Top Gear — Botswana Cars [better]

were hidden in the Botswana compound.

James May, being Captain Slow, bought the car he thought would actually survive a nuclear holocaust: a W123 Mercedes-Benz 230E.

The reliable warhorse, left to retire in peace. top gear botswana cars

Of all the cars in Top Gear history, few achieved the legendary status of "Oliver," Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett. Why the Kadett?

The Cheap Car Road Trip: A Look Back at the Iconic Top Gear Botswana Special were hidden in the Botswana compound

Hammond famously bought a white, two-door Opel Kadett for just £400—well under budget. He named it "Oliver." This was the quintessential "Hamster" move: buying a car so old (over 40 years at filming) that it predated most safety regulations.

survived the trip and was later shipped back to the UK by Hammond. Of all the cars in Top Gear history,

The hosts were warned that if their car could not be fixed after a breakdown, they would have to complete the journey in their "least favorite car of all time"—a Volkswagen Beetle. While the backup car was not utilized by the main trio, it added a layer of fear that pushed the presenters to keep their broken-down vehicles running. Why these Botswana Cars Mattered

£1,500 (on the nose) The Philosophy: Style and comfort.