BBC Radio Wales FM

The Tale of Two Welsh Cars

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

15/04/2017

BBC Radio Wales - The Tale of Two Welsh Cars

Take a joyride with Gareth Jones to hear the untold tale of Welsh car makers old and new.

Gareth Jones takes us for a spin in two surprising cars, one a blast from the past, the other takes us back to the future. Both were invented, designed and built in Wales.

Self-confessed Welsh petrol-head Gareth Jones (Gaz Top) steers us through the surprising story of Wales' two great car companies - one that's a blast from the past and one that's carrying us into the future.
For the first leg of the journey, Gareth takes us on a trip down memory lane to explore the history of Gilbern, a Welsh car maker who built cars in Llantwit Fardre in the 1960s and 1970s. As part of this grand tour, Gareth meets a Welsh car nut who is restoring a 1972 Gilbern Invader Estate and goes for a run in this most Welsh of sports cars from our recent past. 
For the next part of the show, a second road trip takes Gareth back to the future, which appears to lie in Llandrindod Wells, Powys. This is the base for Riversimple, a Welsh start-up company that's designing, engineering and building the next generation of personal, petrol-free transport.
Gareth takes a joyful ride in a Riversimple's Rasa prototype. It's an incredible car that is powered by the Welsh invention that took astronauts to the moon - a hydrogen fuel cell. Jones meets the main man who's driving Riversimple forward and discovers why he believes Wales is the key to his success.
Guests include: Glyn Parker a committed Welsh car-enthusiast, Hugo Spowers the head of Riversimple and Ian Smith from The National Museum Of Wales.
Written, presented & produced by Gareth Jones and made by WhizzBang for BBC Radio Wales.

BBC Radio Wales

Comprehensive News and Sport, the latest information and the best entertainment for Wales.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Tale of Two Welsh Cars

Genres

Formats

BBC Radio Wales FM

About BBC Radio Wales