Is Richard Hammond taking Oliver back to Botswana?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ย. 2021
- To watch Hammond's new discovery+ show, click here: bit.ly/HammondWorkshop-SV10-YT
Oliver is arguably one of the most beloved car characters from the trio's history, and Hammond famously brought the Opel Kadett back to the UK to join his car collection. In this behind the scenes look at Hammond's commute to his new business, The Smallest Cog, Richard hints that he may end up making the trip back to Africa one day...
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To watch Hammond's new discovery+ show, click here: bit.ly/HammondWorkshop-SV10-YT
Oliver is hammonds son 💚
Spray it back to baby sick yellow and return it to full Botswana style. I've never seen you drive this thing without cracking a smile.
A re-do of some of that old black and white show's adventures might not be a bad idea.
Discovery please make this show available in the USA!!
@@4r391 And Australia
add some bracing and some shocks and make oliver your 'dune buggy'
Oliver is the car equivalent of Richard Hammond: Small, underpowered, unpretentious, reliable as heck, and prone to rolling over at any minute.
@Mck Idyl It was hand crafted with love for the Hamster.
Evil....🤣
@@BabslUrban ... but not wrong!
@@irdmoose Fact! 👍
It also died one time
I still remember Richard, sneaking around Oliver, not wanting to dismantle anything. 🥰 We all love Oliver.
The hubcaps protect, well the hubs
Just like cars in Lebanon now
Would you cut bits off your wife?
@@tehbigshow *James May laughs*
Jeremy walking up with a hammer to smash away the windows and Richard standing right between the hammer and the windows saying they're very thin and light. :D
I just love the irony:
Basically, May has become Clarkson, Clarkson has become Hammond and Hammond has become May.
After all these years as their characters, the guy that used to say he doesn't do manual labour has a farming show, the guy that used to be the hands-on countryside bloke has a workshop for restoring old cars and the meticulous technical enthusiast of the bunch has left all of it behind and goes travelling.
james is also getting more and more fast and modern cars which he use to own a lot of drab, boring cars
@@ryanlu6103 May has owned many cars including a 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero, Bentley T2, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Triumph 2000, Rover P6, Alfa Romeo 164, 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche, Triumph Vitesse, Jaguar XJS, 1992 Range Rover Classic Vogue, Fiat Panda, Datsun 120Y, Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1, a Ferrari 308 GTB, a 2015 Toyota Mirai, Ferrari F430, Ferrari 458 Italia, 1984 Porsche 911, 2005 Porsche Boxster S
lets be honest, other than the Panda and 9-5 those are all amazing and classic cars, hardly drab and boring
@@insomniacbritgaming1632 don’t diss the panda like that
@@frostyvr9805 I mean, I love a Fiat Panda as much as the next guy, buy it's not a Punto or 500 lol
@@insomniacbritgaming1632 I know, I was joking lol
This is why Top Gear was so great. Hammond's love for Oliver could have been just a writer's gimmick to embellish an episode with a bit of heart string tugging. Oliver could have been left in Botswana and forgotten. But it was real. Hammond still owns and drives the car 15 years later.
I still miss my Sunday evening appointments at 8pm......
"TONIGHT..........!"
Me too
Yes, I miss Jezza, Hamster, Captain Slow and The Stig. It quite wasn’t Top Gear without them!
Today, an old car will be driven.
A hamster will talk.
And a dealer will be visited.
-Adapted from Carmighty video intros-
I think I have a series on DVD. I still remember this one intro for some reason: "Tonight, I play tennis, Richard points at a minibus, and James shakes hands with two men."
Oliver is the perfect example of a belief that Clarkson and many other car owners share, that a machine can transcend itself and gain a soul. When we've owned cars long enough, they take on a personality and we don't see them as mere steel and aluminum tubs to move us from A to B. We spend years of our lives in cars; they share in our joys and sorrows.
Never get rid of that car.
My dad has an original 1971 Rover P5B. Being 14, I never experienced those times, but the car did. Fascinating.
