REVEALED: The Fate of the World of Top Gear Vehicles

[@karlhofmann1446]

I do know that James Mays Rolls Royce from the Indian special is alive and well and living in its birthplace of Crewe....

[@TedJM]

do you know what happened to the XJS and Hammonds Mini?

[@oakrail8100]

​@@TedJM The mini went to the same guy who owns the RR. He also apparently tried to buy the XJS but the BBC wouldn't let him acquire it. Nobody knows where it is rn

[@TedJM]

@oakrail8100 I wonder if the XJS.went to scrap, Clarkson really ruined it with the Straight Pipe out the bonnet conversion

[@BritishThomasGuy]

those cars were ruined, it’s a shame because they were all really nice cars

[@TedJM]

@BritishThomasGuy the poor mini getting it's face ripped off

[@gearknobofficial]

The thing is - this has happened before, and barely anyone noticed. In 2019, they silently removed all three of the police cars that the trio had built for S11E01 and scrapped them to make room for newer exhibits. I was in the process of writing a script to raise awareness, and barely a week later, I read the news story that the entire exhibit had been closed. I don't understand why we keep letting this happen. I'm old enough to remember when the original Robot Wars arena got scrapped and there was outrage back then. The cars on their own are worth about £10k - £20k even with their TV connections. As scrap, way less. There are plenty of people, myself included, who would have happily chipped in to keep the exhibit open or the cars preserved. There are people like Mat Watson who probably would have taken on the job pro bono. But no-one from within Beaulieu or the BBC said a damn thing, they just did it. Jeremy Clarkson was absolutely right in his assertion that these were more than just cars. For us, they're cherished memories of our childhood. Of a simpler, more innocent time. I care not for any cop-out "blah blah the BBC bureaucracy means we couldn't have sold or given away any of the cars due to liability and legality" BS because quite simply, these aren't just any old random pieces of junk. They're famous TV props, living parts of British televisual history. And if they survive, they're supposed to be preserved. That's the entire purpose of a museum. In my eyes, it's wanton vandalism in the same vein as someone who just orders a house of a deceased relative emptied without actually removing anything valuable or irreplaceable. Stuff people want that was in good condition and could have fetched a pretty penny gets chucked because they just want to sell the house, even if the stuff in it is worth a lot on its own.

[@moonshapedabsolution]

Another achievement for the Toyota Hilux, surviving 15 years in the elements and not getting scrapped

[@JorgeLourenco000]

The fact that the majority of them were out on the elements for 15 years, shows how much BBC did not care about them at all. Sad

[@clockwork3494]

Out of all the cars, I'm glad to hear the indestructible Hilux survived. I'm glad more did too don't get me wrong, but if I ever had to pick only one to stay, it'd be the Hilux. That car was like Top Gear's poster car, a medal of honor, a testament to old Toyota's reliability and Top Gear's purpose as a show. The Hilux encapsulates everything Top Gear was, silly, dumb, fun and crazy - but most of all, a celebration of cars. I'd agree with the comment about it being a work of art, because truthfully it is.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@clockwork3494 Well said!

[@JamesSheldonUnofficial]

They probably tried to crush it but failed to do so

[@steved8193]

They tried putting the Hilux in the crusher but it survived that too.

[@MarkSmith-xw5xg]

Chuck Norris (1940-2025) attempted to destroy the Hilux.

[@CovKid2K10]

I heard Hilux broke the crusher

[@KB10GL]

The only vehicle worth saving, in my view, is the HiLux & I'm a little surprised that Toyota haven't made some enquiries about it's acquisition. Complete with all the footage from purchase from the farm through to its triumphant limping, under its own power, into the set for the last time, the pickup has to be the greatest demonstration of Toyota toughness of all time. They tried just about every extreme to destroy it & in the end, it just refused to die. In the unlikely event that I ever need a small Pickup Truck, I will search the ends of the earth for exactly that model.

[@scottbogfoot]

I'm astonished that hotwheels/matchbox hasn't done a topgear series of cars

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@scottbogfoot I guess that would be dependent on licencing agreements, but it's definitely a great idea!

