Top Gear — Season 35

Feb 15, 1996

The motoring series returns with Jeremy Clarkson marking the centenary of the British auto industry and looking at some of the world’s most luxurious saloons. Plus, Andy Willman meets car private eyes who reunite stolen cars with their owners.

Feb 22, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson mourns the passing of powerful cars such as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the Audi S2, Mazda RX-7 and Nissan 300ZX. He takes his personal favourite, the Escort Cosworth, down to an Essex racetrack to bid it farewell, joined by rally driver Gwyndaf Evans. Tiff Needell is in Daytona Beach, Florida, to celebrate the rebirth of the British sports marque Lister, driving its 200mph-plus Storm model in the gruelling 24-hour race.

Feb 29, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson travels to Germany to test out BMW’s new Z3, and Quentin Willson discovers an easy way to earn money when he sells a second-hand Lada Riva.

Mar 7, 1996

Personalised registration plates are big business. Quentin Willson examines the history of these often-costly items and quizzes owners about their particular choices. Jeremy Clarkson tests both the road and race version of the Honda Accord, taking the latter for a spin around the track at Donnington.

Mar 14, 1996

Quentin Willson drives the new mid-range Volvo S40 and V40. Steve Berry meets people obsessed with Ford Escorts, while accepted views linking cars with environmental pollution are challenged.

Mar 21, 1996

The HMC Mk IV’s striking resemblance to the old Austin-Healey 3000 is a deliberate attempt to capture the essence of that classic sixties sports car while adding refinement. Quentin Willson finds out if it’s worth £43,000. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman sample Siamese banger racing.

Mar 28, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson travels to deepest Gloucestershire to take part in a group car test with a difference — driving amphibious vehicles into a lake. Featured models include the Dutton Mariner and a replica of the Lamborghini Countach. Quentin Willson considers the pros and cons of buying a used VW Golf VR6, tipped to be one of the year’s most popular second-hand performance cars. Willson praises the model but advises that it may be difficult to find. And Michele Newman compares the latest small sports coupes from Honda and Toyota that have been aimed with the youth market very much in mind.

Apr 4, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson looks at Renault’s new Megane, which replaces the 19 model. He drives the fastest Megane, the 16-valve, 150bhp two-litre coupe. Plus, Quentin Willson checks out the Ford Escort as a second-hand buy.

Apr 11, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson drives two new Aston Martins — the DB7 Volante convertible and the V8 coupe. He travels to the cars’ Buckinghamshire base to ponder the future of this great British marque. Quentin Willson delivers the results of Top Gear’s third annual survey, conducted jointly with an American market research organisation, in which viewers assess the performance of their three-year-old cars. The 14,000 replies are compiled into a league table rating 72 different models.

Apr 18, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson runs his eye over the new BMW 5-Series, which goes on sale in Britain this week. The manufacturer hopes that it will rival the Mercedes E-Class. Plus, Quentin Willson looks at the classic style of the Saab 92.

Apr 25, 1996

Maserati’s latest effort comes under the scrutiny of Jeremy Clarkson as supercar designers strive to produce a truly successful four-door saloon car. He road tests the company’s new Quattroporte model, and finds other supercars that put passengers near the top on the list of design priorities. Tiff Needell tests two modern replicas — one for racing, one for the road — of one of the most exclusive race cars ever built: the 5.0 litre Jaguar XJ 13.

May 2, 1996

The new Esprit is an important car for Lotus. Its brand new V8 engine could keep the company alive in the vital US market where increasingly tough emission laws will mean that the old Esprit engine is illegal. Jeremy Clarkson puts it to the test. Plus, Steve Berry finds out how big men cope with cars that were designed for Mr Average.

May 9, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson goes to Italy to test the £350,000 Ferrari F50, the nearest thing to a Grand Prix racer to hit the road, while Tiff Needell drives the Formula 1 Ferrari that inspired it. Plus, Quentin Willson road tests the American-built Chrysler Neon.

May 16, 1996

The series concludes with Jeremy Clarkson’s trip to the motor industry’s secret show at a Bedfordshire test track — a chance to catch up on all of the new cars Top Gear has’'t looked at in the past year. Plus, Steve Berry rides a motorbike on the Wall of Death, an original fairground attraction dreamed up as a publicity stunt.