After the special ended, May chose to leave the car in Botswana, believing it was "utterly the wrong thing to do" to bring it back. He felt that the car's history was more valuable than its restoration. The Mercedes was later found, having been welded back together, but remarkably still intact.
Their destination was the Namibian border, a 1,000-mile journey across the brutal Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the treacherous Okavango Delta. The three vehicles they chose became icons of automotive endurance. 1. Oliver: The 1963 Opel Kadett (Richard Hammond)
James May went the sensible route, purchasing a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123 generation). The W123 is globally renowned for being practically bulletproof, often used as bush taxis in Africa due to their mechanical simplicity and over-engineered durability. top gear botswana cars
"Will it make it?" Jeremy asked, suddenly humble.
The Top Gear Botswana Special shifted the formula of the show away from reviewing new supercars toward celebrating the bond between humans and old automobiles. The episode proved that regular road cars possess a level of durability that modern, electronics-heavy vehicles rarely match. After the special ended, May chose to leave
: This served as the "backup" car that the presenters had to drive if their primary vehicles failed. Since all three primary cars finished the journey, the Beetle was donated to a bush mechanic from the support team. specific challenges they faced or see where they revisited these cars in The Grand Tour
A genuine love story between a man and a machine. The only survivor in perfect health. Their destination was the Namibian border, a 1,000-mile
What was your favorite moment from the Botswana Special? Let us know in the comments
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Choking dust and blinding white horizons of the Makgadikgadi Pan.