You're so right. I recently sold a 1991 Eagle Premier back in June. I have many regrets as it was pretty identical to my first car, same year, make, model and color. I felt it's soul everywhere I went in that old girl.
As Clarkson said to Eric Bana in Love The Beast (2009), citing Charles Babbage who invented the computer, "the unerring certainty of machinery" is "how you develop a relationship with a car".
Yup
@@freddieparrydrums my dad has a 1974 triumph 2.5 P-I and I’m sure it’s a reincarnation of Christine. That car is an absolute time capsule
Never thought a decade and half after first seeing Oliver I'd still be smiling at the giddy reaction Richard still has for him. :) Such a neat little old car.
To me, ironically, he looks like a little muscle car lol
@@caprise-music6722 yeah, he's like a mini Chevy Nova
@@zenon459 hold a picture of Oliver up next to a 64 Falcon Sprint.
Now I feel old. I love rewatching the Botswana special and had never considered, until this video that it's nearly 15 years old now.
Same. 2007 only 3 or 4 years ago surely!
I don't want to think about that too hard. I was just entering middle school when I first saw that special on a definitely not bootleg rip.
Really ?
Where did that time went ?
The episode in Africa was made when I was 5 , I watched it at 12 yo and now I'm looking at this video and I'm 20...Times flies..
Something about him saying "Oliver, you're the future, mate. The savior of us all." was so endearing. Like a boy and his dog.
there's something so therapeutic about watching Richard Hammond just driving and talking about Oliver
I agree 100000%....🙂🙂🙂
Indeed
I could watch this all day
Or car scatter
Oliverrrrrr!
I love ya.... I LOVE YA!!!
I’m uj
FLOAT!
What did you say?
Float Oliver!
The funny thing is, the reason we're so fond of Oliver is because you're so fond of him.
I'm still impressed after 15 years of accidents Oliver is the only car that Hammon has driven on camera many times and has lasted without having a crash.
I thought the odd shot of the recovery truck behind Oliver was there "just incase" he decided to misbehave. Then chuckled when it continued with a police car on the back when Richard turned off. 😅
hahah .. yep ... same here.
The police car looked like a Vauxhaul / Opel. The old one keeps going and the new one gets
towed. Justice for all. ;-)
@@peterallen4331 well .. the new Vauxhall / Opel are french .... so that was never going to be durable.
same
Not gonna lie, when ever I see Oliver it makes me smile uncontrollably 😁
i would LOVE to see Oliver fully refreshed, and MAYBE add a few horses under the hood in the process. but if i owned him, i'd keep 90% of him as close to original as i could. he's just too cute
Agree, 40hp not enough. Even in Oliver.
You'd be amazed what a difference a thorough service and a tune up can do to a small, low power vehicle like Oliver. My SJ410 is 45hp according to the brochure. A refresh and service of the ignition and fueling system, followed by tuning the mixture and advancing the spark timing a bit and the old girl suddenly came alive. 10hp is a lot when you've only 40 to start with.
They just finished rebuilding it last year. I imagine it had a thorough cleaning and tuneup already.
That being said if he feels a recent run hurt it, then he might as well do another.
Had the timing belt and filters done on my turbo diesel Fiesta; I told the mechanic afterwards "way more torque down low and it's now smooth all the way through the rev range; you've built me an Econetic ST!"
I totally understand re how Hammond feels about Oliver, i have had my ‘69 Fiat 124 sport for 41 years. Enzo has been a part of my life for so long that i could never sell him. He took me to uni, i courted with the car, took him on my honeymoon, raced him, crashed and had him rebuilt,/restored, used to drive him to work and so on. Some cars/things in life become precious to us, they are a part of one’s family.
This the content i love wholesome well written no gimmicks or forced drama, just a guy talking about his car with love and sassing his mates.
It's honestly like watching someone talking about their first love or something.
I wish the Trio did this sort of thing with ordinary cars people can buy.
