Perfect pairings

If you’re a TV comedy fan, the chances are that you watched at least one of the new series starring Alan Partridge, the BBC’s bumbling broadcaster. Did you enjoy it? Here at desperateseller.co.uk, we certainly did, though we felt it wasn’t quite up to the eye-wateringly funny standards of the first series. We’re not sure why. Perhaps it was because of a lack of subtle-but-brilliant visual metaphors, like Partridge’s car. In case you’ve forgotten, his car in the first series was a light brown Rover 800, the perfect (we always thought) symbol for the man himself – well-intentioned, but bland and clumsy.

But it set us thinking: how many other TV series over the years have used a motor vehicle to reflect the personality of the main character? Now, we’re not experts in TV culture, and there are probably hundreds of examples (you’ll no doubt be able to think of your own), but it seems to us that there are several that stand out from the crowd.

Remember, for instance, The Saint? Possibly, the programme (late 60s) was before your time, but the main character was played by a young, pre-Bond Roger Moore. Perhaps Moore, with that famous halo over his head, was the star of the show, but the sleek Swedish sports coupé (a Volvo P1800) he drove was a close second. One of the best-looking cars of the 60s, it was the automotive equivalent of Roger Moore, and its appearance in the show cemented its iconic status. In fact, Moore loved it so much, he bought one.

Or take the Lotus Elan, the chosen car of Emma Peel, John Steed’s sidekick in The Avengers. Was there ever a car which better represented its fictional owner – a modern young woman of the 60s who was sparky, quick witted and self-assured? It’s hard to think of one.

Hard, but not impossible. In fact, we’ve just thought of one: the Ford Granada, driven by Regan and Carter in The Sweeney. An essential part of the Flying Squad’s pursuit of criminals, the V6-powered Consul 3000 GT model was a itself a bit of a bruiser - just like the character played by John Thaw. Was it an accident that the car was coloured copper brown – an appropriate colour for, er, coppers?

And, talking of coppers, remember Morse – that old-school detective, living and working in the highly picturesque city of Oxford and its surrounds. With such a classical and cerebral setting, the casting of a 60s Mk II Jaguar was perhaps inevitable, despite the fact that the Mk II was widely used in films and TV in the 60s, as transport both for cops and robbers.

We could go on - now we’ve started, we’ve thought of lots more great examples of cars which were perfect for the characters they were paired with. But we won’t (go on, we mean). Instead, we’ll leave you to think up your own, and finish with what is, arguably, an even better pairing than Alan Partridge and his Rover. We’re referring to Del and Rodney’s Reliant Regal Supervan. Brilliant! Oh, and while you’ll be familiar with the characters and their car, here’s a bit of trivia you may not know - one of the two back-up’ vans used by the BBC was sold to boxer Ricky Hatton, reportedly for over £44,000! Find your perfect pairing from our wide selection of used cars for sale on DesperateSeller.co.uk!