Moviefone App Coming Soon. Sign Up Now to Get Notified!
Top Gear

Top Gear Season 35: Episode Guide & Ratings

Season 35 Episodes

1. Episode 1

February 15th, 1996

The motoring series returns with Jeremy Clarkson marking the centenary of the British auto industry and looking at some of the world’s most luxurious saloons. Plus, Andy Willman meets car private eyes who reunite stolen cars with their owners.

2. Episode 2

February 22nd, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson mourns the passing of powerful cars such as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the Audi S2, Mazda RX-7 and Nissan 300ZX. He takes his personal favourite, the Escort Cosworth, down to an Essex racetrack to bid it farewell, joined by rally driver Gwyndaf Evans. Tiff Needell is in Daytona Beach, Florida, to celebrate the rebirth of the British sports marque Lister, driving its 200mph-plus Storm model in the gruelling 24-hour race.

3. Episode 3

February 29th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson travels to Germany to test out BMW’s new Z3, and Quentin Willson discovers an easy way to earn money when he sells a second-hand Lada Riva.

4. Episode 4

March 7th, 1996

Personalised registration plates are big business. Quentin Willson examines the history of these often-costly items and quizzes owners about their particular choices. Jeremy Clarkson tests both the road and race version of the Honda Accord, taking the latter for a spin around the track at Donnington.

5. Episode 5

March 14th, 1996

Quentin Willson drives the new mid-range Volvo S40 and V40. Steve Berry meets people obsessed with Ford Escorts, while accepted views linking cars with environmental pollution are challenged.

6. Episode 6

March 21st, 1996

The HMC Mk IV’s striking resemblance to the old Austin-Healey 3000 is a deliberate attempt to capture the essence of that classic sixties sports car while adding refinement. Quentin Willson finds out if it’s worth £43,000. Plus, Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman sample Siamese banger racing.

7. Episode 7

March 28th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson travels to deepest Gloucestershire to take part in a group car test with a difference — driving amphibious vehicles into a lake. Featured models include the Dutton Mariner and a replica of the Lamborghini Countach. Quentin Willson considers the pros and cons of buying a used VW Golf VR6, tipped to be one of the year’s most popular second-hand performance cars. Willson praises the model but advises that it may be difficult to find. And Michele Newman compares the latest small sports coupes from Honda and Toyota that have been aimed with the youth market very much in mind.

8. Episode 8

April 4th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson looks at Renault’s new Megane, which replaces the 19 model. He drives the fastest Megane, the 16-valve, 150bhp two-litre coupe. Plus, Quentin Willson checks out the Ford Escort as a second-hand buy.

9. Episode 9

April 11th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson drives two new Aston Martins — the DB7 Volante convertible and the V8 coupe. He travels to the cars’ Buckinghamshire base to ponder the future of this great British marque. Quentin Willson delivers the results of Top Gear’s third annual survey, conducted jointly with an American market research organisation, in which viewers assess the performance of their three-year-old cars. The 14,000 replies are compiled into a league table rating 72 different models.

10. Episode 10

April 18th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson runs his eye over the new BMW 5-Series, which goes on sale in Britain this week. The manufacturer hopes that it will rival the Mercedes E-Class. Plus, Quentin Willson looks at the classic style of the Saab 92.

11. Episode 11

April 25th, 1996

Maserati’s latest effort comes under the scrutiny of Jeremy Clarkson as supercar designers strive to produce a truly successful four-door saloon car. He road tests the company’s new Quattroporte model, and finds other supercars that put passengers near the top on the list of design priorities. Tiff Needell tests two modern replicas — one for racing, one for the road — of one of the most exclusive race cars ever built: the 5.0 litre Jaguar XJ 13.

12. Episode 12

May 2nd, 1996

The new Esprit is an important car for Lotus. Its brand new V8 engine could keep the company alive in the vital US market where increasingly tough emission laws will mean that the old Esprit engine is illegal. Jeremy Clarkson puts it to the test. Plus, Steve Berry finds out how big men cope with cars that were designed for Mr Average.

13. Episode 13

May 9th, 1996

Jeremy Clarkson goes to Italy to test the £350,000 Ferrari F50, the nearest thing to a Grand Prix racer to hit the road, while Tiff Needell drives the Formula 1 Ferrari that inspired it. Plus, Quentin Willson road tests the American-built Chrysler Neon.

14. Episode 14

May 16th, 1996

The series concludes with Jeremy Clarkson’s trip to the motor industry’s secret show at a Bedfordshire test track — a chance to catch up on all of the new cars Top Gear has’'t looked at in the past year. Plus, Steve Berry rides a motorbike on the Wall of Death, an original fairground attraction dreamed up as a publicity stunt.

All Seasons

Season 45

Season 45

Feb 22, 2001
Season 44

Season 44

Sep 7, 2000
Season 43

Season 43

Jan 20, 2000
Season 42

Season 42

Sep 9, 1999
Season 41

Season 41

Mar 18, 1999
Season 40

Season 40

Sep 10, 1998
Season 39

Season 39

Feb 19, 1998
Season 38

Season 38

Sep 4, 1997
Season 37

Season 37

Jan 2, 1997
Season 36

Season 36

Sep 5, 1996
Season 35

Season 35

Feb 15, 1996
Season 34

Season 34

Sep 21, 1995
Season 33

Season 33

Feb 16, 1995
Season 32

Season 32

Sep 22, 1994
Season 31

Season 31

Mar 3, 1994
Season 30

Season 30

Sep 9, 1993
Season 29

Season 29

Feb 18, 1993
Season 28

Season 28

Sep 24, 1992
Season 27

Season 27

Feb 27, 1992
Season 26

Season 26

Sep 19, 1991
Season 25

Season 25

Feb 28, 1991
Season 24

Season 24

Sep 27, 1990
Season 23

Season 23

Mar 27, 1990
Season 22

Season 22

Sep 14, 1989
Season 21

Season 21

Mar 21, 1989
Season 20

Season 20

Sep 29, 1988
Season 19

Season 19

Apr 7, 1988
Season 18

Season 18

Sep 10, 1987
Season 17

Season 17

Apr 7, 1987
Season 16

Season 16

Sep 9, 1986
Season 15

Season 15

Apr 8, 1986
Season 14

Season 14

Sep 3, 1985
Season 13

Season 13

Mar 5, 1985
Season 12

Season 12

Oct 23, 1984
Season 11

Season 11

Feb 28, 1984
Season 10

Season 10

Sep 6, 1983
Season 9

Season 9

Jan 29, 1983
Season 8

Season 8

Sep 7, 1982
Season 7

Season 7

Apr 13, 1982
Season 6

Season 6

Nov 3, 1981
Season 5

Season 5

Apr 21, 1981
Season 4

Season 4

Sep 2, 1980
Season 3

Season 3

Apr 1, 1980
Season 2

Season 2

May 1, 1979
Season 1

Season 1

Jul 13, 1978