bbc2 now james mays cars of the people

The street where he is trying to do a 3 point turn in the red supercar is here in Burford and May is on record as hating this place

 

Just watched it. Very good, but did anyone else find some of the nazi stuff a bit embarrassing? Like the bit with the family in the Kdf wagen singing songs. I know he's that generation, but it's just a bit too 'basil fawlty' for 2014 I think.

 

Its easy coffee table viewing for Sun readers, and TV researchers using wikipedia! Otherwise it was nice to see some classics again. As mentioned earlier major Ivan Hirst put vw back on the map! The Hitler focus was disproportional to the rest of the cars, we all know its history but does not mean we support it by driving these cars/vans. I agree with previous comments about the ss and helmets and other war parafanalia that has crept into the vw scene, the kids dont know do they ,but we do , its sick really.
Anyway its a telly programme for easy digestible facts no need for brains...
Liked the Fiat 500 still want one someday...

 

If you're talking about Iron Crosses and Gothic script, these pre-date the Nazis by decades, way back into the 19th century: effectively, the Nazis hijacked that bit of German heritage. I've never regarded VW folk with such things as Nazis - they're just (rather unappealingly, IMO) emphasising the German element.

Ps Ivan was a good fella, but it was Heinz Nordhoff, one of his first hires, that actually got VW going. They didn't get on ...

 

I know mate but at VW shows when you see all this stuff like Iron Crosses etc painted on sides of vans and beetles etc - I know its an 'upyours' thing but likewise its also just pandering to popular culture /marketing etc etc either way I dont find it fits in with the aircooled 'ethos' so to speak, its probably just me as I started out in the late 80's with all this stuff and have seen it creep in - the scene moves on I suppose? Anyway yes I have read the same history books as you I think when I had spare time to read them all.... haha
Back to the telly - surprised he didn't mention the Fiat Toppolino, or the Pobieda or the Early Trabby or the early Skodas etc basically almost every country had their peoples car from the 30's -> he seems to be focusing on the current popular well known ones (which again makes me think researchers are just going for current popular culture ) Wonder if a Celebrity Chef will appear in an episode or Chris Evans?

 

I think the coal scuttle helmet and Iron Cross thing actually kicked off in the 60s with bikers and hot-ridders. Always looked a bit daft, IMHO...

Agree that the baby Fiat or Trabby (or the 2CV) would make great stories, but they don't have the "interesting" back story that the Beetle has.

Mentioned it before, but "Car Wars" by Jonathan Mantle is a good book to read...surprising how much intrigue and backstabbing there's been in the car industry. Recommended!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Wars-Ba...5703&sr=8-1&keywords=car wars jonathan mantle

 

I don't think they are really trying to live the Nazi life though.... For example, one of my proper musical hero's, Lemmy from Motorhead, has stacks of Nazi memorabilia. The wiki page about him says this :-

Lemmy collects German military regalia, and has an Iron Cross encrusted on his bass, which has led to accusations of Nazi sympathies. He has stated that he collects this memorabilia for aesthetic values only, and considers himself an anarchist or libertarian, and that he is "anti-communism, fascism, any extreme," saying that "government causes more problems than it solves".

I reckon that's a fair shout, although I wouldn't wear an iron cross myself.

 

Oh... and you can add to that, the fact that when I was a little kid, many moons ago, I used to have a little hot wheels car, which was very much a favourite of mine :-

 

Is that part of his 'Metal Rock image thing?' Either way the BBC made too much of it on the show considering its a 'coffee table magazine TopGear leave brain kind of show'. We are probably more aware of it than most because of our aircooled interest but what image did that show give off to non aircooled viewers?

 

WHY OH WHY OH WHY (rant alert) do they produce a programme about classic cars and then feel the need to destroy one at the end.... tonight a low mileage, fully working - and apparently more practical than a brand new Range Rover - Lada Riva.

In the trailer, a 2CV and a Renault 4 get shot at. All decent cars which no doubt will stand the test of time longer than the Top Gear franchise.

It's cheap, it's unnecessary, and it doesn't make sense. Does Antiques Roadshow chuck Chinese porcelain out of helicopters into the sea? No, because it's stupid.

 

they do it 'cos young lads find it funny, those young lads buy the dvd's and books and games and associated tat that make the producers richer.....

 

I call it dumbing down. I though the Beeb was supposed to be owned by the people and not the muppets

 

unfortunately (in this instance) the bbc makes a fortune from top gear which they would say allows them to bring you such gems as holby city and casualty..... this is why clarkson can say the n word and it's ok.

 

To be fair Clarkson is a leg-end. I know it's off topic but he was quoting an old nursery rhyme and purposefully lowered his voice on that word because it is a bad word. I didn't see the problem.

 

i didn't either but we had this discussion at the time - the media wanted blood the bbc didn't give it but if it had been (insert b list star) they would have given it - the reason why they didn't? top gear is the bbc's cash cow

 

I know, honestly the imagination of the BBC car programs

 

Watched it last on iPlayer, and thought it was pretty good. And...the best bit for me was the singing, flaxen-haired German family . Most entertaining.

Found the most disturbing part was the posh-spoken Rupert in the Range Rover, but that's the BBC for you...