WACKY cars from Top Gear’s glory years have been saved from the scrapheap by a Scots tourist attraction.
Petrolheads were left steaming when BBC chiefs junked the iconic vehicles as they were too bashed to restore or sell.
Classic cars from the BBC show were junked – but now have been rescued[/caption]
The iconic vehicles from Top Gear to go on display after being saved for public viewing[/caption]
They had spent 15 years as part of the World of Top Gear exhibition, based at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire[/caption]
But Grampian Transport Museum has now raced in to rescue 17 of the comically adapted motors featured in over 20 years of the TV hit.
They include host Jeremy Clark- son’s one-man P45, a barmy all-terrain ice cream van called Mr Nippy and Triumph Herald car-turned-sailboat.
Ross McKirdy, manager of the museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire, told how he struck a deal with the Beeb to buy them after they faced being lost to the public forever.
They had spent 15 years as part of the World of Top Gear exhibition, based at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire.
That show hit the end of the road last November, a year after the series was axed following presenter Freddie Flintoff’s horror crash.
Ross later faced a battle to transport the collection 600 miles to its new home.
He told The Scottish Sun: “I was scrolling through Facebook and saw the World of Top Gear exhibition was closing. I got in like a shot.
“I got in touch with the BBC in October and everything was signed and sealed by December.
“After being battered and bruised during challenges, we had to employ specialist movers and we got the last of the vehicles a week ago.
“They are of national significance.”
The motors will star in a new exhibition from March 28 titled And On That Bombshell — after Sun columnist Clarkson’s catchphrase.
Enthusiasts can also see the likes of the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust diesel-electric hybrid created by Clarkson along with co-stars Richard Hammond and James May.
But Ross reckons top billing could go to the “indestructible” Toyota Hilux the trio famously blew up in a tower block explosion.
Ross added: “We’ve done big exhibitions before but I’m almost certain this will be the biggest. I think the Hilux will attract the most interest.”
The public are now able to visit the cars[/caption]
BBC bosses infuriated fans last month by announcing some of the most famous comically adapted motors[/caption]
After learning the cars faced being dumped, Clarkson said: “Some people see cars as just a tonne-and-a-half of glass, plastic, metal and rubber. But to petrolheads, they’re more than that.”
BBC Studios said: “We’re pleased to have worked with Grampian Motor Museum to ensure some of the show’s most iconic vehicles remain available for public viewing.”
