In 2014, a car enthusiast got his hands on an Alfa Romeo 75 like no other. Purchase price: £500, or around €600 at the time. Special feature: it had been driven (and mishandled) by Jeremy Clarkson in one of the most memorable episodes of the TV show Top Gear.
The story of this Italian sedan actually dates back to 2008, when Jeremy Clarkson, accompanied by Richard Hammond and James May, took up the challenge of finding a Alfa Romeo for less than £1,000. He then unearthed this 1989 75 3.0 Veloce for just £450, had it repainted in a flashy green and took it to the Rockingham circuit for a tough challenge.
At the time, if the affair already seemed incredible, it was above all because this Alfa Romeo had a long history: crashed and declared a total loss by the insurance company in 2001, it had nevertheless survived Clarkson's assaults.
Its current owner, who has kept it for 11 years, has maintained it mechanically without erasing the scars. The 3.0 V6 engine received a complete overhaul: timing, new clutch, rebuilt gearbox... but the body remained true to the image seen on TV, with its dents and weathered interior.
Today, the car has just under 82,000 km and still boasts its rare original leather interior. A unique piece of Alfa Romeo history and TV star in one.
On August 24, it will be auctioned at Silverstone, estimated at between £12,000 and £15,000 (around €16,000 to €20,000 with taxes). Not bad for a sedan that was bought for a pittance... and has remained in exactly the same condition since it passed through Clarkson's hands.
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