Fans of the show often ask: Are these cars still alive?
The Top Gear Botswana Special remains one of the most iconic episodes in the history of the long-running BBC motoring show. Airing in 2007, it marked the first time Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with buying second-hand cars and driving them across an entire country. Unlike previous challenges, this was a grueling 1,000-mile journey across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and through the Okavango Delta. top gear botswana cars
Long thought scrapped, the original car was found on blocks in Botswana by fans in 2021. Clarkson was reunited with it during his final filming in 2024. Key Challenges and Modifications Fans of the show often ask: Are these cars still alive
But this was the car that won.
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 Unlike previous challenges, this was a grueling 1,000-mile
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 episode is structured around a series of challenges that pushed the cars to their breaking points.