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1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - badbusdriver

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Came upon this gem on YouTube last night. Just under 24 mins but well worth watching if you've time!

Not sure the results are objective with the deteriorating course conditions and different drivers, but very interesting and entertaining all the same.

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - Xileno

Great, thanks for posting. I love seeing these old Rovers doing what they were designed for. Now they're expensive classics that probably only go out on tarmac on a summer's day. The Renault is interesting.

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - Steveieb

It will be interesting to see how the EV version of the Range Rover copes with all the underside pounding that the battery case will have to take !

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - Adampr

Brilliant. I feel like they would only have let the Land Rover win though.

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - kiss (keep it simple)

It will be interesting to see how the EV version of the Range Rover copes with all the underside pounding that the battery case will have to take !

As long as the speed bumps at Waitrose aren't too big, it should be fine.

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - badbusdriver

Brilliant. I feel like they would only have let the Land Rover win though.

I'd have thought if they were going to let something (British) win, it would have been the Range Rover?. But it seems inconceivable that the Land Rover did it quicker than the Rangey, with the latter having much more power, much more torque, and (coil sprung) suspension supple enough to tackle the bumpy stuff at a higher speed (than the leaf sprung Landy). But I guess it may simply have had tyres more suited to the conditions?

I was pleased to see the plucky Russian complete the course though!. Also the fact that the Subaru and Renault were only thwarted by that last 1 in 2 slope is very impressive in itself (especially for the 40hp Renault!).

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - Steveieb

The Niva did well and it looks like the transfer box lived to tell the tale !

1979(!) Top Gear 4x4 special - HGV ~ P Valentine

I love all episodes of top gear, with the original crew, stopped watching it after they went. I tried to watch the new lot but could only stand 5 mins of it, the entertainment value was r****** and in my opinion became, after they left, just another car show.