Clangers

The Clangers are back for another dive into the automotive graveyard, and there are still plenty of ghosts rattling around. In Part 2 of our dead brands special, we dig up even more forgotten names from the late ‘90s and early 2000s… the ones that fell through the cracks, quietly disappeared, or probably should have known better.Before that, as tradition demands, we check in with Craig to find out what he’s bought (or offloaded) this week – featuring yet more questionable life choices and an MX-5 saga that involves a bit of “pass the roadster.”Then it’s onto the main event: From the bizarre to the brilliant (and occasionally both), we revisit marques like Marcos, Jensen, Lancia (sort of), and Maybach, plus tales of rallying a Lada Niva, a Proton with a fax in the glovebox, and the general chaos of brands that didn’t quite make it. Why did they fail? Were they misunderstood? Or were they doomed from the start?Expect nostalgia, mild disbelief, and the usual Clangers-level tangents.We wrap up by teeing up next week’s episode: cars that weren’t winners when new, but have since become unlikely heroes (think BMW Z8, Ford Puma Racing, and more).Got a Clanger we should cover? Let us know!Follow us on Instagram @clangerspod or find Clangers Podcast on Facebook.And if you enjoy the pod, please subscribe and leave a review—it helps more than you think (and yes, our egos too). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloomin' eck, we've made it to episode 11. To celebrate, we're donning our black arm bands to remember the Clangers brands that no longer grace the car scene. Among others, we remember (with varying degrees of fondness) the likes of Saab, Daihatsu and Daewoo, and recall the time that we gave one of TVR's head honchos a pink Charade in exchange for a week in a Cerbera. All this plus Craig's head gasket-busting new purchases. Entertainment guaranteed... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we've opted to call number 10, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss one of Craig's all-time favourite cars - the Mercedes W211. Or rather, Craig waxes lyrical about it while Tom and Mike list the (many) reasons why they would choose something else. Even the depressed Alfa 159 gets a mention. The team also found out what crate Craig has bought in the past week and recount more banal stories about the good old days. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're defying all logic to call episode 9, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss cars that defined performance car motoring in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Subaru Impreza Turbo and Mitsubishi EVO took over from the hot-hatch as the ultimate sporting family cars. With supercar performance and actual rally-bred mechanicals, these beasts graced the cover of car magazines for years. This week, we also discuss the most calamitous group test ever and discover why one of Craig's old smokers had the ability to change its own oil....And, of course, we discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we've been advised by the police to call episode 8, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the pint-sized Clangers that tugged at our heart strings. Among the tiddlers talked about are the Ford Ka, Volkswagen Lupo, Fiat Cinquecento (briefly) and the SEAT Arosa. We also discover how Tom and Craig forged a dubious connection with pop legends A-Ha and why a brown envelope with £4k in cash gave us the scoop of our careers. We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're calling episode 7 for legal reasons, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the almost-too-many-to-count Clangers that owed their existence to the Volkswagen Group's PQ34 platform - aka the Golf platform. Including (but not limited to), the Audi A3, Škoda Octavia, VW Beetle and Bora and the SEAT Leon and Toledo.We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode known under its codename of episode 6, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss their favourite topless models - and decide whether the MGF and the BMW Z3 are worthy members of the Clangers Hall of Fame. Is Rover's cobbled together MGF greater the sum of its (Metro) parts, and was the BMW Z3 overrated? We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're reluctantly calling episode 5, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the Range Rover L322 (which inexplicably has a hex on Tom and Craig) and the BMW 7-Series - the first Bangle-era beemer. We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks.Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're cryptically titling episode 4, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the small German cars that proved masters of their own downfall – the Mercedes A-Class (which fell foul of an Elk) and the Audi A2, (which fell foul of the accountants). We also discover what new crate(s) Mr Craig Cheetham has acquired this week. What larks. Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the episode we're marketing to global markets as episode 3, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the merits and (many) failings of the Fiesta Mk6 (or Mk5 depending on location) and the rebooted MINI R50 - often referred to as the BMW Mini (although Craig takes issue with that.) We also discover what new crate Craig has acquired this week. Join in on Instagram @clangerspod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the show we're logically calling Episode 2, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the Jaguar X-Type and the Rover 75 – two great cars that managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. We discuss what went right (not much) and what went wrong with these two prestige British clangers. Follow us:http://www.instagram.com/clangerspodMessage us:[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this, the first actual episode, Tom, Craig and Mike discuss the shoe-eating capabilities of the Peugeot 206 and how not to run one cheaply. The Citroen AX tugs at our heart-strings and we discover what crates Craig has bought this week. Follow us:http://www.instagram.com/clangerspodMessage us:[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special pilot episode, clangers devotees Tom, Craig and Mike discuss (among many things) the mighty Nissan Micra K11 and the Citroen Xsara (including 'lively' VTS version) and found out what pile of trouble Craig has picked up this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.