Each presenter arrived in a vehicle built to their own eccentric specifications:
The trio's challenge is to drive north to the Angolan border. Almost immediately, the expedition hits a snag as they find themselves trapped between towering sand dunes and the rising tide of the Atlantic Ocean.
: After driving in circles and attempting to navigate by the stars (where Clarkson channelled his inner astronomer to find the Southern Cross), they realized they hadn't even left the coast. The Beach (Buggy) Boys - Part 1The Grand Tour :...
As the desert leveled out, the "ambitious but rubbish" engineering began to fail. May dealt with a sand-filled gearbox, and Clarkson's throttle jammed, forcing him to rig a makeshift deceleration wire across his dashboard.
: A purist's recreation of the original 1960s Meyers Manx , staying true to the classic design but struggling with a lack of power and off-road capability. Each presenter arrived in a vehicle built to
: As they moved inland into the Namib Desert , the dunes became "cliffs." In one terrifying moment, Hammond's buggy literally disappeared over an edge, leaving the others fearing the worst until they found him unharmed at the bottom.
: A flamboyant purple and green buggy that he had essentially "parked near a V8 ," fitting a massive 180 BHP engine that provided power but constant mechanical headaches. As the desert leveled out, the "ambitious but
: A modern, rugged interpretation built for survival, featuring massive tires, heavy-duty suspension, and a roof-mounted spare. The Journey Begins