If you are a fan of this era of Top Gear, I can help you with: Finding where to today Technical specs for Oliver or the Lancia Planning a similar self-drive safari in Botswana

The vehicles were subjected to three distinct environmental tests that pushed their mechanical limits:

The rules of the challenge dictated that if any presenter's car broke down permanently, they would be forced to drive a backup vehicle: a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

The Mercedes was also left in Africa. Its fate, along with the Lancia, was uncertain for years, with rumors placing them in various parts of the country. Why These Cars Worked (And Why They Didn't)

A running gag in Top Gear specials was the introduction of a universally disliked backup car. If any presenter’s vehicle broke down permanently, they would be forced to drive a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle.

suffered from constant suspension failures and electrical gremlins. To save weight for the salt pans, Clarkson stripped it down to a skeleton, removing the doors and most of the bodywork.

While many Top Gear cars are scrapped after filming, the Botswana trio had a different fate: