Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Richard Hammond, a known fan of dogs, spent the off-season agreeing to host the next installment of Crufts, which he would do so in March 2005, a full year later. As a result, he had decided to restore some of his lost dignity by buying a "new" car, in this case a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 R/T. Its noisy 7.2L 440ci V8 with over 365 BHP contrasts heavily against the comparatively peaceful English countryside, as Hammond introduces the segment by stating its a big day for him, as it's his first day driving the car and he feels nervous. He presents a brief history on the Charger, citing it as the definitive muscle car with over 300,000 produced. Even though it was as big as "Texas", Dodge found great success with the Charger in a racing context, being the first car to surpass 200 MPH in NASCAR. He compares it to the Mustang, deeming it cooler because bad guys drove them, and proved itself more durable than the latter as its suspension withstood the rough handling it saw during production of Bullitt. Hammond then reviews the handling of the Charger, dismissing the brakes, which are made of "chewing gum", and the steering which is rudimentary. He then maps out the area of his garage in an area of dirt, finding that the car fits, but he is unable to exit without hitting the "walls" of the makeshift garage. He concludes the segment by driving his new purchase to an American-style Saloon, where its patrons are fully engaged in line-dancing.
Richard Hammond, a known fan of dogs, spent the off-season agreeing to host the next installment of Crufts, which he would do so in March 2005, a full year later. As a result, he had decided to restore some of his lost dignity by buying a "new" car, in this case a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 R/T. Its noisy 7.2L 440ci V8 with over 365 BHP contrasts heavily against the comparatively peaceful English countryside, as Hammond introduces the segment by stating its a big day for him, as it's his first day driving the car and he feels nervous. He presents a brief history on the Charger, citing it as the definitive muscle car with over 300,000 produced. Even though it was as big as "Texas", Dodge found great success with the Charger in a racing context, being the first car to surpass 200 MPH in NASCAR. He compares it to the Mustang, deeming it cooler because bad guys drove them, and proved itself more durable than the latter as its suspension withstood the rough handling it saw during production of Bullitt. Hammond then reviews the handling of the Charger, dismissing the brakes, which are made of "chewing gum", and the steering which is rudimentary. He then maps out the area of his garage in an area of dirt, finding that the car fits, but he is unable to exit without hitting the "walls" of the makeshift garage. He concludes the segment by driving his new purchase to an American-style Saloon, where its patrons are fully engaged in line-dancing.
