If you ask any Top Gear fan to name their favorite episode, the conversation usually drifts to the Polar Special or the Vietnam trip. But true connoisseurs know that the crown jewel of the Clarkson, Hammond, and May era is undoubtedly the .
The most moving moment comes when James May, the most emotionally reserved of the three, almost loses his Mercedes in a river crossing. He wades in, ties a tow rope around his waist, and shouts, “I’m not leaving Oliver!”
Lancias of this era had a notorious reputation for rust and unreliability. By choosing a cheap, rusted Italian sports car for an African desert expedition, Clarkson set himself up for failure. top gear botswana cars
Clarkson picked the Lancia because he believed a proper petrolhead must own a Lancia at least once in their life.
May's Mercedes performed exactly as expected: like a tank. It handled the rough terrain with minimal complaints, providing a comfortable, air-conditioned ride while the others suffered. If you ask any Top Gear fan to
Detail where the trio's cars from the ended up
The 2007 Top Gear Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded as one of the greatest episodes in the show’s history, and a major reason for its success was the car choices. The challenge was simple yet brutal: buy a two-wheel-drive car for less than £1,500 (roughly $2,000 at the time) that was never intended for off-roading, and drive it 1,000 miles across Botswana. He wades in, ties a tow rope around
While Clarkson bought style and Hammond bought heart, James May bought engineering. He selected a battleship-grey Mercedes-Benz W123. At the time, it looked like a grandpa’s saloon. In hindsight, it was the smartest buy in Top Gear history.
Hammond successfully shipped Oliver back to England. He restored the car and has featured it on his personal YouTube channels, including The Smallest Cog . Oliver remains a prized possession in his personal collection.