Top Gear 4wd 1979

[@davidhunt6463]

Unintentional hilarity at the end with the armoured car. It's worth the wait. Excellent video, thanks for posting.

[@Astrosisphere]

"Now this is how the pros would take the course... ...err, guys - what are you doing?"

[@street-level]

How embarrassing!

[@quantum_entangled_tardigrade]

Cue the Benny Hill theme song.

[@steakandkidney3142]

It's good to know the Lada Niva is still available new, virtually unchanged.

[@gingernutpreacher]

Might find it hard to get now in the UK with sanctions and they had. Edit Peugeot Citroen/ engines in them including diesels

[@Sarji212]

same shit for 50+ years

[@alfredocalzadilla7251]

​@@gingernutpreacherI thought that the engines were Fiat

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@alfredocalzadilla7251 sorry should of clarified yes they were originally fiat but to keep export sales they used foreign engines for emissions Wikipedia say say's PSA ie Citroen Peugeot I think I said Renault because they had a 20% stake in them and used a Renault driver drivers air bag "Lada Niva - Wikipedia" en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Niva

[@vanoscrap6296]

@@Sarji212 Lada, perfect from the beginning

[@connory6741]

Considering the Renault and Subaru had road tyres, they did a rly good job in comparison to the ones with all terrain tires. Also that Daihatsu could’ve made it up that last bit had the person been in the right gear.

[@test-tl8dt]

interesting to note that the subaru was the fastest car to reach the final obstacle by about 5 seconds over the chief cherokee. 10+ seconds over most of them. great car and driving.

[@Paul58069]

@@test-tl8dt I think this all has to do with weight. Weight is your enemy when going uphill.

[@jammiedodger629]

@@test-tl8dt I noticed that mate. I might be wrong, but was that an early incarnation of the AWD system we see on Subaru's to this day?.

[@kl9518]

​@@test-tl8dt with the same type of tyres as the land rover, it would have won easily.

[@BlahBleeBlahBlah]

The problem for the Daihatsu was he absolutely launched it off the bump mid-way up the final climb. All 4 tyres lost most/all traction and it all came to a halt. Big shame, it would have made it imho with a bit less speed on that first part of the climb.

[@robbrownfield7677]

We had the Subaru when living in SE Asia in a place called Brunei. Everyone drove a Subaru or a Land Cruiser. It used to drive along the beach when the proper roads were flooded during the monsoon season. It also used to take us up into the jungle along the logging routes. They were often deep mud and ruts. I was 13 in 1979, but I remember the Subaru so fondly. It held many happy memories. So much so, some 44 years later I am on my 5th Subaru, the latest Outback.

[@brimleyhillmassive]

How have you fared with head gaskets on your outbacks? Great cars but sad at 120k miles when blue smoke came from the exhaust....

[@robbrownfield7677]

⁠@@brimleyhillmassive absolutely no issues with head gaskets. The head gasket issue only affected certain engines over a couple of years manufacture. Every time Subaru is mentioned, someone rolls out the head gasket issues. In reality it affected a handful of cars in the grand scheme of things.

[@brimleyhillmassive]

@@robbrownfield7677 glad to hear. It was late 90s ones I think

[@SDwriter.and.surfer]

@@robbrownfield7677 My first car was a '77 in the US. I drove it for 13 years and never had an issue with the head gaskets. This is news to me.

[@Ruslan_Subarist]

👍👍👍✌️😎

[@evilkneevilofgermany]

Did anyone notice the smooth ride of the Renault? What a tremendous suspension, even though the ground clearance and the travel of the wheels are not that big. What a shame, they don’t build such little beaters anymore.

[@Handle_gravel]

I noticed very quickly, and was impressed. I imagine the driver could be sipping a cup of tea, without a drop on his pants.

[@motoresruedas7357]

Of course, like all the other french cars from that time (torsional bars)

[@Eargesplitten-Loudenboomer]

I did, It reminds me of an AMC Gremlin.

[@nota-fj8qo]

Yes I noticed that smooth Renault ride. Also notable to me was the Niva suspension absorbed the bumps with firm compliance but never looked harsh or like it was bottoming out.

[@SDwriter.and.surfer]

@@motoresruedas7357 Well, the Subaru also had torsion bars at the rear... but of course other factors come into play.

[@theobster]

All of them were awesome and all had one thing in common, non looked like ostentatious status symbols unlike the design monstrosities for sale these days!!!

[@dontcallmezoo]

The Wagoneer and the Range Rover were very much status symbols. The Wagoneer cost more than twice the average yearly salary in the UK at the time.

[@Reddsoldier]

​@@dontcallmezoo It says a lot that they look understated by today's standards. That Range Rover's design was never bettered, absolutely iconic.

[@test-tl8dt]

id love to see the same test done in nowadays status symbol SUVs.

[@eyesodd]

​@@dontcallmezooBut it's all relative, yes the were status symbols, they were luxurious and expensive, as you say double the yearly salary. What's happened today then, a low or basic level electric family car, (not a top spec luxury car like these were in their day), will also set you back more than the average yearly salary 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dunxy]

70 series Land Cruiser has entered the chat... Defender was still tough until its most recent incarnation as well.

[@oliviernoir6669]

Thanks for the video - it was nice to see a Renault 6 first car I drove when I got my drivers licence back in 1988 - it was a front wheel drive, 34HP monster.....

[@johnny_w]

I had a Lada Niva from 1982 until 1990, great little car ! 👍

[@МуслимКобзон-ъ7ж]

где живёшь?

[@johnny_w]

@@МуслимКобзон-ъ7ж I live in the Netherlands. And you ?