I remember the great Botswana episode and strangely even without mentioning that, we all know the car named Oliver. Oliver instantly became a well known car and still is after all those years.
Oliver is a true friend, always there, never going to say "i dont wanna talk today", a true legend, he's got your back. What a wholesome video!
Richard, please just buy another Opel to hot rod. Oliver is iconic, down to the bullet hole in the floor that car is iconic
It would be nice to be back in Botsawna but I want him in a Amazon show and being kept safe.
Safe from what?
@@katsogaolaolwe1768 Clarkson
im not sure if the bbc will let him appear, as oliver is a top gear staple
Yeah - safe from what!? Hairy tribespeople with big spears!? 🤷♂️
He's had made more crashes in their small time on Amazon than he did on his years of the BBC 🤣
Every time I see Oliver, I can’t help but smile. I love that little car. I even named my dog after it. ❤️
I love seeing how hopelessly in love with this little car Hammond is. It really sings to the truest nature of being a car enthusiast: loving every detail of an objectively unremarkable car because there is some intangible element of magic about this old bit of steel with some wheels on it. That childish smile and glitter in his eye when he sits in that car. That is car passion at its purest
The best thing about cars like Oliver is you can push them to limit on city streets and not get a ticket!
A slow car driven fast is more fun than a fast car driven slow.
.........and create a train, behind you😁
I hope that if Hammond does any upgrading, it's a version of the car that Opel wished they could've if it weren't for cost caps. Improving the engine, transmission, suspension, and braking, but with period manufacturer parts would be a nice project for Oliver and Hammond.
I agree, or make it appear as a natural progression of upgrades over many years in the ownership of someone without a huge budget/unlimited resources. What comes to mind immediately is some higher comp pistons (leave the rest of the rotating assembly stock), slightly larger carburetor off of something similar, clean up the intake/exhaust manifolds, polyurethane bushings all round, and some old school fog lights (maybe, don't want to lose the Oliver look. Same idea with a very discreet duckbill).
I dunno, now I kinda wanna see it painted purple and stuffed with a small block.
Small block Chev is GM!!
Out a resto mod like Leno does to make cars handle better and be more reliable but keep the integrity and art of the original creation.
A modern Audio system would be worth it too.
I still want to see an 'Oliver's travels' show, which may be a little impractical due to current events. Maybe just take Oliver out on the next GT special to the chagrin of May and Clarkson. If It is restored, film every second of that because I'd honestly watch that.
Seeing Hammond driving Oliver and seeing him grinning like a little kid brightened my day.
4:30 When a Tow truck is towing a Police Car, Jeremy was right they do crash alot
4:20
You just described Jeremy's beach buggy from the Namibia special.
This was by far my favorite car Hammond has driven in Top Gear. I loved seeing him zip around in it on the flats. And I'd love to see him take it on another adventure like that some day. Also, since he's a shop owner now. He can pull the other two cars from the Botswana episode and refurbish them as well. Imagine Clarkson and May's reactions if you call them out for a youtube drive special and don't tell them what they'd be driving. And then there's their old cars from Botswana. I'd enjoy every minute of watching that.
That would be the absolute best but I think they have gone to scrap now even though its sad to say because after 15 years and them only having half a car...
It's sad but it's the truth
@@Hibr1d_shorts No they haven't. Both of the other Botswana cars were found intact and repairable. Fans tracked them down and I think are preserving them now
When it comes to that "Decluttering fad", one of the main tenants was " Only keep it if it brings you joy". Outside of his children and wife, I doubt there is anything that brings him more joy. I know he loves his mustang and land rover, but I think in Oliver he found something truly special (Even in the world of car guys). A car that is also a life partner.
Richard Hammond, at one point, unconnected to any of the rest of the video about his car restorations: "I'd quite happily drive him across Botswana again"
DRIVETRIBE titling department: "IS RICHARD HAMMOND TAKING OLIVER BACK TO BOTSWANA?!"
