Surviving the Salt: The Legends of the Top Gear Botswana Special The 2007 Top Gear Botswana Special
remains a high-water mark for the series, proving that you don't need a customized 4x4 to cross a continent—you just need a bit of blind optimism and $1,500. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with driving across Botswana, from the Zimbabwean border to the Namibian border, using only used two-wheel-drive cars that were never meant to see a dirt road, let alone the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or the Okavango Delta [0.5.1]. Here are the three unlikely heroes of that journey: 1. The 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé (Jeremy Clarkson)
Chosen for its style rather than its reliability, the Lancia was the most "Top Gear" choice possible. Throughout the 1,000-mile trek, it suffered catastrophic suspension failures and constant overheating. Despite Clarkson’s insistence that it was a "supercar," it required more maintenance than the other two combined.
The Outcome: For years, it was believed to have been scrapped. However, as of 2020, the shell was discovered in Maun, Botswana, partially reassembled but missing its wheels and lights [0.5.2]. 2. "Oliver" – The 1963 Opel Kadett (Richard Hammond)
While Clarkson and May treated their cars like disposable tools, Hammond fell in love with his 1963 Opel Kadett, naming it "Oliver." Despite being the smallest and oldest car, Oliver survived the salt pans and even a full submersion in the Okavango Delta water crossings.
The Outcome: Oliver is the only car of the three that returned to the UK. Hammond loved the car so much he had it shipped back, restored it, and it has since appeared in several of his solo projects [0.5.2]. 3. The 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (James May)
Ever the pragmatist, May chose a car known for its tank-like build quality. The Mercedes-Benz W123 is a staple of African taxi fleets, and it lived up to its reputation. While May spent most of the trip stripping the interior to save weight, the car remained remarkably reliable compared to the Lancia.
The Outcome: At the end of the trip, the Mercedes was donated to a local advisor who assisted the crew during filming [0.5.2]. The Backup: The Volkswagen Beetle
As a penalty for any car that broke down completely, the producers provided a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle (painted in a "clownish" theme). Ironically, the Beetle—with its rear-engine layout and air-cooled engine—was perfectly suited for the terrain. None of the hosts were forced to drive it, and it was ultimately donated to a bush mechanic in the support team [0.5.2].
The Botswana Special is widely regarded by fans as one of the best episodes in the show's history due to its combination of stunning scenery and the genuine mechanical peril of the chosen vehicles [0.5.3].
In the 2007 Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4), Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with buying a two-wheel-drive car for less than £1,500 to drive 1,000 miles across Botswana. The journey spanned from the Zimbabwean border, across the Makgadikgadi salt pans, through the Okavango Delta, and finally to the Namibian border. The Main Vehicles Richard Hammond Opel Kadett ("Oliver")
Hammond became emotionally attached to "Oliver," eventually shipping it back to the UK for restoration. Mercedes-Benz 230E
Chosen for its reputation for African durability, it survived the trip despite various mechanical issues. Jeremy Clarkson Lancia Beta Coupé
Plagued by constant breakdowns and electrical failures, it was widely considered the most unreliable of the trio. The Backup Car Volkswagen Beetle : The producers provided a top gear botswana cars
as a backup car. If any presenter’s car failed completely, they would be forced to drive the
for the remainder of the trip—a prospect all three hosts famously loathed Key Challenges & Modifications Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
: To avoid breaking through the thin salty crust into the "primeval ooze" beneath, the hosts stripped their cars of all non-essential weight, including seats, interior trim, and even window glass. Okavango Delta
: The cars faced deep sand and river crossings. Hammond famously "drowned"
in a river, but the car was miraculously revived by the team's bush mechanics Wildlife Protection
: In the game reserves, the hosts attempted to rebuild sections of their stripped cars using makeshift materials to protect themselves from lions and other predators. Where Are They Now?
Fans of the show often ask: Are these cars still alive?
Richard Hammond’s Opel Kadett ("Oliver"): Yes, and famously so. After the show, Hammond bought Oliver from the BBC for an undisclosed sum (rumored to be £1,000). He had the car shipped back to the UK and underwent a full restoration. He occasionally brings it out for charity events and his own streaming show, Richard Hammond’s Workshop. Oliver sits in Hammond’s workshop in Herefordshire as a trophy of his greatest battle.
Jeremy Clarkson’s Lancia Beta: This is a sadder story. After the Botswana special, the Lancia was shipped back to the UK. Clarkson attempted to restore it, but the structural rust was too severe. The car was reportedly scrapped. However, a rumor persists that the original engine block was saved and sits in Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, as a paperweight. The olive paint scheme, however, became an icon.
