Quote of the Week · every quote checked against an official source
Quote of the Week
Plenty of "Clarkson quotes" online were never said by Clarkson. Ours come with a link to an official clip or page so you can hear them yourself. If we can't verify a quote, we don't use it.
Weekly
Week of Nov 2, 2026
I really think that today I have seen the future and it comes from 1963.
Jeremy Clarkson · Top Gear, series 10, episode 3 · first aired Oct 28, 2007
Our take: The future in question had a 49cc moped engine and no reverse gear, so it could only go forwards. As futures go, we've seen worse.
Verify it: Official Top Gear clip: The Smallest Car in the World · Peel P50 in the Quirk Database
From the vault
Older favourites from the archive, newest broadcast first, each checked the same way.
From the vaultTop Gear S15 E4
So I know it's quarter to, I just don't know what it's quarter to to.
James May · Top Gear, series 15, episode 4 · first aired Jul 18, 2010
Our take: The most honest review of 1980s car electrics ever broadcast. Half a clock is still more than some of our Quirk DB cars came with.
Verify it: Official Top Gear Classic clip: The Ultimate Motorhomes Challenge · The campervans, in the Garage of Bad Ideas
From the vaultTop Gear S15 E1
I'm 50 years old. I'm on my side on a street in Sheffield.
Jeremy Clarkson · Top Gear, series 15, episode 1 · first aired Jun 27, 2010
Our take: Two sentences that sum up the Reliant Robin's whole reputation. In fairness, Reliant never claimed it handled like a car with four wheels.
Verify it: Official Top Gear clip: Rolling a Reliant Robin · Reliant Robin in the Quirk Database
From the vaultTop Gear S14 E3
It is still a caravan. It's just a flying caravan.
James May · Top Gear, series 14, episode 3 · first aired Nov 29, 2009
Our take: Technically correct, which is the best kind of correct. It also went backwards in a 13-knot headwind, which caravans normally only do on hills.
Verify it: Official Top Gear Classic clip: James May Causes An Aviation Nightmare · The caravan airship, in the Garage of Bad Ideas
From the vaultTop Gear S3 E5
I'd tried careless driving. So I thought I'd try a spot of careless parking.
Jeremy Clarkson · Top Gear, series 3, episode 5 · first aired Nov 23, 2003
Our take: The truck went missing in the sea for five hours and still started. We've had rental cars that couldn't survive a car wash.
Verify it: Official Top Gear clip: Killing a Toyota Part 1 · The Indestructible Hilux, in the Garage of Bad Ideas
Quotes are short excerpts for commentary, credited to the speaker and programme and linked to an official source. Not affiliated with the BBC, Top Gear, Amazon or The Grand Tour.