Jeremy Clarkson has spoken of his frustration at the decision to scrap and sell a number of popular vehicles from the original BBC series of Top Gear.
The World of Top Gear exhibition at Beaulieu closed on Sunday, November 3 last year, despite the popularity of the feature with petrolheads and Top Gear fans.
Since it opened in June 2009, over five million visitors have attended the exhibition dedicated to the vehicles and adventures featured on the legendary BBC programme.
However, since its closure, reports state that some of the vehicles included in the show have been scrapped since they were “too run-down to restore or to sell into private hands”.
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Jeremy Clarkson has spoken of his disappointment at some Top Gear vehicles being scrapped
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According to The Sun, Jeremy Clarkson’s classic Fiat Panda, which was converted into a make-shift limo, as well as James May’s iconic caravan airship have both been scrapped.
Jeremy Clarkson said it was a shame that some of the vehicles used on Top Gear could no longer be exhibited at the National Motor Museum.
The host of Clarkson’s Farm said: “I’m sad that many have been destroyed. I guess the problem is some people see cars as just a ton-and-a-half of glass, plastic, metal and rubber.
“But to petrolheads, they’re more than that. That’s especially true of cars we used on Top Gear,” he told The Sun.
The World of Top Gear exhibition closed in November last year
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Another vehicle included on the scrappage list was a Mini Cooper used in the Top Gear 2006 Winter Olympics special, in which it attempted the first-ever car ski jump.
Richard Porter, a former Top Gear producer, posted on social media site X that most of the vehicles are being “re-homed”.
However, he clarified: “They can’t be sold, even for charity, for various reasons, not least liability.”
Social media commenters spoke of their disappointment that the vehicles were not being sold to collectors or for the sake of charity, rather than being scrapped.
Some said that they understood the dangers of having collectors using the vehicles, while others said it was sad that the exhibition was closing after such a long time.
One commenter said: “This is shocking! History gone.” Meanwhile, another wrote: “I didn’t even know it existed, I would have liked to see that. What a shame, I’m sure they could have raised a few quid.”
Prior to the closure, Jon Tee, head of visitor experience and operations at Beaulieu said they were “delighted” to have welcomed millions of visitors to the exhibition.
He added: “Its closure paves the way for new opportunities, allowing us to evolve and offer fresh experiences to our guests, of which we look forward to announcing further news early next year.
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The BBC confirmed that some of the vehicles would be exhibited again in the near future
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“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the BBC and the Top Gear brand and look forward to continuing that relationship and bringing future opportunities to Beaulieu for visitors to engage with content from the Top Gear online community and magazine.”
BBC Studios said: “We have rehomed the majority of the show’s iconic vehicles from the now-closed World of Top Gear exhibition at the National Motor Museum, and we’re pleased to confirm that many of them will be available for public viewing at a soon to be announced new location.”
