To survive the treacherous salt pans, where heavy cars risk breaking through the crust into primeval ooze, the team had to make drastic changes.
Are you writing a script, a blog post, or just researching for ? Share public link
As per Top Gear tradition, a universally hated back-up car followed the trio in case their primary vehicles died completely. For this special, it was a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Because none of the presenters wanted to drive it, they went to extreme lengths to ensure their own cheap cars kept running. Ironically, all three original cars made it to the finish line, leaving the Beetle unused. Legacy of the Botswana Cars
Because all three presenters despised the Beetle—and because its air-cooled engine and rear-engine layout actually made it perfectly suited for the sandy African terrain—they went to extreme lengths to keep their own vehicles running just to avoid driving it. Surviving the African Wilderness
The Mercedes proved to be the unsung hero of the trip. While not flashy, it was the most reliable of the three, suffering the fewest breakdowns and often helping pull the others out of trouble. However, its heavier weight caused it to get stuck in the same salt crust as the Lancia, forcing May to strip his car too. top gear botswana cars
The premise was deceptively simple: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with buying a used car for less than £1,500 and driving it 1,000 miles across the brutal terrains of Botswana, including the Makgadikgadi Pan and the Okavango Delta. Crucially, the cars could not be four-wheel drive.
Oliver became the emotional heart of the special. While the car lacked modern comforts, its mechanical simplicity made it incredibly resilient. It suffered a major catastrophe when it sank during a deep river crossing in the Okavango Delta, drowning the electronics and filling the cabin with water.
Should we look at the ?
, 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 To survive the treacherous salt pans, where heavy
after filming, where it was restored and remains in his personal collection. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé : Chosen by Jeremy Clarkson
The Botswana Special proved that cars do not need four-wheel drive, massive lift kits, or modern technology to conquer the wilderness. It highlighted how simple mechanical engineering, lightweight design, and a bit of driver determination can overcome the harshest environments on Earth. Most importantly, it transformed three cheap, old used cars into timeless television icons.
In the end, all three cars eventually made it to the Namibian border despite the Lancia suffering two more breakdowns. Clarkson and May jointly declared the winner to be the backup VW Beetle.
James May went the sensible route, purchasing a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123 generation). The W123 is globally renowned for being practically bulletproof, often used as bush taxis in Africa due to their mechanical simplicity and over-engineered durability. For this special, it was a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle
Hammond considers Oliver his "best ever TV car," stating, "It's Oliver, it has to be... he encapsulates what the car does for us". He fully restored the Opel Kadett to showroom condition in his own workshop, "The Smallest Cog," and frequently displays it at classic car shows.
The most iconic segment of the episode came when the trio reached the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The surface had a thin crust, and underneath was a sticky, muddy substance. Clarkson and May's heavier cars immediately broke through, forcing them to strip down to the bare metal. Hammond, who had grown attached to Oliver, refused to dismantle his car, and the Opel proved light enough to cross the pan without modification, only shedding the spare tire and radiator grill.
| Presenter | Car | Key Weakness | Reason It Survived/Failed | |------------|-----|--------------|----------------------------| | | 1985 Lancia Beta Coupé (2000 IE) | Rust, electrics, everything | Died quickly (failed brakes, electrics, gearbox). Repaired with a welded diff, but caught fire. | | Richard Hammond | 1981 Opel Kadett (Vauxhall Astra mk1) | Rust, cooling, head gaskets | Surprisingly tough. Only needed minor fixes; finished the trip. | | James May | 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123) | Boring, heavy, slow | Winner. Indestructible. Cruise control worked perfectly. Only got stuck in deep mud (pulled out by the Opel). |