For the 2007 Botswana Special during the glory days of Top Gear, Richard Hammond purchased a then 44 year old Opel Kadett A for £1,200. After the film was made, he decided to ship his car to England, and it “only” took him two years due to some paperwork issues. It wasn’t until a few years ago when Hamster announced plans to revive the small sedan for Drive Tribe, which he co-founded with James May and Jeremy Clarkson.
The restoration process has now been completed by Hammond’s “The Smallest Cog” workshop. What’s that? The first-generation 1967 Kadett A, provided we exclude its short-lived pre-war namesake. The small two-door sedan was powered by a new 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 40 horsepower, but there was also an “S-Motor” high compression engine that produced an additional eight hp. Hammond’s car had a basic engine, sending power to the rear wheels.
We were told the suspension was too soft and there was a lot of body roll while the front and rear drum brakes weren’t great. Built some 55 years ago, it’s clear that the original Kadett wasn’t the safest car out there, but it sure has its charms. The daring Opel performed admirably in the Top Gear Botswana Special, although Hammond had some issues with the electrical system. As you may remember, James May used a 1985 Mercedes 230E while Jeremy Clarkson chose a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe.
Previously painted the wrong color, Oliver now looks the same as he did in the show and rides on steel wheels like he used to. It’s not a full restoration as a few pieces of exterior trim are missing, but it doesn’t look bad for a car produced more than half a century ago. Richard Hammond is toying with the idea of turning it into a vintage rally car but that remains to be seen.
