The first major hurdle was crossing the salt pans. To the untrained eye, it looks like a hard, white desert. In reality, the crust is thin, and underneath lies deep, sticky mud that acts like quicksand.
The Botswana Special is a reminder that the best journeys aren't about the destination, but the people (and cars) you travel with.
"Oliver" was the only car to survive the trip in good condition and was shipped back to the UK, where it remains in Hammond's possession. 3. James May: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
Hammond's choice was an unassuming 1963 Opel Kadett (also known as the Kadett A), a small family saloon he bought for no particular reason at all. With a 1.0-liter engine and a maximum speed of around 70 mph, it was underpowered and ridiculed by the others for its age. top gear botswana cars
£1,499 The Philosophy: Over-engineering.
Clarkson has always had a soft spot for Lancias, despite the brand's notorious reputation for rust. He arrived in a copper-colored Lancia Beta Coupe. It looked relatively sporty, but the African sun soon exposed its frailties. Almost immediately, the electrical systems began to fail. Windows wouldn't roll down, locks jammed, and the cooling system struggled. It was a fragile beauty in a land that demanded brute force.
The trio paid a touching tribute to the special in the final episode of The Grand Tour , "One for the Road." They returned to Kubu Island in Botswana, the very spot where the original special was filmed, and were reunited with the surviving cars. It was a poignant full-circle moment that reminded fans of the simple magic that made the Botswana Special so beloved. The first major hurdle was crossing the salt pans
James May took the most logical approach to the challenge, purchasing a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123 generation). Why the 230E?
The three vehicles chosen by the presenters not only survived some of the harshest terrain on Earth, but they also became cultural icons. Here is a deep dive into the legendary cars of the Top Gear Botswana Special. Jeremy Clarkson’s 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé
The legacy of the Top Gear Botswana cars endured for nearly two decades, culminating in their poignant reunion in the final episode of The Grand Tour . Their final journey, One for the Road , ended with the trio back on Kubu Island in the Makgadikgadi Pan—a perfect and emotional full-circle moment for a trio of presenters and their three iconic cars. The Botswana Special is a reminder that the
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.
The Botswana Special is consistently rated as the most popular episode in Top Gear history, garnering over 20 million views on YouTube. It defined the "Special" format.