Philip is to curate a special ‘Getaway Cars’ display at the 2018 London Classic Car Show at ExCeL London (15-18 February). 
​
Famous for ‘firing up’ the Audi quattro when acting as throwback DCI Gene Hunt in Ashes to Ashes – Phil will be maximising his insider police knowledge to bring together this showcase of cars as chosen by notorious crooks to evade the law whether on celluloid or in real life.

Vehicles already on the shortlist include a number of criminal classics such as the MK1 Transit van, Jaguar Mark 2, Sierra Cosworth Sapphire and, perhaps, even a Mini Cooper S as famously employed by Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) and his gang to escape from the Carabinieri di Torino in the original Italian Job movie.

“We will take our inspiration from TV, films and real life,” said Phil who also co-presents Channel 4’s motoring show For the Love of Cars programme. “these cars need to be quick, handle well and, of course, have lots of room in the back. I’m sure we’ll have an iconic red quattro exhibited somewhere at the show, but this display will be about cars from the other side of the law. It’s pleasure to curate at such a special car show and where better to celebrate getaway cars than in East London at ExCel. Fire up the London Classic Car Show!”

Adding to the sense of drama, Phil's final selection will be showcased on a specially designed and arresting exhibition stand that will further both its visual impact and the visitor experience.

All those wishing to see the Getaway Car display at the 2018 London Classic Car Show can take advantage of significant discounts on offer for those booking in advance. If purchased now, adult admission costs just £25 (£30 on the door) and a range of upgraded Premium and Family Tickets are also available online.
​
Moreover, all tickets also include entry to the London Classic Car Show’s sister show Historic Motorsport International, which celebrates the UK’s leading role in all areas of historic motor sport. Full details can be found on the show’s official website – thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk.

Philip was reunited with his 'For the Love of Cars' co-host this week as they attend both the Jimmy's Farm Festival and the Silverstone Classic Car event. 

​At Jimmy's Farm, they enjoyed food, music and experienced the joy of a helter-skelter while at the Silverstone Classic Phil had to watch on in horror as Ant flipped his car during the celebrity challenge race. Luckily, Ant sustained only minor injuries, but it was all very dramatic. 

​Full Gallery > Jimmy's Farm/Silverstone Classic

Philip Glenister thought he would surprise his wife and make up for the lean years by arriving home in a sporty BMW in 2005. The actor, who achieved success playing Gene Hunt, the irascible detective in Life on Mars, was suddenly earning enough to buy a decent car. His mistake was to stay in character.

“It was a really smart 330i with big wheels and all the extras. I beeped the horn and my wife ran outside carrying our baby daughter. I yelled, ‘Get in, love — you’ve pulled!’ She stormed back inside and slammed the door.”

Glenister, 53, admits it wasn’t the wisest thing to shout. His wife, Beth Goddard, was heavily pregnant at the time with their second child. “She said I should grow up because I was about to be a dad again.”

Glenister grew up in Harrow, northwest London. His father, John, directed television series including The Six Wives of Henry VIII. “Dad’s speciality was period costume drama. Consequently, he was more concerned with horse power than horsepower.

“My interest in motors came from watching classic Seventies shows. I would save up pocket money to buy Dinky toys of the Batman car, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, and the Volvo P1800 from The Saint.”

His favourite toy arrived on his memorable seventh birthday. “My parents bought me an SPV truck from Captain Scarlet, plus a copy of Daydream Believer by the Monkees. I thought I was the coolest kid in the street.”

Later, he passed his driving test at the second attempt in a Datsun Sunny and bought a hot-hatch Peugeot 205 GTI.

“I loved the GTI but my first BMW 3-series felt like a proper car. It was quite posh compared to the Peugeot and loads more comfortable for long journeys .”

However, Glenister says the first car to have a serious impact on him was the 1973 Ford Cortina he drove in Life on Mars. “That fuelled my interest in classics. It ultimately led to me presenting two series of For the Love of Cars on Channel 4, and appearing at the Silverstone Classic event.”

In Ashes to Ashes, the follow-up to Life on Mars set in 1980s London, Glenister’s character, Gene Hunt, had moved up to a tyre-screeching Audi Quattro. Detective Chief Inspector Hunt chased villains across the capital and the catchphrase “Fire up the Quattro” passed into urban legend.

“The car was so popular, I think I was expected to drive an Audi in real life [he is now an ambassador for the brand]. I had a family by then and an A6 Quattro seemed a sensible choice but I began to feel likes a sales rep. So I changed it for an Audi Q5 and have had a string of them ever since. I like the extra height and the fact that it’s not as enormous as a Range Rover around London.”

Despite newspaper headlines to the contrary, Glenister says he was never approached to host the new series of Top Gear. “I love old cars but I’m not a petrolhead — technically I haven’t got a clue.
 
“I blame it on the fact I was never given a Scalextric set as a kid. I moaned so much about it that my wife later bought me one as a Christmas present. It was fun for a while and then I got bored — which doesn’t look good on the CV of a Top Gear presenter.”