18 replies to this topic

[Zoony]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but it is something that has been nagging at my brain for a couple of weeks.

 

I definitely remember that there was a 1970s British TV drama series that included a short piece of footage of a JPS Lotus 76 in its main title sequence every week, but I can't remember what the series was.

 

I know that The Persuaders featured a short piece of F1 footage that included a March in its title sequence illustrating that one of the characters, Lord Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore), had 'taken part in the British Grand Prix'. The JPS 76 (and it was a 76, not a 72) featured in the titles of a similar sort of programme, the implication being that the lead character also 'dabbled in F1' to give him added glamour. The footage showed the JPS 76 in action on the track, and then in close-up the driver removed a plain white helmet to reveal himself to be the main character in the series.

 

I had it in my mind that it was a series in question was called The Main Chance, which starred John Stride as a solicitor or barrister, but I recently watched an episode of that on Talking Pictures TV, and there was no sign of the Lotus in the titles, which turned out to be just textual with no background action footage going on at all.

 

So, if it wasn't that, what was the TV series I'm thinking about? Does anyone remember? It really is 'doing my head in' now...

[Nemo1965]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but it is something that has been nagging at my brain for a couple of weeks.

 

I definitely remember that there was a 1970s British TV drama series that included a short piece of footage of a JPS Lotus 76 in its main title sequence every week, but I can't remember what the series was.

 

I know that The Persuaders featured a short piece of F1 footage that included a March in its title sequence illustrating that one of the characters, Lord Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore), had 'taken part in the British Grand Prix'. The JPS 76 (and it was a 76, not a 72) featured in the titles of a similar sort of programme, the implication being that the lead character also 'dabbled in F1' to give him added glamour. The footage showed the JPS 76 in action on the track, and then in close-up the driver removed a plain white helmet to reveal himself to be the main character in the series.

 

I had it in my mind that it was a series in question was called The Main Chance, which starred John Stride as a solicitor or barrister, but I recently watched an episode of that on Talking Pictures TV, and there was no sign of the Lotus in the titles, which turned out to be just textual with no background action footage going on at all.

 

So, if it wasn't that, what was the TV series I'm thinking about? Does anyone remember? It really is 'doing my head in' now...

 

There was one episode of The Persuaders in which Sinclair (Roger Moore) actually competes in the British GP, in a Sinclair Special. Indeed a March.  Regarding the series you mention: could it not be that the title sequence was later changed, for example because of copyright infringement? Or that the censoring board of the BBC thought that using a tobacco-clad car in a tv-series was a bit much? 

Edited by Nemo1965, 03 April 2022 - 17:54.

[john aston]

Roger Moore in an F 1 car ? I bet that caused  eyebrows to be raised... or one,  at least 

[Stephen W]

Roger Moore in an F 1 car ? I bet that caused  eyebrows to be raised... or one,  at least 

 

Actually Roger Moore "drove" a Lola T190 at Silverstone which doubled as a March 701 at the 1970 British GP at Brands! 

[BRG]

I think you have nailed it, although this show seems to have passed me by without making even the slightest impact on my failing memory banks.  

[Collombin]

And it starred John Stride, hence the possible reason for thinking of The Main Chance.

[Tim Murray]

I wonder which Lotus 76 it was - perhaps 76/2, which was loaned to David Render in 1976/77? According to the Lotus 76 car-by-car histories on ORC, 76/1 was retained by the Chapman family until 2002.

[Zoony]

Might be 'Wilde Alliance'?

https://www.dvdplane...eries-original/

 

Well, that looks to be pretty conclusive Malcolm. Thank you very much!

 

The mind is a weird thing, because although I distinctly remember the 76 in the titles, and I remembered The Main Chance, I could swear that I've never even heard of The Wilde Alliance...

 

Now I will have to ask TPTV if they can run the series.

[Nemo1965]

Well, that looks to be pretty conclusive Malcolm. Thank you very much!

 

The mind is a weird thing, because although I distinctly remember the 76 in the titles, and I remembered The Main Chance, I could swear that I've never even heard of The Wilde Alliance...

 

Now I will have to ask TPTV if they can run the series.

 

I'm so relieved. Because you posted this, it became a very quick obsession with me as well.

[john winfield]

The original intro to The Persuaders shows a short clip of the early stages of the 1970 British GP, the March 701s of Ronnie Peterson and Jo Siffert, Dan Gurney in the McLaren etc.. There was so little F1 on television in those days that those credits were a real treat!   I can't decide whether the car in the newspaper cutting that precedes the GP clip is a Lotus 49 or a Formula 2 Tecno. (Message to self - it doesn't matter).

[Bloggsworth]

I seem to recall the plot involved in shooting out a tyre along the bottom straight at Brands Hatch - Some sniping! I think The Main Chance was an ITV series.

[Nigel Beresford]

The original intro to The Persuaders shows a short clip of the early stages of the 1970 British GP, the March 701s of Ronnie Peterson and Jo Siffert, Dan Gurney in the McLaren etc.. There was so little F1 on television in those days that those credits were a real treat!.

A treat massively enhanced by the exquisite John Barry theme tune.

[Collombin]

I seem to recall the plot involved in shooting out a tyre along the bottom straight at Brands Hatch - Some sniping!

That was an episode of The Saint.

[Dave Ware]

I used to watch The Persuaders on T.V. here in the States.  I think that show is why I've always liked the Jensen Interceptor. 

[BRG]

Jensen Interceptor?  I thought the cars were a Ferrari Dino and an Aston Martin DBS?

[Glengavel]

I used to watch The Persuaders on T.V. here in the States.  I think that show is why I've always liked the Jensen Interceptor. 

 

Are you thinking of The Protectors, which featured an Interceptor?

[Stephen W]

The TV series "The Baron" featured a Jenson CV8 Mk 2 driven by Steve Forrest the American actor in the lead role.

[Dave Ware]

Are you thinking of The Protectors, which featured an Interceptor?

Yes, that must be it. Watched the intro but wasn’t sure if that was an Aston or a Jensen...apologies for my lack of recognition. Persuaders, Protectors, both start with “P”......

[Bloggsworth]

Yes, that must be it. Watched the intro but wasn’t sure if that was an Aston or a Jensen...apologies for my lack of recognition. Persuaders, Protectors, both start with “P”......

With my prostate almost everything starts with a P...