This is disgraceful, guys. Knock it off.
Thanks now I don't have to watch all this.
Clickbait is such a drag
@@scottdodge6979 only if your dumb enough to fall for it
@@scottdodge6979 BS title aside, its still a fine little video of Hammond enjoying a drive in Oliver.
@@CaydeSmax Not really... They could have quite easily titled the video "Oliver visits The Smallest Cog" and people would have clicked just as much as they will this title thinking it might have something to do with restoring it...
Indeed, it just conveys that Mike & Co don't trust their own content and that they don't know what they're doing. Not the audience engagement they should be repeatedly going for. Here's a better title: "Richard gives an update on his car collection (featuring Oliver!)".
Now, I wanna watch the Botswana special again, especially where Hammond is running into the lake after the Opel calling “Oliveeerrr”!
I wonder what kind of global bidding war there’s would be if “Oliver” showed up on a Barrett-Jackson auction?
Would be massive war. But it wouldn't go to Barrett Jackson. Considering all he's other have been sold in the UK.
@@chriscollins550 yeah maybe so. We in the Colonies don’t get to see Oliver as often as y’all do over there in the Mother Country.
"Float!!!! Float!!!"
*Camera zooms out*
"OLIVEEEEERR!!!"
barrett
I'd honestly love to watch a grand tour episode of just the three talking about and driving cars they've kept from their years of filming.
Man, I remember watching the special as a kid on BBC America and all these years later it still makes me smile seeing the two together.
I love that oliver still drives after all these years, and the Rozzers new shape Beemer was on the back of a tow truck !!! hahahaha
I wish we'd open a museum here with all 3 cars.
I don't know why but the tow truck dragging the much newer cop car while the little Opel moves away sounding like a tired old milk float is just funny.
Richard having a wee pop at Top Gear 😂 love it. Can't believe that this car was from 15 years ago when driven across Botswana & the fact that Richard still has it & still makes him feel giddy is beautiful to see.
Love RH!! Love Oliver!! please Richard never give Oliver away!!! He and you are the best thing I could learn about friendship!!!
The police car on the tow truck was the best moment. ;-)
Broke me out an emotional moment that.
I love hearing how fond and nostalgic Richard Hammond sounds when he talks about Oliver
We love Oliver!!! Made me so happy seeing Richard in Oliver again
Did anyone else notice the policecar being towed at 4:40? 🤣
What about it?
Ya noticed it straight away.🤣🤣🤣
Literally just finished watching this special again about 5 minutes ago. Oliver truly is something special.
How are you watching the old TG episodes they've disappeared off netflix?
“Oliver” is just like said simple. How a little car can bring such happiness and make someone complete. It’s an attachment like said. I loved that episode. What a cute little car!!!
I have a little two-seater Minor that is 30 years older than Oliver and I've done 4000 miles in it so far this year. Starts first time, every time. Oliver is very fancy, it has a 4-speed gearbox with synchromesh gears, side windows, and a roof. My little Morris has a 3-speed crash 'box, no side windows, and no roof. The two of us will be going on another little outing into deepest darkest Herefordshire in a few days. As usual, I'm looking forward to getting over Bringsty Common with 19bhp on tap 🤣
I really love to see oliver still going. It's a piece of TG history. He can be a great sleeper though.
Thanks to its past, that has unexpectedly become one of the most iconic cars in the world.
Oliver always brings a smile to my face.
Cheers Richard.
Richard & Oliver. The understanding of humanity's reflection through steel.
Oliver reminds me of my 1964 122s Volvo. It was dead simple to work on. Always reliable with proper attention. But mine had dual carbs and 2.2L as I recall. So it was quick for what it was.
Miss it!
Nooooooo, not Oliver. He belongs here.
His laughter at 9:26 that’s the laugh of him back in Botswana with it when he honked the horn 👌🤪
It's that little chuckle Richard gives when he chucks Oliver round that roundabout! Sheer unadulterated brilliance!
