Q4 on Top Gear

[AlfaJack]

Hi all,

I have heard from two different sources now that some years ago Jeremy Clarkson did a road test of a Q4 - and I have just seen the quote from JC on the home page of http://www.alfarchive.co.uk/

I would really love to see this if its true - anyone heard the same or even seen it?

Jack

[Steve Webb]

Not sure if it was for Top Gear, but JC did indeed road test a Q4, I spoke to the owner of the car he tested (K275 PLX) at an Alfa day a few years back, the car was the first one brought into the country, and at one point during the road test, JC drove it backward through a Mc D's drive through to highlight the LHD thing.

[q4fatboy]

This was on the old Top Gear, the 30 min show. JC showed that the only way to order a McDonalds at a drive thru was by entering in reverse !

[AlfaJack]

still would love to find this, no luck as yet, wonder if the BBC can release footage for a fee?

[Steve Webb]

Jack, I guess your best bet would be to try and get in touch with someone who works in the archive dept of the BBC.
I know someone who does freelance graphics for people at the BBC, I'll ask him if he's got a name.

Steve

[AlfaJack]

Jack, I guess your best bet would be to try and get in touch with someone who works in the archive dept of the BBC.
I know someone who does freelance graphics for people at the BBC, I'll ask him if he's got a name.

Steve

Any luck?

[Steve Webb]

Nothing as of yet I'm affraid. He's been out in Thailand for a while, so hopefully he'll need some money soon and be back at the Beeb where he can raid the archives.

[AlfaJack]

[wrinx]

Any update on this...Steve?

wrinx

[arjunior45]

no news at all?

[wrinx]

Heard from your mate yet Steve...?

wrinx

[AlfaJack]

Interesting - are you thinking it might be a good starter for the video?

[Steve Webb]

Drawn another blank on this. Seems like this mythical Q4 through a McDonalds video is destined to stay a myth.

[AlfaJack]

Found some more info on it now:
http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gall...005CF01_001.do

You need to be logged in so here is a screen shot. The search continues...

They are to contact me about the clip - they do ask what project it is for though - I doubt they are going to roll over for a car club....

Spelling in the description has the usual variation of Alfa in it too!

[Steve Webb]

Blimey this thread has been going almost 6 years now, and we finally seem to have caught a break!

I guess the question is now, what do we say to the BBC to convince them to release the clip.
Strictly speaking we don't need to get hold of the clip, just have the BBC release it onto Youtube, there are plenty of other official TopGear clips on there and this one is going to be 20 years old after all.

Anyway well done Jack, nice work getting hold of those details.

[wrinx]

I tried to get the clip a few years ago, they were having none of it then and wouldn't even consider looking for it, lets hope this is more successful.

wrinx

[AlfaJack]

Found it is actually on Top Gear: Take 2:
http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gall...&filter=f27,f4

Had this email through too:

Thank you for your enquiry.

Could you please supply further details of your production (media and territorial rights required, license term etc) and the context within which the footage will be used. We will then be able to assign a sales executive to your project.

You can also search the BBC Archive remotely from the BBC Motion Gallery website (bbcmotiongallery.com) by selecting ‘BBC Archive Only’ as the Footage Type in the drop-down menu in the search box.

[wrinx]

Does it link to the video too...I guess not???

"Sales Executive"...they'll want some money!

wrinx

[AlfaJack]

I expect so.
Anyhow I was watching some clips on this channel yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LondonItalian

Then this got uploaded today (along with many other videos!) and the link was posted on alfa155.org:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY3HnAAvxs4&list=UU_y7BBnlKKlwdnUobbep9Xw& index=4&feature=plcp"]Old Top Gear - Eurpean Touring Car Championship Car road test - YouTube[/ame]

I have contacted him to ask if he has what we are after...

[AlfaJack]

He replied with:

Hi Jack,

Its quite possible as I used to try to record everything to do with top gear, unfortunately I have several thousand hours of un labeled tapes to go through that arent in any order, so if I have got it, it may be some time before I find it!

Regards,

Paolo

Willing to wait but will try auntie too.

[Steve Webb]

So, according to wikipedia (probably wrong then) we are looking for series 29, 12 episodes (24/9/1992 - 17/12/1992) and if the episode we want was first shown on the 11/12/1992 that would probably make it episode 11.

There seem to be a few people who are uploading old top gear episodes to youtube, so I'll ask around some more and see if we get anywhere.

With regards to the BBC, they seem completely disinterested with the amount of old Top Gear that is on YouTube, so I can't see a logical reason why they won't at least talk to us about getting the clip.

Is this mythical clip finally going to see the light of day again?

[AlfaJack]

We have it, thanks to LondonItalian on YouTube - what a good bloke. Even got a message to tell me it was up

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYMyv9eJNpI&feature=email"]Old Top Gear - Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 Cloverleaf road test - YouTube[/ame]

[Steve Webb]

Wooo-Hooo.

At last!

[wrinx]

All very well spoken and with Bad Company in the background.

Well done Jacks and big thanks to LondonItalian

wrinx

[AlfaJack]

He didn't exactly drive it on the ragged edge but still, it was its 5 minutes of fame in the UK at least.