Tiff Needell's First Racing Car - Fifth Gear 

When he said he won the car 45 Years ago, I was like did he win it when he was 10 ? Then when he said he was in university at the time I had to check how old he is. Turns out he is 67. If I am honest he doesn't look a day older than 55.

So Tiff didn't become a racing driver because his rich daddy helped him out? That's not how it usually works. He could only do it because he won this car? Awesome, I've always had time for Tiff, he seems like a really decent bloke, but he just went up in my estimation - what a bloody hero.

That prize, all those years ago, could not have been won by a better person. It sparked Tiffs successful racing career, allowed all of us to enjoy his TV presenting and left a slot open for another civil engineer. Things could not have worked out better if they were planned by a strategist. Now I want to know about the gorgeous VBH and her start in racing

Who’s here after enjoying Tiff’s Morris Traveller video?

Wow, it's so amazing that Lotus used to give a full blown racing car as a prize!!

Tiff is a good guy in person aswell, Met him a few years ago.

#69, 420 kilos. the memes are too dank with this one, lads

Very cool and inspiring story.

Tiff is the man. If they remake top gear he should be on it

Tiff studied civil engineering just like me!!!! Now i like him even more :D. VIVA TIFF

I like the idea of mixed model racing, based around power-to-weight ratios. Aussie ran a 'Nations cup' without the power-to-weight matchup a few seasons back and it was very interesting to see how a whole bunch of fast and exotic cars dealt with their own strengths and weaknesses throughout a lap. One make races are like watching paint dry, by comparison to endless lead swaps.

That Lotus looks incredible... the engine sounds sweet and revvy, the handling looks alive! Wow. Really, really wow.

Mario Andretti rove a Lotus 69 Ford F5000 at Sebring, December,1969. A DNF Gearbox. He pulled over just after The Hairpin, messing about with the gear change lever. Got out and came thru a gap in the snow fence, where we usually camped, after 1967. I handed him a glass of cold German white wine... offered up some beef stroganoff.. I was the cook for our entourage He admired our Ducati 250 Diana on the trailer, with a NSU 501 rat bike we had built out of a Mustang scooter.. and then headed off to the pits.. Via the new bridge.. We would see him win there in March SEFAC 512S Then in 1972, SEFAC 312PB... HERO! Gus Hutchinson Brabham BT-26 Cosworth shared the two heat race with David Hobbs, Surtees TS something... Friend Tony a2z would also DNF but was crowned Champion in his Eagle 500 F5000... An ill advised switch from Chevy to Ford.. Swede Savage would lead the races, but ran out of gas! Eagle-Plymouth... Those were the days.. J.C.

I loved this video, thanks so much!

Legendary story!

Tiff is one of the baddest EVER.

Always love Tiff. Anytime he’s in a car your in for a treat.

Legendary story and great video 👍

These cars are beyond fun, I setup a 1989 Reynard for some historic racing guys, awesome fun and probably the best racing out...

Tiff is a lucky man. I would love to hear what it was like to race back then and what safety improvements were made to the cars to improve survivability. During the 60's, drivers were considered expendable and not long for this world.

Great person.

So amazing!

My 1st car and one of the best that Britain has produced! Slept in the back when rock climbing in North Wales. Great days.

this is your best video

Tiff is the Stig

As old as this video is, I doubt you'll read this. I raced a Lotus 61 FF for a decade in west coast USA historic races. I ALWAYS wanted to get my hands on a Lotus 69. It seems they never performed to their potential against the Mk6 Titans. I always wondered... WHY?! The '61' was the final evolution of the Lotus 20 formula Junior, whereas the '69 was designed from a clean sheet of paper. So why wouldn't it perform??? I can't say, I never got my hands on one. Such is fate, hey? OH, did I fail to mention, I won seven consecutive championships in my age old Lotus 61, between 2003 and 2009. Of interest, my car changed hands twice, and then ended up in Belgium. That latest owner tracked me down and asked for setup data. I told him the car had been restored to original 1969 specs, and nothing I could tell him would work. The car was 61/FF/79....

