With it being the festive period, chances are, even if your not a car fan, you'll probably see that the various Top Gear specials are on the TV again. The specials evolved from the standard cheap car challenge previously featured in series 4-7. Taking 3 ill-suited cars off to far off and treacherous parts of the globe, all to prove just what these machines can do (with some modifications). Anyways, this ranking will list all 12 specials from the Winter Olympics in 2006 to Nepal in 2019, please note Series 16 ep 1 sometimes known as 'The East Coast Special' will not be featured as that was a normal episode that ran over a few minutes, a special here is an episode or two parter consisting of 1 film. Anyways, please enjoy.
12. Nepal Special (2019)- Sorry to all the newer Top Gear fans, but the Nepal special is bottom of the list, not that it's bad as it certainly outranks some of The Grand Tour specials but it faces stiff competition from the other specials. The premise is an interesting idea with some interesting cars in both the Peugeot 106 Rallye, Renault 4 and the Hulas Mustang, but like nearly all of post Clarkson Top Gear it fails to provide any lasting memories or truly memorable moments like the salt flats in Botswana, Death Road in Bolivia or James falling over in Syria.
11. USA Special (2007)- Technically the first special, and it shows, essentially it was a cheap car challenge with too much footage, hence why it maybe doesn't feel very special. Some good comedy from the slogans painted on the cars and a nice ending in having their cars be donated to victims of Hurricane Katrina, but am I the only one that thought that when it came to choosing their car, all 3 were made things hard for themselves? Jezza and Hammond clearly hadn't been to the States in a while if they thought they could get a brand new Vette or a classic Hemi Cuda's for $1000, and James could have taken a 90s Honda Civic, but I suppose that wouldn't have made good TV compared to an old Cadillac with a dodgy battery.
10. Africa Special (2013)- Whilst this maybe some peoples favourite, for me, I've never resonated with the Africa special much. It was the first of the 2 part specials, and whilst the boys turning their estate cars into living accomodation was neat and clever, the rest of the special feels devoid of stand out moments outside of the race to the source of the Nile at the end and building the raft to cross the river. Great cars though, BMW 528i Touring, Subaru WRX & Volvo 850-R. Also R.I.P. Ford Scorpio Estate.
9. Burma Special (2014)- Another special that unfortunately feels rather forgettable. Very much in the cocking about era of latter Top Gear, there are some of funny moments: "I shall call you Tesco" and "Hammond, you've reversed into the sports lorry!" The bridge building was interesting, but seriously, the River Cock? That was 100% planed from the get-go.
8. Winter Olympics Special (2006)- Technically, this shouldn't count as whilst the whole special centres on the Winter Olympics, it's made up of several challenges. We first get a brief road test of the Audi Q7 and then a car biathlon between James and his Audi and Jeremy and the Volvo XC90 where we find out James is actually competent in a race, and Jeremy can't even work the seats to his own car. More humiliation for Jeremy as he tries to get round an ice skating track in the then ready to be launched Jaguar XK and loses to a figure skating before then losing to James in a Land Rover Discovery on an ice track. We also see Hammond outlive a Citroen C1 in a frozen testing chamber, a re-run of the car v bobsleigh race, the Suzuki Swift ice hockey which was kind of a rehash of Toyota Aygo car football and then finally the Mini ski jump. There's a lot in here, as you can see, and very much started the 'Ambitious But Rubbish' era of Top Gear but not much that resonates with you or sticks with you after watching it.
7. Patagonia Special (2014)- Part 1 of the special is actually very interesting, Jeremy recounting his trip in a 928 to see his father is very heartwarming. The rest of the first part of the journey feels like watching 3 guys who really love their cars, it's exciting watching a Porsche, Lotus Esprit and a '71 Mustang, 3 cars that couldn't have been any less suited for the true journey that lay ahead. Which is when it falls apart, what could have been an interesting road movie in the vein of the driving road trips, thanks to Hammond's decision making became the standard, mucking about and dare I say ruining 3 lovely cars. It was a pity to see all 3 left behind after the number plate fiasco particularly as they'd tried so hard and crossed every terrain and weather imaginable. Great journey but missed an opportunity to be something different.
