Is Richard Hammond taking Oliver back to Botswana?! 

To watch Hammond's new discovery+ show, click here: bit.ly/HammondWorkshop-SV10-YT

Oliver is the car equivalent of Richard Hammond: Small, underpowered, unpretentious, reliable as heck, and prone to rolling over at any minute.

I still remember Richard, sneaking around Oliver, not wanting to dismantle anything. 🥰 We all love Oliver.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..........!"

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

Oliverrrrrr!

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.

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.

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. 😅

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.

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.

Not gonna lie, when ever I see Oliver it makes me smile uncontrollably 😁

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.

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

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.

It would be nice to be back in Botsawna but I want him in a Amazon show and being kept safe.

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.

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!

Seeing Hammond driving Oliver and seeing him grinning like a little kid brightened my day.

Richard, please just buy another Opel to hot rod. Oliver is iconic, down to the bullet hole in the floor that car is iconic

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.

Every time I see Oliver, I can’t help but smile. I love that little car. I even named my dog after it. ❤️

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.

4:20 You just described Jeremy's beach buggy from the Namibia special.

4:30 When a Tow truck is towing a Police Car, Jeremy was right they do crash alot

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

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.

The best thing about cars like Oliver is you can push them to limit on city streets and not get a ticket!

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?

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.

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.

Did anyone else notice the policecar being towed at 4:40? 🤣

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

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 hearing how fond and nostalgic Richard Hammond sounds when he talks about Oliver

The police car on the tow truck was the best moment. ;-)

I wish we'd open a museum here with all 3 cars.

Richard & Oliver. The understanding of humanity's reflection through steel.

His laughter at 9:26 that’s the laugh of him back in Botswana with it when he honked the horn 👌🤪

Literally just finished watching this special again about 5 minutes ago. Oliver truly is something special.

Love RH!! Love Oliver!! please Richard never give Oliver away!!! He and you are the best thing I could learn about friendship!!!

It's that little chuckle Richard gives when he chucks Oliver round that roundabout! Sheer unadulterated brilliance!

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.

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!

I'm so used to Top Gear shenanigans that I thought the shot at 4:42 was scripted ...

Oliver always brings a smile to my face. Cheers Richard.

Keep Oliver for life Richard. He found you for a reason. I think we are all grateful for that.

Just don't sell it please Hammond...😢😢

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!

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.

We love Oliver!!! Made me so happy seeing Richard in Oliver again

I really love to see oliver still going. It's a piece of TG history. He can be a great sleeper though.

You really didn't need that click bait title. Just say "Hammond drives Oliver about" and people will watch it.

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 🤣

"Hotrod, but in miniscule scale" I cannot think of a phrase that personifies Richard Hammond more than that! ^w^

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.

Thanks to its past, that has unexpectedly become one of the most iconic cars in the world.

5:05 "if you ever dig out that old show and watch it" Season 10, episode 4. What a memorable episode.

i had a picture of this car on a little trading card as a kid, still can't look at it without smiling

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.

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 could listen to Richard talk about Oliver for hours

Drivetribe...tell the boys...many of us still watch those old shows. Some of the best television made to date.

Oliver makes me feel happy.

That is the most perfect scale match - human/car I’ve ever seen. 😂

DON'T YOU DARE TOUCHING LITTLE OLIVER!!! He's beautiful the way he is!!!!

Hammond and Oliver is the best Bromance ever

Ive always loved Oliver. Id love to see him restored!

Nooooooo, not Oliver. He belongs here.

I grew up with my own Oliver, a 1968 red Vauxhall Viva, Oliver’s younger cousin. had the same soul. Loved that car.

Love the police car on the towe truck and Oliver just skipping along infront 🤣

Don’t deport Oliver. The Polish fighter pilots that helped win The Battle of Britain were bad enough.

4:43 The Rozzes' Opel/Vauxhall doesn't seem as reliable as Oliver!

Whenever I think about the old show, Oliver is the first thing that comes to my mind. Would love to have one tbh.

i love how you can see the queue getting bigger in the background through out the video

Oliver is more than a car, It is the spirit of what made top gear.

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!

Seeing & hearing about Oliver always puts a smile on my face.

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.

As long as Oliver is staying with Hammond, let him do what he wants cause it's his car 👍🏾

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.

Never, ever get rid of it. My mom to this day regrets being in a crash in her '70s Beetle, which totaled it. She thought about getting another one, because there's plenty of them, but that's just not it. You learn to love the quirks and drawbacks of your own car, and once you lose them, nothing feels the same

This is such a great episodes! The sincerity behind this was awesome.

OK, now I would love to see an Amazon Prime series where he takes Oliver back to Botswana and recreates the original trip.

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.

I've always loved Oliver, please take care of him.

It's just a car and still Oliver makes me happy everytime I see him. 🥰

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 :)

Well, Oliver is way more reliable than a Police car 😁 4:42

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.

My Dad owned lots of cars. We had one just like this one. This Opel was his workhorse and parts hauler for his bodyshop. And it is the very first car I have ever driven. In 78 I learned to drive in it. We called it our little piece of juink. But it never let us stranded.

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:)

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.

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.