[@МуслимКобзон-ъ7ж]

@@johnny_w Russia. And this car released nowdays wihout serious changes nowdays((

[@ФёдорЗахаров-ф1и]

@@МуслимКобзон-ъ7жЭто не соответствует действительности. Нива заметно менялась с годами.

[@Yurefly]

​@@МуслимКобзон-ъ7жэто Лего , самому нужно улучшать )) за такие деньги что хочешь дружок

[@wiebobrouwer6900]

Thank you for this step forward to the past. Rainy weather combines very well with VHS quality because you get the impression you look through a wet windscreen. It is fascinating to see how well these cars perform, also some which don't look like conventional terrain cars at all. In retrospect, the Lada Niva is the winner for me. Not only because it was able to climb the very steep slope but also because of the really classical design of its exterior which will never look old fashioned.

[@klaze0121]

They are still selling nivas in the same design

[@Vincentofvega]

I've owned two Nivas and they are amazingly capable.

[@ВикторПалыч-п6р]

А я хочу купить старенькую для реставрации. Привет из России!🖐️​@@klaze0121

[@mishabunin5872]

Предложи любому человеку, выбрать "ниву и ренжровер выпуска 2023 года!? Делаем выбор....

[@cryololphosaurus]

almost every nivas been the same since 1979..

[@martinmcdonald4207]

The driver of the tank at the end made a right tool of himself for sure!

[@danielalexander8588]

Yep, lasted all of 20 seconds!

[@pauliewalnuts240]

Rumor has it, they never let Jenkins drive again.

[@hypergolic8468]

@@pauliewalnuts240 They promptly sent him for Officer training.

[@ColinCarFan]

Likely to have been a relatively inexperienced driver who got overtaken with adrenaline.

[@simonrook5743]

That tank is an armoured car. The problem he has was it’s weight coming down the slippery slope, nearly 4 tons takes some stopping.

[@Paul58069]

I am totally mesmerized by the superb suspension on that silly Renault

[@PPC4]

That had me mesmerized. I was wondering if there was 2cv suspension under there!

[@HowardLeVert]

@@PPC4 Very typical Renault torsion bar suspension of the time. My 16 had four torsion bars and the travel on it was amazing - it could roll like no other car around a corner but the thing was, it didn't come to grief. It just went round and soaked up the bumps. They've been described as the thinking driver's Citroen DS; all the comfort, none of the complication.

[@martian9999]

@@HowardLeVert a lovely car, with sofa-like seats for all onboard, and a nice-sounding engine -- a real mile muncher. A friend of mine had one, and we with two more chums went on trips several times to south-west France back in the earl 1980s, no problems after a 12-hour drive. And yet -- his uncle also had a R16 but crashed it after he managed to completely unsettle the suspension when on a whim, he made several rapid-fire right and left slalom turns at 100 km/h.

[@yigitoymak7242]

Renault 12 had similar suspension and it is very capable of off roading even without the 4wd

[@kgo068]

Let's find that circuit in 2024, and compare with the current same models...Id like to see that

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

Yeah Jeep Wrangler would destroy all of them especially if they made the track harder and you had to go slow under a certain speed to reduce momentum

[@kgo068]

I sorta think most current stock would just fall apart @@ronaldrrootiii6040

[@lada_niva_1.7i]

​@@ronaldrrootiii6040No, the Niva would win easily. Would perform even better than its older late 70s model since almost everything stayed the same expect an injector instead of a carb giving a bit more HP.

[@neilclews534]

@@ronaldrrootiii6040you keep saying how a wrangler would destroy the others now the rangerover and defender would obliterate it in everything

[@alexpervanoglu7420]

This is either Bovington or Lulworth tank training range in the UK. To me it looks like Lulworth but cannot be sure.

[@rojbalc77]

Special mention for the drivers' rally attire too - a work shirt and a jumper, with no helmet of course!

[@ИгорьАкимов-т7й]

Наша нива не требует доработки и рестайлинга ага сразу получилась бестселлером на века !!!! Привет из России 2023 !!!

[@Colt45hatchback]

I do wish they were still made in right hand drive. In australia we only had the niva for sale in the 1980's my dad had a beige one, my mum had a subaru in a similar colour from 1982. Both good cars for being comfortable on road, and not getting stuck on farms

[@ChronosPauL]

2024, Нива продается с одной подушкой в водительской спинке :))

[@ИгорьАкимов-т7й]

@@ChronosPauL подушки для слабо ков !

[@alechappy2070]

@@ChronosPauL You mean to tell me the Russian built Niva does not have heated and cooled massage Seats ??? How uncouth ! How will Russia survive ? because simple outlasts, like a old Chevs and Fords pre 1970.

[@JekaMandra]

@@alechappy2070 answ - easy.

[@James-ld2jc]

The Renault was amazing - all of that off-road ability from 1108cc. I didn't know there was such a thing. The Lada surprised me, too. Very capable. Not knocking the Land Rovers or the Jeep - I expected them to finish well.

[@gregorizi]

Fiat Panda left the chat😀

[@fintan9705]

Off road ability isn't about power and displacement, it's about traction and gearing, you should see how capable a steyr puch haflinger is and it only has a 650 cc engine, they were so capable they were banned from 4x4 trials competitions in the UK at one point.

[@TinLeadHammer]

​@saxongreen78Nope, the same formula as Range Rover.

[@51WCDodge]

There was a bolt on for the Renault 4 . The lwb van at the time had a 10cwt load, and when added to the 4x4 was incredible. The other joy, if you did get stuck, four blokes could lift it out. The Subaru , was a game changer. First sold through agricultural dealers. I've had a few, they had all the performance of a Land Rover, and the comfort of a car.

