15 Best Top Gear Specials

Top Gear has been a popular reality television show for over 30 years, and in its long run, it has produced some great specials. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond consistently prove their Midas touch is eternal. in The Grand Tour In particular, the car experts keep their comic form as they travel across Norway and engage in all forms of mischief. Although the presenters have adapted to life away from the BBC, their work continues Top Gear Still fondly remembered.

On their first show, The trio occasionally went on road trips to different countries Where they explored the landscapes as well as the different cultures. With a running time that was longer than the standard 60 minutes of the standard episodes, the specials are always something to look forward to. There were strange episodes of Top GearAnd all of them present new locations, great scenery, huge stunts, and a lot of laughs along the way, standing as highlights of the popular reality show.

15

Simen (Season 4)

The team swaps cars for boats

“Simman” opened. Top Gear Season 4 with a special that follows Clarkson, Hammond and May cross Cambodia and Vietnam in boats. The team then used the boats to make their way through the Mekong Delta. The special was drawn out because there are no cars, but it ends up being entertaining with some very funny moments. When the episode ended with Jeremy saying, “We survived. And, on top of that terrible disappointment, for Top Gear, it’s time to say goodbye“, the joke caps it all off.

This episode also saw the team start using GoPro cameras more, making it feel more personal in depicting their adventures. Removing these guys from their comfort zone and then having them try something new really worked for the show And was a refreshing trend. The idea that boat accidents can be deadlier than their work in cars makes it even more exciting. It brought back the feeling of old Top Gear episodes and felt like a fun throwback.

14

Survival of the fattest

The team must build their own escape vehicle

in Top Gear Season 3 special “Survival of the Fattest” aired as the 13th episode. This special saw Clarkson, Hammond, and May dropped off into the Mongolian desert with only basic rations and plane-packed parts. They have no other supplies to help them build the vehicle that serves as their only escape back into civilization. The best parts of the episode show how frustrated the guys get with each other as they attempt to build their escape vehicle.

This episode worked well since it ignored unnecessary stunts and bad jokes and allowed them to show their chemistry and inventiveness to shine through. The sight of their vehicle, nicknamed John, bouncing up the hills is worth watching alone. However, the humor is also strong with the running joke that they wouldn’t let Richard drive because “It could be a finish line.“

13

Driving Home for Christmas Special (Season 31)

A light-hearted bit of holiday cheer

while many Top Gear Fans often look down on the later episodes with the new cast, there are some gems in the bunch. One of the episodes includes the 2021 special, “Driving Home for Christmas.” Although it seems strange for a show about cars to do a Christmas episode, it was great because Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris linked the holiday season to their love for cars.

The three hosts each received a gift – a Christmas car that matched their personalities. Chris got a Citroen BX 4×4 GTI, Paddy a Ford Escort XR3i, and Freddie a Range Rover, and they set out to complete some holiday-themed tests. The whole episode was silly, but it fit the festive Christmas theme and allowed the series’ new era of shows to offer some holiday cheer.

12

Special Winter Olympics (Season 7)

The team creates their own car-themed version of the game

The Winter Olympics especially of Top Gear Season 7 pays tribute to the games that year, which stands tall thanks to the humor of the guys. However, it does not follow the formula that many fans were used to at the time, making it an often overlooked episode of the series. This episode is often not mentioned because it was not listed as a “special” until after the games. However, it is called the “Winter Olympics Special.” Although it didn’t involve traveling, it was more of a feature-length episode than the norm.

Clarkson, Hammond and May traveled to Norway To make their version of the Winter Olympics, but with cars. Unlike later specials that featured a trip, this instead focused on modifying cars and having fun. The events included the biathlon, cold weather endurance, speed skating, off-road slalom, bobsleigh, ice hockey and the ski jump.

11

India Special (Season 18)

A low-stakes special with a memorable game of cricket

In season 18, Top Gear Presented the India Special. Although some fans dislike the special because of its obvious scripted nature, there is a lot to like about the humor and gags in the episode. Top Gear Clearly put many of the gags and jokes in the episodeAnd while it took away the spontaneous nature of the series’ funniest episodes, it still allowed for plenty of laughs along the way.

