Chris Harris Talks Cars with Harry Metcalfe

This week Chris Harris and Edward Lovett are in conversation with magazine founder, farmer and all-round car buff Harry Metcalfe.
They chat about how Harry became such a great automotive enthusiast, how the Maserati Ghibli Cup is partially responsible for the birth of Evo Magazine, and why they're all concerned about the latest crop of supercars.

[@fragu123]

Harry: Entrepreneur - Connoisseur - Driver, reflective and well down to earth, successful, knowledgeable and to the point friendliness! As my wife said: “...sad, we don’t know him....”

[@TheAslakVind]

You have a wise wife!

[@johnpulford8273]

As my pal and I said, top of our list for the bloke you’d most like to have a pint with:

[@Emira_75]

And a farmer

[@hog8035]

But would he like to know you

[@kcranny9375]

Harry’s my hero! I used to watched his videos religiously when I lived in England now I own a few cars of my own. My inspiration! Thank you Harry! Oh and I still watch Harry’s videos religiously.

[@emixmim]

You should film these and put them up as videos of you guys talking. More interesting than looking at a wallpaper.

[@PazLeBon]

yeahh, is why radio never took off, right numbnuts? ;)

[@petergibbs]

@@PazLeBon No need to be rude. Why do you think radio programs stream live studio video then? However, Harry mentioned in one of the farm videos that he had to nip back home to record the podcast with Chris, so recording video would not always be possible.

[@afroaliens]

@@petergibbs potheads are always rude...

[@allensaunders449]

@@PazLeBon this isn't radio its you tube a visual as well as audio medium. Haven't you noticed infact all podcasts should be sight as well as sound. On all mediums numnuts

[@PazLeBon]

@@petergibbs not rude in my local culture, its polite friendly banter, i.e as i am with friends. numbnuts is a lovely inviting comeback term.. and you 'comebacked' ;) My point was that things dont 'need' imagery at all, not if we use our minds at least.

[@gregidour7315]

Harry and Harris...2 of my absolute favourites. Please do more of these

[@Pyotr_Velikiy]

Chris and Harry should run a KZbin channel together.

[@Obitdf]

B J 💯

[@dans5664]

Indeed. We need more of this.

[@anssileinonen3522]

Or TV-show. It could be named something like.. Top Gear?

[@johndrake2729]

@@anssileinonen3522 Up to the BBC.

[@duartecardoso3914]

or Netflix

[@petergibbs]

The podcast we have all been waiting for. Harry & Chris sitting down for a natter on cars, Evo, and well, cars. Thanks Chris. A five star chat.

[@timedmunds9054]

Thank you so much Chris Ed And Harry. Had really nice afternoon listening to your podcast 🙂 Tim Norfolk

[@scofair1968]

Wow! This really couldn't get any better. Harry is a legend. Love his channel. Cheers for the Chris & Ed

[@legaltechinnovations1594]

What a fabulous way to spend just over an hour. I flet like a fly on the wall listening in on this conversation. Why so few viewers is amazing.

[@gregmortimer]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The most enjoyable, informative podcast ever. Massive fan of Harry's Garage, but weirdly for a car enthusiast I was never into EVO. Having young kids blunted my car obsession, but it's back big time now and I can now fill in some gaps in my knowledge of the who/what/how/why of Harry Metcalfe. I now have a massively sore neck from sitting nodding in total agreement with all your observations and opinions. Ok, back to saving up for an Alpine!

[@XtremeSmurf]

Always awesome to listen to harry metcalfe! Thank you for the podcast chris !

[@archibaldchimpin]

A great podcast, Chris and Harry, happy days.

[@apodosistudio8988]

YESSSSSSSS LOVE THESE TWO GUYS, BEEN WATCHINF THE FARM VIDEOS, NO REAL REASON OTHER THAN HARRYS AWESOMENESS

[@np6389]

Fantastic guys love watching Harry’s garage and now you Chris I’m in heaven keep up the good work excellent stuff

[@trevorleggo1777]

Gentleman, your comments around the outright performance is too true. Dinner with a fellow DRIVER last night, we were giggling and carrying on about our current car antics. He, in a Clio RS and me in a E 46 325ci manual. Both have had faster etc. but the enjoyment is in the feel. I would still like the GT3 Touring. Wonderful interview. Writing from Australia, 59 y/old, love your work. I actually think these casts would also work as video. The recent Gordon Murray SCW interview, for example. Gotta love Harry.