[@Chriswizzv12]

⁠@@fintan9705dads had three Haflingers, great off road, coil spring, three diff locks, portal axles etc…not much power, but likes been said, simply wasn’t needed.

[@martinb.770]

1979: let's chase these raw simple brute uncomfortable underpowered cars around this original offroad track until the damper domes fly start glowing during cold rain 2023: We have a nice range of couch 4wds with ASR, damper control, rear camera, 200+hp and A/C. Let's caress them through some staged illusions of offroad environment in slow-motion during bright sunshine.

[@Peacefulwarier]

Yes, Martin !!!! Our world is one big fake...

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

Yeah I'd like to see a new Jeep Wrangler destroy all the new versions of these vehicles while going slow to avoid momentum and see what actually has articulation and traction with full Lockers and sway bar disconnects like the Jeep. Not Center diff lock LOL actual axle lockers

[@Iombardia]

_I don't like change!_

[@neilclews534]

@@ronaldrrootiii6040The current Range Rover and defender would obliterate the jeep

[@pwatom22]

I remember watching this in 1979 and yes I've enjoyed owning and offroading a number of land rover vehicles and a Suzuki.. Land Rover has been a big part of my life..

[@caravanstuff2827]

Obvious a man of distinction..a real big spender..you know how it goes!!.❤️🇬🇧🤣🤣

[@jammiedodger629]

In all truth, how do you rate Subaru for off road capability (forester) ?.

[@pwatom22]

@@jammiedodger629 good for winter driving and muddy tracks with the right tires. No low range, clearance ok but not great. Approach and departure angles limited. Also small wheel and tires

[@samkirk3662]

Year I was born.😂😂

[@51WCDodge]

Yeah Landy disease, an incurable condition.

[@awtistiaeth4699]

I had a Sinpar 4x4 Renault 4 van that was very impressive. In certain terrains it was better than my other 4x4's including Land/Range Rover, Musso etc. It required a completely gung-ho approach to using off road as it has little power to use higher gears (no low-box) so when just aimed it and thrashed it in the very low first gear, a flat floor-pan meant it almost floated and skimmed across the soft stuff with the aggressive tyres acting like paddles where a heavier 4x4 would sink; this is a similar way of driving to using a Mk1 4x4 Panda (owned 2 of those as well). What the small ones won't do of course is carry weight, tow heavy trailers etc. However, on snow bound roads, the little ones are much more controllable and easier to regain control if it slides than the big heavy ones. "Horses for courses" as they say and it is a fact that tyres and skill count for as much as which particular 4x4 one decides to use off-road. Also had Nivas (excellent but much more comfortable in LHD), a Mahindra (good 4x4 but awful on road), UMM Transcat (wonderful and toughest of the lot) (Portaro Pampas (good, but dissolved) Ssanyong Korando and Mussos (very underrated IMO but crappy complex 4x4 selection method)), and a few Suzuki SJ and Jimnys (Amazing off road and acceptable on-road). Still using a JImny. Nice to see a Top Gear programme without insecure male presenters preening their egos, and that actually contained genuinely useful information.

[@ВикторПалыч-п6р]

Согласен 👍

[@Charles-Windsor88]

Wanker

[@guysatchwell6990]

Supposedly the American army supressed a test of a captured Kubelwagen during the war because, like ytour Renault, it basically acted like a boat of really muddy ground. With a completley flat bottom and only RWD and little weight it was cheaper , simpler and ...better than a Willys?

[@homocapensis7854]

Excelente aporte.

[@shalyn001]

Нива достойно выступила и оказалась в призовых местах👍.Субару очень понравилась,если бы не тот ухаб перед самым подъёмом,то могло быть первое место.

[@ЕвгенийОхрименко-ш4ь]

Ниву придержали и это было видно.

[@ИскандарХусаинов-п4д]

Возможно всю трассу шли на пониженной

[@li1Prince]

нива рулит!)

[@ИскандарХусаинов-п4д]

@@li1Prince чем рулит?

[@Иванов-ч9х]

​@@ИскандарХусаинов-п4друлём,это очевидно.

[@КонстантинСергеевич-й9о]

Прекрасное видео! Эх, были времена, когда без политики и всё по честному!

[@StarHorseLover2012]

Exactly!

[@kelvindenize3940]

How was it fair, the Russians almost won :-)))

[@alex-E7WHU]

​@@kelvindenize3940 Slava lada 🇬🇧❤️🇷🇺

[@ShirleyPowell-lf6zr]

We hope to return to those days again sometime👍

[@Darwinion]

Lada did very well. Great value for.money, but people still took the piss.

[@westmister]

I have no words to describe how Renault was so fantastic with that suspension.

[@TonyLing]

I don't like French cars much, but you do have to admire their suspension

[@westmister]

@@TonyLing I don't understand why lots of American, Britain people don't like french cars, they have a stereotype that they are bad, non-reliable cars. But the french cars have the same reliability, the same handling, safety, performance, durability comparing to the rest of the American and European cars a bit more or a bit less but there's nothing critical. So I do not understand the point.

[@TheHairyHound]

Way say you have no words,, when 'fantastic' is the word you used to describe the suspension 🤔 🐕?

[@TonyLing]

Well, Renaults were ugly as sin, and used to rot really badly here in England. Citroën made some very interesting cars. At the time when British Leyland were doing hydrolastic, Citroën were doing amazing things with active suspension. @@westmister

[@TonyLing]

Sonts les pas du les mots qui parlez mois.

[@molochi]

In the USA the selling point on the Jeep Cherokee, compared to other Mud/Snow Yachts, in the late 70s was the lever in the glove compartment that locked the differential so that all 4 wheels got equal power. So you didn't have to get out in the mud or snow and turn the thing on the wheel hub.

