Eight of the best car shows on TV
If you’re a car enthusiast there’s plenty of programmes to keep a look out for on the TV. Here, the team at Adrian Flux reveal their top eight car-focussed TV shows.
1. Top Gear
An oldie but a goodie. This show has been running in its current format since 2002, but we aren’t all that surprised it’s been going for so long. With motoring challenges, celebrity test track races and road-testing new cars, this show has it all.
2. The Grand Tour
Presented by former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May the show sticks to the tried and tested Top Gear formula with car reviews, lap time trials, celebrity guests, motoring challenges and races.
Hammond spoke about his time working on both shows during his appearance on our award-winning podcast Fuelling Around.
3. Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is broadcast on Quest and presented by Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jonny Smith and Fuelling Around co-host Jason Plato, a driver and TV personality we have sponsored for several years.
The series is famed for its ‘shoot-outs’ between cars of similar price and power with a regular car versus bike slots being introduced more recently.
4. Jay Leno’s Garage
Filmed at Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage in Burbank, California, the programme specialises in car and motorbike reviews and features classics of every description along with supercars such as the McLaren P1, sports cars, vintage and quirky models.
5. Counting Cars
This is an American reality show filmed in Las Vegas and it follows ‘The Count’ Danny Koker and his crew as they restore and modify classic cars and motorbikes before deciding whether to keep them or sell them on.
6. Car SOS
Hosts Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend secretly take an old and often neglected classic car and restore it to past glories as a surprise for the unsuspecting owner. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching an old heap of scrap being restored into a fully functioning, beautiful classic.
7. Red Bull Soapbox Race
We’re taking the definition of ‘car’ to a whole new level with this one. While the ‘vehicles’ are non motorised, we think this counts as a car show, since all the vehicles must be steerable and include brakes. The aim of the game is to race to the bottom of a hazard-filled downhill track in a team-built vehicle. As you can guess, hilarity ensues.
8. Wheeler Dealers
Like Car SOS, this programme is all about restoring old, unloved vehicles to their former glory – with a catch. For each car that is restored, a budget is set for the repairs and refurbishments. Once restored, the vehicle also has to be sold, preferably at a profit!
If you’ve still not seen enough cars on TV, read our blog to learn about our top 10 TV cops and their wonderful classic cars.
Bonus radio show – Women Talking About Cars
Presenter and professional poker player Victoria Coren Mitchell is in the driver’s seat of this interview series. She speaks to a range of famous women about the cars they’ve owned throughout their lives. The programme has 12 episodes available with great guests like Olivia Colman and Germaine Greer.
New car, new insurance policy?
If the beautiful vehicles in these programmes have convinced you to buy a new car, you’ll be looking for peace-of-mind insurance at a sensible price and Adrian Flux can provide just that.
For a fast and hassle-free insurance quote call 0800 369 8590 – 81.5% of all customers receiving an online quote in August 2022 could have obtained a cheaper quote over the phone. Alternatively, you can arrange a callback at a time more convenient to you.
