Reading Richard Hammond's column in the latest (Jan 2009) "Top Gear" mag, I see he's getting all excited over a 136 Rapid.

.....And so's James May.

Look out for two new members here, then. "The Hamster" and "Captain Slow"

Phil

They need my permission first.........................Love, Stig :P

There goes the neighborhood

Wonder if this is Dave's one?

Tog Gear had my car twice, lied to me on several occasions and keep asking about buying it. They won't be getting any of my cars though as I've seen what they do to old cars that aren't worth a lot of money.

I haven't seen the magazine articles yet.

LOL, they could be here already.....

Well, it's his right to look for a car he likes. It's a free country)(lol) for god's sake. Besides, would be fun if Jezza broke Hamsters balls for owning a Skoda and lurking around in Briskoda.

I just read the article. It is my car and me that is mentioned in it. Someone at Top Gear has told Richard Hammond that the car is for sale...yet another lie!! Glad he likes it though, he seems very enthusiastic. If it weren't for the way they destroy old cars for no reason I'd be delighted to sell Top Gear or any of it's staff one of my cars. It might have done the Skoda name a bit of good as Richard Hammond and James May are so enthusiastic.

I do realise that I can't dictate to a new owner what they do with a car I sell them. However, I personally put a lot of time, sweat, love and [less importantly] money into restoring my cars from basket cases to being on the road and also being pretty tidy. Imagine how I'd feel seeing one of my old cars being trashed on purpose for no reason. I don't feel I can take that risk considering how I've struggled and failed to get them to be honest with me up to now.

And also what they done to the Marina recently when someone complained , I wouldnt want to see a piano flatten one of your Rapids , Dave!!!

I just read the article. It is my car and me that is mentioned in it. Someone at Top Gear has told Richard Hammond that the car is for sale...yet another lie!! Glad he likes it though, he seems very enthusiastic. If it weren't for the way they destroy old cars for no reason I'd be delighted to sell Top Gear or any of it's staff one of my cars. It might have done the Skoda name a bit of good as Richard Hammond and James May are so enthusiastic.

I do realise that I can't dictate to a new owner what they do with a car I sell them. However, I personally put a lot of time, sweat, love and [less importantly] money into restoring my cars from basket cases to being on the road and also being pretty tidy. Imagine how I'd feel seeing one of my old cars being trashed on purpose for no reason. I don't feel I can take that risk considering how I've struggled and failed to get them to be honest with me up to now.

You know what they'll do to it, marinas, caravans, toyota pick-ups etc. Say no more.

They get a tick in the box from the MMA for doing these kind of stunts 'cause it reinforces the notion in public's mind that old/restored is bad and new is the thing - That's what TG is there for.

Invoking displeasure of a small section of the public, won't stop 'em trying to get one, by any means available, including stroking your ego !

Of course, I'm assuming that the article is not the product of some t*sser staff journalist, who's looking for an issue that'll run to fill his column and post-box for a couple of weeks !

IMHO, its more than likely that those three muppets (Sorry, independently-minded investigative motoring journalists) have their agenda dictated by some smarted-arsed Oxbridge educated producer who secretly believes that the worship of cars is petty-bourgeouis paganism but won't let that get in the way of improved ratings and career advancement generated by these stunts.

You know the inherent value of something that you've painstakingly restored is beyond the realms of "Sardines for buying and selling".

Tell 'em to go ram it.

Nick

Edited 4 January, 200917 yr by Clunkclick

I just read the article and it sounds like he is genuinley interested in owning one! I cannot imagine top gear needs to go to such elaborate lengths to get their hands on a rapid.

Rapid's in good order aren't that readily available. The very youngest [like mine] is nearly nineteen years old now.

Out of sheer curiosity - what value would you put on the rapid Dave?

I'd say Hammmond is genuine - I remember reading an article about him moving his car collection into his new house, where he was genuinely chuffed when one of the classics sprung an oil leak onto his new garage floor because it'd give him a chance to get out and do some legitimate spannering

the difference lies in whether "Richard Hammond" wants a 136, or whether "Top Gear" wants a 136.

he does, after all, still have a sixties Opel Rekord still. If you watched the Alfa feature tonight (disgusting though it was) you could see the Opel in the background in the TG workshop.

I'd say Hammmond is genuine - I remember reading an article about him moving his car collection into his new house, where he was genuinely chuffed when one of the classics sprung an oil leak onto his new garage floor because it'd give him a chance to get out and do some legitimate spannering

He does have a huge collection of cars, so I suspect he's genuine.

Phil

I met Richard Hammonds brother a while ago, he had been told to look at Fabias and Roomsters!

Hammond bought a 928 a while ago that had been owned by one of the online community, a chap I know quite well. He didn't own it for long, but as far as I know, it was well treated. That doesn't mean there couldn't be a hidden agenda, though.

He looks after his cars if his custom 110 is anything to go by.

heh, and there's always "oliver" that they pretty well gave a noble death to before hammond decided he loved it too much to trash and went as far as importing it into the UK from Africa for a full restore... not the actions of a bloke who's just gonna trash any old car he comes across ...

makes me realize what a bargain my 136 was though ...

The guy may be highly irritating IMHO (only one of that lot I like is James May) but he has good taste, but if it involves a Rapid going the way of all flesh in one of their childish pranks just say no, it's a rare car now:mad:

I love them, my mate had one and it was an absolute blast to hoon about in although it nearly killed us when he lifted off on a bend! As I have said elsewhere I would love a good one and wish I had bought one in the late 90s when there were plenty around. Autocar did an article when I was a kid calling it the poor man's 911. Hammond is known to be a 911 fan so maybe he will find a lot to enjoy.

Rapid's in good order aren't that readily available. The very youngest [like mine] is nearly nineteen years old now.

Looks tidy that mate!

Keep up the good work!

I need to read this article