[@DWboy14]

Corgi did the boat cars and the hilux

[@augustusimperator.avi1872]

Mondo motors did

[@Jake-ie6bi]

They’d make a fortune if they did that’s for sure

[@f1since08]

I'm pleased that at least some of them are being kept, and will be very interested to find out where they actually end up. I visited the museum many, many years ago before the Panda was a bench. I never got to see an episode filmed live as I was too young and too far away, so this was the closest I ever got.

[@ImEvo_]

Personally, I think this is great news! I went last year, and my first impression was that none of the vehicles seemed to be cared for at all. They were put on display years ago and simply left to rot with moss and cobwebs all over them. It was a stark contrast to how Beaulieu motor museum look after every other car on their grounds. So, I'm happy to hear that many will be going to a new home, where hopefully, they will be cared for and loved again.

[@AJsVideos]

This video was pure nostalgia 😢 Reminded me of the good ol' days when shows had more spice and authenticity compared to rushed sellouts of today's times.

[@Nightdare]

The Toyota has become a true museum piece It is a definitive icon of the show, not only its actual episode, but also the backdrop for many dialogs

[@DeLorean4]

So they can't be sold for liability reasons... I'm no legal expert, but has the BBC heard of a legal tool called a liability waiver?

[@shanethrelfall416]

They save them for the likes of “Sir” Jimmy and Mr Davis

[@peterknight4692]

They can't be sold because the BBC don't want anyone else making money off displaying them....Liability my backside.

[@daemon.mythos]

Of all of the, the Hilux deserves to survive, no matter what.

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Absolutely❤

[@MARRANCA2]

That Hilux is the reason why I am a faithful Toyota man. Legendary durability

[@cromwellg60]

I used to play in a heavy metal band and we rehearsed at a small unit in Piddington, Bucks. One day we were outside having a smoke and noticed a stretched Fiat Uno parked on the other side of the car park but unfinished (it had the front and back done but the centre section was not yet enclosed and was not painted). We worked out it must be a Top Gear car (as we knew they did stuff for them there) and all shared a joint whilst sat in the back of it. I know I know, super lame, but I was 15.

[@markpritchard]

Sadly i haven't seen the museum but i do have a clame to fame. I've been towed in the Toyota Hilux. I used to work as an off road driving instructor for Toyota and i worked on the launch of the updated toyota highlux invincible which they named after that very toyota. They had that hilux on display in a marquee at the event with a big TV showing the top gear clips. It turned up on a lorry and i had the job of steering it into position while it was towed across the event field and into the marquee. One of the other instructors took a photo of me but he didn't send me the picture which is a real pitty. Its the only famouse car i've ever been well not it but on. I sat in the rear bed and steered it with my arm through the drivers door window while it was pulled at walking speed, No brakes. I also had another close call as Top gear used are off road site once but sadly i wasn't working that day so i missed it.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@markpritchard Wow, that's a really cool memory! Thank you for sharing it.

[@Zed32_Customs]

Im so glad to hear that the ol hilux survived again. It really is unkillable. Stood up to water, fire, and most lethal, corprate.

[@JohnnyYoung-ys6pq]

Good the hilux being saved hopefully the rest could be too

[@walnussfloh6628]

im glad that i had suddenly the chance to see it 8 years ago when i was there with my class. we are from germany and were in this region for a week

[@bentullett6068]

I bet the Hilux will eventually end up at Toyota's UK collection as it did spur on the Invincible model in their Hilux range line up.

[@geoffs3310]

That's bollocks that they can't be sold. They might not be able to be driven on the road ever again but unless any of them are actually categorised as a CAT A or B write off then they can be sold.