[@craigbutler623]

The wagoneer with that lever was awesome, I couldn't believe it's capability. Made my Toyota and f150 look sad .

[@larryjex6485]

This episode of 'Top Gear' may have aired in 1979, but these aren't all '79 vehicles. For example, the Jeep Cherokee had already switched to rectangular headlights at this point. I would have also loved to see how the Toyota Landcruiser, and the new '79 Mercedes G-Wagon would have faired in this matchup.

[@tqft]

So nostalgic! I loved the old school TG! Watching with my dad in the living room. Having to get up and press a button on the tv to change the channel. 😢 love it

[@TinLeadHammer]

The Niva was brand new at the time, meant as a Range Rover for the masses. Too bad it has not improved much in 45 years. From the beginning it was suffering exsessive NVH because the engineers were not allowed to develop a new transmission that would combine the main gearbox and the low range into one sturdy unit. Instead, they had to make do with existing Lada gearbox, so there is an intermediate shaft to the low range box, and this has been the source of all sorts of problems and still is not resolved properly despite that the car is still in production.

[@sergodon.sekretar4647]

Всё верно, фиат запретил АвтоВАЗу вносить изменения в МКПП, было прописано в контракте.

[@UPokrishkoy]

​@@sergodon.sekretar4647 Ну да, а мы ведь до сих пор под фиатом ходим..

[@timofeizakharov9053]

​@@sergodon.sekretar4647не было такого, никто ничего не запрещал. Более того, нива - первая машина, разработанная вазом самостоятельно. Никакие контракты ее не касались

[@timofeizakharov9053]

There are a lot of differences between 1980 lada niva and 2023 lada niva. Some of these ifferences are solve problems with low range box.

[@Vovandoc]

На 1979 год нива была прорывным автомобилем но черт возми сейчас 2023 год а там мало изменений.

[@BITTYBOY121]

I was only 2 in 1979 when this was recorded, so never seen this episode of Top Gear before but It was a great laugh to watch and very interesting to see all those different 1970's 4 wheel drives put through their paces ! Great stuff !

[@spamanator666]

Imagine being that soldier that tipped the armored car over on Top Gear. I expect they sent one of their best needing him to do a good job for TV and he tips it! I bet he was called Tippy Tommy for the rest of his days serving.

[@51WCDodge]

The Fox was a lethal piece of kit, wheel side up was it's natural stance.

[@marcuselia5329]

Not surprised the civilians of the era weren’t wearing crash helmets… I would have thought armoured vehicle crews would wear them reflexively

[@dashingwomble]

I love watching the old Top Gear.

[@zzhughesd]

It’s ace. End of. I was 2 when this came out.

[@frallinger]

No one is going to see this - but you just made me cry... I just realized how much I missed Sverker, my old 88" SIII. A '73 model, so just a tad younger than me. I'll rant anyway. Bought unseen in 2010, I had a friend drive me though half of Sweden to pick it up, then the damn thing started acting up at the first roundabout. Leaky carb. Once I came home I found out that it had been a runabout for some Danish church community and as such exempt from inspections. Sverker had styrofome covered with vinyl glued to the rear wheel housings, cosplaying as seats. And 2-point seat belts bolted into the same wheel housings. It was also - as I discovered when power washing it first time - painted with acrylic indoors paint. Paint came of in chunks and slabs. All in all it was a BEAST off-road. Tug the red lever, slap the yellow one and he was EATING jeeps on rocks, in the mud - you name it. And once we managed to get the hard top of - it pulled the chicks as well... At least the ones that found it hilarious that this old dinosaur could not only go off-road, but topless as well. Fast forward a couple of years and Sverker is on the lot to settle my divorce. Just when I'd gotten him to the standard that I wanted - canvas top, safari sand paint (not indoors wall paint), nice steel rims, proper tires - I even had a saddle maker lined up to do the upholstery and a plan to get a Warn installed. At least I had fun with him while I owned him - and the looks on my kids friends faces when I dropped my kids off as school in this machine - priceless.

[@GorillaZillas]

Bloody smashing vehicle! Shame bout loosing it to the marriage scam. Stuff getting married, a family is better off without it.

[@Roybwatchin]

In 1987 I bought a 79 Subaru Wagon with all wheel drive. I bought it for my wife as we were just married the year before. She took one look at it and said no way, lol. But, after some coaxing and a big snow storm later, she ended up loving that little wagon. We ended up keeping it for about 10 years and when I finally sold it, it had over 300K miles and still running strong. I beat the ever living hell out of that little car with taking it off-roading with my buddies over 100 times and we played hard along the river and hills and mud, sand, water, etc. I was always out performing my buddies with their Jeeps, Chevy Trucks, etc. They would all laugh at me until I soundly passed them at every turn. I ended up owning multiple Subaru Brats and other wagons, probably about 6 or so different ones over the years. Heck, right now, I own a 98 Outback Wagon that I use for Gambler 500 off-road rallys twice per year here in Kansas area. Good times!!

[@каналвсёразное]

Очень интересный ролик 💪👍все машины хороши по своему, жалко что уазика не было, интересно было бы посмотреть показание.

[@DmitryKlevtsov]

В то время он не было гражданским автомобилем. Только военные и специальные службы.

[@spyrolover24]

The Subaru was the quickest through there. Better tires and it would have made it to the top. I've got a few old 80s subarus and when they added the dual range, it helped a lot for steep areas.

[@johnh3476]

I had an 87 with dual range. They will definitely perform where you'd not expect.

[@TheArech]

even deflating the tires it had (just like they covertly did it for RR & LR) would help tremendously.

[@nygelmiller5293]

Today, in Romania, where they come from, people swear by the 4WD version of the Dacia Duster, for getting up steep snowy hills!