Going through the gags and setup jokes, the travelogue elements of the series are fun, although the team only brought in three cars and messed them all up. There is no danger, as in the specials that take place in Bolivia and Vietnam, but the boys have all closed with their humor and plastic momentsHighlighted by the stunt where they played cricket with cans thrown from Jeremy’s car.

10

Vietnam Special (Season 12)

The team travels cross-country on motorbikes

Although there were no cars involved, the Vietnam special became one of the best episodes ever. In this episode, the trio travels 1000 miles across Vietnam on motorbikes. The special is rejuvenating due to the lack of cars. Even more interesting is that the decision to go on motorbikes was born out of circumstances since it turns out the money they were given was not enough to buy a car in Vietnam.

This alone brings the discussion of vehicles too expensive in developing countries. Jeremy was arrested while asking motorists to sell their cars to him at a bargain price, and the trio boasting about accomplishing something American soldiers failed to do during the Vietnam War are notable moments, as they moved across the country in less Like 10 days.

9

Bolivia Special (Season 14)

The team faces danger on a treacherous mountain road

In this special, The presenters receive £3,500 to buy locally used cars, after which they travel from the Bolivian rainforests to the coast of Chile. Apart from beautifully shot scenes, the sensationalized moments, including one where they move through the Amazon vegetation, look like they were taken from one of the best jungle movies.

Moreover, there have been many breathtaking Top Gear moments, but the one where they travel across the dangerous 40-mile mountain road known as El Camino de la Muerte (Death Road) feels tense. To sprinkle some horror into the proceedings, there are several crosses across the road to serve as a reminder of how many people died there. The cars are all fun and iconic, and the moments when they drove through the scary terrain, such as the Andes, made it special to remember.

8

USA Special (Season 9)

The British hosts are over-the-top in the American South

In the USA special, the presenter travels from Miami to New Orleans in used cars, in order to find out if renting a car is cheaper than owning one. Each of these guys bought a used car for $1,000 and then went to see if they could make it across the country. Clarkson, May and Hammond’s tendency to unapologetically say and do offensive things is one of the main reasons Top Gear Stands out from other projects that are considered big car shows.

Even better is the never-ending “Britain is better than America” ​​argument on the show, since Top Gear is a British show. This took great aim at the American South stereotypes and often resulted in some incredibly funny scenes, gags and jokes. This time, the presenters become even more daring in their efforts to offend Americans, making the viewers eager to see what the repercussions would be. It was another USA special, but this is the better of the two.

7

Botswana Special (Season 10)

The team tests their theories about offroading

Clarkson, May, and Hammond buy cheap cars and travel through rough Botswana country lanes to prove that rides are better than SUVs when it comes to driving up and down the leafy country lanes. Using cars not designed for off-road use in a country with bad roads is an even bigger test For the presenters, but they lead. Along the way, they showcase their improvisational skills as they strip down their cars to skeletons to reduce weight.

Hammond falls in love with his 1963 Opel Kadett (nicknamed Oliver) and is overwhelmed with grief when it sinks. However, they were able to save it, and Hammond took the car with him, restored it, and still owns it to this day. This was the first “official” Top Gear special, although there were three other unofficial specials before it. The special also deserves credit for taking the time and care to ensure that none of the wilderness conservation was harmed (via Sunday Standard).

6

Patagonia Special (Season 22)

The team is attacked by protestors after Jeremy’s License Plate incites anger

In the Patagonia Special, the car experts travel from Chile to Argentina in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the small-block V8 engine. The special remains memorable because it is the only time the presenters and crew almost die. All the mayhem in Argentina was triggered by Jeremy’s number plate (H982 FKL), which the locals feel is a reference to the Falklands War. While the tag was a random choice by the manufacturer, protesters still attacked the cast and crew, which was showing the episode.

