Lights, camera, traction! Beaulieu hosts new ITV show The Car Years
THE National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is the host for new TV show The Car Years which started screening its first series this week.
The museum – with its world-famous collection of more than 250 vehicles telling the story of motoring history – will host presenters Vicki Butler-Henderson and Alex Riley as they go head-to-head with their favourite cars from chosen years.
The Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and its stunning grounds and gardens are also featured during the six-episode series.
Beaulieu commercial director Steve Munn said: “We have been pleased to host The Car Years filming and look forward to working with the production team on future series.
“As the home of British motoring, Beaulieu is the perfect setting for the new show which celebrates some of the most popular cars in automotive history.”
Starting with an ITV4 double-bill on Tuesday, Vicki pitched the iconic Porsche 911 sports car against Alex‘s Ford Mustang muscle car from 1964. Then for 1984, Vicky chose the turbo powered Ford RS200 while Alex picked Miami Vice favourite the Ferrari Testarossa.
Winners of the car battles shown at 8pm every Tuesday are picked by judges including former F1 drivers and broadcasters Tiff Needell and Karun Chandhok, motoring writers and presenters Erin Baker and Quentin Willson, former Top Gear Stig and stunt driver Ben Collins, motoring author and vlogger Richard Porter and world-renowned motoring auctioneer Chris Routledge.
Later in the series, the British MGA sports car driven by the likes of Elvis Presley is pitted against the Hollywood favourite Mercedes 190SL from 1955, while the world-beating Audi Quattro is set against Alex’s childhood hero the Renault 5 Turbo from 1980.
