Jeremy Clarkson once drove one of the world's most expensive cars across Europe for a show that wasn't Top Gear
Published on Oct 07, 2025 at 2:43 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 07, 2025 at 11:48 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Jeremy Clarkson once toured Europe in a Jaguar E-Type for a BBC show that actually preceded Top Gear as we know it.
A lot of people might not be familiar with the show, probably because it’s quite old and it was then overshadowed by Top Gear, which is what made Clarkson really famous.
The show featured several European countries and one of the original E-Types, one of the world’s rarest cars.
Sadly, for at least two reasons, a show like that probably wouldn’t get made today.
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This show preceded Top Gear as we know it
Top Gear is older than we think.
It first aired in 1977, but it was totally different back then.
The show, as we know it, began in 2002, when Jeremy Clarkson and his right-hand man, Andy Wilman, decided to revive the show with a totally new format, with a stronger focus on entertainment and fun.
Right before relaunching ‘new’ Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC launched a different program.
It was titled Jeremy Clarkson: Meets the Neighbours.
The idea was to tour six European countries at the wheel of a Jaguar E-Type to talk about motoring habit, and cultures, but also a lot more besides.
Which is just like he did in the show Motorworld.
Clarkson drove a Jaguar E-Type across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Why Jeremy Clarkson: Meets the Neighbours wouldn’t get made today
There are two main reasons why a show like this would probably not be greenlit today.
First, there are YouTubers who are already doing this, usually with significant budgets and total creative freedom.
With that in mind, production companies probably wouldn’t want to invest time and money in a format that’s no longer suited for television.
Second, and this is the key element, the E-Type would make the whole trip a lot more stressful.
The E-Type is a rare and expensive car, which means that finding one that you can use like a ‘mule’ for a show like that wouldn’t be easy or cheap.
But, more importantly, driving a car as old as the E-Type is now – generally speaking – illegal in some European cities, mostly due to various emission-related restrictions.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