[@alexguest9937]

I used to work on Dunsfold Aerodrome when TG was being filmed (2009/2010). When you stepped outside of the building (at the other end of the Aerodrome) you could hear all the tyre squeals and squeaks of the cars as they went around the track. Couldn't see anything because the aerodrome is on a slight camber and the rise in the middle blocked off any view of the other end of the aerodrome where the filming was happening. Security everywhere stopped you from just wandering round where you wanted to. So as an avid fan of the show back then it was quite frustrating in a way to know it was all going on down there but here I was stuck up this end nailing kitchens together (booooo). At the time someone said to me that all the TG cars were just dumped in the tucked away car park on the other side of the airstrip away from view. That must have been before this show opened and they all got shipped there. Funny, it's all so long ago now. AND I used to go to school with Richard Hammond. Never caught up with him again though.

[@Tom65478]

There are videos on youtube showing the vehicles search up "Top Gear car graveyard".

[@Takedownairsoft1]

Auction? Why ever, EVER scrap anything?

[@shanethrelfall416]

R.I.P to an era we’ll never see again

[@jester-lester]

I didn't know this museum even existed! Looking forward to visiting the new one

[@klein2042]

The fact that the Hilux of all things survived is comedy gold

[@goose4150]

THANK GOD the indestructible is still alive

[@eggs_trains]

I just hope the TGV-12 is saved, as I like trains

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@eggs_trains Indeed, it's the future of high-speed rail travel as far as I'm concerned.

[@eggs_trains]

@@thatguyinthefirebird 😂yes, I can confirm this to be true

[@josephj807]

That Toyota just needs some oil and it would start up again.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@josephj807 The old girl sure is tough.

[@juanpabloarena2724]

Why at least they didn't auction them off??

[@powerbongo922]

I wish I could have gone… this genuinely makes me depressed

[@Tom65478]

Same

[@ImEvo_]

For what it's worth, it wasn't that good I think this video does a very good job to paint the exhibition in a positive light. In reality if you went and saw them and the condition they are in, you'd be more depressed

[@Ultra4115_]

They didnt need to be destroyed. They didnt need to be restored. I could probably throw a battery in and get them to start and drive after an hour or 2

[@terrier_productions]

I remember going to that exhibition many years ago whilst on Holiday in the area with my family.. I also remember seeing Mr Beans’ Mini and the Reliant from Only Fools and Horses.. Whilst it is sad to learn the demise of The World of Top Gear, I am very happy to learn that the majority have survived

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@terrier_productions Thanks for sharing your memory. I hope you look back fondly on it. Mr Bean's Mini and the Only Fools and Horses Reliant are still on display to this day.

[@MatthewJarvis-zw2sz]

When I last went, the Reliant Robin "space shuttle" quite clearly had a wasp nest in it; I could see the wasps flying in and out of a hole in one of the wings. So in that sense, I can understand why these decaying vehicles could become a liability, or even a hazard, over time. Especially considering that they simply were not built to last. It's sad, but not everything is meant to last forever. At least the footage of the vehicles doing their thing will probably be kept for a very long time (or, at least, the highlights will), long after the original vehicles have all turned to dust - or at least as long as the people who watched the original show remain alive! I can't imagine that the footage of the Reliant blasting off and then crashing will ever be "lost", nor the iconic Toyota Hilux torture tests.

[@TheSFMCreators]

As many have commented before, I too did not know of this museum exhibition. I hope they will be out back on display to view at some point.

[@mclovin209]

As a kid, I looked through the window and noticed the fiat panda had no floor. So I rolled under and climbed in. On a later trip to beaulieu, I noticed it had since been patched up

[@joshknutson16]

Awesome to see they kept them, and remember, with enough money and a positive attitude you can buy anything

[@andymckenna1262]

Branson couldn’t buy a Concorde

[@ඞඞඞඞඞඞ]

one oil change and that hilux will be running

[@butcheredalive]

Just needs that and a battery

[@Eccentricplum]

Everyone loves the show and wants to see it resurrected. Wish they would just bring it back with the famous trio. And they’ll make tonnes of money

[@Spudchucker92]

Speak for yourself. I used to love it until I discovered Clarkson and Hammond are insufferable Tory supporters.

[@Eccentricplum]

@ Couldn’t give a rats on that. They were brilliant for what it was.