[@quintinkrivacek9800]

First Tiff, now you’re giving us Harry? Buckle up buckaroos

[@e36328isport]

Absolutely thoroughly enjoyed every last second of this. I think I still have the first ten issues of EVO stashed somewhere......

[@Salubrious101]

I've just found this channel and cannot believe the absolute quality of the content. Harris you have surpassed yourself, Bovington was excellent, I just listened to my hero Tiff Needel and thought wouldnt it be good if he had Harry Metcalfe on, and guess what... All I need now is Sutcliffe, Meaden, and possibly Clarkson.

[@SEANRSDUFF]

Best podcast by far, Harry is fascinating .

[@sj257257]

Great discovery of this podcast. I bought that first issue of Evo all those years ago. So much of what Harry said rings true. I did keep every copy. Lost early ones when I got divorced, but now my wife moans about the boxes of them around the house and loft.

[@Gorbyrev]

Fond memories of Harry and Chris at Evo, Drivers' Republic et al. Great listen and many thanks gentlemen. Speaking of Evo I slightly regret not buying Chris' old Caterham R500 Evo. Didn't have £22K at the time (and a couple more for the head gasket fund) but looked lovely in silver.

[@mpetry912]

really enjoyed this one Chris ! wide ranging and interesting discussion. thank you !

[@NickForest999]

Give these two a weekly podcast and I’d subscribe in a flash...

[@Mowser63]

My two favourite car people together..... les couettes de chiens ☺️

[@swiper1818]

Superb conversation guys - very interesting, informative and well presented. Great combination of participants!

[@Copleyfundresearch]

And I’m loving the engineering focus Harry. That Ferrari engine rebuild video was wonderful viewing.

[@harishreddy4034]

Been waiting for this. Add James May to this and you would have the best 3 car guys in one place.

[@fraserwright9482]

James May has become a caracature of himself.

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers chaps, fascinating chat, look forward to more. :)

[@jamesavickers5961]

It’s great to hear harry and Chris my two favourite auto Jernigan

[@stephenauty2402]

With regards to the near future and still being able to drive ICE cars in an EV world, I think the biggest worry will be the general public possibly vandalising in some way or other your lovely classic car or just giving you a load of verbal abuse for driving one because it's so disgusting...(forgetting that they drove a diesel for 40yrs on small journeys that they and their children could have walked) People are strange once they've made up their ill-informed and mostly ignorant minds about things. The CO2 production from start to finish comparison between an ICE vehicle and EV is totally necessary so people can be educated properly on the subject. And that's coming from a bloke who wants to stick an electric motor in an old classic Beetle, which I think they were very well designed for. Brilliant podcast, I'm downloading the lot and heading up the West coast of Scotland next week so I have some great listening for the trip.

[@adrianmay2970]

Such a great podcast, hats off.

[@allensaunders449]

Love to see and hear this podcast

[@DouEditz]

Gold, thanks for sharing

[@user-kc4lt2eg6u]

Loved hearing Harry's take on EVs

[@user-kc4lt2eg6u]

Also loved how out of touch Harry was with any cars below £80k 😂

[@virgilrytaar9083]

This reminded me of the great writing of Russell Bulgin. He was superb

[@MikeJF355]

Really interesting talk. Thanks for this. I'll be putting some of my Italian cars up for sale on the Collecting Cars site.

[@mrmarrow8918]

Fantastic conversation!

[@satanaz]

an I like this more than once? fucking admire Harry Metcalfe, the greatest automotive journalist ever

[@OuJ104]

Great podcast. Outdated opinion on EVs. Fuel cell electric vehicles are suited to SUVs and could easily compete in endurance racing. They have been proven as agricultural/construction vehicles (JCB/Anglo American) and for HGVs (NIKOLA, Volvo, Daimler).

[@harshsonawane6076]

Man, I'd hear these people talk about cars anyday because this is what an honest petrolhead sounds like. We don't want to know all the specs, we can read it off the internet, we want to now the feeling you get, the way the cars behave. I agree with the recent disappointment of ultra expensive super performance cars , it feels like these people can read my mind

[@sianwarwick633]

who else was sitting in ? all of a sudden I can hear other voices piping up about halfway through

[@pgmallon]

It cracked me up when Harris compared the pre-owned Ferrari price to a brand new well optioned M5. I am guilty of doing the same thing with pre-owned cars as well. I owned an M3 for years and people came up to me on many occasions complimenting it as well as asking if it were for sale. I was also approached many times by younger guys asking what I did for a for a living to afford the car. I always told them that buying the car wasn't really the expensive part of owning it. Summer & Winter tires, a set of wheels for the snow tires, Tires wear really quickly and they are staggered and directional, meaning you can't rotate them. Insurance, vandalism (there are lots of people out there who want to make their 3 series look like an M3), Good repair shops (I think they need some special tools and training), Parts (everything is more expensive than the regular 3 series) Speeding tickets, more speeding tickets. The list goes on, but you get the idea. That was only the difference between 2 BMW's, he is talking about a Ferrari against other cars. The operating costs have got to be on steroids versus the ones I compared.

