Ferrari F355 Auction Hopes Clarkson’s Former Car Finally Reaches Six Figures
Marcus Vance
2 minutes read
A Ferrari F355 Auction rarely arrives with this much provenance attached. Jeremy Clarkson’s 1996 Ferrari F355 GTS goes under the hammer at Iconic Auctioneers’ NEC Classic Motor Show sale on November 14, 2026, with a guide estimate of £200,000 to £250,000.
Ferrari F355 Auction Round Two
This chassis has been here before. RM Sotheby’s offered it at Cliveden House in July 2025 with a lower estimate, and it failed to sell. Markets shift and bidders change, so that result says little about today. Still, a Classic Motor Show crowd is a different audience. Clarkson’s own Grand Tour cars have followed the same route, as our look at the Alfa Romeo GTV6 and Lancia Montecarlo Spider details.
For a benchmark, a 1997 F355 GTS in the same color combination sold at an Iconic Auctioneers sale in August 2025 for £120,375. Clarkson’s name and recent condition work should justify a meaningful premium over that figure. On paper, this Ferrari F355 Auction lot deserves to clear its estimate comfortably.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 3.5L V8 (Tipo F129B, 5 valves per cylinder) |
| 🐎Power Output | 380 HP at 8,250 rpm |
| ⚡Peak Torque | (est.) 367 Nm (271 lb-ft) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-62 mph in 4.7s |
| 🚀Top Speed | 180+ mph (290+ km/h) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 6-Speed Manual / RWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | £200,000 – £250,000 guide estimate (about $267,000 – $334,000) |
Paper Trail Carries The Real Value
Paper trail matters as much as spec here. The sale includes original order correspondence through Maranello Sales of Egham, the warranty card naming Clarkson as first owner, and newspaper columns documenting his four years with the car. In May 2025, the current owner also spent £9,345 on a cambelt, steering rack work, cosmetic repairs, and ceramic coating.
Verdict: Six Figures Or Bust
Mechanically, the appeal is purity. The car left Ferrari’s Maranello factory with a six-speed manual instead of the troublesome F1 automated gearbox. Its numbers-matching V8 produces 380 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, and its five-valve-per-cylinder layout still sings toward redline.
Ultimately, this Ferrari F355 Auction is about more than a rare manual. My prediction is that Clarkson’s name pushes the final hammer price past £250,000. Whoever wins gets an F355 that is already part of motoring history, and that is worth a premium in any market.
Marcus Vance
Senior Track & Performance Editor at Auto News Magazine. Veteran automotive journalist specializing in chassis dynamics, apex telemetry, track-day specials, and high-revving mechanical purity.
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