the punchline of some cruel joke, and the women weren`t entirely made of plastic..

[@pacman6169]

wait a second... isnt that car at 4:30 actually a Renault Twizy now?!

[@_lambert_1785]

The only electrical concept in that entire show to become a reality

[@dantaylor7344]

8:10 GET THAT EVERYONE? 2003! Ha! Yeah right!

[@ianpolo5673]

Watching this in 2020. Good old days of the 90s.

[@edwardmal1802]

"one day i am gonna own one of those ferrari" "not on the BBC you wont Jeremey" god it was all so innocent back then...little did they know.

[@GodKing804]

If you're curious, Richard Hammad was 24 years old when this was made.

[@p00x39]

Was this before he quit radical Islam and changed his name?

[@oddities-whatnot]

p 0 0 x haha

[@easydrive3662]

what i like about the cars from the 90s is that the majority look pretty stylish but with just the correct amount of technology, these days there just moving computers and the vast majority of cars on the road are much larger and quite bulky looking compared to 90s cars

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Miss these 3 presenting on tv together.

[@williamoleary9330]

Tiff & Clarkson!!! Awesome

[@aljack1979]

Tiff looks like an estate agent 😂

[@Lancia444]

back when many race car drivers acted like gentlemen off the track....

[@Quazi83]

Wouldn't buy it if you gave it to me??? Smart lady 😂😂

[@keithe8449]

😁

[@paulsmith-ib3nx]

What about the guy that said, "you either like it or you don't. I'm not so sure”?!!

[@ssss-df5qz]

Classic British nonsense - we don't think about what we say.

[@andymb601]

@@paulsmith-ib3nx he means it's a marmite car. You love it or hate it. No in-between. He doesn't know if he loves it or hates it

[@JaredConnell]

Ya she is smart. If someone gave it to he she wouldn't need to buy it, now, would she? 😄 🤣 😂

[@Optimistprime.]

It's good to see that even back then, Clarkson didn't understand what a sensible car was.

[@AtheistOrphan]

4:33 - Renault Twizzy?

[@xtraflo]

Why is everyone else boring compared to Jeremy?

[@joelbates8243]

Because they're stuck up motoring journalists.

[@ziggi4800]

There is a reason you don’t remember there names.

[@GodKing804]

Because he does tounge in cheek humor while absolutely damaging an automotive companies release

[@luismartinez2596]

dont forget tiff

[@ertwander]

I like Quentin Wilson. He reminds me a bit of James May, with his distinguished and restraint manner and dry humour: "This car is as sensible as a horde of mongol troopers."

[@martinstrumpfer1620]

May and Hammond look... different...

[@robomatt101]

That time was before Hammond's sex change.

[@Finallybianca]

Knew Hammond was FTM lol

[@AutoConceptionTV]

355 was the best looking production car in the world at the time of its launch. Our Editor - then a teenage design student - went to the '94 Birmingham motor show just to see it!

[@kevmagill5163]

Tiff racing round the track, without a 3 point seatbelt on, really hit home the vintage reality of this film...that and Jeremy's curly mullett... awesome.

[@Phuc_Yhou]

@kevmagill5163 He is wearing a 3 point seatbelt on the road and track, it goes over his right shoulder then under his tie and jacket, you can see it through the osr quarter window.

[@GazTheKitman]

The way Tiff was stroking that knob in the Ferrari... oooh I say.

[@guvnor1971]

As an Aussie who currently lives in Florida, I laughed at the idea of English “roasting in the heat”

[@justsomeguy1141]

Clarkson did eventually buy that F355

[@paulsz6194]

Tom Banks and some more... like the Ford GT40.

[@ferrari2k]

@@paulsz6194 When did he buy a GT40? He never could fit in it.

[@paulsz6194]

ferrari2k it was back in 2003 now, but he did manage to fit in somehow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJjVdmdnotZgiq8

[@ferrari2k]

@@paulsz6194 Yeah well, that is a Ford GT. Not a GT40. There is a BIG difference. The GT40 is from the 60s and has racing pedigree. The GT is just another supercar in the range of supercars.

[@godlyobject6509]

@@ferrari2k "JUST" another supercar is going too far. However, the GT40 and the Ford GT were two wildly different cars indeed.

[@kps666de]

The good old 90`s when every car had an ashtray :D

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I went that year and met Jezza. He was fun. I miss this Top Gear. I loved the 2002 version until it got too gimmicky but my love of cars and racing made this must watch TV.

[@hungrr08]

Watching Tiff in that Ferrari I now know where the idea of Alan Partridge came from......

[@markrhoden68]

The 355 had 380hp 25 years ago. A fast hot hatchback has as much and more than that today. So in 25 years from now can we assume that an equivalent hot hatch will have 700hp like the 488 pista.....ill be to old but my grandchildren will love it

[@gerrywhelan5761]

No it will be Electric or similar, power will be limited, and if you go go over the speed limit anywhere there will be a beep on your then smartphone describing the penalty you have just received, yes fun times ahead!