In a scene that might as well mirror that of a thriller, the trio makes a hasty treat to Chile when they are attacked by angry locals. This should not take away from the episode itself, because it was still full of great moments, cars, stunts and humor, but much of it was overshadowed by the violence. This scary moment helps the episode stand apart from the rest of the series and makes it memorable.

5

Polar Special (Season 9)

Car vs. Dog sledding at the North Pole

In this special, Clarkson and May attempt to be the first people to reach the magnetic North Pole using a car. The events were spiced up by the fact that the duo had to race against Hammond, who opted to use the dog sled (the main means of transport in the Arctic). This gives the special a true North Pole experience, although Clarkson and James May travel by motor vehicle (a modified Hilux), which has never been achieved in this part of the world. They succeed and beat Hammond.

However, Clarkson becomes furious after being denied a chance to brag since Hammond never makes it to the finish line. As for the horrible ending, Everyone is christened with a strange name after adding “Sir Ranulph” in front of their own name In honor of explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. This was something done in many episodes, with the names often adding humorous names to the cast names. The Winter Olympics episode in Norway added the names of ABBA band members to each name.

4

Burma Special (Season 21)

The team built a bridge on the River Kwai – or did they?

In this special, The gangheads travel across Burma in second-hand lorries so they can get to Thailand and build a bridge across the River Kwai. Cinephiles will love the fact that the premise of the special is a nod to one of the best war dramas, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Given how resourceful they are, Jeremy, Clarkson, and May actually have a bridge. Since they can always be trusted to find all sorts of creative ways to have fun, they decided to participate in a drag race in the capital.

After building the bridge, they started from Rangoon and continued through Naypyidaw before crossing into Thailand. The humor here was strong because the boys realized that they had made a big mistake. They built the bridge at the River Kwai but they realized too late that they were actually at the River Crook. A two-part special (similar to the Africa special), this concluded the 21st season in its penultimate and final episode.

3

Africa Special (Season 19)

A trip to the Nile has its challenges

In the Africa special, the presenters buy cheap cars and Travel across East Africa to find the source of the River Nile. The special lives up to its bold announcement: “You’ve seen David Attenborough’s Take on Africa, now it’s time to see Top Gear’s Take on Africa.” From analyzing the intense traffic jams of Kampala to showing the vast landscapes leading to Lake Victoria, the film takes viewers on a satisfying adventure.

The challenges are also never ending, with the three friends having to transform their cars into bedrooms after lacking a place to sleep and going on a fresh quest after realizing that Lake Victoria is not the source of the Nile. It was originally planned as a Christmas holiday special in 2012, but was pushed back until 2013, when it finally aired as a two-part special. It was also one of the only specials where the backup car didn’t complete the trip.

2

Nepal Special (Season 27)

The first special without the original hosts is a huge success

The first special not to be performed by the original trio sees Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff drive through Nepal. Although the humor that Clarkson and company are known for is missing, the experts do a great job of analyzing their cars and the locations they travel to. The other difference here is that Flintoff decided to buy his car in Nepal, something never done in a special before. Images of the lush scenery also remain in the retina, and so do the well-constructed roads.

It was also the first Christmas special since the reboot series and the first Top Gear Especially since Patagonia. They buy “future-proof” city cars for less than £5000 and set out to find out which one is best. They travel from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and pass through the Muktinath Temple before heading to the Forbidden City of La Manthang, as they complete their missions and stunts.

1

Middle East Special (Season 16)

The three points, top gear-style

In this special, The presenters recreate the path that the three wise men took to Bethlehem in the Bible. This leads them across southern Turkey, Aleppo, Palmyra, Damascus, Jordan, and finally the Mount of Olives. There is also a side trip that had nothing to do with the Bible when they visited an abandoned temple and then also stopped at Ein Geb on the Sea of ​​Galilee. This was definitely a Top Gear Special that featured a lot of fascinating locations with the guys.

The special erases the misconceptions people have about the Middle East, with the presenters having the time of their lives. It’s also fun to see the normally brave Jeremy get paranoid and insist on making his car bulletproof, just in case. It is one of the best options on Top GearAnd arguably the best Christmas special the series ever produced.