Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have done a lot of stupid things. They’ve driven to the North Pole, built a bridge over the River Kwai, and tried to sail across the English Channel in a Toyota Hilux. But nothing—absolutely nothing—matches the pure, unadulterated chaos of the Top Gear United States Special.
It was Series 9, Episode 3.
The year was 2007.
The premise was simple: buy a car for less than $1,000 and drive from Miami to New Orleans. On paper, it sounds like a standard road trip. In reality, it turned into a cultural collision that almost got the crew killed in a gas station parking lot in Alabama.
Most people remember the "State of Alabama" incident. You know the one. The "Man-Love" and "NASCAR Sucks" slogans painted on the sides of their beat-up cars. But there is so much more to this episode than just three middle-aged British men running away from a pickup truck. It was a snapshot of a very specific era of American life and a testament to why the original trio worked so well. They weren't just testing cars; they were testing the patience of an entire hemisphere.
The Cars Nobody Wanted
The trio met in Miami with a budget of $1,000 each. This was back when $1,000 actually bought you a functioning vehicle, though "functioning" is a generous term for what they found.
Jeremy Clarkson rolled up in a 1991 Chevrolet Camaro RS. It was white, it was loud, and it was missing several vital components. James May, ever the man of sophisticated taste, chose a 1989 Cadillac Brougham Sedan. It was basically a living room on wheels, complete with velvet seats and a V8 engine that produced surprisingly little power. Richard Hammond, meanwhile, went full "American" with a 1991 Dodge Ram 1500.
The Dodge was huge. It was red. It also had a habit of stalling whenever Hammond needed it most.
The chemistry of the Top Gear United States Special relies on these machines being terrible. If they had bought reliable Corollas, there would be no show. The tension comes from the fact that at any moment, the Cadillac’s suspension might collapse or the Camaro might simply catch fire.
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The Dead Cow and the Gator
People often ask if the "dead cow on the roof" bit was real.
During the journey, the producers gave the presenters a challenge: dinner would be whatever they could find as "roadkill." Clarkson, being Clarkson, didn't wait for a squirrel or a possum. He found a dead cow. Or rather, a cow that had died of natural causes in a field.
Watching Jeremy Clarkson attempt to strap a full-sized bovine carcass to the roof of a Chevy Camaro is peak television. It was absurd. It was gross. It was exactly what fans wanted. Then there was the alligator. Hammond tried to cook one. It didn't go well. The contrast between the glamorous "Miami" opening and the swampy, humid reality of the Deep South provided a visual narrative that felt more like a documentary than a car show.
The show wasn't just about the gags, though. It was about the grueling nature of the drive. The heat in those cars—none of which had working air conditioning—was oppressive. You can see the actual sweat on their shirts. That wasn't a costume department choice. That was Florida and Alabama in the summertime.
What Actually Happened in Alabama
This is the part everyone talks about. The "slogan" challenge.
The producers told the presenters to paint slogans on each other’s cars that would get the owner in trouble.
- Clarkson’s Camaro: "Man-love rules OK" and "NASCAR Sucks."
- May’s Cadillac: "I'm a bi-sexual" and "Hillary for President."
- Hammond’s Truck: "Country and Western is Rubbish."
They stopped at a gas station in Baldwin County, Alabama. Within minutes, the atmosphere changed. A woman at the station confronted the crew, asking if they were "making a mockery of us." Then, a group of men in a pickup truck arrived.
Things got real, fast.
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The film crew had to stop filming and start protecting the presenters. Stones were thrown. Threats were made. The "Top Gear United States Special" nearly ended with the destruction of a BBC camera van. The trio had to flee, frantically scrubbing the paint off their cars at the side of the road several miles away.
Was it staged? Some skeptics say yes. But if you watch the raw footage and the genuine fear in the eyes of the camera operators, it’s hard to believe it was entirely scripted. The tension was palpable. It remains one of the most controversial moments in the history of the franchise because it tapped into a very real cultural divide that exists to this day.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
The final leg of the journey took them to New Orleans.
Keep in mind, this was 2007. Hurricane Katrina had devastated the city in 2005. Two years later, the scars were still wide open. The mood of the episode shifts dramatically when they arrive. The joking stops. The snark disappears.
They saw the "X" marks on the houses—the codes used by search and rescue teams to indicate how many bodies were found inside. For a show that usually focused on burning rubber and making fun of James May's hair, this was a heavy moment of reflection.
The Top Gear United States Special wasn't just a comedy; it was a travelogue that accidentally captured the state of a broken city. They ended up donating their cars to people who had lost everything in the flood. Well, they tried to. The Camaro wouldn't start, the Cadillac was a wreck, and the Dodge was... well, it was a Dodge.
In the end, they gave the cars away for free. It was a rare moment of genuine sincerity from a show that often prided itself on being cynical.
Why This Episode Defined an Era
You have to understand the context of television in the mid-2000s. Reality TV was becoming polished and fake. Top Gear felt like the antidote. The United States Special proved that you didn't need a massive script if you had the right personalities in the right (or wrong) environment.
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- The "Scripted" Debate: While the challenges were planned, the reactions were often spontaneous.
- The Music: The use of "Born to be Wild" and classic Americana tracks grounded the episode in a specific vibe.
- The Editing: The jump-cuts and the way they handled the Alabama footage created a sense of genuine peril.
It’s often cited by fans as the best special the trio ever did. Better than the Vietnam Special? Maybe. Better than the Africa Special? It’s a close call. But the US Special was the first time they really took the "road trip" format and turned it into a cinematic event.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re looking to relive the magic of the Top Gear United States Special, or if you're planning your own Southern road trip, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Don't Recreate the Slogans
Seriously. The political and social climate in rural areas remains complex. What was "edgy" in 2007 can be genuinely dangerous in 2026. If you want to tour the Deep South, do it with respect for the local culture.
Visit the Routes, Not the Gas Stations
The drive from Miami through Mississippi and into Louisiana is stunning. The Gulf Coast offers some of the most beautiful coastal drives in the country. Stick to the scenic byways and avoid the backroads of Baldwin County if you're looking for a stress-free vacation.
Used Car Realities
You cannot buy a car for $1,000 anymore. Thanks to inflation and the used car market boom of the early 2020s, a "Top Gear" budget today would need to be closer to $3,500 to find anything that even moves. If you're planning a cheap car challenge with friends, adjust your budget accordingly.
Where to Watch
The episode is available on various streaming platforms, but be aware that music licensing often changes. Some versions of the Top Gear United States Special have different soundtracks than the original BBC broadcast. For the purest experience, look for the original DVD or the BBC iPlayer version (if you're in the UK).
The legacy of this episode is simple: it showed that cars are just a vessel for human stories. The Camaro, the Cadillac, and the Ram were the stars, but the friction between the three presenters and the world around them is what made it legendary. It wasn't about the 0-60 times. It was about surviving the trip.