Iconic Auctioneers are delighted to offer a significant piece of television and motoring history, a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider offered directly from the personal collection of Jeremy Clarkson, and the very last car driven by Clarkson, on The Grand Tour.
Finished in Lotus Blue and comprehensively adapted for its starring role in The Grand Tour: One for the Road, this is no ordinary Montecarlo. It was Jeremy Clarkson's chosen car for the trio's final adventure, a journey that took them across Zimbabwe and into Botswana in what would become their last ever television special together.
His unusual choice was not entirely without precedent, as he explains at the beginning of the programme. In 2007, as part of the Top Gear Botswana Special, he had driven a Lancia Beta Coupé across Botswana declaring it 'the ideal car for Africa' despite breaking down regularly and gradually disintegrating. Perhaps it was ‘the ideal car’ as during the filming of One for the Road, Jeremy and James May enjoyed a surprise and emotional reunion with their original Botswana cars from 17 years earlier, still sitting proudly by the side of the road.
This time, however, his mid-engined Montecarlo Spider was prepared with a number of distinctly Clarkson-esque modifications intended to make it better suited to the expedition.
At the rear are Ferrari 308 tail lights and quad tailpipes, while Delta Integrale wheels, headlights and grille give the little Lancia an altogether more purposeful appearance. The metallic Lotus Blue paintwork completes what is now an instantly recognisable machine.
Inside, Jeremy replaced the original leather seats with cloth, reasoning that the dark leather would become a tad too warm for the Clarkson rear in equatorial temperatures and, for the same reason, a simple, Alcantara covered, race-style, button-free steering wheel was also fitted on the basis that 1980s Italian electrics and the 40-degree African sun may not be the happiest of bedfellows.
The Montecarlo bravely endured the rigours of the final Grand Tour adventure, acquitting itself reasonably well crossing Zimbabwe before the journey continued into Botswana. Yet, unlike many television cars, its story did not end when filming wrapped. Having shared a number of OMG moments together, Jeremy felt an emotional connection with the little Spider and subsequently purchased the car himself, adding it to his personal Collection.
Following its African adventure, the car was fettled and tidied by Max500 Ltd to ensure it was fit for continued use and, today, it starts, runs and drives well, supported by an MOT valid until 18th September 2027.
Its significance, however, extends far beyond its mechanical and cosmetic condition. This is the car that carried Jeremy Clarkson through the final adventure of one of the most successful partnerships in television history. For more than two decades, Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May travelled the world together, creating some of the most memorable automotive television ever made and this charismatic, Lotus Blue Lancia has the unique distinction of being the final car used by Jeremy on his final adventure.
That makes its subsequent inclusion in Clarkson's personal Collection particularly significant. Rather than simply being a production vehicle left behind when the cameras stopped rolling, this was a car he liked enough to take home and keep. In fact he famously wrote in the Sunday Times that despite potential flaws, the mid-engined styling made ownership 'feel more essential than his next breath'.
Why is he now selling it? We understand that the reason will become clear in the forthcoming season of Clarkson's Farm. For now, we shall leave that particular story to unfold in due course.
Iconic Auctioneers are thrilled to offer this remarkable Lancia directly from the Clarkson Collection. With its extraordinary provenance, unmistakable appearance and unique place in The Grand Tour history, this is far more than a classic Italian sports car - it's the final chapter in Clarkson, Hammond and May's remarkable motoring journey and, perhaps, the ultimate piece of Grand Tour memorabilia ever.
