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The Tale of Two Welsh Cars

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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.

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