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!”
Richard opted for a 1963 Opel Kadett, which he affectionately named "Oliver." Small, lightweight, and surprisingly sturdy, Oliver became the breakout star of the episode. While it struggled with river crossings—nearly drowning at one point—the little car’s simplicity allowed Richard to fix it with basic tools. Hammond’s emotional attachment to the car was so strong that he eventually had it shipped back to the UK, where it remains part of his personal collection today. James May’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E top gear botswana cars
For years, it was believed to have been scrapped. However, as of 2020, the shell was discovered in Maun, Botswana, partially reassembled but missing its wheels and lights [ 0.5.2 ]. 2. "Oliver" – The 1963 Opel Kadett (Richard Hammond) The most moving moment comes when James May,