I'm so used to Top Gear shenanigans that I thought the shot at 4:42 was scripted ...
Ive always loved Oliver. Id love to see him restored!
This is such a great episodes! The sincerity behind this was awesome.
I can't tell you how much joy I would feel in my body if I got to see Oliver, and maybe Richard with the old Opel.
You really didn't need that click bait title. Just say "Hammond drives Oliver about" and people will watch it.
Just don't sell it please Hammond...😢😢
I love this little car. I am so happy you have kept it Richard
Seeing & hearing about Oliver always puts a smile on my face.
Oliver makes me feel happy.
Always appreciate a story with Richard and Oliver. Unappreciative of the clickbait title, Drivetribe. "Is Drivetribe going to sacrifice an intern to appease the Gods Of More Clicks?". You can do better.
It seems that quality journalism comes after decades of talking and being able to relate messages as if they were pre-written - totally randomly and on a whim. A pleasure to watch in the modern era of millions "watch me, watch me". Well done and keep on doing, greetings from Latvia.
I think it's pretty awesome that Hammond still has Oliver after all these years. Seems like a nice little cruising car.
That is the most perfect scale match - human/car I’ve ever seen. 😂
Don’t deport Oliver. The Polish fighter pilots that helped win The Battle of Britain were bad enough.
You don't think the Pols of all people were just grateful to find a way of fighting the Nazis? They didn't do it to live in the UK
@@realMaverickBuckley They didn’t do it to die in the salt mines under Soviet rule either.
@@ElValuador
Well they did not, thats just a funny story from a British cartoon show from 1957, all the kids got the joke, but you seem to have been left behind, oh dear.
@Tristan Lane You’re correct and I was joking/trolling, perhaps inappropriately. However, British sentiment was against them staying and they were unjustly omitted from the VE Day parade. While they were grateful for the opportunity to fight the Nazis, Britain, and the allies in general, should be even more grateful that they were willing to risk their lives and fight for freedom.
@Tristan Lane You’re mostly correct but there are differing accounts. The Labour Party actively encouraged them to leave and opinion polls showed the same sentiment. The originally snubbed pilots also rejected the invitation in solidarity with the other 8,000+ Polish servicemen that were not invited. Of course the British people didn’t hate the Pols but many didn’t appreciate and equate their sacrifice to that of their fellow countrymen. A sign of the times that the US with the Tuskegee Airmen also had in common.
The story of Hammond and Oliver is still one of the great modern love stories, and it's clear he's still as madly in love with Oliver as we are.
i had a picture of this car on a little trading card as a kid, still can't look at it without smiling
After Oliver is restored take HIM ( not IT Clarkson and May) to Botswana and go see Jeremy's Lancia and James's Mercedes. They're sitting abandoned in Botswana! Take him to Botswana then bring him back the UK!
No he could catch COVID so.we should keep him safe ( I mean Oliver of course)
Would love to see another Botswana special.
It
@@genotronex8663 by the time Oliver is restored, hopefully COVID won't be as much of an issue
@@genotronex8663 🤣🤣🤣
I´ve driven all of Olivers "children": the Kadett B, C, D and E. The Kadett A is the last of the series I have not driven until today... -> bucket list!
Keep Oliver for life Richard. He found you for a reason. I think we are all grateful for that.
I've been following Oliver since the day you introduced it so many years ago. I love that you have such admiration for the old boy still.
As long as Oliver is staying with Hammond, let him do what he wants cause it's his car 👍🏾
If it was my Opel, I'd probably change the wheels back to steelies with caps. I'd also do some internal work to the drivetrain to boost power a bit, but otherwise, I'd just keep her all stock and enjoy the drive. That's what I did with my '69 Ford.
Just love hammond driving and talking, relaxing😁
Whenever I think about the old show, Oliver is the first thing that comes to my mind. Would love to have one tbh.
4:43 The Rozzes' Opel/Vauxhall doesn't seem as reliable as Oliver!
My thoughts exactly!
NEVER sell Oliver! NEVER take him back to Botswana! Poor thing would just end up like Jeremy's Lancia and James' Mercedes! I know a majority of people are saying Oliver needs to be stock, but I think you definitely need to do a sort of rally car feel, but in a subtle, tasty way, as you don't need "anything too larrie" as you said all those years ago. Going all "hot rod" would change him too much and make him practically unrecognizable. Stick with an engine that's in the same flavor as Oliver's original, but somewhat larger and makes quite a bit more power, make him more fun and convenient to drive, but still in essence the same little car you fell in love with back in Botswana. That's what I would personally do! But at the end of the day Oliver is your car, and you have every right to do whatever you want with him.
I absolutely loved the classic car workshop series. Hope there are more to come!
Oliver lives on and is beautiful in his own way. Your preservation of this beloved TV friend is very much appreciated, and that could be directed to either Richard or Oliver independently.
Make Oliver a sleeper car, bigger engine but keep the overall looks in terms of paint!
*Edit: Maybe some transmission work is in order aswell...
I'd go with a Cosworth FBC, the V6 that was used in the Ford Scorpio.
Or something from Lotus, since there's some history between Vauxhall/Opel and Lotus, but that was just a bored out & reinforced Vauxhall engine with a couple turbos and a Corvette gearbox.
2jz or LS / LT swap what you thinking here?
@@BoHorror I mean i'd go with a diesel because that's the kind of person i am...somehow don't think Hammond would do that to any of his cars for whatever reason...
honda k series. A 6 cylinder in this car is way too big.
@@Nordern oh yeah, a d5 Volvo engine or a Saab ttv6, or even a VW diesel. That would be amazong
This is the happiest I've ever seen Hammond, it's a similar content joy that Clarkson exhibited during the filming of his show. I hope this works for Hammond. On the Oliver side of things I think he should do an electric conversion.
Oliverrr. Yes. My father had the English version. A Vauxhall Victor. It was great. Light interior, simple, reliable, spacious for 4. Great car. The best is that it can go for another 59 years. 100 maybe. Or more. That is the beauty of simplicity. Kisses to Oliver.
That was such a pleasant video. I long for this kind of driving and living tranquility in my life.
I reckon a GT special with the lads using the vehicles most dear to their hearts would be Fantastic ^^ Not actually sure what May and Clarkson would use though :)
In an interview before Season 22 of Top Gear, Clarkson said he was fond of the Porsche 928 from Patagonia. (Which will probably be 100% out of the question.)
May said the Cadillac from their trip to America... but who knows if THAT thing is even still around or if it became part of the vegetation.
@@greatsageclok-roo9013 Wow, thanks so much ^^ I'd totally forgotten about those :)
@@gamepants4535 No problem!
Oliver is more than a car, It is the spirit of what made top gear.
I could listen to Richard talk about Oliver for hours
I just watched the Botswana special. It was great to rewatch. I love you guys. Saw you guys all the time when you visited South Africa. Oliver is too special to get rid of him. Keep him
OK, now I would love to see an Amazon Prime series where he takes Oliver back to Botswana and recreates the original trip.
Only this time Oliver is equipped for swimming.
I wouldn't be opposed to Hammond giving Oliver an upgrade. Give him a new, more powerful engine, better brakes and suspension, whatever you can think of, and whatever you want Hammond:)
"Hotrod, but in miniscule scale"
I cannot think of a phrase that personifies Richard Hammond more than that! ^w^
Oliver always puts a smile on my face, i truely adore the cute little Kadett.
An engine swap with a newer Opel CIH engine would be neat. Even with just an early 1.5 though a 1.9 would probably be perfect power wise. And a 5 speed out of a 75+ Manta.
Well, Oliver is way more reliable than a Police car 😁 4:42
Modern versus old
DON'T YOU DARE TOUCHING LITTLE OLIVER!!! He's beautiful the way he is!!!!