[@MagnusPaul1976]

Hammond stated that the Ford Scorpio looked "goppy" Reference to the Top Gear Africa Special ! 😂😂😂

[@Hoganply]

*Gopping

[@stevebrayne2609]

18 min mark. Russell Bulgin driving the Porsche sounds incredibly like Louis Theroux....🤔🤔

[@lxtechmangood9503]

Am I wrong in saying I miss these days / version of top gear. Tiff the racer, Jeremy the slightly sarcastic host, quinten the car dealer / down to earth knowledgeable one. A couple ladies inputting different cars and thier view on them. I like it. And great sound and music

[@FAT8893]

You're not alone, I also love pre-CHM Top Gear a lot.

[@deathbyteacup]

Even in 1994 there are elements of new top gear in there. You can see Jeremy was leaning to that early on. Roasting Quentin, silly skits, even the stig buying wiper fluid.

[@MrSonicAdvance]

I remember completing the K-reg car survey. :D

[@chilli-soup]

1993/4 i went to Dreamscape 8 then the next 9/10 yrs is a blurry memory.

[@fosterfuchs]

This episode featured The Stig before there was a Stig. Going shopping in town.

[@StopTeoriomSpiskowym]

today its funny to watch these cars which not exist after 30 years

[@Zach1234]

Quentin Wilson sounds like David Mitchell.

[@andymb601]

The only person who's not excessively posh in this video is Jeremy. The only interesting one to watch lol

[@xithappens]

you dont like tiff?

[@ilovelimpfries]

That's bbc insistence on rp speak for all their shows.

[@Hoganply]

@@ilovelimpfries I think 'posh' in this context refers more to stiff tone and demeanour than accent.

[@JDWDMC]

Clarkson is more of a toff than the rest of them put together. I have no idea why he isn't wearing a Top Hat everywhere and carrying a swagger stick clear the proles out of the way.

[@silverliteway]

@@JDWDMC yes most don't know he and Wilman were posh private school mates and then had to make themselves integrated. Clarkson used to wear terrible clothes before the jean wearing days

[@duncanhamilton5841]

Bloody hell, I don't remember the BBC clipped accent still being a thing in 94.

[@warfam_clan6933]

Classic Clarkson!

[@alext2933]

Clarkson wishing he could afford a 355. Those were the days....

[@SuperiorNo1]

Easy for Him even in 1994 😈

[@alext2933]

@@SuperiorNo1 you are probably right.......

[@FlyingEriksen]

27:50 "you work for the BBC" well.... Who's laughing now... 😁

[@alexbizkit79]

Watching the Espace feature, you forget that until that came along people carriers didn't really exist, which seems so weird now.

[@Grant.G.Simpson]

well done stevie, well done ray, 2:00 reference the 'scorpio' the hidden joke is its meant to mean stevie wonder and ray charles, both famous BLIND people i.e whoever designed this car must be blind.

[@upsidedown4155]

11:55 she seriously says this about a nasty people carrier "as fun to hurl around as a gti" pmsl

[@bensmithkent22]

Ridiculous even for the day. It must have just felt light to hustle down a wide lightly sweeping a or b road thats all. Bonkers analysis.

[@LR_84]

10:40 is that Boris Johnson

[@Danny-zi6xw]

That's scary, just looking in your mirror and see cursed Boris in the back seats, behind your kids-

[@silverliteway]

Tickled me that did - bojo’s big(ger) brother!

[@mrmawson2438]

That old top gear music 👌

[@gavst79]

I fell in love with the ferrari 355 after going to the motor show as a 15 year old in 1994. It still remains my favourite car of all time.( just beating the 1969 dodge charger and the peugeot 205 1.9 gti). And if i ever win the lottery it will be the first car i buy.

[@Hoganply]

18:54 - It's a protostig.

[@Thomas-E-aus-D]

Danke für den Ein­blick in meiner Jugend.

[@goranj1]

I miss Chris Goffey...

[@milanvillan]

Around the time when the country shared events instead of just thinking of London.

[@Theottselmaster]

"The motorshow" Well it would be impossible to make a name better than that!

[@andrewwalsh5366]

The old days

[@Heldermaior]

What is this? A Top Gear episode where they actually talk about cars and consumer advice? My word...

[@Edsshed]

i always thought the three were always together, i would loev to see the first episode that has them all in it..

[@abhishekdk]

I arrived UK in 2007, been hooked to Top Gear since then.. I would have grown up this on TV if I would have born here.. 🙁

[@mark8544]

Many where, it didn't end well for most.

[@steeveedee8478]

The Ford Scorpio - so unpopular that (forgotton) here in the distant future of 2020 Covid 19 ravaged UK there is an unregistered delivery miles 2 litre one with leather trim on sale here from 1997. Used ones (if you can find one) are going for pennies while any of the old Escorts are now commanding big money.

[@bensmithkent22]

Investment potential cos of the controversial looks perhaps for a bold speculator? Garage it up and sit back. Especially a 2.9 24v.