[@watannen]

i bet that Subaru's body did not like such high speed through there. It was torsioned to bits, not to mention the damage underneath ... it's one thing to be quick reasonably, a different thing to be quick all the way to destruction.

[@5KpGD]

Back when Top Gear was genuinely educational

[@markgreen3135]

And more about the cars than the personalities

[@bishopcorva]

I remember driving a little very well used and abused Daihatsu, I was rather surprised at how well it took the trail i was threading my way down. Over rocks as large as watermelons, knee deep rocky bottom creek crossing. Sand and loose shake hill out the creek valley. Mud that was somehow clinging sticky while also being more slippery than grease. It only lost power once when the washboards and missing slowing down for a log ramp over a culvert knocked it out of gear and my head off the roof. It was a great little brush buggy. It's probably long rotted to rusted rubber trim or has been melted down to be a new washer. In my head though, it's still running and looks as good as it did back in '95 when it was merely 16 years old. But it paled to the Land Cruiser FJ40 that was the other camp rig. You were going to get wet and muddy driving it because it had no doors and only a canvas but over the driver and passenger seat. No side or back curtains. Rust holes as big as your fist some patched over with pop riveted license plates. But it started every time and ran like a scalded dog. Can't remember how many times we river and swamp crossed in it, water up to the dash. We got it for camp for a mere $400. Got it running for the price of a few fuses and a new battery connection terminal. Now to get the same rig would cost about base price of stripped two wheel drive "heap jeep". Finally the Land Rover, sure the short wheel base ones are nifty and springy. I just prefer the troopy wagons. The series 2 and 2a have the Land Rover iconic look. Even the old body style Discovery and Defender 110. Have those in camel trophy livery colors and components, that's style. Except for one downside that could easily be remedied, the Discovery petrol v8. Chuck that in the bin, swap in a 289 Ford unit if you really wanted to keep it petrol. Otherwise, a nice diesel out of a land cruiser.

[@user-lx6bl2wd8g]

That's the most entertaining car video I've seen for a while. The little Niva showed why it was so popular back in the day. Well done to the BRITISH Land Rover for winning!

[@hartoz]

My Dad had a Lada Niva, which he bought when they first came to the UK, tremendously capable vehicle off-road, we never got bogged in it. However, it was horrible to drive on-road, and long motorway trips required a lot of re-fuelling stops as it struggled to cruise at 70mph. It was still a good car though, and built like a tank, though it was woefully underpowered. The modern Niva (yes, they are still being made) can be had with a diesel engine.

[@kiwiwifi]

running gear was ripped off from jeep. 100% interchangeable lolz

[@Uk-tj]

Out of interest what jeep? The lada has ifs front suspension and coil sprung solid rear axle, neither of which were of Dana/amc type found in the jeep cj/Cherokee etc

[@MrOMGtime]

@@kiwiwifi cool story bro. but in real world the Lada Niva is assembled on the mechanical base of the Fiat 123, the production line of which they legally bought

[@kristoffer3000]

@@kiwiwifi Is that why they use entirely different suspension setups?

[@ibmujic4764]

​@@kiwiwifinot even close if you know anything about cars

[@drchrisdavies2941]

I've done a lot of off roading in the past, and some of those cars were definitely let down by the tyres, not their ability to complete the course. The Lada Riva showed it is very competent off road, with coil spring suspension with long travel, and is fairly light. However, the Subaru cross axled itself, so probably wouldn't have made it anyway. Not particularly surprising the Series 3 Landy won, Roger was an excellent driver and the vehicle was in its element. The Larger RR and Jeep, may have had much more power, but they also carried more weight, so they equal themselves out in very muddy conditions. As many comments have said, if you tried the same course with many modern 4x4s there would be pieces of plastic from the vehicle all over the place! Wouldn't necessarily stop the vehicle, but those panels can be very expensive. For courses like this simple utility vehicles are best.

[@robb_stepanovich]

В ладе нет рессорной подвески. Независимая пружинная спереди и мост на пружинах сзади

[@sanches159]

Спустя более 40 лет, нам более чем понятно почему в России у Нивы нет рестайлинга😂 она сразу была самая лучшая 🤔 на 100 лет вперёд 💪😄

[@sergeripjoint]

как бы смешно не звучало, но выглядела она тогда топово, по сравнению с английскими утюгами, ну широкий еще брутал

[@MyPapacarlo]

если б бабка была дедкой... если б мы развивали автопром... если б в итоге не просрали все, Юра...

[@dro4ilnik]

​@@MyPapacarloничегошеньки не просрали - нива до сих пор на конвеере

[@АндрейРоссиянин-с2л]

​@@dro4ilnik ну так-то да, 45 лет, пора бы сделать что-то современное, но пока есть бараны готовые выложить лям, АВТОВАЗ будет их клепать.

[@krus180]

that renault r6 sinpar, super rare but quirky 4x4, would love to own one for daily and offroading

[@paulreilly3904]

Me too, but I doubt any still exist. Perhaps 1 or 2 in France or one of their former colonies. I think it did really well. Better tyres?

[@skylined5534]

​@@paulreilly3904 Yeah, probably still a good few knocking around in rural France! Gotta agree, while they did exceptionally well both the Renault and the Subaru would have likely made it up and over at the end of the course!

[@paulreilly3904]

@@skylined5534 you're right. Tyres make a big difference. I'm not sure it was a fair fight. The Lada Niva was a great bit of kit. Early, and many subsequent Range Rovers were great too, but I love the idea that there's a vehicle out there that's a bit unusual, and not for the ponces in their Chelsea tractors.

