Botswana Cars | Top Gear

If you want, I can expand this into a full technical appendix with suggested part numbers, detailed modification specs, or a gear checklist.

(James May) : May selected the Mercedes because it was a vehicle "Africa favored and loved". Known for its durability and old-school German engineering, it quietly completed the journey with minimal issues compared to the others. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé

The 2007 Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded by fans and critics as one of the show's greatest achievements. The challenge required Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May to cross 1,000 miles of rugged terrain—from the Zimbabwean border to Namibia—using only two-wheel-drive cars bought in Africa for less than £1,500. The Cars and Their Performance

“Some say”… you should rewatch it tonight.

The Lancia eventually made a triumphant return to the screen. In the final Grand Tour special, "One for the Road," Clarkson was reunited with his old car, admitting, "I don't believe it, that is astonishing, I am slightly choked up. My heart has gone nuts". top gear botswana cars

suffered from constant suspension failures and electrical gremlins. To save weight for the salt pans, Clarkson stripped it down to a skeleton, removing the doors and most of the bodywork.

Then, the low growl of the Mercedes. James May pulled alongside, wound down the window, and looked at the two broken cars. He didn't gloat. He just sighed.

The Botswana special isn’t a car review. It’s a love letter to imperfection, adventure, and the joy of almost dying in a Lancia. Seventeen years later, it still holds up as the greatest road trip episode ever made.

Compare this trip to their other iconic African journey, the . Share public link If you want, I can expand this into

A genuine love story between a man and a machine. The only survivor in perfect health.

" became a fan favorite due to its simplicity. Lacking complex electronics, it was the only car that could be easily repaired by the presenters themselves. Despite being submerged in a river crossing, the Opel was revived and eventually shipped back to the UK by Hammond, where it remains in his personal collection today. Mercedes-Benz 230E

Its journey was a disaster from the start. The Lancia was heavy, temperamental, and quickly began to break down. Plagued by overheating and electrical issues, it frequently needed repair. In a desperate attempt to cross the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats, Clarkson and James May had to strip their cars down to the bare metal, with Clarkson calling his vehicle a "Lancia Beta Coupé—superleggera!" (Italian for "super light"). The modifications included gullwing doors, which were later used as a key identifying feature.

Hammond fell so deeply in love with the little car that he refused to leave it behind. He paid to ship Oliver back to the United Kingdom. It was fully restored, featured in later Top Gear episodes, and remains a prized part of Hammond's personal collection today. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé The 2007 Botswana Special

In the end, all three cars eventually made it to the Namibian border despite the Lancia suffering two more breakdowns. Clarkson and May jointly declared the winner to be the backup VW Beetle.

James May’s Mercedes “Oliver” looked like a grandpa’s hand-me-down, but its simple mechanicals kept going. Hammond’s Opel Kadett survived salt flats that would eat a modern Range Rover’s electronics.

So here’s to Oliver, the Opel Kadett, and that suicidal Lancia. And here’s to your next stupid, wonderful road trip.

The Lancia was expected to die within the first ten miles. To survive the extreme African heat, Clarkson's car underwent aggressive weight reduction. The crew stripped out the doors, the hood, the rear seats, and the interior trim to keep the engine cool and reduce weight on the salt flats.

In the pantheon of Top Gear history, few episodes are as revered, quoted, or emotionally resonant as the Botswana Special. Airing in 2007 as part of Series 10, it represented the peak of the "Golden Era" of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.