A Ferrari F355 GTS bought new by Jeremy Clarkson in 1996 is heading to auction at the NEC Classic Motor Show this weekend, with an estimate of £200,000–£250,000.
The Rosso Corsa Ferrari, registration P199 YPL, will be offered by Iconic Auctioneers at the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 14 November 2026.
With approximately 15,200 miles recorded, a six-speed manual gearbox and an unusually well-documented history, it’s an interesting car in its own right. But what makes this particular F355 especially memorable is the story of how Clarkson came to own it — and how he eventually gave it away.
In his 1996 video special Unleashed on Cars, Jeremy Clarkson drove the Ferrari F355 and famously declared it “the greatest car in the world; ever”.
He was so impressed that he decided to buy one himself.
According to the auction catalogue, Clarkson ordered P199 YPL through Maranello Sales in Egham, taking delivery in August 1996.
His choice of colour was apparently something of a dilemma. Having initially considered green because everyone else seemed to order their Ferraris in red, Clarkson eventually settled on Rosso Corsa.
He specified Crema leather upholstery, Rosso carpets and exceptionally rare factory carbon-backed sports seats, finished in Crema with red inserts.
The car also featured a six-speed gated manual gearbox and removable GTS roof panel.
Importantly, the original order correspondence survives, together with the warranty card identifying Clarkson as the Ferrari’s first owner.
Iconic Auctioneers describes it as the only Ferrari Clarkson has ever owned.
Unlike some celebrity-owned cars that have little documented connection with their famous keepers, this Ferrari played a prominent part in Clarkson’s motoring career.
It appeared in his Sunday Times columns and was featured in his television work.
One particularly memorable episode came in May 1999, when Clarkson used the Ferrari to retake his driving test for a newspaper feature.
He failed.
By the time he parted with the car, Clarkson had covered approximately 6,000 miles.
Rather than selling it in the conventional way, he gave the F355 away as a Sunday Times reader competition prize.
The Ferrari subsequently passed through several owners before joining a private collection in February 2013.
Its documented history is one of the car’s most appealing features, particularly as the original paperwork provides a direct connection to Clarkson’s ownership.
Introduced in 1994 as the successor to the 348, the Ferrari F355 brought substantial technical improvements while retaining the character of a traditional mid-engined Ferrari.
Its 3.5-litre V8 featured five valves per cylinder and produced 380bhp at 8,250rpm.
Performance figures quoted by Iconic Auctioneers include 0–62mph in 4.7 seconds and a top speed exceeding 180mph.
The GTS combined the appearance of the Berlinetta with a removable roof panel, while the open-gated six-speed manual gearbox remains one of the most appealing features of this particular example.
According to the auction house, P199 YPL retains its matching-numbers engine and original colour combination.
The accompanying history file documents maintenance by Ferrari specialist John Pogson and Italia Autosport.
In May 2025, £9,345 was spent on servicing, cambelt replacement, attention to the steering rack and cosmetic work. Further expenditure in 2026 included interior reconditioning, paint correction and ceramic coating.
There is also an important update to the original catalogue description.
A Sale Room Notice confirms that the Ferrari has now been refitted with its factory exhaust system and has a fresh MOT valid until 5 November 2027.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Clarkson’s former Ferrari has appeared at a major collector-car auction recently.
The same car was offered by RM Sotheby’s at its Cliveden House sale on 8 July 2025.
On that occasion, it carried an estimate of £180,000–£220,000 but was recorded as not sold.
The Ferrari now returns to the auction room with Iconic Auctioneers, guided at £200,000–£250,000.
The intervening period has seen further attention to the car, including the interior and paintwork improvements detailed in the current catalogue.
It will be interesting to see how bidders respond to its combination of low mileage, unusual specification and well-documented celebrity provenance.
The F355 isn’t the only vehicle with a Jeremy Clarkson connection appearing at this weekend’s sale.
Iconic Auctioneers is also offering three cars directly from Clarkson’s current collection, all familiar to viewers of The Grand Tour.
They include a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider from the programme’s final episode, a 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 featured in Well Aged Scotch, and a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V from Lochdown.
Clarkson retained all three vehicles after filming, and all are being offered without reserve.
We’ve already taken a closer look at their fascinating histories in our separate article: Jeremy Clarkson Is Selling Three of His Grand Tour Cars at Auction.
Unlike those cars, the Ferrari is being offered by a subsequent owner, having left Clarkson’s possession more than two decades ago.
The Ferrari is Lot 186 in Iconic Auctioneers’ sale on Saturday 14 November, with the auction beginning at 11am.
The auction house is preparing for a particularly busy weekend, with more than 600 cars and motorcycles scheduled to appear across its NEC sales on 14 and 15 November.
UK Barn Finds will be attending the NEC Classic Motor Show and covering the auctions, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this Ferrari and reporting what happens when it crosses the block.
Nearly 30 years after Clarkson ordered the car new, it remains an intriguing example of one of Ferrari’s best-loved modern classics.
But how much will bidders be prepared to pay for the F355 he once considered the greatest car in the world?
Further details, photographs and bidding information can be found in the official Iconic Auctioneers listing.
The car’s previous auction appearance is documented in the RM Sotheby’s Cliveden House results.
Information and photographs courtesy of Iconic Auctioneers. Previous auction information sourced from RM Sotheby’s.
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