[@HowardLeVert]

There's a KZbin video of a Sinpar being given a complete restoration.

[@robbrownfield7677]

To be fair, that Fox armoured car is almost 7 tonnes in weight, fitted with bar tread tires that have virtually no lateral grip. Crazy to try that course with it.

[@haydenwayne637]

Very top heavy too with that turret. A Ferret might have done better.

[@elelegidosf9707]

Surely the point of an amoured car is to go almost anywhere. It looks more to me like user error was responsible for flipping it, rather than inability on the part of the vehicle

[@ExcellentEngineering1966]

@@elelegidosf9707 The fox was notorious for its instability and was withdrawn quite early in its life, its turret was then used on a CVRT chassis

[@martinparker9249]

yeah the weight showed on the first bend ....dug in ......no hope the really lol

[@ColinCarFan]

Still on the road??? In order of appearance Subaru 1991, Renault 1986, Lada 1994, Daihatsu 1991, Jeep 1996, Rangie 1991, Landie 2002!!!! but as of 2023 it is still SORN'd so probably a workhorse in some farmer's field!

[@R.Sole88109]

Or the Landy is someone's unfinished restoration project😳😄

[@nirfz]

The Lada is still the same today. Maybe they changed the engine from carburettor to injection, and added ABS at some point, but not much more.

[@TheBasementChannel]

Land Rover driver’s back will never be the same after that run.

[@R.Sole88109]

I bet the same for the other leaf sprung vehicle drivers too😂

[@51WCDodge]

that w sthe Land rover Series hidden secret. They broke you before you broke it.

[@lewlewis6511]

That was enjoyable. Had the Subaru and Renault been on proper all terrains like all of those which completed the climb they would most likely have made it too. I used to take my old 2 door Rangie to Devils Pit near Luton, some slopes there that would terrify you. Gave up on LR's and went Toyota, not necessarily a more capable design just easier to live with and nothing goes wrong.

[@johnh3476]

Disappointing not to see a Land Cruiser in the group.

[@fenby1976]

Things most certainly can go very wrong with Toyotas: Chassis and body corrosion in the UK climate is pretty severe. Many are beyond economical repair after 15 to 20 years.

[@martinparker9249]

@@johnh3476 or a Nissan Patrol

[@Lemma01]

Not a helmet in sight! Classic. Thank you.

[@iamaparanoidandroid1]

Thought it'd be interesting to have a look at the tax and MOT status of all the cars. Most of them went untaxed between 1986 and 1996, with the exception of the Series III - that's still out there somewhere. SORN, but still out there...

[@saladbreath607]

Top Gear without the fluff, b.s., and staged incidents. How refreshing!

[@Lemma01]

Really shows up the current incarnation, for sure...

[@VLG105]

Just what I was thinking. A 20 minute segment just showing all the cars runs in full with good narration. Wouldn't work today with attentions spans measured in seconds.

[@dcanmore]

if you don't know already there loads of Thames TV 'Drive In' show on KZbin, lots of 1970s goodness without the preening personalities @@VLG105

[@paleoph6168]

​@@VLG105too true. Many people these days hate the original 1977 Top Gear because it's boring. Well at least it's being its own thing, unlike the sham that is post-Clarkson Top Gear. Don't get me wrong, 2002 Top Gear with Clarkson, Hammond, and May is iconic, but that's a different beast of its own from the original show. 1977 TG was on information so it did that. 2002 TG was on entertainment so it did that (naturally, that is more popular). Top Gear really was at its worst when the CHM trio left and their "successors" attempted to replicate them.

[@kramnam4716]

Thanks for posting! Shows how amazing the early range rovers arev

[@davidmacdonald8021]

I love the bit where he says something like “….Viewers who drove the Jeep in World War 2….” Amazing to think that in 1979 many people sitting watching this at home in slippers had fought in the Battle of Britain and the D-Day landings. Great episode.

[@TA_Plus_Hemi]

I still want a Niva

[@Дваотцаидвасына-в4и]

Добро пожаловать в Россию! Старую Ниву с карбюратором в отличном состоянии можно купить за 1000 Euro, с инжектором из первых рук-за 3000. Новую Ниву (выглядеть на будет,какие раньше)-за 10000 Euro.

[@SurnaturalM]

​@user-wn6us9un9z I had one from 1990 to 1997, when they still sold them here in Canada, I live in the North of the Québec province, and it was well suited for the climate, winter lasts for 9 months here, and it goes down to -45ºC regularly, it never let me down. Good car.

[@WilliamPhelps-t9b]

Only two entities understand automotive suspension; Jaguar, and the French. Superb video and a great throwback to the good old days when TG was actually about cars rather than just presenters hooning about.

[@michaw73]

Das hat viel Spaß gemacht. 🙂 Grüße aus Deutschland.

[@d1user]

Vorsprung durch technique

[@dadgarage7966]

Good upload. Most were small, simple vehicles to have fun on and off road for not a lot of money. One thing not mentioned (although a moot point today) is the performance of the vehicles' carburetors bouncing around and on steep hills.

[@boris.m2624]

NIVA DID A VERY GOOD JOB 👍

[@abazrum6669]

still ok. have one

[@Crwydryn-x3r]

This is both informative and entertaining. It's rare to get both in a TV program. All too often the two qualities are considered mutually exclusive. Like good sports reporters, the hosts retreat into the background and let the action speak for itself. This was done before the age of Jeremy Clarkson. Those who seek 4wd vehicles for serious off-road use would be interested in tests like that, but most buyers of those vehicles never get off the road with them.

