When we think of iconic road trips in automotive television history, one episode stands perched at the summit, dustier and more battered than the rest: Top Gear’s Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4). While the later Bolivia and Vietnam specials are masterpieces, the journey from the panhandle of Botswana to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans remains the purest distillation of what made the Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May era so perfect.
But the true stars of that 2007 episode weren't the presenters—they were the three rolling wrecks they bought for £1,500 each. The Top Gear Botswana cars—a Lancia Beta Coupe, an Opel Kadett, and a Mercedes-Benz 230E—have since achieved mythological status. This article explores why these specific cars were chosen, how they survived (or didn’t), and where they are today.
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
Conclusion: Fun for novelty and challenge but impractical for serious Botswana expeditions.
Conclusion: Suitable mainly for paved or well-maintained gravel roads; not recommended as primary overland vehicle in remote Botswana. When we think of iconic road trips in
The Price: £1,499 The Philosophy: Over-engineering.
James May, being Captain Slow, bought the car he thought would actually survive a nuclear holocaust: a W123 Mercedes-Benz 230E. The Top Gear Botswana cars —a Lancia Beta
When it arrived, Hammond and Clarkson laughed at him. It was colossal. It had bench seats. It looked like the car a Botswanan taxi driver would reject for being too boring. It had the aerodynamics of a detached garage and was painfully slow.
But this was the car that won.
While the Lancia disintegrated and the Opel needed rescue, the Mercedes just shrugged. It was indestructible. It didn't care about the sand, the heat, or the rough terrain. It just motored on. In the final sprint to the Zimbabwe border, the Mercedes was the only car that crossed the line under its own power without a tow rope attached.
May proved that while style is nice (Lancia) and personality is fun (Opel), absolute, tank-like build quality is the only thing that matters in the desert.