James May took the most logical approach to the challenge, purchasing a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123 generation). Why the 230E?
While the Kadett was reliable, it was extremely small and low to the ground, making the deep sand and rough brushwood of Botswana a massive challenge.
In a move that baffled his co-hosts, Hammond bought a beige 1963 Opel Kadett. It was boxy, slow, and seemingly the least capable off-roader imaginable. Clarkson and May mocked him relentlessly, calling it "boring." However, the Kadett was built with simple, agricultural toughness. It was light, easy to fix, and unburdened by complex electronics. Hammond named the car "Oliver," and over the course of the trip, a genuine love affair blossomed between man and machine. top gear botswana cars
The producers issued a strict rule: if any host's car died permanently, they would be forced to drive a backup vehicle. For this trip, the backup was a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
Are you inspired to buy one of these cars? Here is the 2024 market reality check: James May took the most logical approach to
The Top Gear Botswana Special, which first aired in 2007, is widely considered the defining moment of the Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May era. It transformed the show from a studio-based car review program into an epic, narrative-driven adventure series.
Unlike the others, Hammond chose a small, relatively light car, but its lack of power proved to be a humorous challenge in the deep sand. In a move that baffled his co-hosts, Hammond
The affection for the episode runs so deep that when the trio finished their final Grand Tour adventure, they returned to Kubu Island in Botswana—the exact granite rock island in the Makgadikgadi Pans where their 2007 journey concluded. Jeremy Clarkson called Kubu Island "just about the most astonishing place I've ever seen". Ending the 22-year partnership on that specific island was a poignant tribute to where their greatest adventure began.
represented Hammond's boyish optimism and emotional attachment to machines.