[@BazingaTing]

Been there, seen it. Happy days. Time to move on 😁

[@Juliangame000-lq4uk]

I am glad that I visited the exhibition last summer.

[@Caleb0106]

So good to hear that they weren’t all crushed! Was really pissed off when people said they were gonna be, shame about the ones that have been scrapped, I know I woulda restored that mini or even un-stretch the panda and put it back on the road as a normal panda again😂 but anyway good news overall! I reckon they’ll be in that museum that Hammond opened on his show coz I know the owner of that was trying to get hold of them

[@DustinBruce31]

We all know where Oliver is.

[@thesaintirl]

It is remarkable a TV motoring magazine show became such a cultural touchstone for so long. The combination of the raport between the presenters and the subject material was something truly unique. I don't think we will see another "top gear" as it was or as big as it was, ever again on TV.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@thesaintirl "Lightning in a bottle," you might say.

[@thesaintirl]

​@@thatguyinthefirebird thank you for the video you have another subscriber

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@thesaintirl That's very kind. Thank you for supporting my channel.

[@MusicStacker]

They will be no more TV like this going forward as it is an end of an era unfortunately...

[@joshtaylor6911]

Im guessing the "space shuttle" is a replica? Thanks for brining us news on these now classic cars.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@joshtaylor6911 It is indeed. You're most welcome.

[@MrJoshuas5678]

I remember going 10 years ago it was such good fun devastated 💔

[@Alex-k5u3n]

I bet the Toyota hilux still starts

[@MARRANCA2]

I'd bet actual money that she would!!

[@Drgoldthumb]

That exhibition should have gone a on a world tour. I would have loved to see it

[@TrashLefties]

Id have bought parts as collectibles. Some people would like to own pieces of this history. Not to just randomly scrap.

[@ChargedMX5]

by complete luck i only found out about its existence a couple weeks before it closed and by chance i happened to be in the area so managed to go round it before it closed. Im glad to hear some of them will be kept as i really enjoyed it

[@virtu-realtrucking]

I mostly loved watching their Burma special, Im not sure what happened to their modified trucks in the Burma special in 2015, Im probably sure they were bought by other truckers in Myanmar or had been scrapped

[@JimbobStevo89]

Mostly! 😂

[@bradwhite5884]

I wish they could save them all tbh, sad some weren't saved, such icon and cannot believe some of them are nearly over 20 years old, feels like its only been 5 or 10 years old some of them, damn!!

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@bradwhite5884 Agreed. I'm just happy to hear that some are being saved. For a while, it looked like everything was destined for the scrap heap.

[@TrashLefties]

Too bad they didnt end up at a historical museum like America has with the Smithsonian. Those are British cultural Icons.

[@ShanesAutos]

All I want to know is does that Hilux still start?

[@JustRobertCZE]

i bet that if you clean the carb, piut fresh diesel and oil in, itll crank and maybe even drive :D ive seen worse condition ones being used daily in pakistan and arab coutnries, those cars are truly indestructible

[@bernhanator1245]

@@JustRobertCZE it just need a new battery and the remaining diesel fuel in the tank from 2003.

[@charlienorton2337]

@@JustRobertCZEBeing a diesel it doesn’t have a carb, probably would just need injectors bleeding and then it’d start right up

[@RollUpsNRedBulls]

Some of these should be at Diddly Squat!!!

[@DanielJamesEgan]

I hope they kept Matt LeBlancs Mercedes he drove across Kazakhstan. Such an iconic vehicle and memorable episode.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@DanielJamesEgan Various cars came and went over the years as the exhibition evolved. That particular car was definitely there for a while but was eventually removed from display. I don't know what happened to it, unfortunately.

[@JL_modding_7930]

As someone who lives near this museum I find it sad they have gone I’ve grown up with them there I can remember when the snowbine was there but my brother said that it was probably scrapped

[@MrWhatTheChaser-25]

Wait what! It's shutting down? Since when and why, but lucky for me, I have been to Beaulieu :)

[@farmer6861]

Keep an eye out for Haynes Motor Museum as they’ve already displaced their mini collection from their iconic room with similar condition vehicles from Hammond’s drivetribe

[@brklyn.mushroom.mp4]

not the ski jumper!!!!