6. Botswana Special (2007)- The archetypical Top Gear special, it has everything you expect and think of from a special. Richard's connection to Oliver the Opel Kadett was probably the breakthrough part of the special. It's very good, but not amazing.
5. Bolivia Special (2009)- Arguably the toughest Top Gear special with the possible exception of Patagonia, this was also the first time the trio were given appropriate equipment, if you can call a decrepit Land Cruiser with no brakes 'suitable'. The fact Jezza nearly sinks before they've even gotten their cars of the forsaken raft that brought them is proof Bolivia made Botswana and the North Pole look like a normal road test. They hack through trees, forge through a river, cross the most dangerous road in the world, Jeremy was literally stones away from tumbling to his death and eventually end up nearly dying from lack of oxygen, and with 1 downhill bit to go, Hammond's Land Cruiser rolls to it's death, it may have been the token problem car, but you still feel for it. A journey where you feel every drip of sweat and gasp for air, even a then modern Discovery or Hilux would have struggled.
4. India Special (2011)- What's initially framed as a 'trade mission' quickly turns into clever ideas and bad execution. With one of the best line-ups yet (Silver Shadow, XJS Celebration & MINI Cooper) they try to beat the 'statistically impossible' Dabbawalla service only for Jeremy to give 19 people deadly food poisoning, Hammond to spill most of his loads at a junction and James (as usual gets lost). We then get a clever local hillclimb event that's rather spoiled by Jeremy winning his own event. The garden party is another ingenious idea, spoiled by Jezza's firework and Hammond's parking system. The latter part after this is a bit forgetful, but Hammond's MINI's bodywork getting pulled off is rather humorous, not to mention their campside chat and the game of cricket in the mountains was rather neat. Holds the viewers attention for most of the way through but falters a little in the last quarter.
3. Polar Special (2007)- A unique special in that once again, it doesn't neatly fit the formula set by all the others. Either way, it's an interesting race, Jezza and James in the 'indestructible' Toyota Hilux modified by Arctic Trucks versus Hammond on a husky drawn sleigh. The 'race' if you can call it that, is an exciting journey across the polar ice caps from the point of view of two men who really shouldn't be there, from Jeremy bringing a Jesus action figure for guidance to drinking gin and tonic 'at sea' since they were in international waters. But you really feel for them when they're stuck in the boulder field crawling along, hacking and chainsawing away at never ending ice. An exciting trek across some of the most hostile and barren part of the world dressed up as a race. Exciting and interesting with just enough humour to keep the mood light.
2. Vietnam Special (2008)- Now this is a great idea, ditch the cars and go on bikes, now I don't really care for bikes, but the concept of taking a car show into a completely different mode of transport is clever. Outside of that, it's fairly standard: sabotage, silly gifts and Hammond being a fussy eater. But beyond that, the special gives a great view into Vietnamese culture and what goes on in the country America couldn't beat at the game of war. But not only is it an interesting adventure, there is lots of fantastic scenery and views to boot, capped off with the journey to the bar on the floating town in Ha Long Bay. A grand adventure indeed, though arguably their easiest special.
1. Middle East Special (2010)- As someone who performed in school nativities and watched this when it first aired, this special above all resonates with me most. From a political point of view, it is a very precarious yet interesting journey going from Iraq down to Palestine. But what I will say is, this special paints a very different view of the Middle East than what is perhaps commonly shown on the news. As the trio point out fairly early on at the Iraqi amusement park, they don't need bullet proof vests or helmets, they can just drive and enjoy their cars. The best way to describe this special is 'an eye-opener' not only to civilian life in Iraq but also just how big Top Gear was, even in a place like Syria. The whole trip into Damascus, not only going in disguise but also shopping around the several thousand year old city and racing around the oval chariot track is a fun adventure. Best of the Top Gear lot and only rivalled by Grand Tours Eurocrash Special.
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