Jeremy Clarkson’s Former Ferrari F355 GTS Heads to Auction

Jeremy Clarkson’s former Ferrari F355 GTS is heading to auction with low mileage, documented celebrity ownership, and a rare configuration that has drawn attention from collectors. Consigned through RM Sotheby’s, the car shows fewer than 24,000 kilometers and represents a preserved example of a sought-after 1990s Ferrari.

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The F355 marked a pivotal moment for Ferrari, combining modern engineering with the character and driving feel enthusiasts associate with the brand’s earlier cars. In GTS form, the model features a removable targa roof that enhances the sensory experience, pairing open-air driving with the high-revving nature of its naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V8 engine. The engine is paired with a traditional six-speed manual transmission and gated shifter, a combination prized by purists.

Clarkson purchased the car in 1996 during a period when his television career was gaining international recognition. He later sold it after several years of ownership and about 10,000 kilometers of use. In 2000, the car was given away through a newspaper competition before passing to later owners. Since 2013, the current owner has maintained the vehicle and added mileage sparingly.

Beyond its connection to Clarkson, the car’s specification stands out. The manual GTS configuration became less common after Ferrari introduced paddle-shift transmissions in the late 1990s. The interior features a cream-and-red color scheme that is rarely seen on the model. Auction materials indicate the car remains in excellent condition and has received recent major servicing, an important factor for Ferraris of this era.

RM Sotheby’s estimates the car could sell for between $245,000 and $300,000. Interest reflects broader trends in the collector market, where low mileage, documented history, and manual transmissions are driving demand for late-1990s performance cars.

The car’s appeal lies in both its cultural significance and its mechanical character. It represents a moment in Ferrari’s history when analog performance defined the driving experience, and its connection to Clarkson adds a layer of recognition that few examples can match.

Via RM Sotheby’s

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Shawn Henry

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Shawn Henry has spent years writing about cars, and it shows—not in a resume kind of way, but in how he talks about them. He's the type who'll notice the weird trim option nobody remembers and actually know why it mattered. At Backfire News, he covers pretty much the whole spectrum: off-road trucks and trail builds, performance cars, racing, and the collector market. He's comfortable getting into the technical weeds, but he never forgets that most people read about cars because cars are fun, not because they want a spec sheet. His beat runs from classic and collector vehicles to overlanding culture, modified performance builds, new automotive tech, and the industry news that actually affects what ends up in your driveway. Mostly, though, Shawn thinks the best car stories are about people—the builds they pour money into, the road trips, the communities that form around a shared obsession. That's the stuff he likes writing about, and it's what you'll find in his work here.

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