Unlike previous challenges where the presenters bought sports cars or rugged off-roaders, the Botswana Special required them to buy cars that everyday people drove. The catch? They were strictly forbidden from buying all-wheel-drive vehicles or SUVs. 1. Jeremy Clarkson’s 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé
. All three hosts found this prospect so "humiliating" that they worked tirelessly to keep their original cars running.
James May opted for ultimate German reliability by purchasing a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123 generation).
Oliver is the only one of the three cars to leave Africa. Hammond fell so in love with the car that he shipped it back to the UK immediately after filming, a process that took two years due to paperwork issues. top gear botswana cars
Their journey took them from the border of South Africa, across the vast salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pan, through the lush but predator-filled Okavango Delta, and finally to the border of Zimbabwe. While the dynamic between the presenters was as sharp as ever, the true stars of the episode were the three cheap, highly unsuitable cars they chose. The Contenders: Meet the Cars
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!”
The Botswana special isn’t a car review. It’s a love letter to imperfection, adventure, and the joy of almost dying in a Lancia. Seventeen years later, it still holds up as the greatest road trip episode ever made. James May opted for ultimate German reliability by
Hammond valued simplicity. Oliver had a tiny 1.0-liter engine, no complex electronics, and lightweight construction that made it ideal for floating over sand rather than sinking into it.
Lancia is famous for two things: brilliant rally heritage and atrocious build quality. Clarkson chose the front-wheel-drive Beta Coupé, banking on its sporty pedigree to carry him through the desert.
Jeremy, ever the romantic, chose a rust-orange Lancia Beta. In the world of classic cars, the Lancia Beta is infamous for one thing: rust. These cars were notorious for dissolving in European rain, let alone African river crossings. as Jeremy put it
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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
A rusty, fragile Italian sportscar with an engine known for failing. In a desert. Why? Because, as Jeremy put it, “A man who chooses to drive a Lancia has made a conscious decision to love driving.” Heroic stupidity.