I love the story...love the car as well. brilliant!

Tiff you say you won But we also all won, for without you winning the competition we may have never had our favourite driver of all times, me personally I'd rather watch you putting a Dell boy's 3 wheeler through its paces than all drivers of the top gear team, driving their super cars you drive with your heart mate full of enthusiasm n passion cause you love what your doing n it really shows, If only things where different n Senna was with us retired from F1 you 2 would have made the greatest car show on earth by far keep safe mate, n keep driving ops n many thanks for all the pleasures you gave us

great video

I really loved it 😍💕

Them cars back then weren't much bigger than a go cart. But had tons of power. That had to be fun.

My granddad an nanna met each other doing Formula Ford in Australia. She was a beauty model and he was an apprentice mechanic. And they went hammer and tong together around the race tracks, and when she met an English man who had a new engine she decided to have a go in it. She may of crashed it on her second lap, but the guy was only interested if she was alright which she was.

I wish company's still did competitions like these :(

This proves a point that is very valid to modern day road cars, get rid of all the superfluous weight such as airbags, impact beams, electric windows, Traction control, power steering etc etc and you could easily see a 1 litre petrol engine developing 75bhp do 70,80,90 even 100mpg on a motorway run. my old Astra MKII was 880kg and its 1300cc carburettor engine managed 55mpg and this was back in the early 90s.

I absolutely love lotus

I'm surprised how Uncle Tiff aging body and brain is not lagging at all.

Fifth Gear do you give permission for other RU-vid channels to use your content? There seem to be alot of your videos appearing on other channels.

Great comment on lightness winnng the day Tiff... ACBC would have liked that

"It's still a lotus" Lmfao...

he sounds like kermit the frog when he wears a helmet

Keep it simple and then add lightness

For more of the driving experience ( in a newer version but still a similar effect ) watch the vid On track with a Formula Ford 1600 How to Drive - Episode 5 on the channel Motor Sport

Wonder what time Tiff could have done in the Elise?

I didn't win this car but did enter the competition.

I want to own Vintage F1s😍

Yestercars..When I was a young man ..I ever had 1969 the Cortina 1600E /GT OHV - KENT CROSSFLOW the engine with WEBBER Twin downdraught !?!

Tiff now owns his old car

Making me want to get a crossflow cup Formula ford even more.

what i nice story.

We miss tiff on 5th gear

I would love to own one, or a similar vehicle, does anyone know where I might be able to find one in the US?

Here is another vid of the car: " HOW THIS CAR CHANGED MY LIFE - TIFF NEEDELL. Morris 1000 Traveller full story. " On the channel " Lovecars " Newer car but still in the spirit " On track with a Formula Ford 1600 | How to Drive - Episode 5 " on the channel " Motor Sport "

"to add speed, add lightness"

What were the lap times when you swapped cars Tiff!😎 You did swapped cars?🧐

Wow, What a beautiful Formula 1, I want one - just one :)

I have switched to fifth gear instead of giving any interest to top gear

What did he have to do to win it ???

Not really a surprising outcome. Even the slowest of the formula cars (Vee, F500, Ford, Atlantic, Star Mazda, F2000) will still run circles around the todays' gathering of fast fendered production sports cars, especially at a twisty track.

It had to be car #69 hadn't it...

He was behind after half a lap compared to the lotus, then somehow pulled back over a second and a half in the latter stages of the lap! That's interesting and very impressive

If Tiff Needell was in his prime..... then that gap might have been bigger. Unless that Elise driver also became younger.

so the 69F weighs 420 kilos. interesting

heheh car #69

First comment goes to me 3 rd view..ahahaa

Weight and poise win every time. Power is for the stupid.

Smells fishy

1000 pounds in 1967 is equal to 25,000 in 2015...not hardly. Stick to engineering not economics.

The "Aleez"? Can you not pronounce a basic name?

I want to own Vintage F1s😍