Top Gear Magazine #12 was the issue of the magazine cover-dated September 1994. Published by BBC Worldwide, it contained 282 pages and was edited by the magazine's first editor, Kevin Blick.
Cover[]
Titled The Good, The Mad & The Ugly, Issue #12 of Top Gear Magazine depicted a man, humourously referred to as a "retarded individual" in the index page, on the cover. He is behind the wheel of a car with an angered expression on his face. On both of his hands are the words "Love" and "Hate".
Contents[]
The Awards[]
- 68 Awards - We'd just like to thank everyone in the motor industry who's given us so much love and hate in our first year and we'd like to give them these little tokens of our esteem.
First Steers[]
- Alfa Romeo 145 - Is it an evocative throwback to Alfa's sporting past or just a bit of a breadvan?
- Porsche 911 Tiptronic S - A car just made for button-pushers.
- Mercedes-Benz AMG SL60 - Cruising across Europe in fine style and not a Gatso camera in sight. We hope.
- Rover 620 Turbo - When you've got it there's no need to shout about it. The engine shouts for you.
- Lotus Elan S2 - It changed the rules but they gave it the bullet. Now it's back from the grave.
- SEAT Toledo GTi - Not another SEAT. But hang on, this one's got Volkswagen 16-valve power.
- Fiat Punto 6-Speed & Aprilia Extrema - Two and four-wheeled Italian teen lunacy.
Kit Kar Krazy[]
- National kit car show - A day at the annual convention of plastic dreams, skinned knuckles and canines.
- Stratos in a box - Lancia's world-beating rally special gets a kit treatment and the Clarkson treatment.
- Quantum - Got a nasty old Fiesta in the garage? You could turn it into this cute roadster.
- Brooke - We try out a couple of Brooke's top kits, including the mad green one on the right.
In Car Show Special[]
- What's InCar '94? - Where it is, what it's about, how much it costs and where to get a decent pint.
- Exhibitionists' directory - Sorry, exhibitors' directory. Who'll be there and what they'll be trying to sell.
- Booming bassheads - The definitive Top Gear glossary of audio jargon. The beginners' guide on how to understand all the right lingo.
- Win a loud car - Well, win enough top in-car hi-fi gear to blow out all the windows in your street.
Just Testing[]
- Hot hatches sans frontieres - It's a Knockout fever reaches the test department as the Italians play their joker.
- Mazda 323 V6 v Golf VR6 - Can the vee-powered Mazda beat the VR6 as top fire-breathing hatchback?
- The Italian job - Our long-term Nissan Micra gets long-distanced right down to terrifying Turin.
- Retro bike test - Five big, hairy unfaired bikes in the hands of five big, hairy uncivilised bikers.
Young Blood[]
- Underage drivers 1 - The kids have their say. Guy tests the top race games and radio-controlled cars.
- Underage drivers 2 - Too young to have a driving licence, car-mad Claire takes an Earlydrive course.
Other Stuff[]
- Hitching a ride - Carburettor freak Chris Barrie drives us to his car collection in a Ferrari Daytona.
- Long distance banger - From Land's End to John O'Groats in a £50 wreck. The Toxic Avenger lives!
- Fingertip control - Wheelchair-bound Andrew Jeffrey tries a customised Aston Martin Vantage.
- Japan - We've seen the future and it smells of raw fish. Hondas, haikus and haddock.
Routines[]
- First Gear - All the latest news.
- Crank case - A Mahindra madman.
- Steering columns - Milligan plus regulars.
- Rear view - The jelly-mould Granada.
- 10 things - Roadkill recipes. Yum.
- Gearbox - Breaking down stuff.
- Write turns - Your letters unearthed.
- Top Gear Club - Get up, get involved.
- Doctor Gentyl - and Mr Madbastard.
Car Buying[]
- Used car buyers guide - Willson's top used cars plus realistic secondhand prices.
- New car buyers guide - You want loads of new car data? Here it is.
- New cars by price - Every new car arranged by price.
- Manufacturers directory - Meet your maker or give them a call.
Trivia[]
- This was the final issue of the magazine to be priced at the original price of £2.40. It would rise by ten pence from the next issue onwards.