Wrong Car, Right Car (partially found BBC Two television series; 2002-2003)

Title card

Status: Partially Found

During the time in which the channel's flagship automotive program, Top Gear, was undergoing a hiatus before its reboot into the highly-successful version presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, BBC Two commissioned two series to take the show's place. The first of these, Panic Mechanics, was a car-themed game show. The other, originally named Top Gear: Car Jack but changed to its eventual name in light of the 2002 carjacking murder of Tim Robinson, aired two series in 2002 and 2003.

The show is mostly lost, only a few episodes from 2003 were ever found.

Premise

Wrong Car, Right Car was developed as a show primarily to fulfill presenter Jason Barlow's contract, as he had originally been planned to remain as host of Top Gear until 2003. However, with the Top Gear's cancellation and the return of renowned host Jeremy Clarkson in March of 2002, Barlow would be removed from his role by Clarkson who felt the pair did not gel. Barlow was joined by Dominic Littlewood, as the pair helped a show participant to buy the new car they wanted using the tricks of the trade. An example of this is divorcee Lynn Spalding having £9,000 to spend from her settlement and the dilemma being whether she'd go for bargain or image, which is where the pair of presenters would come in. Each participant would also be given the chance to drive their dream car, which in Spalding's case was a Noble M12. According to PassionFord member In The Pit, Littlewood's catchphrase was "get the mats and flaps."

History

Wrong Car, Right Car was originally announced on August 8th, 2001, alongside Panic Mechanic, which would later have an "S" added to its name before making it to air. In August 2002, the BBC requested members of the public to sign up for the show's second series, which began broadcasting in 2003. Each episode was directed by Dave Smith and produced by Karen MacKinder for the BBC's Pebble Mill studio in Birmingham, which was formerly the base for Top Gear.

It appears that the show was nominated for an award in late 2002, but was beaten by another program entitled Follow That Tomato, which cost its production team just £6,000.

Episodes

According to the Radio Times, 21 episodes of Wrong Car, Right Car aired; 6 in 2002 (including a pilot in February of that year), and 15 in 2003. Only the latter of these have episode names.

Series 1

Episode	Airdate	Title
1	02/28/2002	Hamish: Northants
2	03/07/2002	Unknown
3	03/14/2002	Unknown
4	03/21/2002	Unknown
5	03/28/2002	Unknown
6	04/04/2002	Unknown

Series 2

Episode	Airdate	Title
1	01/07/2003	The Smack on the Bum
2	01/14/2003	Unknown
3	01/21/2003	Make Some Noise, Baby
4	01/28/2003	Go Go Granny
5	02/03/2003	Unknown
6	02/10/2003	Unknown
7	02/17/2003	Do I Look Good in This?
8	02/24/2003	Kicking Over The Traces
9	03/03/2003	Releasing The Dinosaur
10	03/10/2003	Up for the Crack
11	03/17/2003	A Load of Blarney!
12	03/24/2003	N/A
13	03/31/2003	More Bangs For Your Bucks
14	04/07/2003	Pukka Deluxe
15	04/14/2003	Blowout

Gallery

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  Card shown during the opening sequence, introducing Jason Barlow

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  Card shown during the opening sequence, introducing Dominic Littlewood

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  A frame from S02E10, featuring the episode title and both of the presenters

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  End card, specifically from S02E09