Grand Tour: One for the Road – The Triumph Stag & Rover SD1

The Grand Tour has long been a favourite for petrolheads and adventure enthusiasts alike, hosted by the much-loved trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond. Known for their boisterous chemistry, ridiculous challenges, and often absurd (but always entertaining) stunts, the show has been a staple of car culture since its inception.

The series originally aired in 2016, following the team’s departure from Top Gear, and quickly found a global audience of car enthusiasts. Over the years, The Grand Tour has taken viewers to some of the most stunning and treacherous locations around the world, offering a blend of automotive adventures, banter, and breathtaking cinematography. After nearly eight years, the show aired its much-anticipated final episode, One for the Road, on Friday, September 13, 2024.

In this final farewell, the hosts embarked on one last road trip across Zimbabwe, ending in Botswana, an emotional nod to their first ever special in the region. Each host brought their own unique flair in vehicle choice, making the episode an evocative tribute to their shared history. Clarkson drove a 1982 Lancia Beta Montecarlo Spyder, Hammond selected a 1974 Mk1 Ford Capri 3000 GXL, and James May opted for the much-loved 1974 Triumph Stag. The journey culminated at Kubu Island, a salt rock outcrop in Botswana’s vast Makgadikgadi Pan, where their iconic African adventure had begun all those years ago.

As always, the journey wouldn’t have been complete without a backup car, a tradition in The Grand Tour that typically involves choosing a dilapidated vehicle as a contingency plan. In a fitting twist, however, the trio decided to break from convention for their final episode. Rather than letting producer Andy Wilman select the usual disaster-prone backup car, the team splurged on something with a bit more charm: a 1985 Rover SD1, a car they all agreed they love.

The SD1 is a favourite of ours too, known for its bold design and performance. It was once considered a forward-thinking executive car, with its sleek, wedge-shaped body inspired by supercars of the era like the Ferrari Daytona. Despite its sometimes shaky build quality, the SD1's spacious interior, V8 engine option, and impressive ride comfort made it a standout choice in the 1970s and 1980s, and perfect for the Grand Tour backup car.

Out of all the cars featured, James May’s Triumph Stag truly stole the show. Purchased for £26,500 from Car and Classic, this particular 3.0L V8 Stag not only delivered an impeccable performance, but also became a key talking point. While the Triumph Stag has long had a reputation for being unreliable—especially prone to overheating—the one featured in One for the Road shattered those expectations. In fact, it was the only car that didn’t break down during the entire trip. Even with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius in Botswana and Zimbabwe, the Stag remained cool and composed, much to the delight of May.

The episode offered a classic moment of banter when Clarkson and Hammond teased May about the Stag’s infamous history of overheating. May’s triumphant retort, “Overheating, my arse,” proved to be spot-on, as the Stag performed flawlessly. This tongue-in-cheek rivalry is exactly what made the show so beloved over the years, and seeing the Triumph Stag hold its own provided a satisfying close to the episode.

The Grand Tour has always been more than just a car show. It was a celebration of friendship, a globe-trotting adventure that happened to revolve around the love of automobiles. This final episode, with its nostalgic return to Botswana and its focus on classic cars like the Triumph Stag, provided the perfect send-off for the trio who redefined car television. As the sun set on their epic journey, the Triumph Stag stood as a symbol not just of British engineering but also of the enduring camaraderie between Clarkson, May, and Hammond.

One for the Road marked the end of an era, but it was a fitting conclusion—one filled with humour, beautiful landscapes, and, of course, cars that carried as much personality as the men driving them.