Paul gets into Top Gear for bizarre TV challenge

2:20pm Thursday 11th May 2006

TRANSFORMING a VW camper van into a narrowboat was the bizarre challenge issued to a boat-building firm by popular TV show Top Gear.

The efforts of M&P Steelcraft Ltd, based at Hilperton, will be featured on the BBC2 show later this month. The family firm was approached by the show and agreed to take on the mammoth task of making the camper van into a vehicle that could be taken onto the water.

Managing director Paul Wells said: "We only had a short time to do it and it was hard work. We were quite glad to see the back of it by then. "But it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we can look back now and have a chuckle. We did enjoy it and it was nice to be asked by the BBC. They could easily have gone to a much, much bigger boat builder but they chose to ask us."

The firm was approached by the BBC at the beginning of March and invited up to London for a meeting with Top Gear's producers and presenter James May. On March 13, the camper van was delivered to the firm at Hilperton Marsh Farm. In the diary he kept of the experience, Mr Wells said: "At approximately 8pm we had our first glimpse of the ebay-purchased horror.

"With lights blaring and engine knocking it stumbled towards our yard. Oh my God' was the first initial thought that entered everyone's mind and the Top Gear driver looked as if he had run the gauntlet with death itself."

Two days later the film crew arrived at the yard along with presenter Richard Hammond to record their progress with the project. The team had to fit a bow and stern to the van, removing exhaust and breather systems to above water level and moving the lights so the vehicle would still be roadworthy.

After overcoming various obstacles including the wrong parts being delivered and a resultant search of the scrapyards of Wiltshire for a new engine. Finally the van/narrowboat was loaded on a transported and taken to North Staffordshire to be filmed taking its maiden voyage on the picturesque waters of Lake Rudyard.

• The finished result and whether or not it proved lake worthy' will be shown during the Top Gear series. The show is on every Sunday at 8pm.