[@icampos1244]

It seems to me that neither RAnge Rover nor Land Rover, made it. Video was cut out. (19:17) on the Range Rover

[@superpossum78]

Cherokee had them all beat if given proper line and steady throttle

[@DeepBarney]

@@superpossum78 Pretty sure the Subaru had the fastest time leading up to the final hill climb. Given a hundred runs each, equal conditions, and no behind the scenes or editing trickery, I doubt we'd see a consistent winner.

[@JackMortimer-lu6wv]

According to the BBC Genome this is slightly earlier than 1979 - 7th September 1978 to be exact. As a result, it's from the first series in which Top Gear was shown nationwide!

[@Wimkrsk]

Thank you. What a fantastic show!

[@E4RLIES]

Alan Partridge would kill for that jacket 😂❤

[@Chevytravelleruk]

Wow!... I remember watching this when it was on TV.. I loved it

[@kuhpfau]

0:33 Barbie Girl really set up a contest for these cars. Surprised by the Renault suspension, I bet this was on par with the Range in terms of comfort.

[@michaelbamber4887]

We're in a 4x4 drive madness? Hope he is still with us, 44 years later, we still are! Did well to get a range rover to stay running for long enough to finish the course.

[@MooseKnuckleMike]

Dang, I had no idea that the top gear tune was that old…or that top gear itself went back to the 70’s 🤯

[@CO2isplantfood]

The top gear tune is called Jessica and was released in 1973by the Allman brothers

[@TheHairyHound]

Not to mention it actually was about the cars.

[@gwheregwhizz]

Today the challenge for a Range Rover is drop the kids off at school, go down the street to get nails and hair extensions done followed by a trip to Waitrose.

[@adriaandoelman2577]

and then break down doing so. 😂

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

LOL yep even the defender which is pretty much the same except for better approach and departure angles it's just a Range Rover with a square body. They should do that test again with a new Wrangler and new Land Rovers and the challenges to go as slow as possible

[@Jackthesmilingblack]

As someone who lives up a narrow steep minor road, on compressed snow I can assure you that difflock is vitally important for uphill traction. Downhill, it is important to stop the front wheels locking because you can't change direction with the wheels locked. So engage lowest gear, 4WD and difflock, presupposing your vehicle has this feature. I neglected to mention studless (mud & slush) tyres as I drive on them year round. Jack, the Japan Alps Brit

[@hywelthomas2579]

thankyou. great upload, a 4x4 test with integrity and unbiased (seriously impressive) commentary - sadly reminds us the BBC has gone down hill faster than any of the vehicles …….

[@TheHairyHound]

Brilliant! From a era when Top Gear was 100% about the car and not about the knobs that come to present them. Not to mention price brackets that the majority of motorists could afford.

[@lookoutforchris]

Boring. No one wants to watch this pablum.

[@TheHairyHound]

@@lookoutforchris I guess you haven't observed the hundreds of likes given to all of the members posts on this proper piece of automotive journalism. Probably best stupid people stick to sniffing petrol 😜

[@paleoph6168]

​@@lookoutforchriswith people's shorter attention spans these days and current brainrot, you could say so.

[@antimoroz970]

Нива хорошо себя показала, с учётом ее стоимости)

[@МАРМОНРАМЗЭСОВИЧ]

Идеально

[@ОлегКосицын-с7е]

Они на ней специально притормозили, чтобы свои машины вперед пропустить, можно было быстрее. Знаю о чем говорю, так как являюсь владельцем Нивы.

[@homocapensis7854]

El mejor.

[@michaelhastings7441]

I was 8 in 79 what a fab programme i had a series 2a swb and loved it what a brilliant test never saw a the big Jeep in the UK in Yorkshire but driven many Range Rovers the 3.9 excellent 😊

[@stewartjmurray]

Great video, I hadn’t heard of those 4wd Renaults and the fact the conversion was done in Perth of all places. This is a real off road test, so much better than the likes of Carthrottle and similar channels do now

[@kerrcat]

I work for the company in Perth that converted them. Our director regularly talks about the conversions and how they did them.

[@stewartjmurray]

@@kerrcat oh wow so what does the company do now?

[@kerrcat]

It was a Renault dealer at the time but sourced the parts directly from France and converted them in the workshop. The business is still owned by the same man and is a Volvo, Audi and Volkswagen dealership now. Camerons Motor group. They had more brands at the time but now have the 3. The Renault dealership was called Inveralmond Renault.

[@5265060]

Thanks for the upload, I really miss things like this. No amount of production value or clout could match this type of swag. It was just a different time I guess.

[@davidhughmurrayuk]

Love that they basically open by commenting on the Chelsea tractor phenomenon.

[@stuartr8356]

Brilliant viewing! Thank you for sharing.

[@pexonifikacija]

Лада нива , један од најбољих теренских возила , одличан , поуздан, ретки кварови и приступачно одржавање, једино потрошња горива мало већа али и то је прихватљиво, можда је УАЗ бољи... 🇷🇸❤️Лада

[@kenboulder212]

Lada ist a russky sh*t.

[@dab9742]

I think it would have been interesting to compare the undersides of the cars, as some of them hit the ground really well. To take that for a test drive, and do 300 kilometers of off-roading, some of these cars would have gone to pieces ! 😉

[@Jools-j2l]

The Subaru,s have all drive shaft and transmission recessed tight in the floor and have armoured bash plates to protect everything, I've had 3 or 4 of them, fantastic vehicles.

[@mufflejoy]

Completely brilliant. I just love the Lada Niva (and yes, I know the country it is made in has made that an impossible proposition at the moment - lets just stay car factual).

[@sovetskiy_bomzh]

покупай в Германии этого дерьма ещё навалом на складах

[@watannen]

it's actually the country you live in that's made it an impossible proposition ...