[@lesklower7281]

Living in Australia l couldn't see the excabition and the l am glad to see the most famous Toyota Hilux is been preserved because l own a 1997 Toyota Hilux petrol 2X4 ute still that indestructiblity lives on in my Hilux

[@YoloMenace001]

Ngl im not trusting the BBC Studio's statement.

[@fastestdino2]

I'm not a Brit but the BBC sounds like a bit of an evil organization sometimes lol

[@YoloMenace001]

@fastestdino2 it is sometimes

[@TruckingGamer7]

As an American, even I know everything the BBC does is bullshit. No major station or news network can ever be trusted.

[@kylecephus]

I’ve been driving in my car listening to Jeremy Clark-son

[@dominicstevenson2033]

I’ve driven worse minis than that on the road! Pfft…

[@23chilled]

Take it the Audi S8 that james may drove went back on the road. Shame they didn’t get the bmw 528i touring back after the special either.

[@Markwilson747-l2m]

That’s bollocks that they can’t be sold because of liability if someone signs something to say the indemnify the seller.

[@knight2425]

Great to know they were saved but still disappointing they were moved as that’s a fantastic museum

[@garryseery3865]

Why doesn’t the bbc put them up for auction, and use the money raised to help fund themselves?

[@FoxRunTime]

Health/safety/liability

[@Insertnamehere662]

@@FoxRunTimewhich is a stupid reason, how can somebody sue you because they injured themselves on something they knew was unsafe when they bought it.

[@georgebignel3916]

All the BBC have to say is sold as seen no warranty given or implied

[@AlesterMyersWick]

i hated when king charles ordered BBC management to end things that were made from queen elizabeth's time.

[@sappymy]

I wish that all the great cars from the tg exhibition were saved from scrap

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@sappymy It appears as though the majority will be saved after all, so great news.

[@mudbog6769]

I still wanna know what happened to the big lifted red Chevy with flames

[@ericswain70]

Thank you for the history

[@Mr_troy_s]

Good video but the background music makes it so hard to listen to what you have to say

[@jonb3311]

About to say the same. Good videos don't need musak.

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@Mr_troy_s Thanks for your comment. I will certainly bear that in mind.

[@isoalma]

​@@thatguyinthefirebirdwhy you put music???

[@Bealosbangers]

I never went to the exhibition, but I bet there was some awesome and quirky machines there!

[@MacM-u8c]

My friend was on the motorway down south and saw something that looked like the Dirty Rascal plus others on a low loader heading north! It’s fairly distinctive 😂

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I was lucky to get there in 2018 on our trip from Australia So sad to see them go

[@MO_OKAYU_GU]

The Hilux probably still runs

[@leenevin8451]

Has the Panda limo been converted to a bench??

[@ImEvo_]

Aye, it was a stretched bench

[@blackkasopeja9736]

Nice! Shame to see the ski jump car destroyed but atleast the Hilux survived. That really wasn't that unexpected now was it. Can't wait to see them next time in in Britain.

[@_skrzypo]

Glad I took occasion to see them still in national motor museum almost 2 years ago.

[@RackAndOpinion_Official]

I seen the exabition multiple times and i don't think the cars were even the real deal they looked like recreations as some details were different to the show like some things were missing or added some areas on the car's were damaged but on display the dent magically wasn't there

[@tjmfarming9584]

Please tell me the Snowbine harvester and TGV12 are still around. Those were amongst my favourites, and it'd be a disaster to see them gone!

[@danr6716]

When i last went 5 years ago the snowbine was really rotten. Header mount looked like swiss cheese and there were holes leading from the outside into the grain hopper within

[@officialrealistyoutube]

Nobody cares about post clarkson top gear cars😂

[@teresaulloa8348]

bro….. how tf could you

[@legoferrari14]

I need an update on that Britcar BMW!

