Top Gear Botswana Cars Jun 2026

Richard opted for a 1963 Opel Kadett, which he affectionately named "Oliver." Small, lightweight, and surprisingly sturdy, Oliver became the breakout star of the episode. While it struggled with river crossings—nearly drowning at one point—the little car’s simplicity allowed Richard to fix it with basic tools. Hammond’s emotional attachment to the car was so strong that he eventually had it shipped back to the UK, where it remains part of his personal collection today. James May’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E

Like the Lancia, the Mercedes was left in Botswana after filming. The Backup Car: The Volkswagen Beetle

That’s the magic. That’s why people still talk about Botswana. It’s not about the destination – it’s about the dumb, stubborn, beautiful bond you form with a machine you probably shouldn’t have trusted in the first place. top gear botswana cars

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.

The most iconic scene of the special saw the three hosts attempting to drive across the Makgadikgadi salt pans. The ground, described as "crème brûlée," was a thin, salty crust over a thick, treacherous mud-like substance. Richard opted for a 1963 Opel Kadett, which

Like the Lancia, May's Mercedes was left in Africa after filming. For years, rumors persisted that it had been crushed. However, YouTuber Ryan Ball also located the Mercedes in Botswana.

Jeremy, true to his often irrational love for challenging cars, chose a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé . James May’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E Like the Lancia,

The Botswana Special shifted the formula of Top Gear from a standard motoring review show to an epic adventure format. The narrative arc of these three cheap, beaten-up cars conquering Africa resonated with millions of viewers. Today, Oliver the Opel Kadett remains one of the most famous individual cars in television history, while the Lancia and Mercedes proved that adventure does not require a modern four-wheel-drive SUV.

Because all three presenters utterly loathed the Beetle, the threat of driving it acted as a powerful motivator to keep their own cars running. Ironically, the Beetle followed the trio across the entire 1,000-mile journey without a single mechanical failure, proving that it was arguably the most rugged car in the entire convoy. Why the Botswana Cars Mattered