Top Gear Season 23

Season 23

Air date: 1990-03-27

Episodes: 8

Episodes

E1: Episode 1

This year Britain’s Louise Aitken-Walker was at the Monte Carlo rally with a full works team in her first bid for the ladies’ world championship. Tony Mason follows her progress. Why are more child pedestrians killed on British roads than in most other European countries? William Woollard looks at some possible ways to reduce the statistics. Sue Baker and Chris Goffey report from the Geneva show on the new models.

Air date: 1990-03-27

E2: Episode 2

The new Lotus Elan is eagerly awaited. Have Lotus designed a civilised, high performance sports car with front wheel drive? Chris Goffey finds out. In the first of a short series, William Woollard considers technical solutions to the problem of carbon dioxide and its contribution to global warming, starting with solar energy and hydrogen as alternative fuels. Plus, Tom Boswell looks at the latest in car security, and Beki Adam is initiated into the new sport of supermoto.

Air date: 1990-04-03

E3: Episode 3

Ford recently paid £1.6 billion for Jaguar cars. They wanted a prestige name and a ready-made slice of heritage. William Woollard looks at the history of the marque and what Ford may do with their new acquisition. Tiff Needell drives the Yugo Sana, the most modern-looking car yet to emerge from eastern Europe. And there’s the second part of Top Gear’s analysis of the alternatives to petrol which may help to reduce the contribution made by cars to global warming.

Air date: 1990-04-10

E4: Episode 4

William Woollard reports from the Ultimate Truck Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on the biggest, fastest and safest trucks on the scene. Steve Webster has been world motorcycle sidecar champion for the last three years. Tiff Needell takes the place of his regular passenger around the challenging Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire to try out one of the most dangerous and spectacular jobs in motor sport. For the disabled, mobility itself is a challenge. Simon Barnes of the One in Four programme investigates how to go about learning to drive and buying a car if you are confined to a wheelchair. Plus Jeremy Clarkson examines the return of the car with a boot, with three new models which started life as hatchbacks.

Air date: 1990-04-17

E5: Episode 5

The Italian city of Turin is now the home of the world’s most influential car stylists. William Woollard presents the programme from the city’s prestigious Motor Show where they display their latest ideas. Chris Goffey road tests Fiat’s new mid-sized saloon, the Tempra. The Chevrolet Corvette is America’s classic sports car; Beki Adam looks at its history. Tony Mason reports from a classic British sporting event — the Land’s End Trial.

Air date: 1990-04-24

E6: Episode 6

William Woollard reports from Donington Park where the final selection of the Rally Quest 90 winner takes place. Tony Mason follows the finalists to find who will have the chance of an entry into this year’s Lombard RAC rally. Tiff Needell assesses Toyota’s new MR2 and Celica GT4. Tom Boswell tests the Honda CN 250, a new breed of bike-cum-motor scooter. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson reports on two novel ways of recovering a stolen car.

Air date: 1990-05-01

E7: Episode 7

Interest in classic cars has never been greater and the prices they fetch have never been higher. William Woollard reports from the International Classic and Sportscar Show and Sue Baker asks whether the bubble of inflated values is about to burst. Chris Goffey tests two cars from less well-known Japanese manufacturers, the Subaru Legacy and Daihatsu Applause.

Air date: 1990-05-08

E8: Episode 8

William Woollard reports from the Veteran Car Club’s diamond jubilee rally at Stratford-upon-Avon. Chris Goffey assesses the new versions of the Rover Metro and Fiat Uno. Jeremy Clarkson investigates the falsification of mileage on second-hand cars, and why this multi-million-pound fraud isn’t taken seriously enough. Tiff Needell tries his hand at rallying behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Galant that won last year’s Lombard RAC Rally, with expert tuition from winning driver Pentti Airikkala.

Air date: 1990-05-15