After more than two decades of shaping motoring television, Jeremy Clarkson is turning the keys of three of his most recognizable machines over to private collectors. The trio – a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider a 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 and a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V – all featured in episodes of The Grand Tour will be offered at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale on 14 November, under the hammer of Iconic Auctioneers.
The sale arrives as part of a wider promotional push for Clarkson’s new venture, Clarkson’s Farm and also serves a practical purpose: the presenter has repeatedly said he lacks the time to keep and drive the vehicles that have become symbols of his TV legacy.
The final-episode Lancia Montecarlo Spider
Filmed in September 2024, the Lancia Montecarlo Spider was the star of the series finale, a two-part adventure set across the savannas of Zimbabwe and Botswana. For the shoot, the car received a sporting makeover: rear light clusters from a Ferrari 308, a quartet of exhaust tips, wheels and front grille salvaged from a Lancia Delta Integrale, plus a full-race-seat cockpit wrapped in Alcantara. The car left the set in its Lotus-blue livery, seats still cloth, and the odometer stopped at the exact mileage recorded at the last take. Its 1982 provenance and the dramatic context of the episode make it arguably the most coveted of the three.
Clarkson has called the Montecarlo “the car that closed my TV motoring chapter,” and the auction house is marketing it as an unchanged piece of television history. No reserve has been set, meaning the final price will be dictated purely by collector demand for a vehicle that embodies the climax of a global TV phenomenon.
Alfa Romeo GTV6 – the Scottish misadventure
The GTV6 made its appearance in the 2019 episode “Well Aged Scotch,” filmed along Scotland’s famed North Coast 500. The route showcases dramatic cliffs, remote fishing villages and whisky distilleries, providing a picturesque backdrop for the Alfa’s 2.5-litre V6, engineered by Giuseppe Busso. During the segment, the transmission’s driveshaft snapped, forcing Clarkson to pedal a bicycle through the darkness while Hammond and May enjoyed a gin tonic by a roaring fire.
Despite the mechanical failure, the car won a permanent place in Clarkson’s heart. He has owned a GTV6 before and once confessed it was the most regretted sale of his personal collection. The vehicle has only covered 28,315 miles (45,568 km) since its birth in 1983 preserving its originality and making it a rare gem for Alfa enthusiasts.
Lincoln Continental Mark V – the pandemic-era behemoth
During the COVID-era special titled “Lochdown,” the trio each piloted a large American classic on the winding roads of Scotland. Clarkson’s choice was a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V, painted in a glossy blue that matches the interior trim. The car’s original 6.6-litre V8 produced a modest 170 CV, but for the episode a nitrous-oxide (NOS) system was installed – a gimmick that never truly fired. Even with the added power, the massive sedan proved ill-suited to the narrow Scottish lanes, often requiring the crew to tow it with a caravan.
In its current state, the Mark V still carries the NOS kit and even houses a bagpipe stored in the boot, a whimsical nod to its Scottish setting. The odometer reads 68,285 miles (109,894 km), and the car’s historical aura – compounded by its role in a pandemic-era episode – gives it a pedigree that extends beyond its baseline specifications.
Auction details and collector appeal
Iconic Auctioneers will conduct the sale without a reserve, a strategy that often drives competitive bidding for objects with strong narrative weight. While each model would normally fetch a modest price for a classic of its type, the additional television provenance – linked to the most-watched motoring shows in BBC and Amazon history – is expected to push the final figures well beyond standard market values.
Potential buyers include ardent fans of The Grand Tour classic-car connoisseurs, and investors seeking a tangible piece of pop-culture history. As the auction approaches, the excitement mirrors the anticipation that accompanied the original broadcasts, proving that even after the cameras stop rolling, the legacy of Clarkson, Hammond and May continues to accelerate.
