No Reserve: Jeremy Clarkson’s 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider

Top Gear UK was a juggernaut, vastly exceeding the broadcaster’s viewing projections. Each episode drew a worldwide audience of 300 million, making it the most successful automotive show in television history. When the BBC decided not to renew Jeremy Clarkson’s contract in April 2015, his fellow hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, resigned, and the trio signed a contract with Amazon Prime to deliver a new program called The Grand Tour. The chemistry from the Top Gear days was clearly visible in The Grand Tour, but after working together for over twenty-two years, the team decided to retire on a high. The final episode, titled “The Grand Tour: One for The Road,” which aired in September 2024, featured a road trip across Zimbabwe, with each presenter choosing a classic car they had always wanted to own. Clarkson chose a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider, and when filming ended, he bought it from Amazon to add to his private collection. However, Clarkson has decided to downsize his collection and is offering the Montecarlo here at Iconic Auctioneers in Birmingham, UK. It is set to go under the hammer on November 14th in a No Reserve auction.

Lancia released the Montecarlo in 1975, with the updated Series 2 remaining on sale from 1980 to 1982. Our featured car is from the final production year and is a rare classic in its own right. Lancia produced the Montecarlo as a Coupe and a Spider, and this car is one of 817 Series 2 Spiders produced. The styling, penned by Pininfarina, is crisp and received significant praise at the time. Typically, vehicles used for the Top Gear and The Grand Tour Specials started unchanged and were modified during the journey to better cope with prevailing conditions. “One for The Road” strayed from that formula, with each presenter modifying their chosen vehicle before the adventure began. Cosmetically, Jeremy Clarkson repainted the Montecarlo in Lotus Blue Metallic, fitted it with a grille, headlights, and wheels from a Delta Integrale, and taillights from a Ferrari 308. The Montecarlo remains in this form, though he replaced the front bumper that was destroyed during the journey. The vehicle looks very presentable, with no significant cosmetic shortcomings. Clarkson wanted to preserve this gem in essentially the form it was when filming ended, performing no panel repairs. Mild surface corrosion is evident in the engine bay, but there appears to be no penetrating rust. Overall, this beauty looks like a winner for enthusiasts seeking a driver-grade classic.

The modifications performed during many Top Gear and The Grand Tour Specials were quite radical and often created more problems than they solved. Clarkson fitted the Jaguar XJS he chose for the India Special with larger wheels and tires, and an exhaust stack poking through the hood. The larger tires rubbed mercilessly on the wheel arches, and the stack made the car noisier and reduced visibility. For “One for The Road,” he removed the Montecarlo’s leather seats and steering wheel, replacing them with cloth-covered Recaro seats and a Momo Alcantara wheel. The changes made the car more comfortable, especially on hot days when the leather would have been unbearable. He also added a Bluetooth stereo and a drink cooler where the glovebox should have been, though he removed the last item once the car returned to the UK. The car’s interior is serviceable, and since it has clocked so few miles since it arrived at the start line in Zimbabwe, the lack of seat and wheel wear is unsurprising. Clarkson chose preservation when he bought the car, and I suspect the new owner will leave the interior as-is.

One unusual aspect of this Montecarlo, compared to cars Jeremy Clarkson used in other Specials, is that he left the vehicle essentially mechanically unmodified. He fitted an upgraded exhaust, but left the drivetrain in its factory form. The mid-mounted 1,995cc DOHC four should produce around 118hp and 126 ft/lbs of torque, fed to the road via a five-speed manual transaxle. When the team began the “One for The Road” journey, the Lancia’s prospects didn’t look promising. It had covered under thirty miles on smooth sealed roads before it developed a severe misfire. A quick check revealed two minor problems, including a faulty spark plug tip and a failing high-tension lead. With both issues fixed, the car ran perfectly, and apart from a stuck throttle at one point and the transaxle occasionally popping out of gear, it never missed a beat for the rest of the trip. When Clarkson returned to the UK, he handed the Lancia to Max500 Ltd in Guildford, Surrey, who went through it to eliminate any mechanical issues. The Montecarlo runs and drives well, and is a turnkey proposition.

Jeremy Clarkson chose a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo for his last The Grand Tour adventure, not just because he had always wanted to own one. In 2007, the Top Gear team embarked on its first “Special” challenge. It involved traveling across Botswana from east to west in two-wheel-drive cars costing under £1,500. Clarkson chose a 1981 Lancia Beta Coupe; while it proved unreliable, it still completed the journey. He decided that since he had selected a Lancia for the first Special, the same marque would provide a fitting end. At the Zimbabwe-Botswana border, the team decided to continue to Kubu Island in the Makgadikgadi Pan. They felt that, since this had been an iconic location during their first Top Gear Special, it was the most appropriate place to close. In those final minutes, a poignant, unscripted moment surprised the presenters as Clarkson and May reunited with the Beta and 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E they had chosen for the first trip. It gave them a chance to reflect on the career journey they had followed and how fortunate they had been. When filming wrapped, each presenter bought their “One For the Road” car from Amazon and shipped it back to the UK. Clarkson admits he no longer has time to enjoy his Montecarlo as it deserves and wants it to find a new home with an enthusiast who will. So, if you’ve ever wanted to own a classic car that is also part of television history, this Lancia might be the ideal choice.