In 1992, the UK car TV show pinnacle was still Top Gear. However, it came in a slightly different guise as it does in the modern day. The standard of drifting supercars and high-octane action brought in by the Clarkson, Hammond and May era was not on the agenda. Instead, a younger Clarkson, Tiff Needell and Quentin Wilson, among others, would lean more toward the consumer advice side of things, which is no bad thing.
However, on the other side of the world, the Japanese car scene was booming and their TV shows were more than a match for the UK. Much more in line with the modern Top Gear, Japan’s show ‘Best Motoring’ was taking the best supercars in the world and properly putting them through their paces on mountain roads, or a ‘touge.’ This clip is a perfect example of just how crazy their line-ups could be.
Now, we’ll admit our Japanese language skills are pretty much non-existent, but that doesn’t matter when the cars do all the talking. After the first minute or so where we don’t have a clue what they are talking about, we are then greeted with a Ferrari F40 flying up that mountain road complete with pedal-cam… a slight improvement on Quentin Wilson’s three most frugal diesels.
The show proceeds to throw in some RUF CTR, Ferrari 512 TR and NSX action to cement the fact that Japan ruled the ‘90s. If you aren’t convinced already, the jumper the presenter is wearing at 8:26 will certainly seal the deal.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Ultimate noughties hot hatch battle at Spa Francorchamps
Ferrari
F40
Honda
NSX
512
RUF
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