Top Gear Botswana Cars ^new^

Hammond's choice was an unassuming 1963 Opel Kadett (also known as the Kadett A), a small family saloon he bought for no particular reason at all. With a 1.0-liter engine and a maximum speed of around 70 mph, it was underpowered and ridiculed by the others for its age.

James May’s Mercedes “Oliver” looked like a grandpa’s hand-me-down, but its simple mechanicals kept going. Hammond’s Opel Kadett survived salt flats that would eat a modern Range Rover’s electronics.

While Clarkson was dealing with electrical gremlins and May was struggling with comfort, Oliver just kept going. The little Opel became a character in its own right. It survived the salt pans, it survived the river crossing (after a lot of drying out), and it survived Hammond’s emotional attachment.

Exceptionally reliable; it finished the trip with almost no major mechanical failures. top gear botswana cars

Hammond became so attached to "Oliver" that he shipped it back to the UK, where he still owns it and has since fully restored it. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E – James May

The Botswana Special is a reminder that the best journeys aren't about the destination, but the people (and cars) you travel with.

The expedition was the first time cars had successfully crossed the Makgadikgadi salt pans, though the environmental impact remains a point of historical discussion among fans. The cars’ fates varied significantly after filming: was donated to an advisor who assisted the crew. The Hammond's choice was an unassuming 1963 Opel Kadett

is usually the first words out of their mouth. It was the first time Clarkson, Hammond, and May were sent to a foreign land with a shoestring budget ($1,500 each) and a simple goal: drive 1,000 miles across the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta to the Namibian border.

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.

Despite the mockery, "Oliver" (as Hammond named him) became the heart of the episode. The little Opel was light enough to cross the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans without drastic modifications, only shedding its spare tire and radiator grill. Hammond’s Opel Kadett survived salt flats that would

Hammond loved the car so much that he refused to strip it for weight reduction. He kept Oliver completely stock throughout the trip, refusing to remove a single door or interior panel. Oliver's Fate

Jeremy chose a Lancia Beta Coupé, a decision that most car enthusiasts viewed as a death sentence given Lancia’s reputation for rust and unreliability. Throughout the journey, the Lancia suffered from constant electrical failures and structural issues. To save weight for the salt pans, Jeremy famously stripped the car of its doors and hood. Despite the Lancia being "the most unreliable car in the world," it miraculously finished the journey, earning Jeremy's genuine respect. Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett (Oliver)

"Right," Jeremy said, sweating through his shirt. "The rules of the salt pan: Do not stop. Do not turn sharply. And for the love of God, do not crack the sump."

And so they crawled across the rest of the pan. The Mercedes, towing the dead Lancia like a sled of shame, with Hammond's Opel tied behind that , forming a three-car train of catastrophe. The sun set. The salt turned pink, then purple, then black.