15 Best Top Gear Specials

Top Gear has been a popular reality TV show for over 30 years, and over its long run, it has produced some great specials. Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond consistently prove their Midas touch is everlasting. In The Grand Tour special, the car experts maintain their comedic form as they journey across Norway and engage in all forms of mischief. Even though the presenters have adapted to life away from the BBC, their work on Top Gear is still remembered fondly.

On their former 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 normal episodes, the specials were always something to look forward to. There have been funny episodes of Top Gear, and 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’s run.

15 Seamen (Season 4)

The Team Swaps Cars For Boats

“Seaman” opened Top Gear season 4 with a special that follows Clarkson, Hammond, and May across Cambodia and Vietnam in boats. The team then used the boats to make their way through the Mekong Delta. This special stood out because there were no cars, yet it ended up entertaining with some very funny moments. When the episode ended with Jeremy saying, “We have survived. And, on that terrible disappointment, for Top Gear, it’s time to say goodbye,” the joke capped it all off.

This episode also saw the team begin to use GoPro cameras more, making it feel more personal in depicting their adventures. Removing the guys from their comfort zone and then having them try something new really worked for the show and was a refreshing change of pace. The idea that boat accidents can be deadlier than their work in cars makes it even more exciting. It returned 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, the “Survival of the Fattest” special aired as the 13th episode. This special saw Clarkson, Hammond, and May dropped off in the Mongolian wilderness with only basic rations and flat-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.

The 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 was worth watching by itself. However, the humor was also strong with the running joke that they wouldn’t let Richard drive because “there might 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 upon the later episodes with the new cast, there are some gems in the bunch. One of these episodes includes the 2021 special, “Driving Home for Christmas.” While it seems strange for a show about cars to do a Christmas episode, this one worked great because Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness, and Chris Harris tied the holiday season to their love for cars.

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

12 Winter Olympics Special (Season 7)

The Team Creates Their Own Car-Themed Verison Of The Games

The Winter Olympics special from Top Gear season 7 paid tribute to the Games that year, which stands tall thanks to the humor from the guys. However, it doesn’t 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 wasn’t listed as a “special” until after the Games. However, it was called the “Winter Olympics Special.” While it didn’t involve traveling, it was more of a feature-length episode than the normal ones.

Clarkson, Hammond, and May traveled to Norway to create their version of the Winter Olympics, but with cars. Unlike later specials that featured a trip, this instead focused on modifying cars and having some 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. While some fans don’t like the special because of its obvious scripted nature, there is a lot concerning the humor and gags on display in the episode. Top Gear clearly set up many of the gags and jokes in the episode, and while that took away the spontaneous nature of the series’ funniest episodes, it still allowed a lot of laughs along the way.

Getting past the gags and set-up 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, like in the specials that take place in Bolivia and Vietnam, but the guys all made up for it with their humor and slapstick moments, highlighted 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

While there were no cars involved, the Vietnam special became one of the best episodes ever. In the episode, the trio travels 1000 miles across Vietnam using motorbikes. The special is rejuvenating due to the lack of cars. Even more interesting is that the decision to go on motorbikes is born out of circumstances since it turns out the money they were given isn’t enough to buy a car in Vietnam. As a result, they had to improvise, and that made it all the more fun.

That alone brings the discussion of vehicles being too expensive in developing countries. Jeremy getting snubbed while begging motorists to sell their cars to him at a thruway price and the trio bragging about achieving something American soldiers failed to do during the Vietnam War were notable moments, as they crossed the entire country in less than 10 days.

9 Bolivia Special (Season 14)

The Team Faced Danger On A Treacherous Mountain Road

In this special, the presenters are given £3,500 to buy locally used cars, after which they journey 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 are taken from one of the best jungle movies.

Furthermore, 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 have died there. The cars were all fun and iconic, and the moments when they traveled through the scary terrains, 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 presenters travel from Miami to New Orleans in used cars to find out if renting a car is cheaper than owning one. Each of the guys bought a used car for $1,000 and then set out 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 major reasons Top Gear stands out from other projects that are considered great 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 it 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. There was another USA special, but this one stands as the best of the two.

7 Botswana Special (Season 10)

The Team Tests Their Theories About Offroading

Clarkson, May, and Hammond buy cheap cars and travel across rough Botswana country lanes to prove that said rides are better than SUVs when it comes to driving up and down the leafy country lanes. Using cars that aren’t designed for off-road use in a country with bad roads is an even bigger test for the presenters, but they manage. 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 rescue it, and Hammond took the car home 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. This special also deserves credit for taking the time and care to ensure that none of the conservation wilderness 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 tiny-block V8 engine. The special remains memorable because it marks the only time the presenters and crew almost die. All the mayhem in Argentina is 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 one chosen by the manufacturer, protestors still attacked the cast and crew, which was showing the episode.

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

5 Polar Special (Season 9)

Car Vs. Dog Sled In The North Pole

In this special, Clarkson and May attempt to be the first people to reach the Magnetic North Pole using a car. Events are spiced up by the fact that the duo has to race against Hammond, who has 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. In regard to the hilarious ending, everyone gets christened with a funny name after adding “Sir Ranulph” in front of their own name in honor of explorer Sir Ranulph Fienness. 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 gearheads 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 a bridge. Since they can always be trusted to find all sorts of creative ways to have fun, they decided to engage 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 was strong here because the guys realized they made a huge mistake. They constructed the bridge at the River Kwai but realized too late that they were actually at the River Krok. A two-part special (similar to the Africa Special), this ended 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 jam of Kampala to showcasing the vast landscapes that lead to Lake Victoria, the film takes viewers on a satisfying adventure.

The challenges are never-ending, too, with the three friends having to convert their cars into bedrooms after lacking a place to sleep and going on a fresh search after realizing that Lake Victoria isn’t actually the source of the Nile. This was originally planned as a Christmas holiday special in 2012, but it ended up pushed back until 2013, when it finally aired as a two-part special. This was also one of the only specials where the backup car did not finish the journey.

2 Nepal Special (Season 27)

The First Special Without The Original Hosts Is A Huge Success

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

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

1 Middle East Special (Season 16)

The Three Wisemen, Top Gear-Style

In this special, the presenters recreate the path 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 theme park and then also stopped at Ein Gev on the Sea of Galilee. This was definitely a Top Gear special that showed a lot of fascinating locations with the guys.

The special erases the misconceptions people have about the Middle East, with the presenters getting to have the time of their lives. It is also fun watching the normally courageous Jeremy become paranoid and insist on making his car bulletproof, just in case. It’s one of the best specials on Top Gear, and arguably the best Christmas special the series ever produced.