Hit The Gas

[unclefester]

I know the series used lots of appropriate sound effects & dubbed dialogue were it was needed most often outdoors.

To that end I'm curious about the use of the stars vehicles inside the studio.

When the shot was clearly in-studio were the cars ever started and actually driven for a a few meters?

Or was the sound effects department tasked with dubbing in the car doors closing and engines engaging etc.?

Two clear examples - both from EPIC - are Emma and Steed departing for Fitzroy Lane and the hearse being driven forward in the graveyard scene.

If the vehicles aren't in fact running as I suspect how did the crew set them in motion? From the front with a rope or perhaps from behind with a broad shouldered crew member?

[dissolute]

There are numerous behind the scenes publicity stills showing Emma's Lotus up on wooden blocks for filming so it certainly wouldn't be moving for that. And there would be a lot of SFX dubbed over.
However, I would hazard a guess that the moving hearse in Epic was driven but it may have been on a dolly or pulled by the crew to guarantee the shot, but it certainly moves like it was under its own power.

[Allard]

This is one of the reasons that give the first three series their vibrant energy. When -for instance- Honor Blackman rides her motorcycle in Build A Better Mousetrap it is very much real.

For the filmed series, now we have HD versions, aren't there any exhaust fumes visible?
That would be a definitive way to settle it.