Drive In Revisited

Drive In was Thames Television’s prestige motoring programme, commencing in 1972. The footage kindly uploaded to YouTube by Pearson describes the changing face of motoring in the 1970s when ‘hatchbacks’ were still a novelty and ‘foreign cars’ were regarded as an increasing threat to the British motor industry.

One fascinating aspect of Drive In, apart from the array of flared trousers and Harry Hill shirt collars on display, is the style of presentation. Tony Bastable and Richard Hudson-Evans are knowledgeable and well-spoken, with none of the ‘Goodies Mk. 2’ approach of Clarkson, May, and Hammond. Your host was Shaw Taylor, with his RADA-trained vowels, Peter Sellers glasses, and avuncular manner. Even if he does not say “keep ‘em peeled”, you just know he wants to.

When Drive In first aired it was one of a number of ITV educational shows that were designed to be broadcast across the entire network. This was a product of a major commercial television franchise and so it was extremely well made; ‘polished’ would be an accurate description. The track sequences were filmed by a heavy Outside Broadcast Unit following the test cars, with one camera on the roof and another mounted on a ‘cow catcher’ at the rear.

The early editions make 1972 appear like another eon, with Mr. Bastable testing the Honda N600. The presentation of the interview with Gilbern’s director Mike Leather seems more 1962 than the early ‘seventies.

While in the following year, TB evaluated the new Reliant Robin. However, Drive In featured all manner of cars from the BMW 2002 to the Lotus Elite and a fascinating tour of the Morgan factory.

They also investigated the very latest in accessories; in 1976 Taylor seemed most impressed by headlamp washers and a pioneer satnav that looks as though it was hijacked from the Tardis.

Two years later, the show tackled the issue of car security and why it was unwise to leave the driver’s door of your Austin Allegro partially unlocked.

Some of the vehicles featured are now extinct such as the Mazda 323 Hatchback, the Volkswagen Passat Mk. I and the Chrysler Alpine while the likes of the Fiat X1/9 were decidedly exotic by the standards of the day.

Drive In ended in 1981, its place was largely taken by the BBC’s Top Gear, which began four years earlier. And my favourite excerpt? It has to be this moment when a Womble ambles past the camera during the 1975 ‘Foreign Car Day’ at Silverstone.

Although this moment comes a very close second; caravanning 1977 style.