THE CAR YEARS
New TV show sees classic icons go head-to-head
Television presenters and classic car enthusiasts, Alex Riley and Vicki Butler-Henderson, will be attempting to resolve age-old debates in their new television series, which airs next year.
Each 30-minute episode will see Alex and Vicki nominate the car from a specific year that they feel is the most influential, before a panel of judges decides on a winner.
Director, Jim Wiseman, explained during a presentation at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, that he’s in discussions with a number of broadcasters; an announcement will be made over the coming weeks as to which station the programme will appear on.
Here’s what Vicki and Alex had to say about the cars, the challenges and their various spats:
CCW Alex, the premise of The Car Years is that you and Vicki champion a car released in a specific year; that must result in some interesting combinations...
alex riley
That’s right. They don’t have to be direct competitors with each other. Take 1964 and Vicki’s choice of the Porsche 911 and mine of the Ford Mustang – it’s our take on the most important car of that year. I’m very excited about this because while there are a lot of classic car programmes on the telly, they all seems to be about buying, selling and renovation. This is the car show that’s about cars!
ccw
vicki, it must be difficult deciding on your choices; there must be cars that are important to you, but not necessarily ones that you’re sure will win each episode?
Vicki Butler Henderson
The Elise and the Boxster are a fantastic representation of my conflict of interest because I love both of them. I was on Top Gear when the Elise was launched and I did a lot of filming with it. However, the Boxster is one of the most amazingly complete bits of engineering to drive – it’s awesome. So even for me to decide which I would prefer, let alone the judges, is a real challenge.
ccw
so what is it about your choices that you think makes them special?
ar
I think it’s about the social history. I mean, take the Mustang, its story, the backdrop of the Edsel fiasco, Lee Iacocca having this idea which he has to put his neck on the block for, it’s like a drama – you could make it into a film!
VBH
For this series we’ve been afforded incredible access to archives. Take Porsche – there’s footage of motor shows when the 911 was first shown, of the 911 being made in clay models. This is footage that I have never seen before. This series shows you that, so I think anyone who’s got an interest in cars will find the story of the cars that they’re passionate about fascinating. New stuff will be learned, but in terms of what makes our choices important, in the case of the 911 I think that it’s the fact that you can still buy one today.
ar
You can still buy a Mustang, too! Ten. Million. Sold! The early 911… have a look behind the bumper – there are lead weights to stop it from crashing! It’s a death trap! Even for a driver of your ability, Vicki, you’d struggle to catch one of these on a wet hillside in November!
VBH
Yeah, yeah, whatever. Shall we move on?
ccw
Probably for the best! so there are six episodes in the series and alex, we understand that you’re currently in the lead?
ar
Vicki tries her best, but really, you know, the cars that I’m advocating are the best, so for the episodes we’ve shot, I am ahead.
VBH
I think you’ll find the judges need to be sacked. That, or Alex has just been unbelievably lucky. I’m hoping to win overall. We’ll have to wait and see.