BIRMINGHAM, England — For millions of automotive enthusiasts around the globe, the end of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May’s tenure on The Grand Tour marked the closing of a golden chapter in television history. For nearly two decades, the trio defined the intersection of high-octane entertainment, provocative humor, and genuine camaraderie. Now, fans with deep pockets and a penchant for television memorabilia have a rare opportunity to own a tangible piece of that legacy.
Jeremy Clarkson has officially consigned three of his most memorable television cars to Iconic Auctioneers. The vehicles are set to cross the auction block during the prestigious Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, England, on November 14 and 15. Adding to the excitement for collectors, all three cars are being offered without reserve, guaranteeing that they will sell to the highest bidders, regardless of the final price.
While Clarkson has playfully noted that he rarely finds the time to drive or enjoy these machines anymore, industry insiders and auction organizers hint that the full context behind the garage clear-out will be revealed in the upcoming season of his hit Amazon Prime documentary series, Clarkson’s Farm.
Main Facts: The Trio of Machines Heading to the Block
The consignment comprises three distinct vehicles spanning different eras of British motoring television, each carrying a unique pedigree from major television specials.
- The 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider: Undeniably the crown jewel of the collection, this is the exact car Clarkson drove through the demanding landscapes of Zimbabwe and Botswana during The Grand Tour Presents: One for the Road. More importantly, it is the very last car Clarkson drove on screen before the iconic trio hung up their driving gloves for good.
- The 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6: A fan-favorite machine featured prominently in the 2019 Grand Tour special "Well Aged Scotch," where Clarkson navigated Scotland’s breathtaking North Coast 500. This particular vehicle holds personal sentimental value, as Clarkson previously owned an identical model, deeply regretted selling it, and spent years tracking this replacement down.
- The 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V: An absolute behemoth of American luxury, featured in the Scotland-set pandemic special "Lochdown." Powered by a massive 6.6-liter V8, the car famously—and somewhat comically—arrived equipped with a nitrous-injection system and a set of bagpipes stashed in the trunk.
Chronology: From Television Screen to Auction Block
To understand the value of these vehicles, one must retrace the timeline of their appearances on television and their subsequent transitions into Clarkson’s private collection.
1983: The Alfa Romeo GTV6 Era Begins
Long before it became a television star, the Alfa Romeo GTV6 was celebrated for its glorious-sounding 2.5-liter Busso V6 engine. Clarkson’s affinity for the model is well-documented; it represents an era of analog driving purity that modern performance cars rarely replicate. After regretting the sale of his original GTV6 from years prior, Clarkson reacquired this 1983 example, maintaining it meticulously before deploying it for the North Coast 500 road trip in 2019.
1978: The "Lochdown" American Invasion
In 2021, The Grand Tour released "Lochdown," a special born out of pandemic-related travel restrictions that forced the hosts to tour their home country of Scotland. Eschewing sensible European hatchbacks, Clarkson, Hammond, and May chose massive, oversized American cruisers from the 1970s. Clarkson’s weapon of choice was the 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V. To cope with the rugged Scottish terrain—and for comedic effect—the production crew fitted a nitrous-oxide system, though its real-world efficacy during filming left much to be desired.
2024: The Final Farewell in Africa
The climax of the modern motoring television era occurred with the release of The Grand Tour Presents: One for the Road. Filmed across the sun-baked, dust-choked vistas of Zimbabwe and Botswana, the feature-length special served as a sentimental curtain call for Clarkson, Hammond, and May. For this final expedition, Clarkson selected a vintage 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider—a car heavily modified to survive the brutal African climate. As the cameras rolled on their final moments together, it was this Lancia that carried Clarkson across the finish line, etching its chassis number into television history.
Supporting Data and Vehicle Specifications
Each of the three vehicles arriving at the NEC Classic Motor Show possesses distinct mechanical modifications and historical attributes that set them apart from standard classic cars on the market.
1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider
- Engine/Performance: Mid-mounted 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
- Television Modifications: Built to endure intense heat and rough terrain, the car was fitted with striking Ferrari 308-style rear lights, a custom four-outlet exhaust system, and Lancia Delta Integrale alloy wheels. The front grille and headlight assembly were also modified.
- Interior Adjustments: Clarkson swapped the original, heat-trapping leather seats for more comfortable cloth buckets and installed a simplified Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel devoid of buttons to minimize electronic failure points.
- Post-Filming Status: Rather than being scrapped or returned to a prop pool, the Lancia was purchased by Clarkson, added to his private fleet, and recently subjected to a comprehensive mechanical refurbishment by Iconic Auctioneers’ specialists to bring it into fully running condition.
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6
- Odometer: Approximately 28,315 miles.
- Powertrain: 2.5-liter Busso V6 engine mated to a rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, famous for its balanced weight distribution and orchestral exhaust note.
- Maintenance: Maintained in-house as part of Clarkson’s personal collection following his quest to replace his long-lost previous GTV6.
1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V
- Powertrain: Massive 6.6-liter V8 engine paired with a slushbox automatic transmission.
- Unique Features: Retains its show-installed nitrous-injection system (complete with the bottlenecks and plumbing seen on screen). The interior proudly displays the luxury Cartier dashboard clock that caught Clarkson’s eye during filming, while the trunk still houses a set of authentic Scottish bagpipes.
Official Responses and Auction Dynamics
Iconic Auctioneers has expressed immense enthusiasm regarding the upcoming sale, noting unprecedented global interest from automotive collectors and television fans alike.
"These are not just old cars; they are cultural artifacts from the golden age of automotive television," said a spokesperson for Iconic Auctioneers. "Jeremy Clarkson has a habit of picking cars with immense character—and occasionally questionable reliability. To offer them without reserve at the NEC Classic Motor Show gives fans a completely transparent, thrilling opportunity to own a slice of television history."
Because the lots carry no reserve prices, market speculation suggests that bidding could become fierce. While standard market valuations for a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider or a 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 are well-established, the "Clarkson provenance" factor introduces an unpredictable premium. Collectors will not only be paying for the steel, rubber, and glass, but for the narrative weight of the vehicles—particularly the Lancia, which represents the definitive end of the Top Gear and Grand Tour trio dynamic.
Implications: The End of an Era on Screen and in the Garage
The decision by Clarkson to offload these three particular vehicles marks a poignant milestone. For years, his farmyard barns and private garages served as a retirement home for the mechanical casualties and heroes of his television career.
As The Grand Tour transitions into its next phase with new hosts stepping into the spotlight, the dispersal of Clarkson’s personal television fleet signals a definitive closing of the book on the Clarkson-Hammond-May era. For the lucky buyers in Birmingham this November, they will not merely be acquiring classic European sports cars or gargantuan American cruisers—they will be taking home the physical witnesses of television history, complete with custom modifications, African dust, and, in the case of the Lincoln, a set of bagpipes in the back.
