"They had provoked anger by using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which politicians and army veterans suggested could be seen to refer to the Falklands conflict."
"The executive producer of Top Gear, Andy Wilman, said: "Top Gear production purchased three cars for a forthcoming programme; to suggest that this car was either chosen for its number plate, or that an alternative number plate was substituted for the original is completely untrue."
Hmmmmm...
But.
"Local councillor Juan Manuel Romano said the digits 269 on the number plate of the Ford Mustang Mustang Richard Hammond was driving were close to the 255 Britons killed during the 1982 war. He added that the numbers 646 on James May's Lotus could be taken as a reference to the 649 Argentinian casualties."
Strokes chin.
Storm in a tea cup.
The things with numbers is they are either the same or they are not. Nearly doesn't really count.
[i]But.[/i]
I've always noticed that if people who want to look at numbers long enough they can always find some sort of connection to the point they're trying to make.
"Ah, but the number plate had 487 on it and if you multiply the 4 and the 8 and then add 7 zeros it's within a billion or so of the number of blades of grass that the Falkland Islands have on them"
etc etc
Never mind about the Falkvinas. Pay yer debts yer bleedin slackers.
My reg plate has a 10 in it which is close to the number of aircrew in a Vulcan. Previous one was 54 which is not exactly the number of miles that the Marines yomped.
I think the H982 FKL has been deliberate.
The other 2 are just nonsense. If you were going to do it, then why not get number plates that actually match?
That's nothing. I have a 56 in my number plate... Only a fool wouldn't see the link to the inaugural Eurovision contest won by those crafty Swiss songsmiths!
Surely it's Malvinas in Argentina so MLV would have been the offensive letters, no?
As an accountant, this sort of thinking would make my job so much easier..
"What do you mean it's not the right number? It's A number, that'll do, surely?"
I'm completely jaded by the 'Top Gear Bantz' that has been the hallmark of the recent series and don't doubt for a second that the three of them would have filled the segment with tired stereotypes and so on, but this,
"Local councillor Juan Manuel Romano said the digits 269 on the number plate of the Ford Mustang Mustang Richard Hammond was driving were close to the 255 Britons killed during the 1982 war. He added that the numbers 646 on James May's Lotus could be taken as a reference to the 649 Argentinian casualties."
Is definitely reaching.
That being said, if Clarkson came round my gaff I'd find any excuse to 'expel' him as well.
Surely it's Malvinas in Argentina so MLV would have been the offensive letters, no?
Not really, no. It's broadly equivalent to wandering around Mumbai calling it 'Bombay'.
Would it be hard to check the history of that Porsche - if it's been re-registered in the last few months then it's deliberate.
If not - then they've gone to a lot of trouble to locate a car with that reg.
Apparently a Porsche of that model was originally registered with that plate in 1990.
It would be disappointing if they were deliberately trying to wind the Argentinians up. I hope not as it's a great place to visit and the jingoism reflects badly on all Brits.
They deliberately try to wind up everyone, it's what they do. I wouldn't be worrying yourself over it though.
The amount of planning that goes into the Top Gear programmes is huge. H982 FKL is far too close to 1982 Falklands for it to be a coincidence, they probably even tipped off the locals so as to get a news story......... 🙄
They love that kind of thing. Provoking then getting chased around by hicks in southern USA was the most entertaining thing on that particular show.
At least he didn't drive a 911 through ****stan.
One time Hammond drove a Volvo V70 with the numberplate DFM across Scotland- we soon realised it was a reference to the Deep Fried Marsbar. So we ate his car.
As above - other two numbers - meh - H982 is much more considered, even get the patriotic 'H' bit into it too..
top gear bottle it in argentina oh the ironing
h982fkl
registered 30/05/91 to Porsche 928 gt grey 4957cc petrol
If only this wasn't contrived publicity seeking; if only the TG * can't say that word here * faced a long footsore walk along a deserted pampas highway...
Vehicle detailsVehicle make PORSCHE
Date of first registration 30 May 1991
Year of manufacture 1991
Cylinder capacity (cc) 4957cc
CO?Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Vehicle status Tax not due
Vehicle colour GREY
Taken from the Vehicle enquiry service [url= https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ ]HERE[/url]
Seems like genuine enough info. FKL originates in the Maidstone area IIRC and the age is right for an H reg car.
Septic peg would be proud of some of the tenuous links to numbers and letters made there.
Of all the cars with all of the reg numbers, TG chose that one.
bbc news now reporting the red car was smashed up by angry locals, hope it was insured.Licence fee money and all that.
Should have used
[img] 
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First the Mexicans, now the Argies.
Shouldn't have provoked them...but to be fair they have been getting a bit bolshie in the last couple of year's about the Falklands.
"Local councillor Juan Manuel Romano said the digits 269 on the number plate of the Ford Mustang Mustang Richard Hammond was driving were close to the 255 Britons killed during the 1982 war. He added that the numbers 646 on James May's Lotus could be taken as a reference to the 649 Argentinian casualties."
This just makes him look daft.
johndoh - Member
Apparently a Porsche of that model was originally registered with that plate in 1990.
According to the news on BBC radio this evening the car has had that plate since 2001 and it last changed hands this year. Coincidence and Argentine paranoia, I think.
Not that I'm suggesting the TG team is above stirring it.
Wait until the edit. What's the chances of the H being partially obscured?
According to the news on BBC radio this evening the car has had that plate since 2001 and it last changed hands this year. Coincidence and Argentine paranoia, I think.
You really honestly think that?
anagallis_arvensis - Member
According to the news on BBC radio this evening the car has had that plate since 2001 and it last changed hands this year. Coincidence and Argentine paranoia, I think.
You really honestly think that?
Don't know, don't really care: just what was on the radio on the way home.
Does it really matter? Just another example of stupid Brits bating foreigners, maybe. There's plenty of that going on.
Does a new series start soon?
If they Argentinians don't want to be upset by Top Gear driving around with a slightly inappropriate reg number on a Porche, , they shouldn't have invaded the Falklands in 1982.
To be fair they started it.
I'm not clicking on that.
Please tell me some of the stones/rocks/gravel actually hit him?
🙂
Meh
[IMG] 
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Not really, no. It's broadly equivalent to wandering around Mumbai calling it 'Bombay'.
Not really, no.
It's "broadly equivalent" to driving round Mumbai in a car with the reg plate H982 BMY ?
Read his account of the incident in the Sunday Times.
It appears that the offending number plate was removed whilst in Chile after it was pointed out on Twitter that it may be inappropriate.
Looks like they are going to use the footage for a Christmas Special.
Sounds like it was a prety nasty incident but they should get some decent viewing figures from it.
Coincidence my arse. The trouble with the Argentinians is they don't understand that it's just a joke. If they understood the character that Clarkson was playing I'm sure they would have laughed along.
Top gear pillocks.
Well according to the DVLC website, H982 FKL is on a Porsche, tax due May 2015, MOT due June 2015.
Richmars beat me to it.
😉
And only £230 a year to tax it!
Sounds like it was a prety nasty incident but they should get some decent viewing figures from it.
Sounded pretty horrific.
