Top Gear Botswana Cars Portable

Because it survived, Clarkson couldn't bear to see it scrapped. The production team later confirmed that the Lancia was left in Botswana under the care of a local guide, who intended to restore it. 2. Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett A ("Oliver")

The most iconic segment of the episode came when the trio reached the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The surface had a thin crust, and underneath was a sticky, muddy substance. Clarkson and May's heavier cars immediately broke through, forcing them to strip down to the bare metal. Hammond, who had grown attached to Oliver, refused to dismantle his car, and the Opel proved light enough to cross the pan without modification, only shedding the spare tire and radiator grill.

Clarkson and May's cars were left in Botswana after filming. For years, fans wondered what happened to them. The Lancia's fate was uncovered in 2021 when YouTuber (of the channel "Alaska to Africa") spent six months tracking it down. He found the abandoned car in a compound in the Botswanan village of Maun. While it was worse for wear (sun-faded paint, missing wheels, stripped interior), it retained its engine and, of course, the unique roof-mounted hinges from the custom gullwing doors added during filming. When Clarkson saw the video, he said it was “great to see” the car. The Lancia then made a shock return on The Grand Tour: One for the Road , where Clarkson and May found it by the side of the road, and Clarkson’s reaction was genuine astonishment. top gear botswana cars

The story of the three cars didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling. Their fates are as distinct as their personalities.

Buying a 25-year-old Italian sports car for an African expedition seemed like madness. The Lancia was plagued by electrical gremlins from the start. To shed weight for the grueling crossing of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Clarkson stripped the car entirely, removing the doors, hood, boot lid, and interior trim. Performance and Legacy Because it survived, Clarkson couldn't bear to see

Each presenter was given a budget of to purchase a car that had no off-road pedigree. 1963 Opel Kadett

The Automotive Triumphs of Top Gear’s Botswana Special The 2007 Top Gear Botswana Special is widely considered one of the greatest episodes in the show’s history. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with buying a used car in Botswana for less than £1,500. The twist? The cars could not have four-wheel drive. Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett A ("Oliver") The

Captain Slow took a predictably sensible approach. May bought a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123), a car famously robust and widely used across Africa. It was known for its durability, strong build, and ease of repair with readily available spare parts.

: Jeremy Clarkson's choice, picked for Lancia's rally pedigree. Despite frequent mechanical failures—particularly with its starter motor—it managed to finish the 1,000-mile journey. Volkswagen Beetle

The final stretch required modifying the cars with makeshift wildlife protection (such as wood and metal bars) to protect against lions and elephants, alongside deep water crossings that threatened to hydrolock the engines. Where Are the Cars Now?

The W123 Mercedes-Benz is widely regarded as one of the most over-engineered, durable consumer vehicles ever built. It was a favorite of bush taxi drivers across Africa for decades due to its thick steel frame, reliable four-cylinder engine, and robust suspension. The Botswana Experience