Have you ever fancied owning a piece of Top Gear history? Maybe you’ve wanted to own a car that once belonged to one of the presenters. Well, luckily for those of you who do, there is a chance to own a classic Ferrari that once belonged to Jeremy Clarkson.
This is a 1996 Ferrari F355, a car that was once described as the greatest car in the world. The car is chassis number ZFFXR42C000106175, and it was owned by Clarkson from new in the 1990s; he owned it for five years.
The supercar is being auctioned off by Iconic Auctioneers, and they are one of the best auction houses in the world. This is also one of the most special cars they have ever sold, given its history and the number of miles that Clarkson put on the car during his ownership.
This isn’t the first time that the car has appeared at an auction. In 2025, the F355 GTS was put up for sale at RM Sotheby’s, yet for some reason, it failed to find a buyer. If you like Ferraris and Top Gear, however, then this is your chance to own a car that combines both of those into one.
How Long Did Clarkson Own the Ferrari?
This particular Ferrari F355 was bought by Clarkson in 1996 and delivered to him that August, brand new. At the time, the Top Gear presenter was considering getting it in green, but he changed his mind and went with the familiar and iconic Rosso Corsa paintwork. Complementing the stunning paintwork are the Crema leather upholstery and the Rosso carpets, which means you really can’t miss this car.
Clarkson owned the car from 1996 to 2000. He even used it to retake his driving test in May 1999 for a column in the British newspaper, the Sunday Times. He failed that retake, although that wasn’t the fault of the Ferrari. Clarkson drove it for 6,000 miles before he decided to give the car away as a reader prize in 2000. To this date, it remains the only Ferrari that the Top Gear and Grand Tour host has ever owned.
Clarkson would no doubt have loved the car while he owned it. Under the hood, it has a stunning Tipo F129B 3.5-liter V8 engine, which Iconic Auctioneers say is “nothing short of a masterpiece.” The engine redlines at 8,500 rpm, and it has 380hp in total. Making the F355 even better is its six-speed gated manual transmission, while the 0- 62 mph time is a very impressive 4.7 seconds. The Ferrari has a top speed of 180mph, a very good figure for a supercar of the 1990s.
How Much Could the Car Sell For?
The Ferrari regularly appeared in Clarkson’s newspaper columns, and it became a well-documented part of his personal life. Some good money has been spent on looking after it over the years, with over $10,000 spent on it in 2025, involving a very comprehensive service, as well as the replacement of the cambelt. Other work done on the car included work on the steering rack, correction of the paint, and detailing of the supercar.
The Ferrari is in its original condition, as Clarkson and subsequent owners didn’t change anything on the supercar. Being owned by Clarkson only adds to the car’s value. At the time of writing, bidding was still open on the car, which will be auctioned off on November 14th, 2026. Iconic Auctioneers estimate that the car will sell for between £ 200,000 and £ 250,000, which is roughly $268,000-$£35,300.