James May’s Mercedes-Benz 230E: Unconfirmed for years, but May revealed in a 2019 DriveTribe video that the Mercedes was sold shortly after filming. It was bought by a Top Gear fan in Germany, who drove it for several more years. It is believed the car eventually died of natural causes (mechanical fatigue) around 2015. Unlike the sentimental Oliver, May saw the Merc as a tool—and when the tool wore out, it was recycled.
The Price: £1,499 The Philosophy: Over-engineering.
James May, being Captain Slow, bought the car he thought would actually survive a nuclear holocaust: a W123 Mercedes-Benz 230E.
When it arrived, Hammond and Clarkson laughed at him. It was colossal. It had bench seats. It looked like the car a Botswanan taxi driver would reject for being too boring. It had the aerodynamics of a detached garage and was painfully slow. Surviving the Salt: The Legends of the Top
But this was the car that won.
While the Lancia disintegrated and the Opel needed rescue, the Mercedes just shrugged. It was indestructible. It didn't care about the sand, the heat, or the rough terrain. It just motored on. In the final sprint to the Zimbabwe border, the Mercedes was the only car that crossed the line under its own power without a tow rope attached.
May proved that while style is nice (Lancia) and personality is fun (Opel), absolute, tank-like build quality is the only thing that matters in the desert.
If you’re planning a real Botswana trip, take a W123 Mercedes, old Toyota Hilux, or Land Rover Defender – not a Lancia.
Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is legendary for proving that cheap, two-wheel-drive "bangers" could survive 1,000 miles across some of Africa's most punishing terrain. The Core Trio
The presenters were given £1,500 to buy cars that were NOT designed for off-roading. 1963 Opel Kadett ("Oliver") : Driven by Richard Hammond. Performance
: The "hero" of the trip. Due to its extreme lightness, it skipped across the Makgadikgadi salt pans while the others sank.
: Hammond loved it so much he shipped it back to the UK, where it has since undergone multiple restorations and still appears on his DriveTribe 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E : Driven by James May. Performance
: Chosen for its legendary African durability. It survived the trip with relatively few mechanical failures compared to the others, though it did require significant weight-shedding (stripping doors and glass) to cross the salt pans. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé : Driven by Jeremy Clarkson. Performance
: Infamously unreliable. It suffered from constant electrical issues, broken dials, and total brake failure by the end of the trip.
: Long thought lost or crushed, it was recently rediscovered by fans on blocks in a yard in Botswana. The Backup & Support The Volkswagen Beetle
: This was the "backup" car if any presenter's car failed. Because the trio hated the Beetle, they were highly motivated to keep their own cars running. Ironically, the Beetle completed the entire journey without a single breakdown. Production Vehicles
: The crew used much more practical vehicles to film, including Toyota Land Cruisers Land Rover Defenders , which are generally the recommended vehicle types for actual travel in the region. Survival Modifications To survive the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans The Legacy: Where Are the Top Gear Botswana Cars Now
, the cars had to be stripped of all "unnecessary" weight to prevent them from breaking through the thin salty crust into the "primeval ooze" below.
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
, this small car became the breakout star of the episode. Hammond famously fell in love with it, naming it "Oliver." Unlike the other cars, Hammond shipped Oliver back to the UK
after filming, where it was restored and remains in his personal collection. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé : Chosen by Jeremy Clarkson
, this car was notoriously unreliable but surprisingly capable in the Makgadikgadi salt plains after being stripped of its doors and trunk to save weight. As of 2020, it was found partially reassembled in Maun, Botswana. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E : Driven by
, this car was praised for its build quality despite the harsh conditions. After the trip, it was donated to an adviser who assisted the production team. 1968 Volkswagen Beetle
: This served as the "backup" car that the presenters had to drive if their primary vehicles failed. Since all three primary cars finished the journey, the Beetle was donated to a bush mechanic from the support team. specific challenges they faced or see where they revisited these cars in The Grand Tour
Top Gear Botswana Special is widely considered the episode that defined the show’s legendary "special" format. Tasked with crossing 1,000 miles of African terrain in two-wheel-drive cars bought for under £1,500, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May chose vehicles that became more than just machines—they became characters with their own distinct narratives. The Three Contenders
Top Gear Botswana Special is widely considered one of the show's most iconic episodes. The challenge required Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May to buy a used car in Africa for less than ($2,000) that was strictly two-wheel drive and not designed for off-road use.
Their 1,000-mile journey from the Zimbabwe border to the Namibia border took them across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Okavango Delta The Presenters' Cars
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
Chosen for no specific reason, but became a fan favorite nicknamed " 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
Chosen for Mercedes' legendary reputation for reliability across Africa. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé Jeremy Clarkson 2.0L (Automatic)
Chosen because Lancias were historically successful rally cars. Performance and Modifications
To survive the treacherous salt pans, where heavy cars risk breaking through the crust into primeval ooze, the team had to make drastic changes.