Top Gear Botswana Cars [2026]

Clarkson, true to his love of Italian cars, chose a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe.

user wants a long article about 'top gear botswana cars'. I need to gather comprehensive information about the Botswana special episodes, including the featured cars, challenges, filming locations, the fate of the vehicles, and behind-the-scenes details. I'll follow the search plan provided in the hints. the search results have been gathered. Now I'll open the most relevant pages to gather detailed information.'ve gathered comprehensive information from various sources. Now I'll structure the article, covering the cars, challenges, locations, fates, trivia, and legacy. the many adventures that defined the Clarkson, Hammond, and May era of Top Gear , the Botswana Special stands as a masterpiece. It was the trio’s first full-length special, setting a template for a decade of iconic road trips, and remains a fan-favorite nearly two decades later. This article dives deep into the world of the Botswana Special, covering the cars, the challenges, the journey, and its long-lasting legacy.

The chosen cars had to be easily repairable with basic tools, which was proven when Hammond and Clarkson had to fix their cars repeatedly.

The Cheap Car Road Trip: A Look Back at the Iconic Top Gear Botswana Special top gear botswana cars

Despite the mockery, "Oliver" (as Hammond named him) became the heart of the episode. The little Opel was light enough to cross the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans without drastic modifications, only shedding its spare tire and radiator grill.

The 2007 Top Gear Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded as one of the greatest episodes in the show’s history, and a major reason for its success was the car choices. The challenge was simple yet brutal: buy a two-wheel-drive car for less than £1,500 (roughly $2,000 at the time) that was never intended for off-roading, and drive it 1,000 miles across Botswana.

By the end of the trip, the Mercedes was caked in dust and missing various parts, yet it looked like it could go for another 200,000 miles. The "Backup" Car: Volkswagen Beetle Clarkson, true to his love of Italian cars,

The W123 series Mercedes is known as one of the most durable cars ever made. The challenge wasn't whether it would survive, but rather if it could handle the deep sand without stalling, given its weight.

Hammond fell so deeply in love with the car that he named it .

Hammond limped over. "You know what? That car is better than all of us." I'll follow the search plan provided in the hints

After the special, Hammond was so attached that he shipped "Oliver" back to the UK, where he restored it. The car has since become a beloved family heirloom, even being used to teach his daughter to drive.

In the 2007 Botswana Special, the presenters were tasked with crossing 1,000 miles of rugged terrain from the Zimbabwean border to the Namibian border using only two-wheel-drive cars bought for less than £1,500. 1963 Opel Kadett ("Oliver") : Driven by Richard Hammond

The trio selected vehicles they believed could outperform modern SUVs in "leafy country lanes". Engine / Specs Why It Was Chosen 1963 Opel Kadett Richard Hammond 1.0L, 40hp