[@bajabell]

So happy to hear you started with Beetle's ...........

[@ale16_69]

Manson would say the same. Sorry, had to say that.

[@petticlone]

Absolutely loved this.

[@MrMightyytau]

Guys fantastic podcast thoroughly enjoyable. zero C02 is a scam we are just coming out of a C02 drought

[@KevMk3]

Loved the discussions and Harry's history is fantastic. I disagree - we all need a project 8 in our lives

[@TimWepunkt]

Any chance for another go with Harry?

[@taylorjs2534]

These guys are amazing, but they should have given some thought to that conversation before having it. Emissions discussion was all over the place. Harry: "I'm doing my Espada engine at the moment". His fans (I include myself) know that ain't quite true. Everyone's is entitled to a change of heart, but for Chris to be complaining about manufacturers chasing lap times... seriously! Also, they are demonstrating quite a disconnect from what I think are their real fans. MX5, BRZ, or a 6-spd eco-boost Mustang. The sport car world isn't heading down such a bad path, but all they see are Ferrari's and Zondas.

[@Farlig69]

Guys - you should get camera´d up for these chats!!

[@cliffordbody4516]

well done harry when edward started talking 150k harry carefully put the 30k price in and he was even talking more sence when on about his 2k bikes anyway if u got a early mclaren [carbon tub]and dropped in a big AMG lump with a manual box and maybe normal springs& dampers it would save haveing to go to italy ?

[@kznjonno602]

Sorry I didn't know this was radio?

[@icsbay7932]

There is many good things to say about Harry and as I see in the comments, many people agree. However, I don't get how someone who deals in modern classics and hosts a program called "collecting cars", can ask a question like "was it a manual box?" regarding a Diablo... How is he making a living in this branch???

[@bazejwianecki9054]

Please get TGE on podcast. I’d love to see you two clash. Or at least listen to 1h of awkward silence 😂 No, honestly. I enjoyed this one a lot. Fascinating topics and a good laugh. I really enjoy Harry’s videos. He’s a cool guy.

[@HG504X]

The podcast would last 1m 22s instead of 1hr 22m if that fool was on

[@davide8641]

"we are all experieced drivers, and we dont have in the garage the fastest thing..." meanwhile lovett with a rimac xD

[@richfi9576]

this is great but, fuck, the damned youtube adverts are relentless and ruin the experience

[@Obitdf]

Harry garage 👍🏼

[@dickieb2233]

Chris and Harry, if you read these comments then thank you for a great Pod and I used to take Fast Lane until the Ferrari 348 cover copy. Anyway, my question:- please comment on FCEV (hydrogen fuel cell) technology. Surely that is more viable for the future of rural England, emissions and range.. your thoughts would be interesting. Thank you.

[@Tomoose1985]

Having grown up with Pistonheads, Chris Harris on PH and on KZbin, Evo mag, Harry's Garage etc., this video is just honey. Absolute joy to hear Chris and Harry in conversation... Thank you for making this!!

[@joelbillington8536]

⁶

[@paulkennedy477]

Harry is the Godfather of KZbin motoring.

[@CleanFinish2023]

This was a fantastic podcast, I could have listened to this for hours and hours, bravo and more of the same please!

[@sanmarino_cs1698]

Absolutely FANTASTIC!! Best episode yet by a mile. Harry is just such a fascinating and easy to listen to guy. Does anyone else find them self just starting at that Porsche interior as they listen? 😂

[@gianpaologliori3604]

When I was a child obsessed with cars in the late 70s, seeing a Porsche was an event and seeing an Aston or a Ferrari was a once a year miracle! Now they’re everywhere and just not particularly special. Also, when you went to France all the cars were French and when you went to Italy they were all Italian. And they were so distinctive! No fun any more...