[@GaudyDragon8963]

I have been there. It's great!

[@CovKid2K10]

They should scrap the non clarkson, Hammond and may cars. They don’t count as top gear😂😂

[@colinedward3147]

Gutted I’ve only just found about world of top gear, would have loved to have gone.

[@RealMagmaDash]

the motoring museum at beaulieu is still a nice visit and a pleasant area so if it's near to you i would definitely pay a visit

[@MacM-u8c]

Apparently going to a new museum so should pay it a visit when it’s on display again!

[@colinedward3147]

@ good point I should have a mooch anyway 👍. Didn’t know the place existed till this vid.

[@MTGP1525]

I want to buy the Jaaaaaaaaaaaaag XJS V12 TGV.

[@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621]

Why did they shut down the exhibition??

[@Low760]

Because top gear tv finished

[@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621]

@Low760 you'd think it would be permanent though??

[@philsutton2986]

Because it was shit

[@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621]

@@philsutton2986 was it? What made it shit??

[@kielba5a]

@@aussiefurbymogwaifan6621A handful of decaying machines surrounded by overcompensating single fathers on their visitation day. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@GuninGames]

Bet the Toyota still runs

[@thatguyinthefirebird]

@@GuninGames That thing will surely outlive all of us.

[@typhoon-7]

At the heat death of the universe, the only signs that humans ever existed will be a Nokia 3310 (still with 2 bars of battery left) and a Toyota Hilux that will still start and drive.

[@RHtrains]

So true

[@hadikashif5134]

Sometimes world change there never come back

[@GoodVidMode]

im so glad that this video is geting so meny views

[@Rick-vm8bl]

Reminder that clarkson could've saved every single scrapped top gear car and it would've been a rounding error on his bank balance. If he really cared he'd have saved them long ago, things like the stretched panda were done extremely quickly and on the cheap, it was never going to survive long term if left outside. Most of the grand tour cars have been scrapped, those that havent have mostly been bought by Hammond - so again, if Clarkson genuinely cared about past show cars, why isn't he saving them, the guys worth over £50 million, and not a single ex top gear car is worth over £10k.

[@UglyTv22]

Dude, there's no reason to save 90% of them. Like showed here they were made not amazingly, beat to all hell on the show, take up a lot of room, and would need a lot of work to ever be driven again rather then just sitting in a parking lot for 10 years before they get scraped anyways. Have you saved every toy you've ever had since a child? Even the tore up ones that need fixing since as a child you tore them up. At some point its just not worth fixing. Maybe saving a headlight or badge to remember, but any more then that is just a waste

[@Rick-vm8bl]

@@UglyTv22 Bud I'm in complete agreeance with you, my comment was meant to those complaining at the BBC, and clarkson himself complaining at the BBC for keeping them. Some absolutely do not need to be saved.

[@Rio_3505]

went there a few months ago, had no idea they are getting moved now

[@whatamisupposedtoputhere]

I thought it closed back in 2016. If I’d have known it was still open I’d go in a heartbeat. Top Gear was (and forever will be) my childhood.

[@Spheno-discus]

This is the first I’ve heard of any of this.

[@mathiasseidler5527]

We have been there in October. Disappointing 😢 But the other exhibitions at Beailieu are really worth the trip 👍👍👍

[@yeoldeseawitch]

I don't care about any of the cars post clarkson, hammond and may, they could get sent to the crusher and I would feel no ounce of sadness.

[@Andydroid336]

No real loss. Majority were replicas especially the reliant space shuttle thing. With all his money, Clarkson did FA to help. I saw the exhibition and was totally underwhelmed by it.

[@MacM-u8c]

A very few of them were replicas, because the originals were wrecked in production - most were the real deal. Really cool to see in real life though!

[@Nightdare]

This was BBC property, Clarkson could do FA for it

[@ImEvo_]

I said this, the video did a good job in painting the exhibition in a positive light and making it look much better than it actually was

[@racingraptor4758]

He could not legally purchases them

[@TheHiddenPart]

"Well, goodnight.