Ahhh, Top Gear, what a programme. Popularised by the iconic trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May, the hit TV programme won the hearts of many petrolheads across the globe.
One reason for this is because of its specials. Not just a regular episode, the specials were an adventure on wheels, combining the thrill of exploration with the humour and camaraderie of its hosts.
From Bolivia to Africa, car leasing experts Nationwide Vehicle Contracts explores the best eight Top Gear specials.
The Patagonia Special was the last special ever done by Clarkson, Hammond, and May. The producers set them the task of taking three V8-engined sports cars on a 1,600-mile journey through the landscape of Patagonia, Argentina.
Along the way, the boys stop off at Butch Cassidy's house, play a game of football with their cars, and tackle the rugged terrain of Argentina.
The special was engulfed in tensions with the local population, with Clarkson reportedly making his number plate a direct reference to the Falklands War.
The Burma Special sees the boys take on the spectacular landscape of Burma/Myanmar to build a bridge over the River Kwai.
Sounds hard enough already, doesn't it? Add into the mix the journey must be completed in three lorries, and it makes for fantastic entertainment. Both Clarkson and Hammond are in a Isuzu, while James is in a Hino FB100.
The special had it all, from the fantastic scenery of Burma to the inevitable banter between the trio, it's a brilliant watch.
There's a running joke in Top Gear that Americans don't do cars very well, so when the boys headed to Miami, it was box office TV.
Tasked with finding a car for just $1,000, the boys then travelled from Miami to New Orleans to see if buying a car was more economical than renting one.
What ensued was pure carnage. We saw the Stig's American cousin, Jeremy make roadkill for dinner, the trio chased out of Alabama by locals, and as you'd expect, Hammond in a pickup truck.
In series 10, the trio headed to Botswana with a car bought in Africa for less than £1,500 to prove they could be better than SUVs for driving up 'leafy country lanes' in Surrey.
What I love about this special is that the cars perfectly represent the trio of Clarkson, Hammond, and May. Jeremy buys a Lancia Beta Coupe, Richard gets a 1963 Opel Kadett, and James has a Mercedes-Benz 230E.
Starting at Botswana's border with Zimbabwe, the trio embarked on a 1,000-mile journey across the Makgadikgadi Pan salt flats, the Kalahari Desert, and the Okavango Delta in an attempt to reach the Namibian Border.
Slightly different from all other specials, the Vietnam Special sees the trio embark on a motorbike journey. Yes, you heard that right.
Arriving in Saigon, the presenters were given 15 million Dong each to buy a vehicle. Initially thinking they were rich, they got a smack in the face when they released it's equivalent to $1,000. As a result, all they could afford were three motorbikes.
In true Vietnamese style, they travelled on their bikes for 1,000 miles towards Ha Long City and finished at a floating bar within Ha Long Bay.
What stands out with this special is that it's less focused on the vehicles and more on the experience of Vietnam. The presenters discover the culture and people of Vietnam and how the country has emerged following the Vietnam War.
The Polar Special is perhaps the most crazy journey Clarkson, Hammond, and May have ever been on. The episode follows the presenters in their successful attempt to be the first people to reach the North Pole in a motor vehicle.
However, as always, there's a twist. While Jeremy and James are in a modified Toyota Hilux, Richard travels with American explorer Matty McNair via a dog sledge.
In their typically competitive nature, the boys push themselves and the Hilux to the absolute limit in pursuit of bragging rights.
In series 19, the trio release their inner Livingstone, Burton and Speke, as they attempt to find the true source of the River Nile. Unlike their Victorian predecessors, the presenters set out in second-hand estate cars bought on a budget of £1,500.
Throughout the expedition, the trio visited Lake Victoria, the Ugandan Capital of Kampala, and the Serengeti. They also build a raft to cross a river, which, as you can expect, is hilarious.
In my opinion, the Bolivia Special is Top Gear's best-ever work. A 1000-mile journey across Bolivia from the Amazon Rainforest to the Pacific Ocean, it's the ultimate adventure.
The presenters attempt to see which is the best off-road vehicle in the world. However, they're on a tight budget of £3,500. Clarkson gets a Range Rover, Hammond a Toyota Land Cruiser, and May a Suzuki Jimny.
After meeting riverside in the Amazon jungle, the trio set out on their journey. Along the way, they face deadly insects in the rainforest, the world's most dangerous road, climb up the Andes and descend steep sand dunes.
If I could wipe my memory and watch the Bolivia Special for the first time, I'd do it in an instant.
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Originally posted: 13th February 2024