[@jetara3082]

Sad but true. I recall it the exact same way as you do. I still remember a G-Modell 911 somewhere in the late 80ies passing by at full throttle which totally blew me away and had a lasting impression on me. The last 10 years the car thing just has begun to go over the top, it's just to much of it, to much cars, to much talking about cars. It's just nothing that special anymore to me.

[@nickgoode3062]

Come and live in deepest darkest Herefordshire. It’s still an event here. Infact I can’t remember the last time I saw anything special. Also most of the cars in rural France are still French!

[@Wallygjs]

Brilliant interview, really loving these, just wish you had a camera on as I get bored staring at the 911image for over an hour!

[@johnj.baranski6553]

Do stuff while listening ...use it as back ground

[@Wallygjs]

@@johnj.baranski6553 I find I can't do that as whatever else I am doing will take focus and I will not listen to the podcast. Also I just prefer to see people taking as well as hear.

[@ShortyzDK]

Still got my first EVO magazine...036 October 2001. Visiting London as a kid (15 years) with my Class from Denmark. Funny how I end up listening to a Pod Cast, with the Founder and one of the EVO writers almost two decades later. Great body of work to both you guys!

[@marcnobel3938]

Harry Metcalfe? Chriss Harris? - I am in! - With high Expectations!

[@seanpburke]

EVO mag back then was absolutely otherworldly, the writing and photos were just so next level. 👌

[@advancelast1740]

Tiff, Harry and Chris....new format Top Gear...

[@TheAslakVind]

Imagine the energy between them!

[@ale16_69]

My God, that's just my dream trio. I've always wanted them together.

[@986am]

Over 3 million for that old Zonda - awesome..... Saw Harry at Goodwood (checking over his own Elan on a stand) - proper nice chap - to the degree my dad even asked how I knew him.... really enjoyed this podcast - thank you 🏁

[@Vampirebear13]

This has gone straight into my favorites list. Harry Metcalfe is a long time favorite of mine, a dream dinner gathering would be Harry, Chris, Tiff Needell & Derek Bell. Thumbs up from OHIO !!!!

[@Vampirebear13]

@Viktor Sligo It should go without saying, I'd host the dinner. :-)

[@reubs91]

Eww tiff needell.

[@willb3486]

@@reubs91 blasphemy! Granted he's a bit of an odd chap... But still great

[@MrGaryGG48]

@@Vampirebear13 You'd get offered a lot of help. I was just thinking as I scrolled down through the comments, "That's a group of guys I'd share a six-pack (or maybe a couple) with around a campfire!" Talk about a memorable evening!!

[@Dandadadan83]

Same but add Gordon Murray instead of Tiff.

[@mchockney3664]

The best episode so far! Having Chris and Harry in the same room chatting about stuff is as good as it gets for a car nut.

[@Atombender]

Literally two of the best car journos out there. Amazing collab.

[@Paul8342]

I absolutely loved this - I could listen to Harry talk for hours. Hope to get the opportunity to say hello to him at some point. Great guy!

[@marquise9b]

Stunning. Simply stunning. Made my day and nurtured my soul.

[@GetUpFalcon]

"Fiddle factor" - great phrase

[@bispal]

in 1998 I bought my 1st new car, an Elsie from Kinsey Jones. I remember seeing a beautiful Ghibli there and was told a farmer had bought it who loves it and doesn't care if his £50k Ghibli is worth £20k next year as its nothing compared to the depreciation on one of his combines. A few years ago it occurred to me the owner was probably Harry & now, 21 years later, it was just confirmed. :-) This is the most common sense I have ever heard talked about the current state of the car market. I have recently sold a McLaren & Ferrari as they were not engaging and capable of insane speeds too quickly. Replaced with an Exige 430 and 981 Spyder, yes they are still very quick but manual and engaging, the key is they are fun to drive slowly and a DSG McLaren / Ferrari is not. I actually prefer my NA MX5 to most new super-cars, its so much much fun and all at legal speeds. Plus you are right, All the cars I lust after are £30k ish, this is where the car buying fun is, Lotus Esprit GT3 / Early Exige/Evora / TVR Tusacn / Porsche 968CS / 1980's M cars etc. All the most interesting cars are around this price point. Keep up the good work chaps :-)

[@1seipai]

You must be very sad that you got rid of that 4L RS!

[@ChocolateFrog]

The early days of EVO must have been as close as you can get to living the dream in the automotive industry.

[@Harryjones05]

Brilliant chat, loved it!!! In terms of an 80k car give me a Casino Royale DBS, raging v12, manual gearbox and gorgeous looks... Yes please!!! 👌🏻

[@MrDOZA28]

I could sit and listen to Chris and Harry all afternoon. Great podcast.

