Top Gear (1978)

Season 18: Episode 4

Car design in Eastern Europe has lagged behind the west, but with the new Lada Samara, has caught up. Sue Baker visits the Togliatti factory in central Russia, to drive one of the first righthand drive versions of the hatchback. Disabled drivers using conversions, fitted to conventional cars, are faced with a confusing range of devices. Chris Goffey visited the Mobility Roadshow to see how well the market caters for their special needs. Road safety depends on good tyres, inflated to the right pressure, but how sure can you be that the gauge is accurate? Frank Page looks at new machines that may be better. This week’s car of the decade is the Austin Seven, the first genuine car for the working person. For many people, the only accessible motor sport is ‘banger racing’. Tony Mason reports from Wimbledon on the Top Gear team’s courage and skill behind the wheel.