1972: The Great GARAGE GAFFE | Nationwide | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive

"Oh there's plenty of room in there, for the largest car, once you get in... but there's the rub."

Nationwide's Bob Langley heads to Scotland, to investigate a set of council garages in Linlithgow with a rather obvious design flaw.

What do the residents make of this, and are there any plans to correct it?

Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, 12 January, 1972.

You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of TV to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic clips from the BBC vaults.

[James-ooyq]

For anyone still wondering, the flats and the garages…and the wall are all long gone 🙂

[bonnetdedouche]

Useless for storing a car, maybe. But extremely handy for storing a Victorian egg timer, an artifical limb, a pile of Showaddywaddy LP's and a spare wheel for a Triumph Herald. 👌

[PhilUKNet]

These garages were built in anticipation of the 1985 launch of the Sinclair C5.

[andrewholdaway]

Interesting level of vandalism back in the 'good old days'.

[thetruthwillout]

Johnny Cash could park his car piece at a time 😂😂

[JamieBee-TFF-CTID]

Apoarently, when the wall was eventually knocked down, cars were eventually able to park inside. Unfortunately, noone could open their car doors once they'd parked up

[ochayethegnu]

That’s not Bob Wellings, that’s Bob Langley.

[sonnysingh]

Bob Langley looked very handsome and fanciable in the early 1970s ❤

[lordgarth]

So these were never part of anyones specific flat then and had to be rented out separately and there are only seven of them. looks like storage units it is.

[ronmccullock]

How many takes at the end when Bob drives into the garage

[jasonayres]

Most people interviewed explained their dilemma short and succinctly.
One man, however, explained his position on the matter for over two and half minutes.. 😴
And we're still none the wiser, over 50 years later.

This video should be essential viewing for anyone who wants to work in Government.

[securityrobot]

Years later Nationwide would feature a story about a man living in a garage.

[me]

They've done it again! Could someone at the BBC explain the difference between Bob Langley and the late Bob Wellings to the person posting these videos?

[tonythetyger]

Once saw a house for sale that had the smallest 'garage' I've even seen described as 'suitable for motorcycles'

[secondchance]

Councils were every bit as useless and unaccountable back then just like they are today, some things just never change.

[Vincent]

I’m sure you could get a reliant robin in it !

[brianpeterson]

Presenter is 33 years old here. These days, I’d guess 45.

[Michael-dzvk]

very interesting clip, is the wall stil there 52 years later ?❤😊

[KernowRoadcam]

"luxury homes" had me rolling...

[hanner]

The garages built up here, the cars would fit but you couldn’t get out once you drove in.