[@DeadlyTyper42]

Harry is the professor of car journalism. Chris is the top grade student.

[@HG504X]

I'd love to drive a V12. I remember Harry and Clarkson saying its an event to drive a 12 cylinder car.

[@NineHellHeaven]

I've only driven one, a friend's Ferrari 550, and they are very special indeed.

[@Lifeofriley18]

Don't worry Harry - Wyclef Jean's McLaren F1, Zonda C12 S Roadster, and Ferrari 360 spider were listed as a package deal for $900k... And had no takers

[@BanzaiYaris]

Woo Chris is back! Saving this for my morning coffee tomorrow (NZ here)

[@RedC220]

What you’re chatting about cars being too fast struck home with me when I reached the means to buy something special with a V12. I test drove what I thought I wanted and realised it wasn’t what I wanted at all. It only got exciting and loud above 100mph and still pulling like a train. I realized then that I wanted something more mechanical and with less than 600hp. So I’m now on the hunt for a 550 Maranello. The current market is a mess though so I’m happy to sit tight over winter and see what appears in spring.

[@oldanslo]

Paddy McGuiness should have heeded the wise words of Harry Metcalfe @ 3:05. Wonder if it was the same car?

[@abdullabashir007]

This is all I was waiting for .. Big fan of EVO nd. Both of you guys 😘 , with love from India🇮🇳

[@Copleyfundresearch]

I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of this podcast. I have genuinely lost interest in the latest Ferrari or McLaren launch, and lotus, what a crushing disappointment to see that billion pound EV. I used to crave these videos, now I just can’t be arsed to watch them, especially if it’s a drag race. There is such a gap in the market for a simpler, back to basics drivers car, could even be a saloon. Let’s hope someone listens.

[@HoratioHoodoo]

You guys need to film cmon Harris

[@nelsonferreirinho4904]

I suspect your conversation just kept going after the video ended... great podcast and great guests. Mr Harris and Mr Lovett, in my opinion, you just nailed it. Keep doing it as long as you dare. Here we can hear proper car related subjects, not the "should I buy the next Mclaren" or "Where am I taking my porsche?" non-sense. Proper content, proper guests. For me, this is a breath of fresh air to the car culture. Certainly the one it needs... Thank you.

[@shingnosis]

These are superb, can't believe how few views this has. I think there could be some potential here to do a racing driver series.. you know Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill... those kind of guys. I wonder though if you should have video as well? I mean, in this case here with Harry filming in his house wouldn't have been such a big hassle would it? Look at Joe Rogan and what he does, I think you're already a pretty good interviewer and if you worked at it you could become the Joe Rogan of the car world. There is sort of a space there to fill I think?

[@jandeman198]

really enjoyed this one! Loved the history of EVO and humble youtube startings...and of course fantastic to hear that Harry will never go to a launch. Go on fellas, brilliant job!

[@fraserwright9482]

The Evo forum was always a mystery to me as it didn't reflect the magazine or the advertisors.

[@davidnimmo9933]

Absolutely fantastic really enjoyed this hope you do more of this. I am a massive fan of cars I am lucky that my dad took me to rally racing back in 80s. Please do more of these so go to hear what it is like to drive some of these cars and to hear about the beginning of EVO magazine. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@pippipster6767]

Interesting. But basically ruined by far far far too many ads. Well annoying.

[@jep1912]

Film these Chris please!

[@philipmulville8218]

Harry Metcalfe is a joy to listen to.

[@gorviv529]

Just stumbled upon this channel, and this was the first episode I listened to. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I absolutely loved this discussion. Chris and Harry are two of my automotive heroes, and to hear them chat was a dream. Glad to know that even as the age of 40 lurks in the not too distant shadows for me that I am not the only one that laments the end of an era where the cars I and my father wanted to drive fritters away, and not necessarily for the better.

[@RoryMacdonald-pfff]

+1 on the request to video these conversations.

[@ianmitchell9102]

Great podcast, love the way he was spraying the field and ordered £45k worth of computers etc......... and then he said to himself “ what the hell are you doing metcalf “ love it !!! They who dares !!

[@pabauza]

Can’t wait for that round table.

[@leonwurr]

This is the best thing ever! My two favorite blokes, by a long shot, just chatting about non-sense, it is really great to hear this kind of histories you would not know otherwise! Thanks for making this guys! I am off to ebay to buy some old issues of EVO