A 1996 Ferrari F355 GTS once owned by Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson is among the headline lots at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Cliveden House auction, which returns to the historic Berkshire venue on 8 July.
Ordered new by Clarkson through Maranello Sales, the F355 GTS is today estimated at £180,000-220,000. Finished in Rosso Corsa with Crema leather and sports seats, the car starred in The Sunday Times and Top Gear Magazine during Clarkson’s ownership before being given away as a prize.
Another star of the sale is a 1961 Lotus Elite Series 2 first owned by Soichiro Honda, the founder of the Honda Motor Corporation. Driven by Tetsu Ikuzawa and rolled at Suzuka by Mugen founder Hirotoshi Honda, it inspired Honda’s early S-series sports cars and was later donated to the Honda International Technical School. Restored between 2018 and 2021, it is offered entirely without reserve and is expected to achieve £70,000-100,000.
Topping the Ferrari entries is a rare right-hand-drive 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti, with 33 years of single-family ownership and early history with hillclimber Phil Scragg. It retains its ‘PS 1216’ registration and was uniquely finished in blue when new, although now it’s finished in red – estimated at £950,000-1,150,000.
Joining it is a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTC by Pininfarina (Est: £520,000-580,000), one of just 22 UK-delivered cars, with matching-numbers engine, Ferrari Classiche certification and a rare factory colour combination of Oro Nashrullah over Nera, now resprayed Verde Scuro.
Other European classics include a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in Konigs Blau with a matching hardtop. Expected to make £700,000-900,000, this car boasts comes matching-numbers mechanicals and a 2019 engine rebuild by expert Chris Shenton.
Pre-war appeal is led by a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Recreation by Jim Stokes Workshops, at £600,000-800,000, plus a 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Cabriolet by Barker at £470,000-570,000 with decades of rally history under marque expert Mark Tidy.
Racing pedigree comes courtesy of the 2007 Creation CA07 LMP1 (£550,000-750,000), a rare V10-powered two-time Le Mans finisher offered without reserve and eligible for Masters Endurance Legends. For those preferring earlier competition cars, a 1969 Chevron B16 (£150,000-190,000) driven in period by Brian Redman and Vic Elford will cross the block.
Additional highlights include a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner (£420,000-480,000), a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV (£220,000-250,000) with a desirable Special Series engine, a 1970 Aston Martin DBS (£125,000-175,000) restored to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service specification and a wild 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Custom by Chieftain (£80,000-120,000).
Enthusiasts on a more modest budget can look to a 1948 Land Rover Series I (£50,000-75,000), the oldest surviving military Land Rover; a 1971 Jensen Interceptor II (£40,000-60,000) with just 4,000 miles covered since 1979; a 1961 Bentley S2 Continental ‘Flying Spur’ Saloon (£70,000-90,000); and a 1951 Jaguar XK120 (£40,000-60,000) regularly used in historic events.
Full catalogue and bidder registration details are available at rmsothebys.com.
