They Still Can - In a
Nissan
Nissan
has forged a professional new partnership
- supplying cars for the Bodie and Doyle
of the Nineties.
The
company which employs more than 4,000
people at its Sunderland manufacturing
plant, has clinched a deal to supply cars
for the new version of the 70s classic
television series, The Professionals.
The
original show helped boost sales of Ford's
Capri coupe to new heights in the 1970s
and early 80s.
Ford
said the success was so great it kept
the Capri alive in Britain at a time when
the model was axed throughout the rest
of the world.
Now
Nissan is hoping the new series, to be
called CI5 - The Professionals, will do
the same for its glamorous sports coupe,
the 200SX.
The Japanese company already has a close
relationship with the show. Its spoof
Professionals ad for the Almera Gti became
a cult last year and led television bosses
to begin screening repeats after a 10-year
hiatus.
For
the new series Bodie and Doyle have been
replaced by Curtis and Keel, played by
Kal Weber and Colin Wells. The dynamic
duo are to be joined by a female agent,
Tina Backus (played by karate kicking
Lexa Doig) while CI5's new boss is to
be Edward Woodward, who replaces the late
Gordon Jackson.
As
part of the deal Nissan will supply the
show with a black 200 SX coupe for hard
man Chris Keel, and a green Terrano II
off-roader for Tina. A Nissan spokesman
said: "Our Almera ad rekindled interest
in the show last year so it was natural
we should supply cars for a new series."
The Capri was killed off by Ford in 1986.
(c) North of England Newspapers, 1997.
UNITED KINGDOM
NORTHERN ECHO 09/10/97 P3
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