The Lancia was expected to die within the first ten miles. To survive the extreme African heat, Clarkson's car underwent aggressive weight reduction. The crew stripped out the doors, the hood, the rear seats, and the interior trim to keep the engine cool and reduce weight on the salt flats.
In true Captain Slow fashion, James May made the most sensible choice. He purchased a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E. The W123 series Mercedes is renowned for being one of the most durable cars ever built, and May relied on the fact that Africa had "loved" the model for decades due to its robust engineering and availability of spare parts.
Oliver was the breakout star of the special. Being incredibly light, it floated over the thick crust of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans where heavier cars sank. It suffered one major disaster when it sank in a river crossing, drowning the engine. Hammond painstakingly cleaned out the water, and against all odds, Oliver fired back to life. The car performed so well that Hammond fell in love with it, officially imported it back to the UK, and still owns it today. 3. James May’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
Because all three hosts despised the Beetle, the fear of being forced to drive it motivated them to keep their failing vehicles running at all costs. Ironically, the Beetle completed the entire journey right alongside them without a single mechanical hitch, proving itself to be just as tough as the main trio. The Legacy of the Botswana Trio top gear botswana cars
James parked. Killed the engine. The silence was profound.
We all remember the heartbreak on Hammond’s face when he thought he’d lost Oliver to the river. And we all remember the joy when he bought the car back from the crew and shipped it to the UK. Oliver is perhaps the only car from a cheap car challenge to become a permanent celebrity, eventually appearing on The Grand Tour and making appearances at car shows. It proved that old Japanese-German reliability beats Italian flair any day of the week.
The Top Gear Botswana Special, which first aired in November 2007, is widely considered by fans and critics alike as the definitive turning point for the franchise. It was the first true "Top Gear Special," establishing the format of buying cheap, unsuitable used vehicles and driving them across harsh, epic terrain. The Lancia was expected to die within the first ten miles
: Kept standard until the final leg, where it was stripped down to the bare metal to navigate the delta. Performance on the Journey
The challenge was simple yet brutal: buy a car for less than £1,500, ensure it was not a 4x4, and drive it 1,000 miles across the harsh terrains of Botswana—including the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the Okavango Delta.
A staple of early Top Gear specials was the "punishment" car. If any presenter's car broke down permanently, they would be forced to drive a vehicle they all universally despised. For the Botswana Special, the backup car was a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, painted in a bright safari camouflage. In true Captain Slow fashion, James May made
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Conclusion: Best overall choice for Botswana overland travel; strong blend of capability and serviceability.
| Requirement | Best choice (real world) | Avoid | |--------------|--------------------------|-------| | | Toyota Hilux/ Land Cruiser (or any car with sealed electrics and good rust-proofing) | Lancia Beta (dissolves) | | Deep sand / mud | Light 4x2 with high ground clearance (e.g., old Mercedes W123) | Heavy 4x4 without diff locks | | Repairability in rural Africa | Mercedes W123, Peugeot 504, old Toyota Corolla | Anything with computers or rare parts | | Overheating risk | Mechanical fan + simple cooling (Mercedes) | Electric fan + tiny radiator (Lancia) |
Oliver was the oldest car in the challenge, boasting a meager 40 horsepower. Its simplicity proved to be its greatest asset. Lacking complex electronics or heavy modern components, the lightweight Opel floated over the treacherous, crusty surface of the salt pans where heavier vehicles sank. The Okavango Disaster