[@mufflejoy]

@@watannen You don't know which country i live in but yes, politics and war have many unhealthy and undesirable side effects. As I said - I am just a car fan, you can be a politician.

[@watannen]

@@mufflejoy i am not a politician. But you can call it for what it is, without being a politician. it's the common west who's broken away and imposed sanctions, otherwise the Russians would have been happy to sell you whatever your heart desired. Let us enjoy the cars !

[@mufflejoy]

@@watannen Yes, that all sounds like politics. My understanding is that sanctions were not introduced in a vacuum. Lada Niva rules!

[@pendingtwitch9664]

The end of the video made it all the more worth watching 😂

[@robertsteel3563]

I am amazed that Range Rovers from the late 70's to the early 80's still look similar to todays Rang Rovers!

[@kjelle5350]

The suspension on the Renault looked really comfy.

[@HowardLeVert]

I had its contemporary - a 16 - and they were really comfortable cars with huge thick seat cushions.

[@MrJulianneave]

I had a 1990 Lada Niva as my first car here in Australia. The off-road performance of the Niva was exceptionally good. Its on road performance was... pretty agricultural.

[@raywest3834]

I suspect there was a big difference in tyres, which makes any sort of direct comparison moot.

[@jtgnc7529]

The intent was probably to test them as is - how they came off the showroom floor, without modification of any form (including tires). I’d say the Subaru and Renault made great showings for themselves, all things considered.

[@TheArech]

Yep, even in tire pressure, which makes a huuuuuge difference and frequently a thing that draw a line between "pass" and "fail". They definitely deflated LR's tires though, who might have thought :D

[@craigywaigy4703]

Ah, 2 Star petrol - Those were the days... Thx for a great post, and such fun to watch too! BTW, the poor sods in the armoured car - I wonder if the MOD would allow that to be broadcast nowadays... 😍👍

[@daviddwight5745]

Didn’t know Richard Hammond was in the army!

[@oceania2385]

Ouch ! Lol

[@georgeboro5614]

LαΔα Nivα Φοrever!All time classic!

[@TheCounty90]

Thanks for uploading. So funny watching the Army of all people cock it up at the end.

[@James-ld2jc]

Is it such a surprise?

[@ColinCarFan]

Likely to have been a relatively inexperienced driver who got overtaken with adrenaline.

[@TheCounty90]

The Fox wasn't the best vehicle for that sort of thing.@@ColinCarFan

[@danielmarshall4587]

WELL this is lovely, many thanks for posting this.

[@jfk64kennedy95]

I'd love to see May, Hammond and Clarkson do a 10 vehicle, 4wd test on 'the Grand Tour' that would probably be a great epsode

[@awtistiaeth4699]

As long as it didn't have insecure but egotistical males presenting it. Oh! That excludes at least one of them.

[@jfk64kennedy95]

@@awtistiaeth4699 you understand those were "characters" right, much of, scripted

[@awtistiaeth4699]

@@jfk64kennedy95 Thanks for the response. Clarkson's other 'journalistic' exploits and certain behaviours off-screen would suggest otherwise, in relation to to him at least. TG lost the plot to my mind, (subjective opinion, granted) and became too scripted and utterly non-informative.

[@jeckjeck6943]

@@awtistiaeth4699 100% agree. I always saw top gear as a comedy show and not "car show". i think clarkson is a moron.

[@quantumIO]

Piece of cake to keep these kinds of cars running compared to the crap today

[@johnmunro4952]

The course was cut for cars not armoured vehicles 😂. It would have been very ill-advised to have turned at that point on the hill in real conditions

[@thomash2806]

It seems today’s off-road tests don’t try and go quickly. The Renault shows how to do suspension to keep the wheels in contact with the road. With different tyres perhaps it would have done better. There’s no mention of what tyres any of the vehicles have, though, and no mention of which have diff locks or any other equipment that may help them. This was when I watched and loved Top Gear.

[@bollomcbollo6260]

Thanks for sharing. I still have my 1970 Range Rover and 1965 Series !!a Landy - and they still perform like this

[@ronaldrrootiii6040]

Take a new Land Rover against the new Jeep Wrangler and it would be pretty sad for the Land Rovers

[@MrSarus86]

Как хорошо показала себя Нива. Оператор подчеркнул работу подвески. Ну и конечно штурм крутого склона как вишенка на торте.

[@СлаваКП]

солидарен с Вашим мнением!

[@deathwrenchcustom]

They should have let The Stig pilot that armoured car at the end. 😆

[@Slider68]

I wonder how old and how many miles were on them? The Lada had a blown right rear shock absorber.

[@Poorexampeofhuman]

I had a 1984 CJ7 with the 4.2 l inline 6. It was automatic with locking hubs on the front axle with a high and low speed transfer case. It was pretty significant as a a four-wheelerl drive machine. The building of the straight six did produce impressive power

[@dandyjesus]

Different viewing habits back then, but also a way better attention span.

[@istp1967]

Back in Highschool my Best Mate had the Daihatsu Scout. His Dad took out the 1600cc engine and put in a Toyota 18R 2.0L from the Selica ... We could do in 1st gear what we had to go down to low range with the stock donk.

[@__-pl3jg]

Where can I find more videos like this? It sounds like i'm listening to a golf TV show but this is way more entertaining.

[@nevillewalker6299]

Is anyone in any doubt, the Landie set the standard and I believe I was allowed to drive the first Range Rover you saw in competetion back in 1972, to be honest nothing came near even today.

[@alekseypetrov6114]

Нива походу самая молодая модель из всех представленных,выглядит очень привлекательно.

[@Юрасик-р4ж]

Вы посмотрите на Ленд Крузер тех лет. Выгледит по сравнением с Нивой очень ужасным.