[@porscha901]

A Class

[@reeeonidus8665]

My Cosworth Scorpio was incredible - other than my wife putting it into a corn field every time we had a light drizzle. It helps I picked it up for 1100 pounds tho... Plus transverse headlights and rounded front styling became hugely popular... about 6 years after the Scorp was shitcanned.

[@silverliteway]

Clarkson’s hair - cracking ‘...in the world’ started here ;)

[@jamessummers1902]

That intro makes me feel 8 years old again.

[@cs512tr]

damn, that intro

[@brianfearn4246]

If I remember over the years all the K Reg Challengers didn't have a big challenge avoiding the scap yard.

[@88GTi]

16:39 That's not fair! I drive a K Reg Peugeot 205 and the survey number doesn't work anymore! 😂😂😂

[@DoctorRazzArea4]

Lmao god i love the British. Just brutally honest nonchalant critiques. And then there's the fact that the critiques are all in terrible taste which brings it to a whole new level of entertainment.

[@brendaramon8154]

Jeremy with the cuh cut. You see the f'ing mullet baby... All business up front party in the back.

[@paulsmith-ib3nx]

I've never been able to stand Clarkson. But I'm really chuffed we don't see anything of Willson on our TV's.

[@theindecisiveshooter]

Quite a few things going on back in 94 that are still massive topics today

[@dustdriver115]

I remember the tigra, it was very unusual

[@toddmercure9745]

Fugly comes to mind...

[@34A1A]

1994 Ahhh Cosworths & Cocaine... What a time to be alive😂 #memories

[@waste4245]

Arguably the better intro jingle

[@chryneon6638]

The Evasion became the Synergie in the UK.

[@MattysCars]

Can’t wait for November 18th when I can go out and buy my new Tigra!

[@DrEtzor]

Imagine, they have 6 presenters but only one of them stands out. Afterwards they had 3 and all 3 stood out in their own ways. Nowadays they have 3 presenters (i think?) and none stand out, BBC killing their own master. Edit : Also, it's surprising that the audio works on such a old top gear, i guess their audio editor was not deaf back then.

[@padraigodonnell6081]

I disagree. I thought Newman, Clarkson and Willson stood out with their brillinat use of metaphor and simile.

[@Masterleechan]

It looks just like people from the UK

[@SuperiorNo1]

I fucking Hate modern multiculturalism UK 😈

[@Phuc_Yhou]

What was Boris Johnson doing in the back of the Espace? @10.40 😂

[@CheapBastard1988]

The Tigra was definitely good looking. But mechanically it was a complete piece of junk and the handling wasn't good enough for the looks (just like the Calibra). I also think the Ford Puma aged better in looks while also having better handling and reliability. Though both rusted like there was no tomorrow.

[@glenostick3979]

but the puma didn't have a sunroof. beside 1600 tigra was a very nice car from my experience

[@Zero_Ninety]

That's because it was a Corsa with different bodywork, and Corsa's are junk.

[@CheapBastard1988]

@@Zero_Ninety Definitely! The Tigra was mechanically a Corsa and the Calibra a Cavalier/Vectra. None were known for sharp handling or reliability. But the bodywork of the Tigra made it even worse to work on. Any mechanic I've met so far that worked on a Tigra has a pet hatred for it.

[@JonnyJayJonson]

17:15 Russell Bulgin, I had no idea he was on Top Gear. Was this his only appearance?

[@gud6y]

As far as I can remember he was a regular for some time...think he then went to work on a magazine.

[@jerrydandrige1987]

Quentin sounds like David Mitchell

[@darrengiles3883]

Jeremy hasn't changed. I don't remember top gear being so upper class.

[@kevinchun5242]

This and holiday where right up themselves at times.

[@HenrikScheel_]

There is Clarkson - and then there are the others.

[@pbj9270]

I didn't know Clarkson strapped a poodle to head in the 80's. Good look.

[@hughjass2745]

essentially the future then looked no further than 10 years. See the beginnings of the mercedes a-class, xsara picasso and peugeot 107 with nothing much ground breaking.

[@slm1198]

Mate there drivin a electric car with claimed 95mile range 27 years ago. What you talkin. what would you be able to design more than 10 years ahead of now you dickhead

[@hughjass2745]

@@slm1198 'claimed', you just answered your own question. Like VW 'claiming' it's vehicles could pass emissions tests. You can claim anything, and car companies usually do.

[@hughjass2745]

@@slm1198 and if 1994 was 27 years ago that means you're writing this in 2021...

[@fr442]

Electrical concept car from Peugeot. 93 miles range... not so bad for 1994.

[@marcusbrown9093]

The cars of early 90s were death traps I'd say the first safe car we had in 98 was the ford focus.

[@GoproGavin2009]

Thats a king car challenge name jeremy clarksons

[@kr9297]

Spliff needle in the ferrari

[@Il7ony89]

The same unmistakable voice, but a lot more hair 🤣

[@reneeverlaan3056]

1:51 stevie wonder and ray charles... both blind😎lol

[@TiptronicSS]

I like the TiptronicS part 😄

[@chubski2514]

When airbags were optional 😂