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You don’t remember a rental SUV. You never forget a car that leaves you stranded at sunset, forces you to sleep in the dirt, then fires up after a prayer and a zip tie.
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
The Mercedes-Benz W123 is famous for being virtually indestructible, and May's car proved that reputation accurate. It handled the rough terrain with luxury and composure, rarely breaking down. While Clarkson and Hammond struggled with mechanical failures, May cruised through Africa in comfort. In the final leg, May was forced to strip the car's luxurious interior to make it light enough to cross the sandy delta, a sacrifice that broke his heart but guaranteed his arrival at the Namibian border. The Back-Up Car: Volkswagen Beetle top gear botswana cars
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
If you are looking for the original Lancia or Mercedes from the special, they were last reported to be in private hands in Botswana. You don’t remember a rental SUV
The is widely considered one of the greatest automotive adventures ever filmed . First aired in November 2007, it followed Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they attempted to cross Botswana in three two-wheel-drive cars bought for less than £1,500. Their mission: to prove that simple, used cars could be better suited for rugged terrain than modern "Chelsea Tractors" (SUVs). The Three Main Contenders
The most dramatic moment for Oliver came during a deep water crossing in the Okavango Delta. The car sank into a hidden river hole, submerging the engine and filling the cabin. Hammond was genuinely devastated. However, after being dragged out and dried, the simple engine fired back up with just a basic spark plug and distributor cleaning—a testament to mid-century engineering. Modifications Ironically, the Beetle completed the entire journey right
Behind him, a cloud of flies and optimism announced the arrival of Richard Hammond in a 1963 Opel Kadett. The little car was held together by prayer, beige paint, and a single, heroic coat of under-seal. "She’s screaming," Hammond said cheerfully, patting the dashboard, "but it's a happy scream. Like a terrier that's seen a postman."
The Lancia, along with the other cars, was left with a local mechanic named Noah. It was later found in Botswana and is now a well-known, albeit heavily aged, piece of Top Gear history. 2. Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett (Oliver)
: One of the world's largest salt flats. To prevent their thin-tired cars from breaking through the "creme brulee" crust into the ooze below, the presenters had to strip their cars of almost all weight, including doors and interior panels.
Jeremy Clarkson defied all automotive logic by choosing a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé, a car from a brand notorious for catastrophic rust and terrible reliability. Why the Beta Coupé?