RICHARD Hammond’s treasured car, Oliver, is now being lovingly restored in a Theale garage.
Theale Motor Works in Theale High Street is working with classic car magazine Practical Classics to restore the 1963 Opel Kadett that was used in a 2007 Top Gear Challenge television programme.
Tom Rooke, the body shop manager, said the company was “delighted” to help restore it.
He said: “We were approached by the magazine who we have done work for before. We’re all really pleased to be doing it because we saw the car on the show.
“We’re going to be priming it and repainting it. Basically we’ll restore it to its former glory.”
The car, fondly dubbed Oliver by Mr Hammond, was used during one of the popular shows as part of a challenge whereby each presenter had to buy a car for £1,500 or less and drive it more than 1,000 miles across Botswana.
It was during this time that Mr Hammond spotted the banger and he handed over £1,200 for it. During filming it is believed that he became emotionally attached to the car and even claimed it was “the happiest car in the world.”
Although the car leaked petrol and had only one good brake, it ran flawlessly until Mr Hammond managed to sink it while trying to cross a river.
It was in the following episode that Mr Hammond exclaimed his love for Oliver and desire to bring him home.
So the beige-coloured Kadett began its long journey and was shipped over from Botswana to England.
Practical Classics features editor, Matthew Jones, who has been working closely with Mr Hammond to restore the car, said that once it had been repainted and “tweaked” it would once again find television fame in a new series.
He said: “We’ve had to do the job very quickly because it’s going to be involved in a new television production with Richard Hammond.
“I’m not sure of all the finer details but apparently the show centres around the car and we have to have it ready for filming on July 14.
“It really is a fantastic opportunity for us and Theale Motor Works to give a car that’s had a bit of a hard time a new lease of life.”